Chapter Forty–Nine
Von POV
I was lost in a nightmare.
Inside the dream I lay curled up on the ground, the jagged rocks digging into my flesh and blood soaked the floor. For so many different times I’d woken up inside of this hell, my dreams the only solace from this place. Here in the land of reality. I encountered the harshness and cruelty the world had to offer me. Knowing only pain and anguish. A hatred burned deep inside of me, a hatred and rage so profound it scared even me a little bir.
My baby.
My precious cub.
I’d been three days since my cubling was torn from my life. Id awoken from the darkness I’d known so often these days, yet somehow stronger than before. The drugs my kidnapper pumped me full of these days were beginning to lose their effect I realized. Of course, I didn’t dare let on. Aware if the man knew the immunity I was growing to it then he’d simply amp up the dosage he was giving to me. His ignorance was the only hope I had of escaping this hell, to giving me the chance to find freedom.
Understanding that time was of the essence for me and my unborn cub, I slowly opened my eyes. Surprisingly there was none of the pain to be expected, the lids opened of their own accord. I was inside of a cavern inside of a cave and immediately knew that I was alone. Taking advantage of the situation I pushed up from the ground, steadily climbing to my feet. Finding my way in the darkness to the wall I slowly eased along the comidor, headed towards the light. I knew freedom could be found there.
I didn’t have a clue as to where I was or who the bastard was that’d taken me but didn’t let that stop me. The only thought on my mind was escaping the hell I was cast into and finding my way back home. To him. To my family. In the months we’d been together Kadden had come to mean so much to me, becoming my world. Our time together only forced me to reawaken emotions I’d believed dead, the love I’d grown for him as a child. Atypical me, I’d fallen in love with the last man I should ever want, my best friend’s father.
“Kill her,” a soft voice spoke.
I crooked my head. A woman!
“Don’t you think you’re being a little melodramatic Bi,” the rough voice of my kidnapper finally spoke, clearly not in agreement with what’d been said “You wanted her out of the way, well I say the job is done.”
“I want the bitch dead,” came out as a high–pitched squeal that made my eardrums hurt, I rose a hand to protect them from the noise. “The linde cunt jeopardizes everything we’ve worked for the last ten years, 1 will not allow anyone to get in the way of our plans”
“He won’t be happy,” he informed her.
“I don’t care,” she snapped. “Kill her. Tonight.”
Hearing footsteps come from somewhere up ahead of me, I knew they were coming in my direction. I had to get out of there. Now. It’d been dangerous enough being kept drugged, but now they definitely intended to kill me Making my way back to the room I’d come from, I frantically glanced around, desperate to find an out. The footsteps were to close now. Just as I was certain I’d be caught in the act, a woman in a lavender gown stood before me. It was so strange looking at her, she had startling gold hair and her eyes were strange too. Diamond pupils. She held out her hand,
Come.
She wanted me to follow. I didn’t have a clue as to where this woman was coming from, but I wasn’t kicking a horseshoe in the mouth. I immediately went to her, following her u the wall of rocks, and to the end I saw a light. Her hand moved through the rock, like some kick of ghost, causing one i fall away. I suddenly realized the woman was showing me another way out, she was protecting me. I didn’t think, I pulled away a few more until I had enough space to fit my body through
A hand larched on my ankle. “Where are you going?”
Screaming in terror at the reality of being caught, my feet flayed about as I became desperate to get free. In my desperation I felt the knife pierce me in the side, such agony ripped through my body. The strange woman was there again and she Dung herself at the man, causing him to fall back. Only he couldn’t see her. Again I didn’t ask questions. I scrambled back up to the hole I pushed my way through and on unsteady legs searched for a way. Only a blur of color came racing at me, hands pushed into my chest and I was thrown over the edge.
Snapping our of the frightening dream plaguing my mind, I frantically glanced around at my surroundings. A breath shuddered out of me to see that I was back inside of the manor, inside the alpha quarters. I was home. I was also alone. Vaguely remembering Kadden waking me up earlier with the announcement of getting to work. I climbed out of bed. In the bathroom i steppeil beneath the shower, rinsing the sweat clinging to my body. Once finished I went to the closet where my limited attire hung, changing into some clothes. Today I chose to wear a pair of denim jeans and a top neither too revealing 1 belatedly realized.
“Kadden are” my question came to a halt as I opened the door to the adjoining office, to see he wasn’t inside. Guessing he’d chosen to work in the main office today, I spun around on my heels and walked out. Bare feet padded soundlessly on the floor as I headed to the main level of the manor, knowing that’s where everyone was I was in the living room when I ran into a man, instinctively knowing he wasn’t a wamer.
