The Alpha's Prey [Alpha-series (I)]

Chapter 30

Desperate screams filled the air, accompanied by the metallic scent of blood and smoke. The streets were lined with dead bodies, familiar faces looking up at me with pained expressions and glassy eyes that were no longer of this world, houses were burning. The warriors of the king and the other Alphas rampaged through the village like a deadly storm, mercilessly slaughtering every man, woman, and child in their vicinity. I knew I should do something, should fight or run and hide, but I couldn’t move. I could only stand there and watch my world fall apart. When did it all start to go wrong? Why was nobody stopping this madness?
Something touched my foot. I looked down – and saw the severed head of one of Lucas’ men. Bile rose in my throat, and I clamped my hand over my mouth.
“Traitor!”
A warrior stepped out from between two houses unto the open street, his furious gaze fixated on me.
“Traitor!”
Another warrior emerged from the opposite side, his clothes covered in red just like those of his brethren.
“Traitor!”
“Traitor!”
“Traitor!”
More and more men appeared on the street until a small army of warriors started to close in on me. They formed a circle around me and I knew there was no chance I would make it out alive.
“Move, you piece of shit!”
There was a commotion in the back, chains rattled, and then Caleb was pushed into the circle with me. He landed on his knees, his hands tied with heavy iron handcuffs, his body covered in nasty wounds and bruises, his face swollen and barely recognizable. The king was right behind him, not a single bloodstain or trace of dirt on his white elegant shirt. He grabbed my mate by his hair and brutally yanked his head upwards.
“Don’t worry, Caleb”, he whispered into his ear, loud enough for me to hear. “Once you are gone, I’ll take care of your Luna. She’ll make a fine concubine.”
One of the warriors handed the king a knife.
“No, please …”, I begged. “Please …”
That only earned me a malicious grin from the king.
“I’ll make it quick!”
I wanted to run to Caleb, wanted to rescue him, but something held me back in place. I struggled against the restraints, desperately screamed his name … but then I heard someone calling my name.
“…mma! Gemma, wake up! Gemma!”
I blinked and looked into a pair of worried dark green eyes.
“C-Caleb?”, I asked confused, voice raspy. “Where …”
“We are still in the car on our way to the border, but we should arrive any minute now”, he explained while his hand softly caressed my cheek. “You fell asleep about two hours ago.”
Then none of it was real, it was only a nightmare. Except for …
“The head of this mean …”, I whispered with a lump in my throat. “That wasn’t only a dream, was it?”
Caleb’s expression hardened which was answer enough.
The last twenty-four hours were mostly a blur, but I could still vividly remember how it all had started. Unfortunately.
There had been unrest in the pack so Caleb had woken early. After quickly putting on something decent we headed to the main street of the village where the king already awaited us – a badly beaten Lucas kneeling at his feet, hands tied behind his back. At the king’s side stood a warrior, his face distorted with wrath, his clothes bloodied – and the severed head of a middle-aged man in his right hand. A shocked gasp escaped me and I remembered where I had seen him before. He was one of Lucas’ men.
“Look who has come to join us at last!”, the king welcomed us, a sly smile playing on his lips. “Don’t you want to greet your friend, Caleb?”
He thrust a hand in Lucas’ hair and forcefully yanked his head upwards.
“Turns out I was right all long. But that you would go to such length to bring me down …” A dramatic pause. “Your greed for power truly knows no bounds! Building an army out of convicted criminals to seize the thrown – do you know no shame, no honor?”
I bit my tongue and fisted my hands in a desperate effort not to snarl right back or let out a hysterical laugh. The only one here without shame and honor was standing right in front of us. And what was that bullshit about building an army?
“I demand a grand trial”, Caleb boomed, his voice calm and confident. Not exactly the reply I had anticipated.
Have you lost your mind? Why are you not trying to defend yourself? These accusations are hideous! By demanding a trial, you are basically pleading guilty!
What the hell was he thinking?
If I told the truth and tried to convince the king Rogues are able to recover, he would simply call me a power-hungry madman without giving me a chance to prove my words. He would probably argue all men in Lucas’ pack were cold-blooded criminals and therefore just mistaken for being Rogues. As a result, he would order Lucas’s pack to be executed on the spot and have me stripped of my Alpha-status and incarcerated – to which the other Alphas would raise no objection.
So you decided to give up before even trying?, I asked incredulously.
I decided to play for time by giving the king what he wants – at least for now, he corrected. He has always been paranoid someone wants to overpower him, but he was never able to unearth solid proof. That’s why he had to take it upon himself to produce evidence whenever he suspected someone. Had the council not warned us of his deranged schemes the king would have had me in chains long ago.
That’s when it clicked.
You want the king to get lost in this absurd fantasy of his so you are playing right into his hands. You want him to treat Lucas and his men as witnesses, as the solid “proof” he had been so desperately searching for all along, I understood.
