She saw him again. He stood in a corner, watching her.

But he wasn't smiling. His eyes had dimmed and narrowed, his mouth set in a thin line.

Gone was his flirty demeanour. In its wake was a sharp, icy aura.

“My sweet love" he said but his voice lacked its fondness.

There were blood on his clothes, hands.....face.

“This is just the beginning. More are yet to come"

Myra woke with a start. Confusion thickened her mind while she looked around, wondering where she was.

Her ears rang with the faint echoes of screams—real or imagined, she couldn't tell.

She wanted to believe she was still in her bedroom, getting ready for her wedding but the agonising wails and ruthless howls forced her to accept her reality.

What she saw was a nightmare. The once-white walls were painted red with fresh blood, the chandeliers hung at precarious angles, threatening to fall off any moment.

Dead bodies sprawled all around her, each one more terrifying than the next. Some she merely recognized, others she didn't.

Blood was everywhere, screams and cries echoed off the walls.

At the centre of it all, in the middle of the aisle, lay her father. He wasn't standing, wasn't barking orders to the guards as he always did. He wasn't even moving.

“No....." She whispered, crawling toward him.

Something inside her shattered as she looked down into his lifeless eyes. There was a deep hole in his chest, surrounded by thick patches of blood.

She gripped his hands tightly, as if she could keep him from slipping away. “No, no, please....."

Tears made her vision foggy.

This was one big joke. It had to be.

He had been alive and strong. Just some minutes ago, he had stood tall before her, adjusting the tiara on her head, telling her to make him proud.

Now, he lay lifeless in her arms.

“No, no, you're not dead" She cupped his face, desperate to feel any warmth, even the tiniest flicker of life. There was none.

The noise around her faded. All the screams, the howls, the madness didn't matter. Her world had ended.

Myra let out a cry and shook his body. “No father you can't leave me please"

But King Williams was gone, with no hope of ever coming back.

She cradled his head to her chest, tears sliding quietly down her cheeks. “No father please...."

In that moment, she wasn't a princess or a future queen. She was just a woman who had lost her pillar, her anchor.

She brushed a strand of hair from his face, glancing down at him.

In death, King Williams had never looked more peaceful.

“I should've been stronger. I should've protected you"

She bowed her neck, sobbing loudly. “No d-don't go father"

As seconds passed with no sign of life in him, her grief hardened, twisting into something uglier.

She would not let his death be in vain.

Myra pressed a kiss to his forehead and whispered, “I swear to you father, I will not rest until I make them suffer for this"

She would bring Silvercrest to its knees. She would make them regret the day they ever set foot in her kingdom.

The fire of revenge burned in her, helping her to let go of him.

Right then, she noticed something around his neck. A silver pendant half-buried beneath his collar.

She stared at it for a moment then pulled it off. ”I'll never forget you father. Rest in peace till I avenge your death" she said, slipping it into her pocket.

Then she stood up and turned, looking for Evelyn. Her sister was still out there and possibly in danger.

She walked gingerly over debris and dead bodies, anxious to find her sister while praying to the heavens she was okay. She couldn't afford to lose another person.

Her leg hit something and she nearly lost her balance, but she quickly steadied herself.

She looked down and her blood ran cold.

There on the floor was her aunt lying cold in the pool of her blood. Dead.

Myra's face drained of colour and she took a step back.

Aunt Rose. No, not her too.

“Aunt Rose?" Myra reached for her hand, unwilling to believe what her eyes already knew.

Her heart suffocated with agony, cutting her breaths to short, painful gasps.

Her father was dead, and now, her aunt too.

A storm of emotions crashed over her, but one stood out prominently. Guilt.

If she had been faster, stronger, braver.... Would they still be alive?

This was her fault. Her father. Her aunt. Everyone.

Myra dropped to her knees as she battled with the growing urge to collapse.

You couldn't save them, a voice whispered at the back of her mind.

What if Evelyn was dead too? The mere thought sent a finger of chilliness down her spine.

No. Evelyn wasn't dead. She couldn't be.

