Chapter 76 Chapter 76

Chapter 76 Chapter 76
Chapter Seventy-Six

Theodota

A loud clap resounded from beside me, and Alpha Kiel came into my line of sight. 

“Yes, you did, my dearest Theodota,” he cooed. I was too shocked to retort, to tell him that I wasn’t his ‘dearest,’ and he wasn’t allowed to address me so intimately. I simply stared at the corpse of the man. The only indication of his existence as a human, as a werewolf, were his ears which stood out inconspicuously, a sharp contrast to his blackened body. Horror washed over my body. But the horror quickly numbed over, as I straightened and watched Alpha Kiel carefully. He was satisfied, so pleased that I’d killed someone. Obviously pleased that his plans were moving forward with no hitch. I felt sick to my bones. 

“You’ll be such a great weapon,” Alpha Kiel went on, his eyes gleaming. 

“I’ll rather die,” I spat.

He chuckled. “You’ll be of use to me, dead or alive, Theodota. Do not mistake your importance.” He gestured at the corpse. “This is just the beginning.”

“I killed him because he was an eyesore,” the words surprised even myself. As someone who’d died once, I didn’t take life lightly. I never did.

He was taken aback by my response. Then his lips curled into a pleased smirk. “So long coming. I love it. You should grow more backbone befitting of your status.” He said.

I stared blankly. My mind was somewhere between angry, and tired. I wanted to rest. 

“Say what you want. I’ll never be a weapon for you, or anyone else.” I retorted.

He laughed, and ticked his fingers. “But you killed him. You’re dangerous, Theodota Leonas. And you’re going to be useful in this war.” He said, and bounced on his feet to leave. He paused, as if on a second thought, turned back to me, and approached, a cynical smile on his face. 

“I’m curious, Theodota,” he began, and I flinched at how my name rolled off his tongue. Irritation filled me. “I know you know something. We know you saw something. You’ve always been a wary and curious kid, even as a child. I refuse to believe that you’ll sit still and allow Andreas imprison you,” he let the words hang, and my heart thudded against my chest. 

What did he mean by ‘we?’ And he spoke like he’d been watching my life during childhood. Dipping briefly into my past memories, my mind moving past the terrible life I led as an Omega, the way I hoped that the Alpha’s son would like me even a little bit, didn’t bring Alpha Kiel to the fore. I had no memories of us ever crossing paths. He was the Alpha, I was the daughter of two Omegas in the pack. It made no sense. Yet, Alpha Kiel spoke with such strong conviction that made me think that something deeper had been going on all along. 

I put on a forced lazy smile, hoping that my eyes didn’t give away what my mouth didn’t. I was afraid that if he stared deeper into my eyes, he could find out about that place. And I’d rather die than endanger the folks in The Fox Regiment. 

“Maybe you don’t know me as much as you think,” I shrugged, fighting back a since as that action ignited the pain on my sides. 

Alpha Kiel’s face closed up. “You have a chance, Theodota–” he studied me closely, “–to get out of this unscathed, and without further damage.” He finished off, and I was hard-pressed not to laugh. The man was deranged, and he believed in his messed up ways.

“You mean I can get out of this less damaged than I am now?” I retorted, my attempt of sarcasm not hitting the target. 

Alpha Kiel leaned in, and I met his gaze with unflinching eyes. “They don’t care about you, little girl.” He taunted. I scoffed. “Work for us, and see how devastation you can unleash.” He offered.

I stared at him blankly, wondering what brought about his sudden change. I wasn’t stupid enough to buy it though. 

“And suddenly, I get a choice?” I mocked, the tear on my lower lip getting broader. 

His eyes flashed with momentary anger, and he remained in the same position, his face only inches away from mine. I detested his warm breath fanning against my face. His lips twisted into a cruel smile. “Think hard and slow, Leonas,” he said, and my eyes widened at his use of my last name. What did he think he was doing? He went on. “Hard and very slow–” he inched back, “–your time is running out.” 

I went silent, knowing how much he hated it. 

He withdrew. “Very well. You’ll have a guest soon.” 

As I watched his figure disappear, a wave of vertigo overwhelmed me, and I doubled down to the floor. My eyes didn’t leave the corpse, and no one came to check on me, even after a while. Silence reigned around me, except for the random patters of footsteps that belonged to Alpha Kiel’s men who thronged the hallway outside my room—or prison if you’d be more direct. I heaved, and my hand rounded my stomach.

The dead man’s eyes stared up at me, the horror on his face masked by the charred flesh that had been his skin once upon a time. It was as though he saw something that left him stricken even at the point of death. I didn’t resist the feeling as it came. The feeling of being satiated. I relished it. My veins thrummed with power, the ecstasy of letting my powers loose. I reached out for the bond that linked Dria and I, but I hit the same mental block. No luck this time. 

As my ass kissed the cold hard floor, just a few inches away from the body, the door pushed open. Calculating the time, it’d be twenty minutes after Alpha Kiel left. I stared up at the intruder, noting the nervousness that flashed in his eyes just for the briefest moment before retreating. I pushed back a grin. He was afraid of me. Good. He should be. They should all be. 

“Food,” he said gruffly as he walked into the room, a tray in hand, and anxiety oozing out of him in waves. 

“Take it back,” I ordered, without bothering to take a look at whatever was on the tray. I wouldn’t push it past Alpha Kiel to feed me a plate of worms. Again. 

“You don’t exactly have a choice,” a familiar voice suddenly said, and footsteps sounded, before the tall figure walked into the room, two gammas manning both sides. I eyed him with the hatred that wrapped so tight around my heart. 

It finally dawned on me who the ‘guest’ Alpha Kiel had referred to, was. 

Dimitris.