113

113
Kai

I keep my answers as short as possible while I follow the Elder of the Royal Pack down through floors that turn darker with every room we pass. 

I know that they will use everything I say against me, and even though I would love to mess things up a little bit, I have to keep it together because I’ve a mate and a pup who are waiting for me. Also, it is really not advisable to risk anything in a foreign pack. Keeping my head high, I follow my personal guide while forcing myself not to clench my jaw too much. 

Which is actually a challenge because, seeing the situation, he is bringing me into some dungeon. 

The audacity of them to abduct an Alpha from his pack to put him in a prison. 

Stopping in front of a set of large double doors, he gestures to the guards standing at the sides of them, and while they turn to knock, the Elder faces me again, flashing me a broad and creepy smile. 

“Future Alpha Blackwood,” he announces with the timing of a prime-time show. The door opens, disclosing a young alpha male with copper hair and an obnoxious smile that surely screams fuckboy from a mile away. “General Zenis will be at your disposal and will lead you to your father.” 

A warrior? You must be fucking kidding me!

The guy the Elder called a general can’t be older than twenty, but he already has an incredible aura. He is trying to hide it, which made me think that he must be some high-ranked royal pack member. And that would have been really impressive for his age. 

Also, I don’t think that I would have caught on to his strong aura if it hadn’t been for Moros. 

Which makes everything even more interesting. 

Zenis has his dazzling smile still plastered on his idiotic face when he bows theatrically, welcoming me to the palace. “It’s an honor meeting you, Future Alpha Blackwood.”

I hate how they call me this. 

“General,” I bow my head swiftly, not losing eye contact with him, as I don’t have the best premonition regarding him. 

“I’ll leave you to it,” the Elder says happily, and  after another swaying of his arms through the air, folds them over his chest and bows. He winks towards Zenis and walks away without saying anything else. 

Fine for me.

“This way,” General Zenis announces, walking back through the double doors that get closed by the guards as soon as I have passed them. 

We descend a spiral stone staircase, the atmosphere getting gloomy as the electric lights get replaced by torches. I get drawn into the flickering of the torches, the different colored strings mixing with the flames piquing my interest. 

“Hey, Alpha,” I jerk up, looking to my side to find Zenis a few stairs down, grinning at me. Turning my head, I realise that I have stopped right in front of such a torch, my face only inches away from it. “Looks like the bug trap is working.” 

I click my tongue, continuing to descend the stairs as if nothing happened, while I ignore his cocky expression. 

“Don’t worry, Alpha,” he says mockingly. “It happens to the best of us.” 

‘Idiot,’ I growl in my head. ‘What the hell was that?’ 

While Grim didn’t even notice that something special happened as he was distracted by his own worries about the pup, Moros groans. ‘Sorry, I blacked out for a sec.’

This isn’t good. 

Blinking into another torchlight again, I carefully start another attempt to check it out. 

What is this? 

It takes us an eternity to climb down entirely, and what preoccupies me the most is that we pass several platforms with entrances protected by guards, and I assume those must be different floors with cells. But we go all the way down, reaching the last platform and probably the deepest point of the Royal Pack. 

Those fuckers. 

The General doesn’t even have to say a word because as soon as he sets one foot on the platform, the guards start opening the heavy door to a dark hall. I follow him just as silently, reaching the middle of the room, which holds only one cell, positioned at the end of the large dungeon. 

I spot my father sitting on an iron construction, which must be functionally used as a bed too, his gaze lowered as if he didn’t notice us walking in. 

“I have to ask you not to touch the silver bars,” Zenis says nonchalantly, and I tear my eyes from Cayden, growling. 

“Silver doesn’t do shit to us. Why is he in here? Trapped like a beast?” 

He presses his lips together, squinting his eyes. “I’m sorry, sir, but if we are being honest, he is one. The body that was returned to us wasn't exactly nice to look at.”

I scoff, turning around to reach my father. “Dad.” I try not to walk too fast because I don’t want to appear desperate, while Cayden jerks up and skyrockets from the iron construction he was just sitting on. “Are you okay?” 

“Of course,” he smiles at me. Walking as close as he can to the silver bars without getting scorched. “I couldn’t be better. Have you already seen Hendrick?” 

“Hendrick?” I shout and spin around to face Zenis again, who came uncomfortably close. “Is he in one of the cells as well?” 

He closes his eyes, shaking his head. “West Wing, sir. He was accommodated in one of our secured guest rooms and will stay there until the trial starts.” 

“Get him out of there. Bring him to my Luna.” 

Tsking, I pass my hand over my face and spot my father looking around me, searching for someone who might have come with me. 

“I didn’t bring mom with me, naturally,” I groan, and he looks a tad disappointed until he catches himself. 

“Of course not, but is she doing alright?” 

I can’t believe those guys.

“Yes, she is doing fine. They are taking good care of her.” 

Gesturing to Zenis, I snarl. “Open it. I’m getting him out of here.” 

Zenis’ serious expression turns strangely happy as a broad grin forms on his lips. “Oh. I can’t possibly do that, Future Alpha Blackwood.” 

Are they fucking kidding me?