3_What You Did Tonight Was Cruel
1489 Words
Declan POV
I am lying on my bed, trying to watch my favourite show when all hell breaks loose. Warriors are shouting orders, and I hear Beta Lenny crying out in agony.
“What the hell,” I mutter, jumping up and running outside.
Outside the packhouse, it is an explosion of people and chaos. Beta Lenny is holding his wife while she cries uncontrollably. Warriors are carrying a body away, and two women are cuffed and led towards the dungeons. My stomach dives when I recognise Nia by her white hair. What the hell happened at the carnival?
“Dad,” I say as I stand beside him. “What’s going on?”
“Leonard’s dead,” Dad answers, clearing his throat. “And those two allegedly killed him.”
“What?” I gasp, flabbergasted. How the hell did two tiny females kill the Beta’s son? I know Nia is only seventeen – she does not even have a wolf. They cannot defeat a strong wolf like Leonard. “Are you sure?”
“We’ll know once the investigation is over,” Dad sighs. “But there’s very little doubt since they were caught red-handed.”
“Those bitches must die for this,” my younger brother, Dean, growls, and I glance at him. Dean’s nostrils are flaring, and he is pale with anger. I never liked Leonard, but Dean and Leonard have been best friends since forever. It is only natural that he would react like this.
“Declan,” Father says, turning towards me. “I want you to lead the investigation.”
“What! No!” Dean protests. “I want to do it, I want …”
“Declan will be the next alpha,” Dad cuts him off brusquely. “It’s his duty. Besides, you’re too close to this, and your mind’s not clear. You won’t be fair.”
“Fine,” Dean scoffs, pointing a finger at me. “But if you f**k this up, I’ll kill you.”
“Sure,” I shrug. “With me dead, and you’re in prison, neither of us will be alpha.”
“f**k you,” Dean snaps, turns around and walks away.
“You shouldn’t taunt him like that,” Dad reprimands me softly.
“I didn’t,” I protest, crossing my arms. Dean and I do not get along – at all – ever since he caught me making out with his girlfriend when we were teenagers. Which was an accident because I did not know she was his girlfriend. And that was four years ago! He should really get over it and move on. “I merely stated a fact.”
“Declan,” Dad sighs my name as if he is exhausted to the bone. “You know Dean is jealous because you’re the next alpha, and not him. Be the bigger man, son.”
“He needs to grow up,” I scoff.
“And you need to man up,” Dad says firmly, turning towards me. “Everything Dean wants comes naturally to you. How many mates have you rejected? Four?”
“Six,” I admit softly.
“Six!” Dad huffs, rolling his eyes. “Dean hasn’t found one. All he wants is to find his mate and be the alpha. And you … you take it for granted. You reject women left and right and would rather f**k around than pay attention to your training. You are my oldest son, and next in line, but make no mistake, Declan. If you can’t get your s**t together, you won’t be Darkwood’s next alpha.”
His words rip a hole in my gut, and I look at him with disbelief. Surely, he cannot be serious.
“You want to make Dean the alpha because I don’t want a mate?” I ask softly.
“Yes, dammit!” Dad snaps. “Who do you think will carry on our name if you don’t reproduce?”
“Our bloodline won’t die with me, Dad. Dean and Mila will have kids. Besides, I don’t need a mate for that,” I protest, heftily. “I can get a breeder.”
“Do you even hear yourself?” Dad yells, his eyes blazing into mine. “I refuse that everything I worked for gets burned down by you and a breeder. The mate bond has a purpose, and defying it with a breeder is a poor choice. Where’s your pride, and your sense of duty?”
“Dad, I …”
“No!” He cuts me off brusquely. “I’m done talking about this. Get yourself together, or Dean will be the next alpha.”
I press my lips together and watch Dad walk away. Dad has not spoken to me like this before – ever, and I am too blown away to really comprehend what just happened.
“Excuse me, Declan,” an Omega says behind me, and I turn around to face her. “Elize is here to see you.”
“Tell her I’m not home,” I grunt, irritated. Seriously, she is the last person I want to talk to right now.
“She … she knows you’re here,” the Omega replies apologetically. “Be … because everyone’s here about Leonard.”
“Fine,” I huff, raking my fingers through my hair and marching back into the packhouse. Elize has accepted my rejection; I should not assume that is why she came here. She could have valuable information about Leonard’s death, and since Dad gave me that ultimatum, I must take what I can get to prove my worth.
When I enter the foyer, Elize is standing with her back towards me, looking at the photos of my ancestors whose reputation I am about to ruin – according to Dad.
“Hello, Elize,” I greet politely, and she turns around.
She is holding onto a bag, glaring at me with unblemished anger, and I intuitively know she is not here to talk about Leonard – she is here to fight because I rejected her.
“What you did tonight,” she hisses, taking a step closer, “was cruel and unforgivable.”
“I don’t recall asking for forgiveness,” I shrug, crossing my arms in front of my chest. “Please accept that we’re done, and leave.”
“I made you a promise,” she mutters, reaching into the bag.
“A promise?” I smirk, raising my eyebrows.
“Yes,” her voice is like ice when she looks at me. “That you’ll regret it.”
“Elize, I … ahhhh!”
An intense, sharp stinging sensation on my face quickly escalates into a deep, sustaining burning pain. It is so profound that I fall onto my knees, my hands reaching for my face, but the pain is so intense that I scream louder when I touch it.
“What have you done?” I shout, trying to process everything, because it happened so fast.
“Now your face will resemble your heart!” Elize shouts. “You’re a monster, Declan.”
Screams continue to tear from my chest as I struggle upright, and I am vaguely aware of people running towards us.
“Dear Goddess!” Dad exclaims as he touches my shoulder.
“Help me!” I shout, beside myself with pain. “Please, it hurts so badly.”
“Dean!” Dad shouts as he guides me towards the nearest bathroom. “Get the doctor. Now!”
There are more sounds, and I realise it is me screaming like a little girl when Dad rinses cold water over my face. I try to get away, but Dad holds me firmly in place.
“This has to be done,” Dad says firmly, but concerned. “I’m sorry, son. It smells like wolfsbane and hydrochloric acid.”
Acid? The b***h poured acid on my face!
My screams turn into whimpers and my entire body trembles.
“Who did this?” Dad growls, and by the way he looks at me, it cannot be pretty.
“Elize,” I whisper. “I rejected her.”
“She’ll pay for this,” Dad grunts, closing the taps. “But first, you need urgent medical attention.”
I am in too much pain and agony to argue or think about it, and I allow Dad to guide me towards the car.
“Dad!” Dean shouts, running towards us. “The doctor will be here in ten minutes.”
“Tell him to meet us at the hospital,” Dad replies, opening the door for me. “And you’re in charge until I return. Don’t disappoint me.”
“Yes, Alpha,” Dean replies, and I would have smirked if I could. Dean finally got what he wanted – to be in charge.
I am going to kill Elize Pulscher.
- Writer
