••• Aleena’s POV •••
I gasped, and my body trembled as we shook hands and our blood connected. I felt as if I was electrocuted, yet strangely there was something pleasant about it.
“Aleena Bell, from herein forth, you are officially a member of the Crimson Blood Pack.” I heard him say in his pleasantly deep voice.
And I gasped once again as I felt new ties with all the members of the Crimson Blood Packs forming in my mind. My body trembled even further and swayed as all strength seemed to leave me, but a pair of strong hands caught my shoulders before I fell to the floor.
Wow, what an intense experience..
“You okay, Aleena?” the man asked through our mind-link, which made me smile.
“I’m alright, Alpha,” I replied through the mind-link and looked up at him with a sweet smile.
I saw his eyes onyx eyes change to gold, but they switched back to black in an instant.
I felt him sniff me, maybe to ensure that now I smelled like one of his pack members.
I was about to ask him about him being the Alpha of this pack, but he beat me to it with his questions.
“Aleena, tell us about yourself. You have no wolf and no healing ability, yes? And you said you were from the Black Heart Pack? Were you the one being banished?” he asked.
To be honest, this Alpha Kyson Night was an excellent Alpha. He didn't even hesitate to take me in without knowing anything about me.
Now that I thought about it, it wasn't a wonder if he was the Alpha of the pack. I remembered the night of the prom, how he had caught my eyes instead of the supposedly Alpha Liam. Despite him being smaller in build, his aura was somewhat more intimidating than Beta Liam's.
Remembering his questions, I began telling him, Beta Liam and Witch Lily, who had been quiet ever since Beta Liam appeared, about myself - how I have no werewolves abilities whatsoever, even my strength and speed were human-like. After telling them all about myself, I stopped for a while, waiting for their reactions and for Alpha Kyson to banish me, but they didn't even bat an eyelid at my information. They didn't seem to care about it, which relieved me.
A bitter smile graced my lips as I then proceeded to tell them about the night of the prom and the next day - the day of my birthday, judgment, and banishment. I also told them about my plans to live with the humans and how I got to the forest where they rescued me.
Once I finished recounting my ordeal, I felt the atmosphere change. Alpha Kyson’s hands which had been holding my shoulders, pushed me back abruptly, and I tumbled back to the bed forcefully.
Why the hell is wrong with him? Why is he angry about my banishment when he should be angry about the fact that I’m human-like? He should be mad that I was just another mouth to feed who wouldn't be able to contribute anything to the pack. So why.. Realization dawned on me. Could it be..
“You are Andre’s daughter?” he asked through gritted teeth.
“Yes..” I answered slowly.
“And you expect me to believe that he would banish his daughter whom he loved and doted so much?” he sneered.
“It’s the truth,” I squeaked as I felt more of his Alpha aura unleashing. He was just like the rest of them, he didn't believe me too, and I felt my heart grow heavy and began to break at the thought of him not believing me.
“Tell me, Aleena. You expect me to believe he didn't send you here to be a spy?” he snarled and put his hand around my neck.
My eyes widened in shock. Why would Alpha Andre send me to be a spy? Why would he even spy on the Crimson Blood Pack?
“But it’s the truth! He banished me for the reasons I’ve told you, and I didn't do any of those things!” I tried to pry away his hand, which was now choking me harder. His eyes flicked from black to gold rapidly before settling back to black with a vicious glint.
“Tell me the truth!” His Alpha voice boomed and made me look down in submission.
“It’s the truth.. Please, believe me, Alpha Kyson. I have pledged loyalty to you; I wouldn't lie..”
I tried to explain, but his grip on my neck tightened even more. I can't breathe.. My hands around his arm began to slacken as I felt my consciousness begin to fade away..
His hand left my neck just as I was about to faint from the lack of oxygen. I quickly gulped in a much-needed lungful of air and looked at him.
He was growling, and his eyes had turned to gold. It looked like his wolf was fighting with his human self, and then it changed back to black.
“If you don't believe me, you can ask Witch..” I turned toward Witch Lily, but her spot was empty - she somehow had managed to sneak out of the room. Why would she leave? Why didn't she stay to help me?
“Why would I lie? Why would I spy on you?” I tried reasoning with him.
“Stop pretending!” he growled.
“I don't know anything! Please. I don't even know why you hold a grudge against Alpha Andre!” A grudge was the only reasonable explanation for why he was angry after knowing I was Alpha Andre’s daughter.
“You don't know? YOU DON'T KNOW?!” his Alpha voice boomed again, causing me to shrink back in fear.
I saw his body begin trembling, and he began transforming into his wolf. I got the shock of my life when I saw him standing with two feet, looking humanoid.
It can't be..
“You are a Lycan?!” I nearly shouted the last word due to my shock.
