Alpha Loren novel Chapter 144

Only minutes later, I was sat in a silent cell with no source of light other than a burning torch on the wall of the hallway. The back and side walls were constructed from sturdy stone whilst the front was cage-like metal bars with a padlocked and chained door. On the other side of the bars was a singular guard stood up straight and staring straight forward.

"So what did my mate do to you?" I asked him hours later when I was at a point of boredom in which I was willing to talk about anything that would entice him into speaking. The other cells around me were empty meaning he was my only company. 

"Don't ask questions you don't want to hear the answer to," he replied bluntly.

"I'm not one to shield myself from the truth," I said. "I ought to seek to know more about my mate and the father of my children because he certainly didn't tell me himself."

"Very well. He did the usual. Killed a member of my family and made me watch. I was 12 years old at the time," he replied casually.

"Why?" I asked. I'd heard stories like this from others around the castle but it still pained me to think that Leo could do such things.

"Our pack was invaded because our Alpha had some dispute with yours. We were outnumbered and nothing compared to the strength of Stella men so were forced to surrender within half an hour. It was in the early days of his reign, he had maybe been Alpha for a month, and nobody quite knew what he was capable of so a few refused to give in. My mother included. I remember the soldiers trying to drag her away and how she clung to me. Your mate soon intervened and cut both her throat in broad daylight in front of me and then dragged me past her dead body and back to his pack. A year later, I escaped Stella and came here where I have been ever since."

"I'm sorry," I uttered unable to believe what I was hearing. 

He shrugged.

"Guess it's not your fault that he is the way he is," he replied. "You did allow him to reproduce though."

"I teach my children to be kind and compassionate."

"Oh yeah? And what does he teach them? How to kill? How to terrorize?" the guard questioned. "They will turn out like him which is why I think we should get rid of them while we're at it."

"They're just kids."

"Alpha Loren's kids," he snapped.

After that, I didn't say anything more. Just like everyone else in this place, I couldn't blame him for his anger.

I sat in the cell for hours more. It was freezing and there was only a wooden bench to sleep on. The only food was stale bread too and my only company the guard that wanted to see my children dead.

Another few hours later and my Dad got permission to come and see me. They wouldn't let him in the cell so he took a seat on a wooden bench outside as I watched him through the bars.

"Hey,Ells," he said softly.

"Hi," I replied shortly refusing to look him in the eye. 

Today had brought all the reasons I was beyond livid with him back to the surface that I had pushed away in order to enjoy spending some time with my long lost Dad over the past week.

"Listen, I know you are mad at me, even if you've been pretending you weren't. I don't blame you for not being able to keep it in with the King either," he began. "And I know you don't want to be here or a part of this movement."

"What gave you that idea? The fact that this 'movement' plans to kill my mate or the fact that it is keeping me in a fucking dungeon?" I snapped.

"You are in this dungeon because unfortunately, you inherited your father's inability to do as you're told and keep your mouth shut," he replied. "How on earth do you live with an Alpha?" 

"I don't make his life easy. That's for sure," I replied.

"That's my girl," he said with a proud smile. 

"But he's still my mate. You know what it's like to lose a mate and you are willing to put me through it too?"

"He can't be allowed to carry on how he is. He's ripped apart so many families including ours."

"So you are going to rip apart mine? You know that I have eight children, right?" I questioned.

"It is for the benefit of society. I'm sorry but your mate is a bad man and brings only evil into this world."

"That's not true," I whispered as a tear rolled down my cheek.

"Give me one good thing he has ever done."

"He's a good father and a good mate too. And he takes care of his pack," I replied.

"Only the pack members that abide by his laws and follow his commands though."

"Is that not what being an Alpha is about?"

"Regardless of that, from what your brother tells me, he's a dick to you and you'd be better off without him in the end anyway."

"Connor doesn't have a clue," I spat. 

"That mark on your neck wasn't consensual, was it?" he asked. "And you wanted to wait a few years for pups didn't you? And if he doesn't like the idea of something, you're not allowed to do it, right?"

"It's not like that anymore," I replied. "He's a changed man and regardless, he's still my mate even if he was the fucking devil."

My Dad sighed and we sat for a few minutes in total silence.

"I love you so much, Ella. I want to get back all the years we lost together and I don't want to hurt you but you have to understand why I must do what I must do. You also have to see why I want to do it and that even if I didn't, I am not the King here."

I didn't reply. He had every reason to hate Leo with a fiery passion and I could accept that. We were never going to be a happy family. But what I couldn't accept is how he is planning to act on his hatred.

"Anyway, the King would like me to inform you that the ball is still happening and you are still going," he said after an awkwardly long pause.

I scoffed, "as if."

"It isn't a choice, Ells," he replied. "He said he'd force you into a gown and drag you there himself if you don't comply."

"Why does he want me there anyway?" I grumbled. "I told him to burn in hell."

"Because he is a proud man and wants to show off his prize. Unfortunately, that is you. If anything, your reluctance will please him more. A content prisoner happy to be here isn't much to boast, is it?"

I narrowed my eyes in thought before a smile crept onto my face.

"Mmh," I said. "And I certainly don't want to please him."