Chapter 100
LIEF’S POV
The dungeon was colder than usual. The eerie chill settled on our bones like a cloak as Ryker, Ezren, and I descended the stone steps, with Ezren and I flanking Ryker.
My expression was grim. I didn’t need to look at Ryker to know what was going on in his head. Because he was very much angry—that we knew.
However, aside from that, his expression was completely unreadable. As his beta and best friend, I knew Ryker so well, but after the outcome of the ritual, he had spoken so few words, and his aura screamed danger. Like a force waiting to be named, carefully tamed, but when released, would destroy everything in its wake.
The torches lining the walls flickered as if sensing the storm that brewed in their Alpha King’s chest.
Everyone was practically walking on ice right now—everyone.
There was an eerie tension in the pack, especially since Lyra’s sudden appearance in black six nights ago—since the night of the blood moon.
News of her pregnancy, belonging to Ryker, had been shared by Alvin, barely days after the council of elders and the other northern Alphas left the pack.
The pup had been three months old—exactly the time we had gotten back from the outlands—from the Alpha King’s trial that got Ryker the throne.
My gaze flickered to Ryker – the weight of the loss of two heirs hung on his shoulders, not to mention Lyra’s rejection and outburst of vengeance she promised.
If only he knew that Vera’s child was not his.
Ezren and I didn’t have proof of that except for the existence of Vera’s lover, Adam. However, the moment she lost her child and blamed Lyra, it clicked…
Ezren and I had looked at each other with a quiet understanding. We had underestimated her.
The child wasn’t Ryker’s.
The thought that she was bringing a fraud to claim the throne boiled my bones over once again.
Adam’s cell was dim, the scent of blood and sweat thick in the air, as he lay slumped against the wall. His breathing was shallow, and his skin was pale. He looked worse off, but Ryker’s fury was not yet satiated. Not when he had lost so much within a week.
We stepped into the cell, and Ryker’s words echoed.
“You still refuse to speak?” Ryker grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the wall, and Adam groaned, barely conscious.
Ryker’s eyes glowed gold. His claws extended immediately, and I stepped forward.
“Ryker—”
But it was too late.
Ryker slashed across Adam’s chest—not deep enough to kill, but enough to mark. Enough to punish.
The werewolf punishment.
A wound that wouldn’t heal until the Alpha King deemed it so.
Adam gasped, blood soaking his shirt.
Ezren cursed under his breath. “He’s too weak. He won’t survive this.”
“Oh, he will survive.” There was a mad look in Ryker’s eyes, and he snarled closer to Adam, “I would only give you till the end of today, but know this. For my loss, you will pay with your life.” Then he turned to me. “Get Alvin,” And walked out of the dungeon, leaving us behind.
Lief turned to the guards. “Get Alvin. Now.”
Minutes later, Alvin arrived, his face tight with concern, as he knelt beside Adam, inspecting the wound.
“He’s barely holding on,” Alvin said. “His pulse is erratic. He needs rest, fluids—time.”
I shook my head. “Do anything you can to save him, Alvin, without the last two. Ryker would have none of it for a traitor like him.”
My gaze swept over to him as irritation bubbled in my chest.
He had been quiet—taking the wounds, the scars, the punishments. Something still kept him.
What could that be?
What was still keeping him alive? Keeping him mute?
My eyes roamed around, and they landed on Ezren’s vigilant ones, and we walked out, leaving Alvin behind.
Alvin stayed behind, tending to Adam with quiet urgency. When he was done, he left, promising to return with supplies.
ADAM’S POV
The cell was quiet again. My body felt a little bit of strength, not enough to shift, but enough to withstand more torture.
That’s how my days had been, punishment, then repair of my battered flesh and wolf. My wolf had been too weak to heal properly ever since the surge of the blinding light.
Nobody knew this yet, but she had appeared in my cell and sucked out the essence of my wolf’s spirit.
I was never the same again…
While I was still wallowing in the loss of my wolf’s essence, I heard the sound of hurried footsteps.
Relief flooded over me as I saw the guard who appeared. It was Edwin, my friend. We were mostly on guard duty together and had been friends since we were younger. He was the only one who knew of Vera and me.
The only one who knew the truth…
“You’re here,” I managed to sit up and flash him a smile, but his gaze was filled with worry as he looked at me.
“Why do you torture yourself so? You do know you’re going to die soon. How could you still be so stupid? This whole thing is fishy—you in the same room with the Alpha King’s mate.” He growled earnestly as he spoke through the caged doors. His eyes were darting nervously.
I coughed, and blood trickled down my lips. “I don’t believe Vera would be cruel enough to do that to me,” I spoke weakly.
I would only make my decision on what to believe when I saw her.
Weakly, I raised my head and stared at Edwin. “I need… I need you to send a message.”
Unknown to me, a shadow loomed in the darkness of the dungeon.