A Prequel [Book 8] in Her Destiny Series ||| ❝His family was blinded by greed and he lost everything in the crossfire.❞
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Everyone knew his family was a twisted one, they slaughtered packs for power. He was trapped, unable to escape t...
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His spine was rigid.
Seated in Braxton's office with the devil himself and the demonic son, he felt like the pit of raging fire would melt the skin from his bones. He put his pain aside, no matter how his teeth would surely break beneath the pressure to keep everything inside, and he heard Braxton's Beta announce the arrival of the Zayev Alpha.
"You two will not say a damn thing," Braxton hissed, "I will do all the talking."
He hated the tradition Braxton forced him to partake in. Anytime there was a meeting, Braxton forced his sons to sit through it. Sutton was never welcome. Whatever kind of mind game Braxton wished to play, it was the worst kind of torture and it worked. He could take physical abuse but mental abuse was a whole other field of play. His thoughts were tied up, confused, and he was struggling. It was like if someone repeated something enough times, he would eventually believe it.
The Beta of their pack was just as roughed up as the rest of them, dark bruises lighting his cheekbones, but he bowed his head before allowing the Zayev Alpha and his Beta inside. He schooled his features into nothing and he observed with cold eyes. He didn't know what he was expecting, but a large man with bright golden hair was not one of them. It was like the sun itself had entered the room and blinded them, he was instantly curious of this Alpha. For once, the Zayev Alpha did not carry a cloud of darkness, and he felt less inclined to reject this newcomer.
"Alpha Braxton," the Zayev Alpha greeted in a deep baritone voice, "It is a pleasure to meet you."
"Likewise, Alpha Leonardo" Braxton switched personalities and he hated it but said nothing as Braxton continued, "I've heard a lot about you and your pack."
Alpha Leonardo sat across from Braxton with a careful expression, his Beta beside him, "So have I. You have created quite a reputation for yourself. Conquistador Pack has been ranked as one of the leading packs."
During their conversation, he observed the Zayev Beta, a young man with bright blue eyes, and they gave each other a staring match for a few seconds, trying to figure the other out before the Zayev Beta turned his head away.
Braxton seemed pleased, "Ah, well, hard work pays off, you know?"
Alpha Leonardo nodded slowly, "I suppose it does. I am curious, though, why you would request an alliance? You don't seem to need help."
He could instantly feel the change in Braxton's facade. It wasn't visible to the seeing eye, it was something he had learned to pick up on from years of living with the monster, and he knew Alpha Leonardo struck a nerve with Braxton. However, he was surprised when Braxton leaned back with a seemingly innocent chuckle.
"I only wish to expand with greatness," Braxton said, easily and smoothly, "I have grown to know quite a few packs that need to be dealt with."
A wariness reflected in Alpha Leonardo's eye, "I see."
"Of course, we would be business partners with equal shares," Braxton quickly added.
"And what would Zayev receive from this alliance?"
Braxton's lips tightened, "Safety and protection. We can offer that for you as you grow from a small pack." He knew it was an ugly lie, as soon as Braxton was in power, he would destroy the little pack and overtake it. He prayed that this Alpha was smart enough to catch onto the cards being dealt beneath the table. He was tired of seeing packs fall.
"And if I refuse?" Alpha Leonardo said.
There was a small pause and then Braxton spoke, a dark tone seeping in his words, "It would just be a disagreement, nothing major."
"I know your terms of a disagreement," Alpha Leonardo answered, firmly, "I have heard the rumors of your work and I know you've paid off the council so that they will not intervene." That was news to him and his eyes snapped to Braxton with fire. All this time he was wondering why the Council wasn't involved and now he knew.
Braxton's eyes darkened considerably as he sat up, "Careful, you can't always believe the rumors that are fabricated from jealousy."
"I have my sources and I assure you, I do not take action on rumors."
He suddenly wanted to escape the room. The building tension between these Alphas was suffocating. He didn't know Alpha Leonardo but something told him that this Alpha was trying to do the right thing. Alpha Leonardo could not be fooled by the games of the greedy.
However, he couldn't figure out why--if Alpha Leonardo knew all of this--that he would answer the request for an alliance from Braxton. It seemed foolish to him. Or maybe it went along the lines of keeping the enemy closer and that was a good strategy that he would have never thought of. He made a mental note, that could come in handy someday if he ever got the hell out of here.
"I suppose you will not agree to an alliance then," Braxton stated coldly.
"Of course not," Alpha Leonardo said, "But, I would like to form a peace agreement."
"For what?"
"That you will not come after my pack. I know it is only a matter of time as you have conquered the packs closest to us."
Braxton's lips slowly curled into a twisted smirk, dark eyes glowing amusement, "That's a bold move," Braxton leaned forward, "However, I am not inclined to make any guarantees."
Alpha Leonardo was not fazed and said calmly, "I figured as much. Thank you for your time and good day, Alpha Braxton." With that said, Leonardo and his Beta stood respectfully, though there was a lot of bad energy coursing through the room.
"You better watch your back," Braxton taunted, grinning with dark promise.
"I could say the same to you," Alpha Leonardo replied with a tight-lipped smile and then they left the office.
He watched them go, curiosity sparking in his mind because he had never seen an Alpha handle such a heated meeting with ease. Alpha Leonardo was someone he aspired to be, a true Alpha, if only he could control his emotions and words like that. But, he would never be enough.
As soon as the door closed, he turned his attention back to Braxton, who was simply a wild bull that would go insane at any given moment; and Russell soaking up all the maleficent ways of father. The alliance had been a failed plan, the peace agreement between Conquistador and Zayev had went wrong, and that left Braxton with only one option to satisfy his greed.
Braxton snarled beneath clenched teeth, "He's a threat. We're going to slaughter them all."
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Double update because I'm stuck in my feels.
Mostly just anger but whatever. I'm also stressed and I'm getting a release from writing this, without a single regret for how dark it is. Welcome to what's inside my head.
Oh, and that is most likely all we will see of Alpha Leonardo (Leroy and Leon's father). I hope you like the backstory happening between all these packs before Her Fated Destiny began! I'm kinda blending it all together with Joel's story.
