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How he tried to look like he was winning, but I could read those eyes. I could decipher how much he wished to destroy me with his hands and hear me scream like those long nights that brought him nothing but pleasure thanks to the sight of my agony.
“This is a ploy, isn’t it?” he offered quietly, like this was a secret between us. “Are you waiting for your knight in shining armor to come and rescue you?”
My smile fell, which left him laughing loud and hard as he shook his head before he reached out and lightly trailed his finger along the wall, making me shiver.
“You don’t get it, do you?” he pondered and for a mere moment, I could picture us back in the depths of his torture dungeon.
Thirty feet under, illuminated by flames that danced against the tall walls of rock. The scent of my blood mixed with the scent of alcohol and burning coal.
“My son is a coward. A weasel who enjoys the crown of power that sits upon his head. But he could never truly face the cruel world that yearned to rip him to pieces,” he whispered while caressing the wall as if it was my cheek. The action was one of the few tender gestures he’d do to me before another round of endless suffering. “I protected him. Shielded him from all those who wished to destroy him before he could reach of age. How innocent that boy was. No matter if it was the son who earned my affection or the one who yearned for independence.”
He allowed himself to smile as he closed his eyes.
“I tried to play to his tune. To pretend that I knew nothing of his desire to be two different individuals. I should blame myself for that, really. I was the one who made him into a monster. I tortured him in the depths of the night with various liquids of tainted blood that could mutate him and make him stronger. Any true Alpha would have embraced the gift I’d delivered at such a young age and used it to become stronger. Wiser. To gain allies and build an empire that could come in good use when we’re so close to a shifter war. If he’d proven himself, maybe I wouldn’t have had to put you through such a strenuous childhood. Maybe you could have enjoyed being his destined mate and bringing an heir that is even stronger and far worthier to take on the Shade Pack. There are so many paths our lives could have gone on if he’d just been the son I sought for. A ruthless Alpha who’d do anything to get what he wants. But alas. He has to be what none of us need in this world.” He shook his head again. “A coward.”
“Malifer isn’t a coward,” I managed to mutter, and it made his father smirk further.
“Always defending him. Always willing to go through the wringer for a man who can’t even come and save you. Is that the life you sought to live? To enjoy years of putting yourself last while everyone goes ahead of you?” he pondered as his brows furrowed in dismay. “You heal our pack members. Heal anyone who needs aid no matter how exhausted you are. They belittled you from day one. Marked you as an outcast. They would never defend you, even when you saved many of their lives from the hands of death. When the mere thought of sacrificing you hit the air, not one rose their hands up to ask for your salvation. And yet if the clock was turned back and you had to heal those deceitful wolves once more, you’d do it without a single hint of regret.”
He obviously pitied me as he stared into my eyes once more.
“My son has always had your protection. Your loyalty. Your dedication to keeping him as far away from my wrath as you could. If death was here to claim yours and his soul, you wouldn’t dare hesitate to step forward and let yourself be reaped by the Angel of Death himself if it meant your love…your apparent king...would get another chance at life.” He then let out a hearty laugh. “But the real question is, would he do the same for you? If the tables were ever turned, would he be tortured by me every night to save you? Would he have suffered the wounds and scars I landed upon your flesh without a care in the world as to whether they would heal or not? In fact, would he do what you’re doing now? Boxing yourself up in a cage, knowing damn well I could electrocute it with enough power to kill you.”
I swallowed at his words as further leaned in and slowly licked the very wall like it was my flesh. A whimper left my lips as I fought against the tremors that rushed through my body.
“Would he do that for you, my pretty little monster?”
I bit my lip hard as I closed my eyes as tightly as I could. I needed a moment just to breathe so I wouldn’t fall into his hypnotic trap.
“It doesn’t matter,” I finally answered, not caring how weak my voice sounded.
“It doesn’t matter?” he repeated. “You and I know your answer does matter.”
“I don’t care about the ‘what ifs’ or whether Malifer would do what I’ve done for years to protect him. That’s not my present. That’s not something that can be changed, and it won’t determine the future. What matters is that I’ve loved him in the past. I love him in the present, and no matter if I have a future or not, my love for him will never falter,” I vowed as I used every fiber of strength to open my heavy eyelids, just so I could peer into my punisher’s eyes. “With the valley as my witness, I’ll always love King Malifer Shade of Demon Valley Pack. Nothing…no power, no spirit, and no influence that exists in this realm and among the realm of life above will strip such passion away from me.”
The lines of parody on his face began to ooze away, the mask of amusement finally falling away and revealing the villain I knew was hiding beneath all those lies and deceit.
“I will always love your son. Even if you believe he’s nothing but a coward,” I emphasized. “He loved me despite my flaws. Loved me despite my scars and imperfections that you laid in hopes of igniting his disgust. He apologized for all the sacrifices I had to make on his behalf, and was willing to do anything he could to give me something I thought I’d lost.”
I let my tears fall as I let a brilliant smile form on my lips.
“I’m his pretty little monster now…and if my death gives him a single chance to secure this world as his own forever by claiming the crown of this valley…so be it,” I declared with pride. “For my death would ensure you lose everything that’s precious to you. Your son…this valley…and your most precious prisoner in all these lands.”
I showed him my blood-stained teeth.
“Me.”
He couldn’t say a single word as that last hint of compassion in his eyes was vanquished and replaced by the true reflection of the monster I knew all too well. He slowly rose up, darkness beginning to shadow his face like it always did when he’d internally snap and prepare for the symphony of my screams that would turn him on for hours.
“I could have been your savior,” he declared with an emotionless voice that made goosebumps of fear rush up my arms.
“You could have,” I agreed as I slowly sat back on my knees while I tightened my hold around my breasts as though it was a final hug to myself. I knew this would be my end, for I wouldn’t survive whatever he had in mind.
The final round of torture would make my heart stop entirely.
“But there’s one thing you never understood about me, Alpha Shade,” I whispered with utmost truth. “I never wanted a savior. I never wished to be saved. The hours of torture…the dismay…the ridicule…all it did was make me stronger, didn’t it?”
He held his tongue as I gave him my best smile.
