Chapter 79

I didn’t need to be led by the hand to where my worst enemy was being held. My wolf sniffed him out from the numerous scents in the dungeons. Valens grabbed my forearm as I walked away from him with all intentions of finding Zavier.

“The people know about you, now. I suggest we go home. We can do this another day.” The expression on his face made it clear that he’d made up his mind and he had no intention of backing down. Unfortunately, I too had made up my mind. After seeing Lucien, I would not rest until I saw Zavier.

I wanted to see him in the most humiliating position. I wanted to see what he looked like defeated and on his knees. How did he feel knowing his legacy would end with him? There was no chance for Skylar. Their lineage ended with them which was a shame really. Centuries of ruling Redville and the entire lineage of what used to be great men would end with them.

“We can do this another day but I want to do it today.” I tried pulling my arm from Valens’ grip but it was too strong. “I’d appreciate it if you let go of me,” I said as I turned to him. “You said you let him live for me to decide his fate. He cost me my child, Valens. I want to see him now.”

“They were my child too.” His voice went quiet. “I lost my child too, Aysel. It’s fine if you insist on seeing Zavier now but don’t forget we lost a child. They were mine too.”

“I –“ I looked away. “I never said – I’m sorry if I made it seem you weren’t hurting too.” I felt something awful in my guts when I realized I’d been doing that all along. I’d made it seem as if I’d created the child alone.

“Good, because I am. I have waited for a child for over a hundred years.”

“I know that. I am sorry.”

“It’s fine.” He sighed but he didn’t look fine. His face had creased and I felt awful knowing I’d hurt him with words that I’d been repeating for weeks now. “Let’s just see Zavier. I have a lot waiting for me.” I followed after him feeling like an awful person.

My conscience plagued me all the way to where Zavier was being held. The minute I saw him, anger washed over me. I sneered at the once great man now emaciated and chained, on his knees.

He raised his head when he heard the sound of his cell door opening. I smiled at what he looked like. It was ironic he would be in this particular cell because I remembered it all too well. It felt like yesterday when he took out his anger on me right in this every cell. A beautiful reversal.

“You are no different from your parents,” he said when I sauntered in. Yes, I sauntered. “A traitorous bi – He didn’t get to complete his statement. The guard who opened the cell had walked in with us and closed the door behind him. He landed a blow to the side of Zavier’s head, startling us all.

“You will speak to our Luna with respect.” The man had a voice that sent chills down my spine. It was cold, almost whispery, and with a frightening quality. Coupled with the expression on his face, it was clear that this man was a cold killer.

“I should have killed you then,” Zavier still managed to croak. “I should have gotten rid of your tainted b***d. Your traitorous b***d –“ I jumped back when he started to spasm uncontrollably like someone being electrocuted. I soon realized that was indeed what was happening. The guard held a taser to his side.

“If you are going to kill me, do it already!” He screamed before a bout of electricity passed through him again. “Are you too much of a –“ The guard hit him again and I feared he would be knocked out before I got to speak to him.

“Stop.” The guard stopped halfway away from punching his brains out once I spoke. “His words are irrelevant. I don’t care but I’d like to speak to him before he passes out.”

“You think I am that weak?” He laughed and spat b***d at my feet, almost on my shoes. “An Alpha never passes out.”

“But you are not an Alpha anymore,” I said to him with a smile.

I never expected to enjoy another’s misery the way I did Zavier’s. It scared me how much hate boiled in my veins. I felt cruel but I didn’t care. I wanted Zavier to suffer and I wanted to watch his suffering.

“You are nothing more than a rogue at this point,” I reminded him. “I can’t even express how much I love seeing you on your knees, broken and destroyed. Knowing your lineage expires with you is sweeter than honey.”

“Skylar is out there. Your days are numbered,” he spat the promise, his voice fainter than it was when we first came in.

“The same Skylar you refused to name as your successor?” I laughed in his face and it felt wonderful. “You have proven to be a useless father, Zavier. What makes you think she cares about you at this point?” I asked just to antagonize him.

“She is my daughter, not a deserter or a traitor like you. You may have me here now but believe me, it won’t be for long.”

“How does it feel knowing the only person you have to rely on will be rounded up in a few hours? We have men on the way to B***d River now to put her down,” I told him.

“As if Skylar would be foolish enough to go to her mother’s pack.” He snorted. I turned to Valens. I tried to resist it for all of two seconds but I ended up giving him a look that clearly said, ‘I told you so.’ “The last place she’d be is where you expect her to be. I know my daughter and she won’t be easily caught.”

“She can’t be that hard to find,” I said offhandedly. “Not when she has a ten million bounty on her head.” I loved the fear that flashed in his eyes when I said that. It was fleeting and quickly masked with a false show of arrogance but I couldn’t miss it because I’d worn a fearful face for the better part of my life.

“You think that is wise? You are making my daughter a hero without even knowing it.” He laughed.

“That’s the plan, isn’t it?” I smiled, turning to Valens when I heard him mutter something. “I plan to publicly disgrace you and your family. The more people that know her name, the more fame she gets, the sweeter it will be to pull her from her pedestal.” I grinned at Zavier.

“You are as sick as your father,” he snarled at me. Being compared to my father used to sadden me before but not anymore. If he thought I was like my father, then I was like my father. My father was a traitor but looking at Zavier, I wished he’d eliminated this nasty man.

“For everything you have done to me, Zavier, I will return it ten folds,” I promised him. “The legacy your family has held for centuries will be destroyed because of you and the brats you raised.”

“I am ready to die because I am certain Skylar will avenge me,” he bragged. I admired his audacity.

Valens phone pinged then. “The bounty had been posted,” he said, reading from his phone. “Maybe I will bring you her head if I keep you alive long enough.” He pocketed his phone and raised his head to Zavier. I watched the other alpha shrink.

“I thought you were a sensible man. I respected you for putting your pack before the pride of an Alpha but you dared to cross me.” He smirked. “It is unfortunate that you have nothing because I would enjoy tearing down everything you own,” Valens took my hand and I knew the conversation was over.

“Are you even sorry, Zavier?” I asked before we left. I knew the answer before he answered.

“Why should I be?” He sneered. “I did nothing wrong.”

“You ruined your children’s lives. You failed to train them. Bethel is dead because of you and Skylar will have her head hanging on a spike pretty soon. Don’t you feel sorry that you failed them?”

“I –“

“If you can call your daughter to order, we could work out something for her.” I threw the promise over my shoulder.

“Why? Are you scared she’d finish you?”

“Scared? Oh, you haven’t heard I am a witch?” I laughed as we left the cell.

Valens had a pensive look painting his face as we walked out of the dungeons. His new mood reminded me of how we were before, how I used to walk on eggshells around him a few months ago. I didn’t like it so I broke the silence.

“He doesn’t know where she is.” He didn’t say anything to that. “But he will certainly be sending us a list of her hideouts,” I added.

“I already placed a bounty on her head,” he said, followed by a sigh. “Did you enjoy gloating in there?” He asked, his face unreadable.

“Yes,” I answered without pausing to think. There was too much bad b***d between Zavier and I. He’d also cost me my child. I wanted him to know that the calamity waiting for him in the future had my signature on it.