She held on tightly to the fragile hope of finding Evelyn....alive.

“Myra!" Her heart leaped at her name. Turning, she saw Henry sprinting towards her, his hair and clothes disheveled. “Thank God you're alive!"

“M-My f-father....a-aunt" She stuttered, then unable to hold it in any longer, she burst into tears and buried her face in his chest, each sob wracking her body.

Henry's arms closed around her, comforting her. “I'm sorry"

Tears streamed down her cheeks, and she prayed this was a dream. Possibly a nightmare.

When she pinched her arm and nothing changed, she realized it was true. They were dead.

Henry's voice cut into her fog of sorrow. “I hate to say this but we have to go Myra. Now"

She pulled away from him. “M-My sister is still out there. Let's find her"

“We can't" Henry refused sharply. “She might be dead for all we know. If we hesitate a bit longer here, we could be dead as well"

Myra blinked away tears, utterly stunned. Did she hear him right?

“She's not dead. And what about my people.....our people?"

Sounds of footsteps drowned Henry's response.

Men clad in dark blue and silver uniforms strolled towards them.

Werewolves. In human form.

Alarmed, she stood up to run but Henry grabbed her arm. “You can't go"

Confusion glittered in her eyes. “What? I don't understand—"

He pushed her to the men suddenly, cutting her off.

“Henry!" She screamed when one grabbed her arms. “Help me!"

His earlier expression of sorrow morphed into one she didn't believe she would see on his face. Guilt.

“I'm sorry. They promised to spare me if I gave them....you"

His words sliced her heart faster than a blade would. As he moved away, she stared at him, comprehension dawning on her like bitter rays. “You.....You betrayed me Henry"

Guilt tightened his features but he made no move to reach out to her. “I'm sorry"

This was the very man she had been willing to marry....and within minutes, had betrayed her to save himself.

His betrayal left a bitter taste in her mouth.

“This is so pathetic" one of the men sneered, glancing down at her with condescension. “It's a pity you belong to us now"

“I'd rather die than be your possession" she spat then bit the hand of the one holding her.

He winced and slapped her. “B**ch!"

Blood dropped from her lips but she could care less. The betrayal had dulled her senses to numbness.

She didn't mind dying right now. To put an end to her suffering.

“Kill me if you so please but I'll never follow you. Disgusting creatures"

“You might want to rethink your choice princess" one of the men stated indifferently. He had a scar running down his right cheek. He was their leader, judging from the aura around him.

He jerked his head and she followed his line of sight.

A man held Evelyn. Actually he was strangling her, holding her up in midair.

Evelyn tugged vainly at his claws, her pale eyes wide with fear.

Myra's heart flooded with so much relief it made her dizzy. Her sister was still alive!

“Let her go!" She screamed, pushing against the man that held her.

“I suggest you behave if you don't want her blood to spill on the ground" the leader growled.

At his words, she stayed still, trembling with silent fury and helplessness.

He fastened chains around her wrists and hauled her to her feet.

“Excellent choice" he stated with lack of empathy.

One of them shoved her toward the doors as another shouted, “Round them up then burn the place!"

She stumbled at his words. Burn? Her kingdom?

Unsympathetically, one wolf pushed her harshly, glaring at her to keep moving.

Survivors were bound in chains.

Myra couldn't bring herself to stare at their faces—their expressions would break her.

And she couldn't afford that. Not now.

Smoke from the ruins rose into the sky and darkened it, casting a black blanket that swallowed up the light.

“Move!" A warrior pushed a struggling woman forward. She fell to the ground, only to be dragged to her feet by another warrior.

Myra bit her tongue in an effort to hold herself back.

Calm down Myra, she told herself.

One wrong move and they wouldn't hesitate to snap her head off.

Ahead of her, Evelyn moved forward, her small form trembling.

Her heart pricked at the sight. She wanted to hold her but the chains held her back. She wanted to comfort her but she had been warned, else they would kill Evelyn.

And she'd rather die than let that happen.

