Book 2: "The Dark Pact"

Chapter 10: A Deal with Darkness

A Deal with Darkness

Riley’s heart hammered in her chest as she stood at the edge of Cannibal’s fortress, the weight of her decision pressing down on her like a physical force. It had begun with a single, chilling message—a whisper carried on the wind, warning her that her son would die unless she surrendered. Cannibal’s spies had infiltrated her pack, lurking in the shadows, ready to strike. Her son, the one light she had left in this endless darkness, was in danger. The demon king’s threat had been clear: comply, or he would perish.

She had begged. Pleaded. Promised to do anything—anything—if only he would spare the child. But Cannibal had simply smiled, his voice dripping with cruel amusement. It was already too late. If she wanted her son to live, she would have to submit fully to him.

Now, standing in the depths of his domain, Riley could feel the coldness of her promise settle over her like a shroud. The air was thick with an unnatural chill, the stone walls of Cannibal’s fortress closing in around her like the confines of a tomb. There was no escape, no window to the world she once knew. Only the oppressive silence, broken only by the cruel presence of Cannibal himself. He had taken everything from her—her pack, her pride, her will to fight—and now, he was about to take the last piece of her heart: her son.

Cannibal’s eyes gleamed in the dim light, a faint smile twisting his lips as he watched her, savoring the struggle she still fought to conceal. “You understand, don’t you, Luna?” he purred, his voice silky smooth but laced with malice. “Your son’s life hangs by a thread. He will die unless you kneel before me.”

Riley’s pulse quickened, her mind flooding with images of her son—his innocent face, wide eyes full of fear, reaching for her in desperate need. The thought of losing him was enough to break her spirit. The loss of everything else had prepared her for the fight, but this? This was a different kind of pain.

Cannibal knew it. He had carefully torn her down, piece by piece, until this was all that was left. The price of defiance was too high. Her son’s life was the final bargaining chip, and he had played it perfectly.

“Please,” she whispered, her voice cracked with raw emotion. “Please, don’t let your spies hurt him. I’ll do whatever you want. Just don’t hurt him.”

Cannibal stepped closer, his gaze dark and calculating. “You have no power here, Riley. The moment you entered my realm, your fate was sealed. Your son’s fate… is in my hands.”

Riley’s heart shattered as the truth of his words hit her. There was no bargaining. No escape. The life of her son was not hers to protect anymore. If she wanted him to survive, if she wanted to protect her pack, she would have to surrender—submit completely to Cannibal’s will.

But even as the reality settled in, a faint flicker of resistance remained deep inside her. She could still fight. She could still hold on to the woman she had been. Her pride. Her strength. Her honor. But the image of her son—his face, his innocence—was enough to strip the fight from her.

She straightened her spine, meeting Cannibal’s gaze with the last shred of defiance she could muster. “What do you want from me, Cannibal?”

A malevolent smile spread across his face, his eyes gleaming with dark satisfaction. “It’s simple, Luna. I want your loyalty. Your submission. Kneel before me, and I will spare your son. I will protect your pack.”

The words felt like daggers. Every ounce of her being screamed against it, but the pull of his power was undeniable. This was the only choice left. “I’ll do it,” she whispered, the taste of defeat thick in her mouth. “I’ll serve you. But you will keep your word. You will protect my pack. You will protect my son.”

Cannibal’s smile deepened, the malice in his gaze unmistakable. He stepped closer, running a cold finger along her cheek. “Of course,” he purred. “Your loyalty will be rewarded, Luna. In time, you’ll see the true power I offer.”

Riley flinched at the touch but didn’t pull away. The darkness had already claimed her. There was no turning back now.

She had lost.

Cannibal’s voice, a cold whisper against her ear, sent chills down her spine. “Submit fully, then. Kneel before me, and your son’s life will be spared. Your pack will live. You will understand the power of darkness.”

Riley sank to her knees, the weight of her decision crashing down on her like a tidal wave. She had given up everything—her pride, her identity, her freedom—all to keep her son safe. As her knees hit the cold stone floor, the last remnants of her resistance shattered. The chains that had bound her will were now fully in place, and there was no escaping what she had just agreed to.

Cannibal’s laughter echoed in the vast, empty chamber, a sound that twisted inside her chest. “You are mine now, Luna,” he said, his voice thick with satisfaction. “You will forget who you were. You will forget your pack. You will forget your family. All that matters now is me.”

Riley bowed her head, the last of her strength slipping away. The proud leader of her pack, the fierce mother who had fought so hard for her son, was no more. In her place, something darker had taken root—something bound to Cannibal’s will, trapped in a world of shadows.

But deep within her, the fire of rebellion still burned. She had made her choice, and for now, she had surrendered. But this war was far from over. One day, when the time was right, she would rise again. For her pack. For her son. And for the hope that one day, she would break free from the chains that now bound her.

For now, though, she was his—the demon king’s servant. And she would live with that choice until she found a way to fight again.