Book 3: "Blood and Ashes"

Chapter 6: A Game of Control

A Game of Control

Before this moment, Riley had faced one agonizing trial after another—her pack shattered, her son threatened, and her spirit tested in ways that made her wonder if she could endure another blow. But through it all, a fire had burned inside her, one that even Cannibal couldn’t extinguish. When Mango's betrayal came to light, it was a devastating blow, but it also hardened her resolve. The man she had trusted, the one who had walked among her pack as a supposed ally, had revealed himself to be nothing but a puppet for Cannibal. It was a betrayal too deep to forgive, but it also gave Riley clarity. She knew now that survival wasn’t enough. It wasn’t just about her son or her pack anymore—it was about taking control, reclaiming the power she had lost.

The cold stone of the fortress pressed against Riley’s back as she stood before Cannibal, her body rigid with barely contained tension. The throne room, with its high, dark walls and the ever-present weight of power, felt more oppressive than ever. His throne loomed behind him, a symbol of the dominance he held over every inch of this forsaken realm, but today it was not his seat that commanded attention—it was the test he had devised for her. The game, a sickening dance of control and submission, had begun, and Riley knew that whether she played or not, the consequences would be dire.

Cannibal’s eyes, as cold and calculating as the dark stone around them, bore into her with unsettling precision. He stood before her, his presence consuming the room. The flickering torches cast long shadows across the floor, amplifying the sense that this moment had been set in motion long before she’d even realized the stakes. His lips curled into that familiar, cruel smile—a smile that always made her feel as though she were a pawn on a chessboard, one whose moves were already planned out.

"Do you understand what I’m offering, Riley?" His voice was smooth, almost taunting, yet there was an unmistakable edge of something darker behind it. "The choice is yours, but you should know—refusal comes at a price."

Riley swallowed, fighting the unease that threatened to rise in her throat. She had been through so much already, had been tested, bent, and broken in ways she thought would never end. But this? This was different. Cannibal was a master of manipulating fear, of twisting reality into something far worse than mere pain. He wasn’t asking her to fight for survival. He was demanding her loyalty, testing her in a way that no one had dared before.

"What is it you want from me?" she asked, her voice steady but betraying a flicker of uncertainty. She couldn’t let him see it, not even for a second. Not when everything depended on her composure.

"Everything," he replied, his grin widening. "The wolves, your pack, your son—your loyalty to me. I’ve given you a chance to survive, to keep those you love safe. I’ve kept you alive for one reason: to see whether you’ll kneel or rise against me. Today, I’ll give you a test."

Riley’s pulse quickened, but she held her ground. She refused to let him see her fear, refused to let him have any satisfaction in her reaction. But inside, the storm of emotions was raging, a mixture of disbelief and anger rising to the surface. How much longer could she endure this torment? How much longer would he push before she broke completely?

Cannibal’s gaze never wavered, his fingers drumming lightly against the arm of his throne. "You see, Riley, I know your weaknesses. I know the things that would break you. The question is whether you will bend to my will when I demand it. When you must choose between your people and your own survival, what will you do?"

The words hung in the air like a thick fog, suffocating her as she tried to think. She had always known that Cannibal saw her as a mere tool, a pawn in his endless game of power. But this was more than she could have imagined. He wasn’t just threatening her—he was playing with her mind, forcing her to confront the very heart of who she was. Her loyalty to her pack, to her son, to everything she had fought for, was now being measured in the cruelest of ways.

He stepped closer, his presence enveloping her, and Riley’s heart pounded in her chest. She could feel the weight of his control pressing down on her, could sense the finality of the choice he was placing before her. "I will give you a moment," he continued, his voice low, almost a whisper. "A moment to decide: will you betray the ones you love for your own survival, or will you fight against me—and lose everything?"

The silence in the room felt deafening. Riley’s mind raced as the cruel truth settled in. He was giving her a choice, but it wasn’t really a choice at all. No matter what she did, Cannibal had already won. If she played into his hand, if she bent to his will, she would lose a part of herself that she couldn’t get back. But if she fought back, the consequences would be just as dire—her pack, her son, all of it would be ripped away. He had already proven that there were no limits to what he would do to maintain control.

Her fists clenched at her sides, her claws itching to be unleashed. Every fiber of her being screamed for release, for the opportunity to fight back, to defy him, but she knew that doing so would be the end of everything she had left.

"I will not bend to you," she said, her voice fierce, though the words felt like they were being torn from her soul.

Cannibal’s smile deepened, an expression of pure amusement. "We shall see, Riley. We shall see." He motioned to the guards, who had silently surrounded her, their weapons gleaming in the dim light. They were ready to enforce his will, ready to break her if she refused. Riley knew what was coming—the final test, the culmination of everything he had set in motion.

"Take her to the arena," he commanded, his tone final. "Let her witness what happens to those who defy me."

The guards moved swiftly, their hands closing around her arms, and for the briefest moment, Riley’s thoughts flashed to her pack, to her son. But then, as she was hauled away from the throne room, one thing became clear: this wasn’t just a test of loyalty. This was a game of control, and Cannibal was playing for keeps.