We also have to take into account that the king and the other Alphas are furious at the moment – as I would have been mere weeks ago had the same happened in another pack. The situation is heated and any resistance on my part will only result in more blood and chaos, he added. What we need more than anything else right now is for everyone to cool down and start acting on logic again instead of impulse. We will make our move once the trial is held. It’s our best shot. A lot of other Alphas will be attending as well, so the hands of the king are tied to a certain point.
The trial was to be held in the territory of the Alpha king. Of course, neither Caleb nor Lucas and his men would be allowed to walk free until that day. Most members of Lucas’ pack were thrown into our prison, only the Alpha and a handful of men handpicked by the king would participate in the trial. Needless to say, he only picked the most aggressive men he could find – someone like Amun didn’t quite fit his narrative of a brutal bloodthirsty mercenary-army. Lucas and the men that had been chosen to serve as witnesses would be awaiting the trial in the prison of the Alpha king while Caleb and I would be hosted by one of his royal warriors. After all, my mate was still one of the strongest Alphas out there and not yet officially convicted. Mistreating him so openly would reflect badly on the king who was eager to make everything appear prim and proper on his part. Since our whole pack was held hostage by the warriors and Alphas who were ordered to stay back fleeing wasn’t an option for us anyway, so there was no harm in permitting us our freedom to this degree.
“We arrived. We will walk the rest of the way “, our driver announced when we reached a small parking lot in the middle of the forest. He was talking in Romanian, the official language of the werewolves, but Caleb translated for me through our mind link. He had learned it from an early age on and was fluent in speaking and writing.
Caleb and I got out of the car and followed the king and his warriors into the forest. A couple of minutes later we reached our destination: two large tents made out of white linen – the kind of tents people used to set up at a renaissance fair. A handful of big wooden torches were positioned in front to lit up the scene.
What is the meaning of this?, I asked confused.
This is where we are supposed to change, Caleb replied, indicating our clothes by pinching the collar of his shirt.
Change? Into what?
Into attire befitting the domain of the king. No one is allowed into his pack territory wearing clothing “of the human world”.
You mean … we have to wear Renaissance costumes?
Much like vampires and mermaids, werewolves had lived alongside humans for centuries, hiding their supernatural powers. That changed at the end of the middle ages. Thanks to the invention of printing science was on the rise and people started to explore more parts of the world as travel and communication got safer and faster. On the other hand, the Christian church that had solidified its power over the last centuries and now played a more and more crucial role in world politics started to mercilessly hunt down what they saw as “heretics”. Dozens of smaller packs fell prey to the inquisition. Faced with these challenges the werewolves found it harder and harder to hide their true nature from the human eye. As a result, in 1583 a historical decree was issued by Alpha king Valerius, ordering his people to live in settlements solely inhabited by our kind. Contact to the humans was to be kept at a bare minimum. Every new development in human society and culture was seen as potentially dangerous. The royal pack and a lot of others mostly abided by this rule until today, which meant they were pretty much stuck in time since Valerius’ decree.
“This way, Luna Gemma”, a warrior urged me to enter the tent to our left. Caleb and the other men entered the one to the right. I cast a nervous look at my mate.
Don’t worry. We’ll stay in contact like this and if something happens, I am right next door. I’ll be by your side in no time!, he promised.
I nodded.
When I entered the tent three maids already awaited me and I was greeted with a gracious bow. All three had their hair hidden under a white bonnet and wore long linen gowns, two in pale green and one in pale dark blue. Two huge bowls of fire were used to keep the tent heated – it was winter after all and the Carpathians weren’t the coziest part of the planet during this time of the year. Dark tapestries covered the floor and a handful of wooden boxes looking like treasure chests from a pirate movie were put alongside the walls.
“Luna Gemma, please take off your garments and put them in here”, one of the maids ordered in Romanian, holding out a wooden basket. I could only understand her because Caleb translated for me.
I did as I was told until I was only in my bra and underpants. The maid still held the basket.
“E-everything?”, I croaked.
No answer, just three women silently staring me down. Sighing I got rid of my underwear as well. The maid brought my clothes out of sight and her colleagues appeared with a white chemise, thin puffy trousers that only went to my knees, and stockings. Next, I was put into a laced corset, followed by a simple silken undergown and a stiffened bodice. The last layer consisted of a delicately embroidered brocade gown in different shades of beige with puffy sleeves from the shoulders to the elbows. The dress was close-fitting down to my hips where it flared out into a wide skirt. The light sandy colors complimented my red hair that the maids put into an elegant braid adorned with tiny white pearls. A pearl necklace was wound around my neck and a maid brought skillfully crafted silken heels. At last, I was handed a thick ruby cloak.
My inner fashionista was fascinated by the attention the seamstresses had paid to detail. Everything had been handsewn and carefully put together. The dress and the cloak must have taken weeks, probably even months to embroider and stitch together!
Still flawed by my beautiful gown I stepped out of the tent where I was greeted by a grumpy looking Caleb. Had the situation not been so dire I would have laughed. It was obvious he wasn’t nearly as satisfied with his new clothes as I was.
