Chapter 4
The executioner gripped the massive blade, positioning it above my mother’s arm.
*Crack—*
The sound of bone breaking echoed through the hall.
Alpha Derrick Rivera kicked her, flipping her over, his voice laced with fury.
“Stop pretending to be dead! Zaria needs the freshest heart for her tonic. If she’s dissatisfied, I’ll make sure you suffer for the rest of your miserable life!”
From the jar beside them came faint whimpers, tears spilling over the edges.
Zaria glanced at me, her lips curling into a smug grin.
“Why so much water? Are you still shaken from the rogues’ attack earlier?” she taunted.
Alpha Derrick sneered, his tone dripping with disdain. “Pathetic. How could someone like her ever be blessed by the Moon Goddess?”
He tossed the broken bone into the fire pit, and the acrid stench of burning blood filled the air, making me gag.
Zaria, however, laughed, inhaling deeply. “This scent is divine! Thank you, Alpha and Beta. Today has been quite the spectacle.”
Alpha Derrick and Beta Zen Cruz wrapped their arms around her, showering the crowd with silver coins in celebration.
“Today’s gathering serves as a warning,” Alpha Derrick declared, his alpha tone commanding the room. “Zaria is under our protection. Anyone who dares to cross her will face the same fate.”
The pack members, who had been cheering moments before, now cast fearful glances at my mother before bowing deeply to Zaria.
Amid the laughter, Alpha Derrick announced, “Now, let’s extract the ingredient. I’ll prepare the tonic for Zaria myself.”
My mother lay on the ground, her lifeblood nearly drained. I struggled against the ropes binding me, my scalp tearing as I finally broke free.
I lunged forward, shielding her body with my own, blocking the blade poised to carve out her heart.
Alpha Derrick’s eyes bore into mine, his rage palpable.
“Are you determined to defy me today?!” he roared, his alpha aura pressing down on me like a suffocating weight.
Beta Zen’s voice was cold and threatening. “Cadence, Zaria must have her tonic by sunset. If you delay this, you’ll pay the price.”
Feeling my mother’s faint breath against my skin, I screamed, my voice raw with desperation.
“This is my mother! I’m telling you, this is my mother! No one touches her!”
Alpha Derrick, pushed to his limit, grabbed me by the arm and dragged me away. He snatched the jar that no longer held a body, his voice trembling with fury.
“You think I wouldn’t recognize Adley? Fine! Let’s see who she really is!”
He slammed his fist into the jar, forcing me to look inside.
When I saw the face within, my heart stopped.
Alpha Derrick’s face turned ashen, and he collapsed to his knees, his grip on me loosening.
The room fell silent, the weight of his realization crashing down like a thunderclap.
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