Aren't they supposed to be extinct? How is he..
“Stop pretending not to know why I don't have a grudge against him,” he snarled while still in his Lycan form.
“I don't know! I swear I don't know!” I kept trying to make him believe me.
“He was the sole reason for my race’s extinction.” He reached out his clawed hand and bared his fangs to me.
Because of his race’s extinction? But..
“It was the Lycan’s fault! They kidnapped and killed innocent newborn werewolves! We were just trying to protect ourselves!” I reminded him of the fact.
His growl grew even more threatening, and before I could do anything, I felt his claws digging into my neck, and his other hand curled over my arm.
I was alarmed by his sudden action. Oh no! He’s going to tear my arm away!
“No!” I shouted and closed my eyes in fear.
I felt him tug my arm harder, but suddenly his movement stilled.
Opening my eyes slowly, I saw his eyes had turned gold again. I realized that his wolf would stop him whenever he tried to harm me. His wolf seemed to like me more than his human self..
He let me go and changed back into his human form while I caressed my sore neck and arm.
“Take her to the dungeon and make her speak the truth!” he growled before turning away and leaving the room.
Dungeon? Are they going to torture me?
“It wasn't the werewolves’ fault! It was the Lycans’ fault!” I kept defending the werewolves to make him see the truth. But just as I had kept begging Alpha Andre to believe me during my judgment, my words seemed to fall on deaf ears.
I tried to escape, but Beta Liam caught my hands in his swiftly with his werewolf’s speed before I could even take two steps. I cursed myself for being human-like.
Two guards then entered the room, and I felt my energy drained from my body as they put shackles over my feet and wrists.
Wolfsbane? I have never been affected by wolfsbane. Why now?
Before I could think about it further, I was tugged forward forcefully and fell to the ground with a loud thud. My eyes began to water as my knees connected to the floor.
“Why are you helping him? Why are you helping the Lycan? You are a traitor to our race!” I shouted at Beta Liam, but he ignored me as he led the way to the dungeon.
Once inside the dungeon, my shackled hands were raised, and I was chained to the posts in the middle of the room. My arms were spread wide, but I could still move my legs as the long and thick chains on my ankles were longer than those on my wrists.
Fear descended on me as I saw one of the two guards had a whip in his hand and walked behind me.
“Speak!” I heard Beta Liam’s voice.
“I know nothing! I swear I know nothing!” I told him again.
Beta Liam looked at the guard behind me and gave a slight nod.
I cried out in pain as I felt the whip slash through my back. Cold sweats started forming on my forehead, and tears stung my eyes.
“Speak!” Beta Liam commanded again.
“Please.. I don't know anything.. I’m not a spy. I don't know that he’s a Lycan.. I don't know about his grudge against Alpha Andre.. Please believe me..” I begged him in a trembling voice.
Beta Liam looked at the guard behind him again, and I felt another slash on my back. The pain was even worse this time as it slashed through the first one. I would’ve fallen to the floor if not for the chains on my wrists keeping me up.
“Speak!” I heard Beta Liam’s command again.
I kept telling them that I knew nothing. I was banished for real and not as a spy, but after each answer, another slash of whip rained down on my back.
It went on and on until I couldn't stand the pain anymore, and I felt my consciousness fade away.
No wonder werewolves hated Lycans. They were ruthless! Gone were all my thought about Alpha Kyson being an excellent Alpha. There was only one thing on my mind before I passed out - I hate Alpha Kyson Night.
***
A sudden chill and sting on my back woke me up with a jolt of my body. I looked around and realized that I was still in the dungeon, and my body was drenched. They had poured cold water over me to wake me up. How cruel!
“Speak!” Beta Liam kept repeating the same command.
“I don't know! I’m telling the truth!” I kept telling Beta Liam the same answer too.
I braced myself for the whiplash, and it felt even worse now that I nearly lost consciousness again.
But a strange thing happened after that whip. I felt my whole body heat up, and I groaned.
“What did.. you do.. to me..” I asked Beta Liam in a stammer.
“I’m.. burning..” The burning sensation had now spread to my breasts and down to my core, making me moan in discomfort. I closed my legs and rubbed my thighs together to ease the heat, but it didn't help at all.
“What.. did.. you.. do.. to.. me.. ” I stammered again. I began struggling to free myself from the chain. I wanted to scratch my skin away from my body.
“Please help me.. I’m burning..” I begged him.
“Shit!” I heard Beta Liam curse softly before he gestured for the guard to leave.
“What is.. happening?” I moaned again as I felt the burning sensation down there worsening. I kept rubbing my thighs together. My core was throbbing badly, and I needed to make it go away!
“Please help.. me..” I begged him again, and suddenly I felt another presence in the room.