Tears stung her eyes for the nth time but she refused to shed a drop in the presence of these wolves.

She moved her gaze from her sister and it locked with the leader.

She hurled all her hatred at him through her glare but he only smirked and rolled his eyes.

“Save your glares princess, you'll need it where we're going"

Myra gritted her teeth and narrowed her eyes to slits. Her fists trembled with fury.

The wolves forced them to walk through the dense forest behind the castle, where she had heard the faint howl earlier.

She glanced back at the castle, barely visible through the smoke that clouded it. Above it, flames painted the sky red.

Her heart sank as she watched, helpless.

The moon crawled out slowly, shedding pale light on the grounds below. The shadows behind the trees snickered as she passed.

Maybe it was paranoia.....or maybe not.

Carriages waited for them at the borders, just outside the forest.

“Say bye-bye to Vespera" a wolf crowed mockingly, thrusting her in harshly.

“You'll regret this" she muttered under her breath, resisting the urge to claw his eyes out.

There were no windows in the carriage, only darkness that seemed to oppress her. The air was thick with the damp odour of leather and blood.

Myra drew her knees to her chest and buried her face in her palms.

Her numb heart filled with rage when she replayed Henry's betrayal.

He was a coward, a fickle heart, who didn't bat an eyelid to save himself at her expense.

She would never forgive him. And she would never forget.

She clenched her teeth and vowed revenge. Revenge against Henry. Revenge against the wolves.

But most of all, revenge against the alpha, the architect of her misery.

“The Alpha of the Silvercrest Pack is a brutal man, a beast. Fear him"

In the stark darkness of the carriage, her shoulders trembled, her lips quivered and tears skimmed her cheeks silently.

This wasn't the end. It was just the beginning. And she would make him pay even if it killed her.

In the Silvercrest Pack.....

A servant hesitated outside a tall, polished brown door.

He gulped anxiously then knocked so softly, the sound barely audible.

“Come in" A smooth, deep voice answered.

He tugged at his collar and opened the door, revealing a dimly lit room.

A man sat behind the desk near the window, his attention focused on the papers before him.

The Alpha.

His sharp gold eyes lifted from the papers when the door creaked and landed coldly on the terrified servant.

“What is it?" He demanded flatly.

“I-It's a m-message from the h-head warrior Alpha" the servant stammered.

The Alpha's eyes narrowed. “Speak"

“Your captives are nearing the borders, my lord" the servant relayed the information, his head bowed so low it nearly touched the ground.

The Alpha's features relaxed into a smile closer to chilling than friendly.

“Nathaniel hardly disappoints me" he murmured then dismissed the servant with an order.

“Have the dungeons prepared. And inform the council—we'll have a meeting tonight"

The servant bowed quickly and bolted out the door.

The Alpha rose and walked to his window, his gaze fixed on the dark skies.

Night had fallen and everywhere was pitch black save for a few twinkling stars.

On the contrary, the Alpha was satisfied with his latest conquest.

His lips stretched into an emotionless smile. “Nobody messes with the Alpha of the Silvercrest Pack"

Pain.

That was what Myra felt when she awakened.

Pain in her arms, wrists, legs.....

She winced and tried to move her body but regretted the action dearly. More pain exploded in her arms, forcing her to grit her teeth.

Her head throbbed faintly as she regained consciousness, struggling to piece her memory together.

Then it hit her.

Her father was killed, her kingdom was burned and her fiance had betrayed her at the dying minute.

Presently, she was in a carriage moving to the pack of the perpetrator of her plight.

Now her eyes were adjusted to the darkness, she could see people asleep, awake, crying, all locked up in chains like she was.

It stabbed her heart swiftly like a needle to see their state but she refused to cry. Not anymore.

She had to think. Think of a plan.

In a matter of minutes, she would be in Silvercrest Pack. And she needed all her mind to confront the alpha.

Abruptly, the carriage came to a stop, silently announcing their arrival. Its wheels screeched to a halt, shoving her forward.

