Betrayed By My Mate, Claimed By His Lycan King Uncle
Chapter 101: An Ally

Chapter 101: An Ally

Sorayah stared at him, trembling. "And you think I’d help you manipulate him like that? I’m not some tool for you." Her voice quivered with the weight of emotion. "Are you after the throne? Is that what this is about?"

He smiled but this time, it wasn’t mocking. It was somber.

"You should carry out this order, Sorayah. You are dealing with your biggest enemy...slowly, but surely," Dimitri said, his voice low and deliberate. "Besides, I know Lupien isn’t the only werewolf you hate. You despise them all, don’t you? But to win a clean fight, you have to start from their leader. And to ensure your victory, you need an ally. Whether you like it or not, your only option is to join hands with me."

A slow smirk lingered on his lips as he locked eyes with her.

Sorayah’s expression hardened. "You haven’t answered my questions. Why should I join hands with you? Why would a royal like you want to bring down your own Alpha Emperor and align yourself with a human maid? What are you planning, Your Highness? Do you want to become the alpha emperor?"

Dimitri’s smirk faded into a serious expression. "There is a blood vengeance I must collect from Lupien and every single member of this pack. That is why I’m extending my hand to you. We have the same goal, Sorayah. That should be enough for now. The rest... you will learn once I trust you. And for that to happen, you will have to open up to me as well."

Sorayah swallowed hard, her throat tightening as they remained locked in an unspoken staring contest.

**

The next day arrived swiftly, with the golden sun shining brilliantly in the sky. But Rhys was not fortunate enough to see it.

Deep underground, where the scent of blood and damp earth tainted the air, agonized screams echoed off stone walls. The cries belonged to prisoners being subjected to brutal torture.

Among the captives were werewolves whose hands had been crushed, and curse words seared into their skin like brands. Some had limbs, and even their reproductive organs, mutilated...though they would eventually regenerate, the pain was excruciating.

The bodies of those who had succumbed to the torture were being dragged out, leaving behind a trail of blood and silence.

In the center of the dungeon, Rhys was tied to a cross, completely naked and covered in fresh and fading bruises. His body bore the marks of multiple beatings from werewolf guards, and he had already passed out more than once from the pain.

"This is why I hate torturing humans," muttered one of the guards, a burly man with a muscular build, his skin slick with sweat under the flickering torchlight. "They’re so weak. He fainted just from being beaten. Imagine if we started peeling off his skin, gouging his eyes, or ripping out his fingernails. He might die before we even get started."

"He mustn’t die. No matter how terrible the torture, the Alpha Emperor and Luna were clear about that," replied another guard sternly.

Without delay, he grabbed a pail of freezing water and doused Rhys with it. The icy shock forced Rhys to regain consciousness with a gasp, his head jerking upright.

"Welcome back to the land of the living," the guard sneered, tossing the bucket aside and grabbing two whips. He handed one to his companion.

"I didn’t do anything," Rhys rasped, struggling to breathe. "I would never hurt Anaya. Please... free me."

"Still denying it? You must really have a death wish," one of the guards barked, raising his whip high. "If you refuse to confess, we’ll start removing your eyes, your eardrums, and your voice box. Perhaps then you’ll understand the punishment you deserve."

The whip came down hard on Rhys’s exposed flesh. He let out a strangled cry, blood trickling from the corners of his mouth.

"Prepare the voice-damage tonic, the eardrum-rupturing solution, and the eye-extraction tools," the lead guard ordered coldly. "After we ruin those senses, we’ll throw him into the fighting ring against a bull. Let’s see how long he lasts once he’s lost his ability to hear, see, or scream. Best of luck, human."

The prison guards’ requested items were brought forward immediately, each one of them wearing wicked grins on their faces as they eagerly prepared to carry out their cruel task.

"I don’t know anything about this!" Rhys cried out, his voice hoarse with pain and desperation. "The jade pendant is responsible for Anaya’s condition! I would never hurt her. I brought her back to her pack with my own two feet when I could have run away. I brought her home to her parents hoping there might still be a solution, some way to help their daughter. And instead, they turned their anger and pain on me."

"Keep saying that to the gods," one of the guards sneered, gripping the vial of voice-box substance and approaching Rhys with a twisted smile. "Let’s see how long your mouth works after this."

Just as he was about to force the substance into Rhys’s mouth....

"Stop!!!"

The thunderous cry froze everyone in place. The guards halted immediately and turned toward the source of the voice, only to see a familiar figure running toward them, her eyes glistening with tears.

Princess Anaya and Kisha her personal maid who had actually halted the guards.

Despite Anaya’s blindness, she moved with purpose, guided by her maid, Kisha, who was also rushing in, her expression fierce and determined.

"Greetings, Your Royal Highness," the two prison guards responsible for Rhys’s torture stammered, immediately kneeling with their heads bowed low. The other guards stationed nearby followed suit, their voices echoing in reverent unison.

"Free him. Immediately!" Kisha ordered, her voice sharp and unwavering. But the guards remained kneeling, unmoving.

"Are you all deaf?" she barked again, her tone sharper than before. "The princess has asked for him to be released!"

"We’re deeply sorry, Your Highness," one of the guards replied with genuine unease in his voice, still bowing low. "But the Luna and Alpha Emperor gave strict orders. We are not to release the prisoner unless he confesses to the crime. If he continues to deny it even after torture, then we are permitted to end his life."

Kisha’s eyes narrowed. She turned swiftly toward Anaya, grabbed her hand, and began writing words on her palm with her fingers...swift, deliberate strokes. Anaya stood still, understanding the message immediately.

Without hesitation, Anaya used her own finger to write a single word on Kisha’s palm in return. Kisha read it and nodded, then marched to one of the guards, snatched the knife from his belt, and placed it firmly in Anaya’s hand.

Gasps echoed through the underground prison as Anaya lifted the blade and pressed it to her own neck.

"Your Highness!" the prison guards shouted in horror, scrambling to their feet, their expressions now pale and frantic.

"Drop the blade, Princess....please!"