Page 109 of The Alpha King's Curse: Part Two

Ryker’s torture chamber. He’d heard stories about it that had impressed his depraved mind. But that wasn’t how he had planned to get acquainted with the room. Maybe it was Karma because he’d strung up a bunch of kids in a similar way not too long ago, and they weren’t resistant to silver as he was.

There was movement outside the room that he could barely make out. His senses had dulled so much that he felt almost human. Whoever was on the other side of the door must have been waiting for him to wake up because less than a minute later, he heard keys jiggling in the door and heavier footsteps approaching.

The light switch clicked on, and a bright spotlight aimed at his face made him squint his eyes.

“Ah! The mighty Alpha King,” a deep voice said, excitement lacing every word. “How nice of you to drop by, Your Highness.”

He could barely see, but he knew Ryker’s voice.

“You know I’m your fucking King, yet I’m in chains.”

“You’re no king of mine,” Ryker growled. “Besides, it looks like the chains aren’t bothering you at all. How intriguing.”

He never advertised what he was capable of. Those who knew usually found out on a battlefield, and they never lived to tell tales.

“You know, this brings back so many memories. I once had your father in this room, but he shit his pants before I even touched him. I can see why you killed him. He was too weak to be anyone’s Alpha, never mind a king.”

He growled at the insult but the Alpha just laughed. The only thing that had weakened his father was the loss of his mate, and Ryker had taken advantage. Richard’s blood was as strong as any king before him. When his father had freed himself, he’d slaughtered half of the Night Walkers, even in his weakened state. Ryker was lucky that was where his father’s revenge ended.

There was a loud scraping noise across the concrete floor. Ryker was pulling one of the chairs over to him.

“Switch that off; I want him to see me first,” he said to someone.

The spotlight came off, only a dim light remaining. His eyes adjusted quickly, and he saw Ryker’s amused face as he sat with his feet crossed in front of him. Ryker was a big man, bigger than he was. He had scars across his face from all his battles that made other wolves shrink back in fear. Only something truly horrific could cause scars on a wolf, and this one had lived through many of them.

His jet-black hair was long and unkempt, and his beady black eyes matched his soul. Cain would have had a worthy opponent had the battle been fair.

“You know, I thought that little witch was shitting me,” Ryker mused. “But here you are, weakened and worthless, just as she said.”

So he’d been right. The witch had gotten nowhere with Kendrick’s and Braxton’s packs, so she’s chosen his biggest enemy.

“Don’t tell me you allowed that woman to make you her bitch,” he said. “It didn’t end well for the other packs she tried it with.”

“She didn’t hold a gun to my head,” Ryker chuckled. “She told me some juicy tales, and I was intrigued. And she’s delivered you to me as she promised. Now I just have to wait for you to die on your birthday.”

“You’re going to keep me locked up for three months?” he laughed. “I guess I could use the holiday. It will be nice just to rest. And then the day after my birthday, when you realise you’ve been sold a load of shit, I’ll slaughter you all. I’m not my father; I won’t offer you mercy.”

That was worrying. Layla was not too far away; the bond would make her do something stupid if he stayed away too long.

“She weakened you; you’re here. That part isn’t bullshit. I could rip your head off right now,” Ryker snarled. “You can’t even fight off a pup in your state.”

And that was painfully true. He was still nowhere close to healing.

“Speaking of pups...”

He stilled. Cain stopped what he was doing and paid attention. A smirk formed on Ryker’s face as he uncrossed his legs.

“A little birdy told me we’re about to welcome the next generation of your wretched bloodline. The scourge of all our kind.”

He remained silent. It was one thing to play games with his life; he was dying anyway. It was another to threaten his unborn child.

“His human mother is quite something, isn’t she? I sent someone to check on her,” Ryker continued. “I was just being neighbourly and concerned for her welfare, but I was told she’s recovering now. That was very rude of you, by the way. Moving so close to me without telling me. I could have brought you some pie to welcome you to the neighbourhood.”

Recovering?

Fury, white and hot, burned through every cell in his body in an instant. It burned the magic that was still trying to bind to him. It mixed with his fear for Layla’s life and took on a life of its own. His beast rose and fed on it, fed on all the things that he kept hidden in the depths of his dark soul.

“Still, this turned out better. I’ll get rid of your bloodline once and for all. The world will be a better place without an abomination like you.”

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