Myra knew the moment they entered. She could feel the power surrounding this pack from afar.

She clenched her jaw. They were here.

In the domain of the very monsters who had burned her home—and life—to the ground.

Her stomach twisted into rock-like knots at the notion.

The doors slammed open and clawed hands reached out to drag people outside.

The moment her feet touched the ground, Myra knew she had stepped into the lion's den. After a whole night spent in darkness, the sudden brilliance of light had her squint her eyes to see properly.

Slowly, her eyes adjusted to the brightness and she took in her surroundings.

Though the palace had a dark and heavy presence, its beauty was undeniable. Blooming gardens stretched across the grounds, and tall ivy-covered trees towered above.

The palace itself stood at the centre and was a dark, majestic structure that seemed to absorb light itself. Tall spires reached toward the sky and large, arched windows allowed glimpses of the inside.

But Myra wasn't awed by it. Even in all the glitz and glamour, this was the territory of her enemy. Awe couldn't enter the sentence.

She could feel the heavy stares of other wolves pressing on her like boulders. Yet, she held her head high, refusing to let them see her as anything less than a princess.

She squared her shoulders and—despite the chains that bound her wrists—walked like royalty.

Because I am royalty, she forcefully corrected herself, as if the thought alone could reverse her status.

She felt Evelyn's hand close over hers as they drew nearer to the palace, and spared a glance at her sister.

“I won't let anything happen to you. I promise" she whispered reassuringly.

Evelyn nodded with a weak smile.

But deep down, Myra felt the weight of that promise like a rock on her shoulders.

When they walked into the palace, her eyes discreetly scanned everywhere, burning the image into her head.

Its interior was even more luxurious. The great hall was vast, with high ceilings and elaborate designs. Beneath them, shiny marble floors stretched endlessly, while heavy crimson curtains cascaded down the walls.

The grand double doors of the throne room opened and they were ushered inside.

The air in here was different. It was much stronger and authoritative that it had the hairs on her neck stand on end.

The warriors forced them to their knees on the cold ground.

“Well well well, what do we have here?" A man drawled, lazily sitting on a high, golden throne.

Myra swung her gaze upwards and it fell on him.

The alpha. The man who had stolen everything from her.

He was nothing like she imagined. He sat upon the throne like he was born for it—relaxed yet exuding a composed dominance. His features were almost too perfect, too ethereal for a man so ruthless.

Sharp cheekbones framed a face that spoke of elegance and charm, his skin glowing bronze under the sunlight.

He didn't need to move or speak to command. Power oozed from him, wrapping around the room like a fog.

But his exquisite features and aura weren't what made her blood freeze like ice.

This must be one sick joke.

He....He was the man in her dreams. This was the man who invaded her sleeps every night and consumed her thoughts for the past few months.

But how? How was this possible? Was this all a dream?

If possible, her mind swayed with confusion, filled with more questions than answers.

“These are your captives Alpha Arthur" Nathaniel, the leader, bowed before the man.

His statement broke the brief spell that clouded her mind.

This couldn't be the man in her dreams. The man before her eyes was the monster who had taken away her kingdom and ruined her life.

He wasn't the man in her dreams. He was the man in her nightmares.

“I beg to differ" Myra spat out, attracting the gazes of everyone—human and wolf alike—in the room.

Arthur's eyes fell on her. She could feel the weight of his piercing gaze, as if it were a blow, but she stood her ground, refusing to cower.

“Quite audacious for a woman" Arthur commented with a click of his tongue. His voice was smooth but had a faint chilliness to it.

He rose from the throne slowly and advanced towards her with calm, calculated steps.

Myra's fingers trembled as his aura suffocated her with each step. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears but she masked it all with a defiant tilt of her chin.

“I am not just any woman. I am Crown Princess Myra of Vespera" she stated with a clear tone of authority.

“So this is Vespera's crown princess" Arthur remarked, halting just an inch away from her then crouched to her eye level.