As uncomfortable as those human suits are, at least they somewhat look the part and I don’t feel like a complete idiot wearing them. But this … This is just outright ridiculous!, he growled.
It’s all about confidence, I advised him. As a model, I had to wear clothes I didn’t like all the time, yet I never felt ugly or ridiculous. The most important thing was to feel comfortable in one’s own skin, then you could rock every look.
The warriors still look badass despite wearing the same puffy shirt you do. And in all honesty, that black tight doublet you wear doesn’t look all too bad …
“Tight” doesn’t even begin to cover it. I feel like they fricking sewed me into this thing! Luckily it’s winter and I can hide everything under my cloak.
Where are the other warriors?
Of the dozen that had come here with us only three stood beside Caleb now.
The king and his men shifted and took off.
Caleb and I weren’t allowed to change into our wolf forms until the trial was concluded.
He has a big trial to organize after all. The guards will accompany us to the house of the warrior we’ll be staying at.
Behind the tents, an old-style horse carriage had been prepared for us. The two sturdy black horses that had been harnessed in impatiently pawed the ground, eager to get to work. Caleb helped me climb in before doing the same. I had never been in a horse carriage and soon learned I hadn’t been missing out. Driving on a dirt track the whole time the thing was shaking like crazy and I had to focus all my energy on my sick tummy. Good thing I had barely eaten all day. Getting dragged to the Alpha king’s territory so suddenly had dampened my appetite.
Should I ask the driver to stop for a moment?, Caleb asked while stroking my back. He seemed completely fine, probably another perk of being an Alpha.
I shook my head. I didn’t want the warriors of the king who followed us in their wolf form to see me like this.
I’ll manage.
He let out a deep sigh but didn’t comment on my decision.
When the city gates that were embedded into a huge intimidating stone wall finally came into view, I sacked in relief. Almost there.
All too soon though, that feeling was replaced by nausea again – and fear. I trusted in Caleb, and if anybody could outwit that devious excuse of a king it was probably him. He had done it once before. But I wasn't so naive to think we would leave this battle we were about to fight unscathed. There was too much at stake for both sides, and I wouldn’t put it past the king to play dirty. If that man had a consciousness at all, it was the size of a sand grain - and that alone spelled trouble ...

"Your majesty", the two warriors chanted while getting down on their knees.
"You may rise."
Edgar and Valentin were guards of the royal prison, specialized in interrogation and torture. He had personally seen to it that that position had fallen into their hands, which had earned him their unconditional loyalty. Under normal circumstances they would have never made it into the royal forces, both of them being simply too weak with not so much a drop of warrior blood running through their veins. But they had a rare talent for sniffing out the weakness of others and enjoyed exploiting that knowledge to the core, enjoyed causing pain and emotional distress in others. A wise ruler had to evaluate and place his pawns with caution – and these two had proven to be a stroke of genius. Whenever he needed a confession or an unfortunate deathly "accident" in prison, he called on Edgar and Valentin. No one had ever questioned them, had ever looked their way twice. They played their roles as harmless weaklings well.
"I take it the fake Alpha and his men have already settled into their accommodations?"
A curd nod from Edgar.
"Each assigned to a different part of the dungeon as a precaution, as you ordered, my king."
"Good, good."
He paced up and down, carefully considering his next words. Should anything go wrong he had to make sure nothing could be traced back to him. If Valentin and Edgar were discovered and forced to share their memories, this conversation had to appear earnest.
"I don't want even a single hair of them harmed until the trial. Especially not their leader and his human female. Please take special care of them."
A flash of excitement sparkled in the eyes of the guards and he knew his message had been received.
Caleb was acting way too calm considering the dire position he was in. Not even a smart, calculated bastard like him could fake nonchalance if cornered, the disbanding of his pack essentially a done deal. No, he was planning something, and he had a hunch the leader of those criminals played a vital part in it – and his gut instinct was usually right. Finally, he had Caleb where he wanted him, and this time, he wouldn't allow anything to stop his downfall. That meant this Lucas had to disappear for good.
"Of course, your Majesty", Edgar replied.
The three exchanged a knowing glance, and he knew the fake Alpha wouldn't live to see the next morning.
"How is your pup doing? I heard the boy keeps you and your mate busy."
He couldn't care less about this weakling and his stinky peasant offspring, but this was part of their unspoken deal: He gave them the impression that they were important to him, raised their social standing well beyond what those dirty rats deserved. In return, he had two dependable deadly shadows at place in prison, ready to do his every bidding.
"He is a strong, healthy pup - I couldn't be more blessed", the warrior proudly replied.
"With a father like you, I have no doubt he will grow up to be an honorable member of the pack."
Edgar beamed at the compliment. What a gullible fool.
"That is all. You may take your leave."
The warriors took another bow before leaving the audience chamber. Soon, Caleb would bow to him as well, would fall to his knees and beg him for mercy, would do every contemptuous task he asked him to do – and he would ask him to do plenty. Oh, how he would enjoy breaking that bastard, would enjoy making his life a living hell. He couldn't wait for the trial to start.