Defying the Rogue Alpha
Chapter 144: Silver

Chapter 144: Silver

"Maybe the council runs a silver mine on the side," Dennis offered dryly. "Councilmen by day, black-market dealers by night."

Lucas looked up at him, half-laughing, half-weeping. "You’re joking?! Right now?!"

"I joke when I’m terrified. Keeps the heart rate steady," Dennis said, sitting down again, the chains clinking. "Our people will come, Lucas. Just be patient."

Lucas exhaled. "When?" he rasped, shoulders sagging. "When are they going to realise we’re missing?"

Then he glared at Dennis. "And how the fuck are you so calm? Seriously, are you on meds?!"

Dennis leaned his head back against the wall, eyes closed. "Someone has to be calm, Lucas."

"You’re unbelievable," Lucas growled, pacing as far as the chains would let him. "They took your mate! At least Ava has a chance of staying alive! But Zoe?"

He slammed his fist against the wall again.

"Because of you, you supercilious fool!" Dennis exploded. "Because... I know you!"

Lucas blinked, startled. Not because Dennis had insulted him—he was used to that—but because his brother sounded like his heart was bleeding through his throat.

"Ten years ago, you burned everything to the ground because you lost a mate. And so, I am doing what I didn’t do ten years ago! I’m being your anchor! I refuse to be the brother who stands there again, watching you implode. I cannot rage. I cannot shout. I cannot even cry! You think it’s because I don’t care? No, Lucas! It’s because I can’t afford to fail you again! Is that enough of an excuse for you?!"

Lucas, finally, deflated. His shoulders slumped.

"...It will be different this time," he said softly, as if he were trying to convince himself as much as his brother. "I promise, Dennis. Because if I lose her... if I lose Ava..." He closed his eyes and rested his head back against the cold stone. "Then life just isn’t worth living."

"She’s been through so much already," Lucas whispered. "I put her through so much. And all she ever did was love me back. Fiercely. Patiently. The kind of love that forgives your past and believes in your future... Man, she needs a break."

Dennis sat back down and sighed, some of his earlier fire now soothed into embers. "We all do. Honestly, after this? I’m booking a vacation at a resort in the human territory. Somewhere tropical."

Lucas chuckled, lips twitching into something close to a smile. "Yeah. I’m gonna dip my toes in some sand, sip a cold drink with a ridiculous umbrella in it, and just... watch the stars with Ava."

"But first," Dennis said, shaking the chains slightly, "we have to get out of here."

"Yeah," Lucas muttered, glancing at the iron-ringed shackles. "Minor detail."

*****

Alaric sat in the grand living room of the Alpha King’s castle. The walls gleamed with power and wealth.

"Soon," he murmured to himself. "Very soon."

Everything was falling perfectly into place. Ava, the key to it all, was in the king’s hands. The artefact was ready. The timing of the full moon would unlock her powers. And once the King had those powers, Alaric would be indispensable.

The only splinter under his perfectly manicured paw was Dorian.

The king was depending on him more and more. Trusting him. Asking him questions that should have been directed at Alaric.

It was infuriating.

Dorian was a pest who had somehow turned into a pet. Worse, he had the king’s ear.

Once Ava’s powers were harvested, once the king had ascended with the blood of the moon in his veins, then Dorian would be as irrelevant as yesterday’s prophecy. The king would see that Alaric had been the real architect all along.

Ava was escorted into the grand living room. Her steps were slow. Her eyes, red and swollen, bore the kind of grief only a heart freshly wounded could carry. Her once radiant aura seemed dulled. All she could think about was Zoe. And Lucas.

Alaric stood at the far end of the room. He bowed slightly. "Goddess," he purred, "I welcome you to the North."

"Who are you?"

"Alaric," he said with pride, as though his name alone should cause thunder to strike and angels to weep.

She squinted. "Zoe’s father," she stated, piecing it together. "Where is she?"

There was no flicker of guilt on Alaric’s face. "Zoe is currently being punished for treason," he said, adjusting the cuff of his sleeve. "And will soon be executed."

The words hit Ava. Her knees nearly gave out, but she steadied herself, rage now igniting beneath her skin. "Your own daughter," she spat. "She is your blood, you stinking son of a bitch! You would watch your child die?!"

"My allegiance is to my king," he said, as if reading a job description off a scroll. "And my king alone. Well," he added with a mocking flourish, "and to you, my goddess."

He bowed again.

"Then let me go," Ava snapped. "And give me Zoe. If you’re so loyal, do something decent. Just once."

"I’m afraid I cannot," he replied. "It is your destiny to rule our world alongside the king... as his queen."

"When hell freezes over. I have a husband. My mate. And he is coming for you. Oh, Alpha Lucas Raventhorn will rain down hell so fierce, even the devil will slam the gates shut in fear of his wrath."

Alaric’s face stretched into a smile again. He stepped closer, slowly. "I’m afraid," he said, with mock sympathy, "he will be too late. The King will mate with you, my goddess. And he will claim the power of the gods through your union."

He brushed a hand across the air near her shoulder, not touching, but far too close. "First things first," he said, almost gently, "we will remove that unsightly mark from your neck. Everything between you and Alpha Lucas Raventhorn will be severed. Cleanly. And you... will stand anew before the king. Pure. Unbound. Ready."

Ava felt her chest constrict as if her very bond was already under attack. "You really believe a mark is all that binds us?" she whispered, tears brimming again. "Do you think wiping away a scar severs destiny?"

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