His gaze swept over her, lingering for a moment longer than necessary on her disheveled appearance. “I expected more"

Myra's blood boiled. Even after everything—after her people had been taken, after she had been dragged here like a slave—this man had the audacity to look unimpressed? To act as if she was beneath him?

A humourless laugh escaped her lips. “And I expected a real Alpha, not some cold-blooded monster and coward"

Gasps resounded within the wolves in the room. A few of his warriors exchanged wary glances, uncertain if their Alpha would strike or laugh.

Arthur did neither. He simply titled his head with a smile—devoid of any emotion—and observed her. Scrutinized her. “You think I'm a monster?"

Myra leaned in, holding his gaze directly. “I don't think. I know"

Amusement swirled in his unusual golden orbs. “You have fire" he murmured, standing up to his full height that forced her to crane her neck. “But that quality led to your ruin. I can see why your people had blind loyalty to a weak throne"

Myra shot to her feet before the wolves could stop her, her chains clinking against the marble floors. “And you're just a coward who hides behind the facade of royalty. Your people are blind to your cowardice"

His smile faded, replaced with a dark look.

The air thickened with tension, holding an edge sharp enough to draw blood.

Myra knew she had struck a nerve. And she was damn glad she did.

“I would watch my mouth if I were you" his voice was a spine-chilling murmur that awakened goosebumps on her skin.

“But you are not me" she scoffed. “You are nothing but the Alpha who has killed and ruined lives. I hope you sleep well knowing that"

Arthur's jaw ticked as an emotion flickered in his eyes. “Yes. I sleep well knowing that, and soon enough, you will" his voice was low, and laced with warning.

The unknown underlying meaning in his words made her palms clammy with sweat.

He clicked his fingers, and just like that, guards came forward instantly, grabbing her arms.

“You can lash out at me all day if you want to, but the bitter truth is this—your kingdom was captured and you belong to me now. If you were truly a princess, you would have defended your kingdom and saved your people..... and your father"

Arthur watched as the stubbornness melted away, and pain crept in, her eyes wide and round. He had hit a soft spot and struck it well.

“I-I am not weak" she said, her voice wavering.

“Face the facts princess. You are weak and that's why you and your people are captives of Silvercrest. I hope you sleep well knowing that"

His bomb-like words nearly sent her to her knees. The impact weakened her fury, and left her heart sore with the painful truth.

She was weak.

He turned to the guards. “Take them to the dungeons" he ordered harshly, “bind her up specially, and let her know the price of her rudeness to me, the Alpha"

Just before she was taken out of the room, she gave him one last, controlled glare. This wasn't over yet.

As she was dragged down the hallway, whispers from her people slid into her ears.

“If she was truly strong, we wouldn't be in this situation."

“She couldn't save her father and now, she can't save us"

“She is weak. Just like her sister"

Her steps faltered. She couldn't believe her ears.

Their words hurt more than the chains around her wrists.

How could they say such things? She had practically confronted the alpha before their eyes. She stood up for them!

Tears burned her eyes. She wanted to shout at them. To tell them she had tried, that she was only human and had done her best. But she didn't.

Face the facts princess. You're weak

Myra gritted her teeth and turned her tears to blazing anger. She would prove him wrong. She would prove them all wrong.

The passage leading to the dungeons was narrow and dark, a stark contrast to the grandeur of the palace. The walls, cold and worn out, were covered with rough edges.

The dungeon was not better. Dampness clung to the stale air, carrying the stench of death and blood. With each step, the air became tighter, as if a door hadn't been open in a century or two.

The ceiling was low while heavy iron bars formed the doors to small cells, each one barely large enough for a person.

The guards loosened the chains and locked them behind the cells.

When one reached for Evelyn, she slapped his hand away. “Don't you dare touch her"

“Ooh. Feisty, aren't we?" Another mocked, snatching her wrist and dragging her to a separate cell. “Too bad that can't save you"

There were chains on the walls, rusty with age and darkened with what she suspected was dried blood.

Her stomach churned uneasily and she tried putting up a fight but the guard was easily stronger than her and binded her wrists and ankles.

