Jaxon
Finding sleep after the events of last night was more difficult than I'd anticipated. My head throbbed faintly, and my body felt heavy, as though I had not rested at all. The last thing I remembered was standing on the balcony outside my chambers, staring into the night and trying to quiet the war inside my chest.
Lilith's scream had followed all day. I had told myself it was nothing. Yet when they dragged her away, a sharp chill had settled beneath my ribs and refused to go. I had not felt guilt in years. Even when I had done far worse things in the name of power and survival. Yet, I had wished, briefly and irrationally, that I had handled her differently. But regret changed nothing. The deed was done.
I opened my eyes and narrowed them. This was not my chamber. I stared at the narrow slit high in the wall that barely allowed light to filter through. This was absurd. I pushed myself upright too quickly and slammed my head against the low arch above me.
I let out a short, disbelieving laugh and rubbed a hand over my face. It had to be an elaborate joke or a misguided attempt at humor from my Beta or enforcers.
My ears twitched at the sound of footsteps echoing down the corridor.
"Perfect," I sighed. I would end this immediately.
In mere moments, two guards, carrying a wooden tray, appeared. One of them shoved it roughly through the bars. A cracked bowl of thin porridge sloshed onto the floor beside a piece of stale bread.
My lip curled.
"What is this?" I demanded, rising to my full height.
They did not bow, avert their eyes, or show the slightest flicker of fear.
"I will ask once," I said coldly. "Who thought this amusing?"
The guard on the left stared at me blankly.
I felt my irritation spike.
"You will open this cell immediately," I commanded. "And you will explain yourselves."
The nearest guard paused, slowly turned his head toward me, stepped closer, and struck me across the face. The blow landed hard enough to snap my head to the side. I tasted blood instantly.
"You filthy Omega," he sneered. "Watch your tone."
"You dare," I hissed. "I will have you flayed for that—"
Scowling, the second guard kicked the bowl, spilling the food. "No food for loud mouths."
Rage exploded through me.
"I am your Alpha," I roared, stepping toward the bars. "Kneel."
But nothing happened. My wolf did not surge forward, nor did my dominance press down on them.
The guards laughed.
"You hear that?" one of them said. "The mad Omega thinks he's the Alpha."
I gripped the bars so tightly my knuckles whitened. "Summon my Beta. Summon my enforcers. Now."
Still laughing, they ignored me and walked away. My breathing grew uneven. Had the pack been conquered overnight? Had enemies infiltrated my lands? Had some rival Alpha overthrown me and thrown me here? I stood in the center of the cell, breathing heavily, trying to make sense of what was happening. My kingdom could not have fallen so easily. I would have felt it. I would have known.
More footsteps echoed down the corridor.
The same guards returned, dragging an old man between them. They unlocked the cell and threw him inside with little care. He landed hard on the stone with a grunt as they relocked the bars.
"What is the meaning of this?" I demanded again, my voice carrying as much command as I could muster. "You will answer me."
The first guard approached slowly, his expression darkening. "You really don't learn."
"This is treason," I snapped. "You will answer for this."
"Oh?" the other drawled. "And what will you do?"
"I will have your heads displayed on the gates," I said evenly.
Smirking, the first guard stepped inside my cell and drove his fist into my stomach. Air exploded from my lungs. I doubled over instinctively, shock more than pain flooding my mind. The second joined him. Boots connected with my ribs. A knee slammed into my shoulder. Blows rained down without restraint. I fought back instinctively, but my body felt weaker than it should have, and my wolf remained eerily mute.
They left me bruised and breathing hard on the floor. I pushed myself upright slowly, my vision swimming, and began shouting curses after them, my rage spiraling out of control.
"You should stop making noise," a dry voice hissed. "Be quiet."
I turned to the old man who was now sitting upright, watching me with sharp, knowing eyes.
"You saw that," I snapped. "You saw how they treated me."
He did not look impressed.
"What was your crime?" he asked calmly.
"I committed no crime," I said immediately. "I am the Alpha."
He laughed in a low, rasping sound.
"Maybe they have a point," he murmured. " You are mad, completely mad."
"I speak the truth." I hissed.
The old man tilted his head, studying me more closely.
"I remember you now," he said slowly.
Relief flickered in my chest.
"Yes," I said. "You remember I am Alpha. Tell them who I am, and I promise to give you more riches than you can imagine. I can even elevate your rank."
He smiled faintly.
"You are the foolish wolf who committed a crime so evil that death would be too kind."
My jaw tightened, and I looked away. "What did I do?"
There was no answer.
"Answer me," I demanded, turning fully toward him.
But the corner of the cell was empty. The old man was gone. I blinked. That was impossible. The cell had not opened, and the guards had not returned.
Suddenly, footsteps approached again, startling me.
The guards stopped before my cell and unlocked it.
"You're free," one of them said gruffly.
"What?"
"All Omegas are needed for preparations for the Moon Festival in three months," he continued impatiently. "Even mad ones like you. Now move."
"What about the old man?" I said sharply.
The guards exchanged confused looks.
"No one has been in here except you," one said. "We only came to give you food."
"You dragged him in," I insisted. "He was just here."
One guard snorted. "He's raving worse than we thought."
"Maybe we should lock him back up," the other suggested. "Before he causes trouble."
The first guard shook his head. "The Alpha commanded that all hands be on deck for the festival. The festival won't prepare itself."
"Alpha? Who is Alpha?" I demanded.