“Who are you?”
Parcked eyes rounded as our eyes connected for the briefest moment, my strange ones connected simular blur ones. Something about the connection or interaction scared him, and he slowly backed away from me. “I luve to go.” Then still stammering excises he fleil from the house, leaving me confused by what d luppened.
Chapter Forty Nine
Kadden wasn’t in the main office either. Growing troubled at the thought I made my way onto the veranda, to find it completely empty. Where had he gone! He never left the manor these days. In the two weeks since I’d been recovered from the cave, Kadden had kept to my side, never more than a few feet. Why was today different? I became determined to find out where the man disappeared to, instincts forewarning mur of danger
“I said no.” came his growl.
My footsteps stopped near the rear entrance of the manor, knowing that I’d heard his voice. Where was it coming from Hearing the distinct sound of other voices, I realized that they were coming from outside the manor, Curious as to what could be going on opened the back door and stepped outside, to be presented the scene. A good hundred feet from the house was Kadden, spewing mud, in the presence of a cluster of men. The Remmams were back. This time it was only Simon and another man I hadn’t seen before, the source of Karden’s anger.
“Our decision is final,” the new Remnant spoke
Kadden’s expression distorted in such rage, his eyes were yellow and I could see fangs peeking past his lips. He bore down on them. “I don’t give a fuck what you say, it isn’t happening. I promised to give you an heir, end of story,”
“Have you produced one! Sumon taunted.
“You bastard!” he was getting angrier by the second. “How dare you come into my home, in my kingdom, making demands of me? Have you shuts forgotten who wields the real power here?” Kadden moved closer to him, appearing as if he intended to punch his lights out. “Von was kidnapped and held hostage for a month, our child’s death was the end result of her captivity. I will not force her to produce another cub when her body needs Time to heal.”
The new member sneered in disgust. “I don’t believe Von Silvervayne is the right choice for an heir or this kingdom. If the can’t produce a cub, then what use is she? She either does her duty or Luke will be given the kingdom. If protecting your little slut is too much to handle, then obviously you aren’t right to be king anyways
That was the wrong thing to say to him. I immediately knew the man’s mistake by the red tini to Kadder’s eyes, only the man
an was too stupid. Desperate to save him from the effects of his emotional decision, I immediately flew across the distance, Jumping in between Kadden and the man he looked prepared to kill, though my objective was Kadden. “Calm down.” I whispered my hand on his chest a calming effect on both him and his beast who wanted blood. “It’s okay, Kadden.”
“Kyle don’t,” Simon warned.
It was too late.
He made his second mistake. The man I didn’t know who he was instantly placed a hand on my shoulder, and physically pushed me out of the way. Quite forcibly too. “How dare you jump into a conversation that has nothing to do with you! Haven’t you been taught better than to touch your
betters?”
Stumbling back by the force of the man’s shove against me, Thad to grab a nearby post to keep from falling. My compassion of a moment ago gave way to anger. I faced down the man who’d dared talk to me so lowly, I don’t know who the fuck you think you are
Then he made the third mistake.
Crack is hand struck me.
Head whipping around to the side as his hand smacked me on the side of the face, I was propelled backward. Kadden barely had the chance to watch me collapse to the ground when a ferocious snarl erupted from him. In the next moment, Rhavage erupted from the shadows, his red eyes glowed and was already half–shifted. Kyle released a startled squeak at the crazed look in his eyes, as a clawed hand grabbed him by the throat. Kyle was slammed to the ground.
“I will kill
you,”
,” Bhavage–Kadden snarled.
Everyone nearby immediately stopped what they were doing to pay audience to the scene. Even unknown men people had yet to notice stepped out of hiding, eyes of haired focused on Kyle. Pushing up to my feet as I saw the deadly predicament all of us were in, panicked at the consequences. As Kadden always said Bhavage was a crazy lunatic, especially when it came to the care of his mate. He wouldn’t hesitate to kill for me.
“Stop him,” Diamond pleaded. “He’ll kill hün.”
Comprehending the situation all of us would be placed in I flew across the distance, forcing my way between them. “Calm down love,” I spoke gently as I stroked his chest, a hand came up to brush along a check covered in a mat of fur. A hand pried the hand away from Kyle’s throat, backing him away from his victim of the moment. Tm okay. Bhavage.”
“Listen to your bitch boy,” Kyle snickered.
Bad move. This time it was me who spun around with the speed of light and my balled fist struck him across the face. I watched in satisfaction as Kyle was sent flying back several feet into a heap on the ground. I stepped towards him. “T’d advise you to leave. While you still have a chance.”