“Enjoy your stay while it lasts" he crowed, shutting the iron bars behind him.

Fury seethed within her. They had reduced her—a princess of Vespera—to this? Like some common criminal?

She curled her hands and tugged at the chains but they didn't budge.

“Stop wasting your time. Those chains don't break" came the Alpha's voice as he appeared outside the iron bars.

Her spine stiffened as a guard unlocked the cell, and his heavy footsteps echoed against the cold stone floor.

“You think chaining me up will make you powerful?" She asked sharply. “It won't. Besides, a real Alpha wouldn't need chains to make a princess bow"

“And yet here you are. Caged" he pointed out smoothly.

His words irked her. “Cut straight to the point. Here for another round of threats? Or are you missing my taunts?"

Arthur's lips twitched, almost like he was amused. Almost.

“Neither. I came to check how my new.... guest isn't settling in"

Her dry laughter echoed sarcasm. “You call this hospitality?"

Arthur chuckled, low and deep. “Most people that dared defy me craved to be in your shoes"

“They can have it" she retorted.

“They're dead" he stated flatly.

A sliver of unease pricked her spine but she forced herself to stay calm. “Then kill me too. It would save us both time"

He chuckled again, as if she said something funny, then reached out, fingers gripping her chin—not hard enough to hurt, but enough to remind her she was at his mercy.

“Death would be too easy for someone like you. Breaking you bit by bit is much preferable"

“You wouldn't dare" she whispered, fighting the urge to look away.

His gaze burned into hers. “I never back down from a dare"

Silence stretched between them for a minute.

Thankfully, he released her, stepping back. “I heard you have a sister"

She shuddered at Evelyn's mention. “Leave her alone" she said, glancing away.

Just before her eyes left his, Arthur caught a look of vulnerability in her eyes. A look he noted and stored away.

“You care for her" he murmured.

“Mind your business. She's not your concern"

“Everything in my territory is my concern"

Her eyes narrowed to a glare. “Don't even think about laying a finger on her. Do you hear me?"

A smirk tugged at his lips. “You're forgetting one tiny detail here princess. You're a prisoner here. And prisoners do not give orders"

“Make fun while you can, but mark my words. You'll regret this" she spat out.

“It has been an eventful day. Let me leave you to rest, after all the journey has been tiring" he gave a mocking smile that infuriated her.

He stepped out of the cell then stopped and glanced at her over his shoulder. “Get used to this place. You'll be here for a while"

She watched him walk away from the filthy cell she was left in, anger simmering within her.

He may hold the chains but he would never break her.

You have fire.

He was playing with fire, but soon he'd realize that fire didn't just burn—it reduced everything to ashes.

Myra didn't know how long she had stayed in the dungeons.

A day? Two?

She had lost track of time, waking up everytime to behold the mouldy four walls of her cell and the rusty, iron bars that served as the gate.

Her wrists ached against the restraints, her throat was dry and parched from thirst.

Even in the stillness of the dungeon, she could hear the distant sounds of chains scraping against stone.

And every so often, a rat scurried by, looking for food or warmth—things that were impossible to have in this dark, forgotten place.

To stay alert, Myra concentrated with the sharpened ears of one who was desperate.

She tried wriggling her hands out of the chains, vainly hoping she could free herself.

She didn't. She only made the cold metal sink more into her flesh.

“Give up princess. It's no use" A gruffly voice spoke up from the nearest cell.

Slightly startled, she peered closer and an old man came into her line of vision. He sat slumped against the far wall, his face worn and his eyes wizened. His clothes were ragged, and a thin chain bound his ankle to the wall.

“What?"

“I said give up princess. You can't escape those chains" he repeated, his voice rough with age.

“Who are you?"

“Moses"

Under the dim light from the narrow window, she had a glimpse of long canines. Her eyes narrowed slightly. “You're a werewolf. Tell me, are you a friend or foe?"

Moses smiled, lines fanning out at the corners of his eyes. He stroked his white beard and took his time to respond.

