The Alpha Can’t Sense His Mate

ZADOK

The drive back was cold and silent.

I couldn’t wipe the picture of Ithra from my head. Thinking of the many things Cole could do to her made my blood boil in anger. I couldn’t sit back and do nothing, not when he had what belonged to me.

We got to the pack, and I sent a message to Azriel via the mind link. “I want Aaron in the dungeon. Meet me there in ten minutes.”

Ten minutes was too long because I was in the dungeon before they dragged him into the dungeon while he screamed in horror.

“What have I done?!” He said, “Leave me alone!”

“Shut up.” My tone was hard, and packing an alpha command.

Azriel walked in moments later. “What happened?” He said, gauging me with a confused expression.

“This man over here thought he could play jokes with me,” I said with a smile that didn’t reach my eye. “You wouldn’t believe how stupid I had been to listen to his crap.”

“What are you talking about?” Asked Azriel, looking between the scared man and myself.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“You heard him, didn’t you?” I said to Aaron who was hung in the air by the chains that held him. “Tell him why you are here.” I urged him.

“Alpha!” He cried, “I don’t know what you have heard but I assure you that I have done nothing to betray you!” He said with conviction. “I swear I have been loyal to you and the entire Blood Hound pack.”

I let out an amused laugh. “Really?” I said, shaking my head. “Do I look that easy to deceive or did they put you up to this?”

“Put him up to what?” Azriel said and unsheathed his knife. “Was he sent to spy on us?”

“That would have been better.” I said, “Had he been a spy, it would have been better for him.” I stepped into his cell. “Will you tell the truth or should I bring it out from you?” I asked, picking up a dagger that reminded me of Ithra. “I could do this all night,” I assured him.

“I didn’t do anything! I swear! It must be a set-up!” He cried, but I didn’t care.

I ordered a fire and roasted my knife accordingly. When the blades were heated properly, I tried again. “Are you going to confess or do I need to bring it out of you?”

Azriel and Athaliah stood by the door, watching me like I was out of my mind. And If I was being honest, I had truly lost it that night. And hell will break loose if I don’t get answers.

“Let’s try that again,” I said, getting closer to him with my knife. “Did you or did you not lie to me about Ithra?”

Immediately the words left my lips, his eyes widened a bit and there, I knew he was guilty. Nevertheless, I humoured him, waiting for him to lie. He fell right into my trap.

“I didn’t lie! I saw the Luna in the dark forest! I couldn’t possibly lie about something so-”

I didn’t let him finish. I drove the heated dagger into his stomach and a guttural scream left his lips, they were music to my ears. I needed more, more of that sweet sound. It’s been a while since I got to play with my toys.

“Wrong answer,” I said, twisting the dagger into his guts. “You know what I hate more than rogues?” I asked and he shook his head, breathing heavily. “Liars!” I said and sent him a punch that produced two of his front teeth.

“Especially one that lied repeatedly to my face,” I added for good measure. “I’ll give you one last chance, Aaron. Two questions and I will make your death quick and painless.”

My head tilted, “Did you meet my mate in the dark forest? And who asked you to lie?”

“I swear to you, Alpha! I didn’t lie to you! I really-”

This time, he was shut up by a dagger, dangerously close to his heart. “Oops! Wrong answer! I also forgot to add that it is made of silver.” His eyes went the size of saucers and I could tell he was finding it hard to breathe. “One wrong move, and poof, you’re gone,” I said with a wicked glint in my eyes.

Aaron didn’t say anything. He remained silent and visibly terrified. I wasn’t satisfied. If he would not speak, I might as well go on to make good on my promise – A long and torturous death.

I went on with my torture, attacking every vital organ in his body, but leaving him at the brink of life and death. At some point, he lost consciousness but I wasn’t satisfied. I needed to see him feel the pain I inflicted on him.

He needed to feel the measure of pain I felt when I mourned the death of my mate, who was alive and in the hands of another. He needed to pay for the shock, the embarrassment and everything it cost me, including my sanity.

Like a rabid wolf, I sliced his manhood, and blood flowed like a river. The pain of having his private part cut brought him out of unconsciousness. Good. Now I needed to harvest his organs. They were a waste on him anyway.

“Alpha!” Athaliah’s horrified scream brought me out of my bubble.

I turned around, and everyone gauged me like the beast that I was. A beast I had become.

It seemed like her scream jolted Azriel to action because he immediately approached me with a definite look on his face. “Enough.” His voice was firm but his eyes were pleading. “Let’s talk about this, Zadok. We can talk about it.”

“There’s nothing to talk about Azriel. He lied to me. Ithra is alive. She was alive and in the arms of another while I mourned her for three years!” I yelled with a maddened expression. “He said he saw her ghoul. He said she wanted me to live again. To be the protector. And because of her, I let go. I taught my heart to let it go and what did I get?!” My voice broke as I continued, “The reality of the fact that I had been betrayed and deceived by a member of my pack!”

“Tell me Azriel… Give me one bloody reason why he shouldn’t die a slow and painful death?”