“Neither" he said. “You'll find no allies here Princess. We're all just waiting for the end"

Myra's chest tightened. “The end?"

Moses chuckled darkly. “Yes, the end. The Alpha doesn't keep prisoners out of mercy or pity. We're here because we're no longer useful. We're just waiting for death"

His words chilled her bones. “I refuse to believe that" she said, keeping her voice steady despite the fear that knotted her stomach.

Moses snorted. “Believe whatever makes the truth feel less daunting. It won't change your fate. When the Alpha is fed up with us, he'll bury us"

Most people that dared defy me craved to be in your shoes.... They're dead

“I'll find a way out of here" she whispered, more to herself than him. “I'll get out and save my people—"

Moses laughed. “Keep fooling yourself woman. Do you think the Alpha would let a princess—"

“You're a princess?" A young girl spoke up from the same cell.

Myra hadn't seen her until now. She looked no older than sixteen, with unruly, tangled hair and wide eyes. She clutched a dusty-looking rag doll to her chest.

Myra's eyes softened a bit. “What's your name girl?" Her voice was as gentle as she could manage.

“Victoria" she whispered then licked her dry, chapped lips. “I was brought here when my pack got conquered ten years ago"

“And....your parents?" Myra asked hesitantly, then regretted it when she saw a flash of pain in the girl's eyes.

A pain she was all too familiar with. “T-They're dead"

“I'm sorry"

Victoria nodded and clutched the doll tighter to her chest, her eyes moist with unshed tears.

“Can't you see Princess?" Moses cut in. “You're just like us. Doomed. No escape. Hope for freedom is useless here woman. Sooner or later, you'll accept this bitter fate of yours"

“I have no bitter fate" she countered. “I refuse to accept defeat. I will find my way out of here and no one can stop me"

“Maybe you will be the exception that proves the rule"

“He can't stop me" she said, gritting her teeth.

“You can't defeat the Alpha" Victoria said quietly. “He's not human. Even the late Alpha of my pack couldn't defeat him*

“Listen to the child princess" Moses hummed. “She knows a lot more about the Alpha than you"

“I may not know much about him but of one thing I'm sure—he is an egoistical coward" she said sharply.

Moses's eyes narrowed. “Be careful with your words. Alpha Arthur is more than just an ordinary werewolf—he's a beast that can force you to your lowest level"

Myra tried not to let his words affect her but failed. Her body shuddered. If this Alpha was truly what they claim—a beast—did she stand a chance against him?

No. She couldn't let her mind sway with uncertainty or doubt.

I must defeat him. Vespera depends on me, she thought, strengthening her resolve.

The sudden sound of iron scratching against concrete broke into her thoughts.

A guard stepped in, holding new chains.

Moses's eyes hardened while Victoria stiffened and withdrew into the darkness.

“Let me guess, your Alpha has decided to get me new chains since these ones are old" she snarled sarcastically.

The guard rolled his eyes. “Don't be stupid princess. You're a prisoner. You're not worthy of gifts here"

“Fool" she muttered under her breath.

From chains to chains, she thought wryly, as he binded her wrists up.

A symbol of her life now. Chained.

For the past few days, her hands were anything but free.

“Good luck princess" Moses murmured as she was led out of the cell. “You'll need it"

Myra had no idea she would actually need it in the coming months.

Behind the guard, her legs carried her out of the dungeon and through the passage.

When she stepped into the hallway, she inhaled a deep breath of air. Here, the air was free and fresh, unlike the tight one back in the dungeon that smelled of mold and blood.

The guard led her to the very same throne room she had been in days ago.

Her people, huddled together, filled the far corner of the room. Their hollow eyes darted toward her as she stepped inside.

The looked to her, their princess, for hope and strength.

Qualities she doubted she had right now.

The Alpha stood before her, watching her with those golden eyes that had allured her in her dreams. Now, all they did was haunt her.

A man stood by his side—serious faced and exuding an aura similar to his.

She didn't have the luxury to study him because her attention was fixed on the man before her.

“It seems your arrogance hasn't faded princess" he said, coming closer. “Still standing here like a queen, like you still have power. The dungeon didn't do much to your pride, I guess"

“You may have destroyed my home but you can never destroy my pride" she stated calmly, projecting the image of courage.

“Destroyed? No princess, I conquered."

Myra huffed. “Amd you think war makes you a winner?

“No." He shrugged. “But victory does"

“Oh this war is far from over Alpha, mark my words."

“It'll be my pleasure to watch you try and fail princess"

Myra's lips curled up bitterly. “He who laughs last, laughs best. Enjoy your time while it lasts wolf"

His eyes narrowed on her. “Still got a sharp mouth, I see. I think it's time you understand your place in this pack"

“And where exactly do you think my place is?"

A smirk curved his lips. “On your knees before me"

Myra lifted her chin, meeting his gaze with all the fire left in her. “I'd rather die"

A wicked glint flashed in his eyes. “We'll see about that"

Then, without warning, he lifted a hand and suddenly, a choked gasp filled the air.

Myra's blood ran cold.

Evelyn.

Her sister dangled in the grip of the man, his fingers wrapped tightly around her throat.

Her face contorted with panic, her fingers clawing at his hand, but no sound passed her lips.

Myra's muscles stiffened with tension. And fear.

“Leave her alone!" She took a step towards her but the guard grabbed her arms and held her down. She thrashed against his hold but his grip was like steel.

Panic flowed through her veins. “Leave her! Let her go now!"

Arthur's eyes gleamed. “A sister's love is enviable. Look at you now, struggling to rescue your weak and helpless sister"

Anger gnawed at her heart. “I swear I'll kill you Alpha. Leave my sister out of this"

He leaned in, so close she could see the mocking amusement in his gaze. “If you don't want her to die before your eyes like your father, then submit. Her life is in your hands princess"

She balled her fists, her nails digging into her palms.

Unexplainable anger simmered beneath her skin. She knew what he was doing, he was threatening her, using her greatest weakness.

She wanted to gauge his eyes out right that instant. Humiliation and helplessness warred within her, but nothing outweighed the terror that squeezed her heart at her sister's pitiful sight.

“Let her go Alpha. She's innocent"

“Bow before me and accept I am your Alpha, then she'll live"

Myra would rather die than how to him. But she had to be smart. She couldn't lose the only family she had left.

“I. Hate. You" she delivered the words with enough induced venom, struggling to contain the storm within.

Arthur glanced at the man and ordered coolly, “Snap her head off"

“No! I'll say it, don't kill her"

Arthur tilted his head. “Say what?"

“You win" the words were a whisper but felt like the loudest she had ever spoken.

“Louder. I can't hear you" he said, clearly relishing her shame.

Myra's eyes burned, her pride drawing her to refuse, but she had no choice. “You win"

A satisfied smile touched his lips. “Then kneel before me"

Slowly, her knees dropped to the marble floors with a loud thud, sealing her words.

She could feel the weight of every pair of eyes in the room then; her people, the guards and, most crushing of all, Arthur's.

He snapped his fingers and the man loosened his grip on Evelyn, lowering her to the ground.

Evelyn staggered to the ground and held her throat, drawing painful gasps of air.

And then, for the final blow, Arthur turned to the room, and declared,

“This woman, whom you placed your faith in, is no more your princess. From this day forward, she is nothing but a maid of Silvercrest"

A few of her people averted their gazes as laughter echoed in the room, and a wave of humiliation washed over her.

They were witnessing her fall and her complete disgrace. She was being stripped of all her dignity.

Tears glistened in her eyes but she refused to let them fall. Not in front of him.

“Take her to the servants hall. She belongs there now" Arthur ordered, turning his back to her.

As she was dragged away, she caught a glimpse of her people's stares—accusing and filled with disappointment.

Her resolve cracked but she swallowed her tears.

“He's a beast that can force you to your lowest level"

No matter how low he pushed her, she promised herself never to break as she vowed silently,

I will make him pay. I will make them all pay