Captured by the Alpha King

14: Onyx

The rancid stench of wolfsbane invaded my nostrils a split second after the burning sting scorched my throat. I choked, clawing at my neck as the poison seared through my veins like liquid fire. Around me, The Glint's din faded to a dull roar as my vision blurred. I swayed on my stool, gripping the bar to steady myself as a cold sweat broke over my skin.

"Going somewhere, mutt?" A voice hissed in my ear.

I whipped around with a snarl, but my limbs wouldn't obey. I lurched forward, the ground rushing up to meet me. The tang of blood filled my mouth where I'd bitten my tongue. Hands seized me, wrenching my arms behind my back. I thrashed weakly, my wolf spirit howling inside, raging against its cage.

"Viktor," I growled, baring blood-flecked teeth at the smirking vampire before me. He bent low, his icy breath raising the hairs on my nape.

"Did you really think that dungeon was our only lair?" He sneered. "You've only glimpsed the surface of our power."

I spat at him, speckling his cheek with crimson. His grin only widened, flashing fangs.

"Such spirit. I'll enjoy breaking you." He nodded to his underlings. "Take our guest to his quarters."

Rough hands dragged me outside, my heels scraping along the pavement. The wolfsbane coursed through me, sapping my strength as surely as Viktor's taunts sought to crush my defiance. I had to escape. Had to warn Rowan. But as the vampires hauled me into the shadows, my chance for freedom dwindled with each ragged breath.

I was dragged through a maze of dilapidated buildings to an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city. Inside, the vampires descended a crumbling staircase to a sub-basement that reeked of blood and decay.

They flung me into a cell, slamming iron bars closed behind me. I sagged against the frigid stone wall, the wolfsbane burning through my veins like acid. My wolf spirit howled and clawed inside me, desperate for release, but my limbs were leaden, unresponsive.

I took in my surroundings with growing dread. Chains hung from the ceiling, cruel instruments lined the walls. This was a place of suffering. Viktor's personal torture chamber.

Fury simmered in my gut. Viktor thought he could break me, but he didn't know my strength. I would bide my time, gather my power. And when the moment came, I would rip his throat out with my bare teeth.

For now, I had to endure. Had to survive. For Rowan's sake, if not my own. I only prayed I could protect her from the sadistic evil Viktor represented. She was the last light in my world of darkness. My only hope for salvation.

I would not let the vampires extinguish that light. No matter what torment they inflicted, I would find a way back to Rowan. Back to the only one who could redeem the monster I'd become. She was my last chance at humanity. My final lifeline before I drowned in the blood and violence of this eternal night. Just keep my thoughts trained on her, and I'll be alright. I have to be.

The heavy iron door screeched open, the sound piercing my ears. I winced as the noise reverberated through my skull.

Viktor strode in, his pale skin almost luminous in the dark cell. His lips curled into a cruel smile, baring his fangs.

"Well, well. The mighty Alpha chained like a dog." His voice was mocking, grating. "How does it feel to be so...powerless?"

I said nothing, glaring at him with unconcealed hatred. I would not give him the satisfaction of hearing my pain.

Viktor tsked, shaking his head. "Now, now, that's no way to treat your host."

He pulled a wicked looking knife from his belt, the silver blade glinting. My breath caught. Silver. Just great.

"Shall we begin?" he purred, trailing the knife lightly across my chest. A line of searing agony followed its path. I clenched my jaw, swallowing back a scream.

Viktor's smile widened, clearly reveling in my suffering. He continued his torture, each cut calculated to maximize pain. My vision swam as the silver poisoned my blood.

But I would not break. I retreated deep within myself, to the sanctuary of my memories. To lazy days with Rowan, her head nestled on my chest, our fingers intertwined. The light in her eyes when she looked at me, so full of warmth and trust.

I clung to those memories with everything I had. They were my lifeline, my only escape from this torment. As long as I had Rowan, Viktor could not truly defeat me.

I was adrift in recollections of Rowan when Viktor's voice pierced through my refuge.

"Do you know about the prophecy, wolf?"

I blinked slowly, focusing on Viktor through the haze of pain. He had put the knife aside and was watching me intently.

"There is an ancient prophecy," he continued, "about a line of witches with power beyond imagining. Witches who can commune with ancient spirits, channeling their strength."

He leaned in close, his cold breath on my face. I mean, I knew the prophesy we'd read... but... this one sounded a bit different. My curiosity was peaked despite myself.

"These witches can serve as conduits between realms. They can bestow spirits' powers onto others." His eyes bored into mine. "Eternal life. Invincibility. The spirits' protection, in exchange for the witches' blood in bonds."

My sluggish mind struggled to comprehend his words. He couldn't mean...

"Yes," Viktor hissed, as if reading my thoughts. "Rowan. The last of the dark witch bloodline. With her powers, my coven will reign eternal."

My heart constricted at the mention of Rowan's name. Viktor intended to use her, bleed her dry to channel the spirits' strength.

Over my dead body.

I strained against my bonds, heedless of the pain. Viktor would never lay a hand on Rowan if I had any say in it. I would tear his throat out first.

Viktor laughed coldly. "Struggle all you like, wolf. You're powerless to stop me."

My mind raced, searching desperately for a way out. There had to be something I could do, some weakness I could exploit. I tried to push past the sluggishness from the wolfsbane coursing through me.

Viktor returned, bearing an array of vicious implements. My heart sank. I didn't know how much more I could take.

"Now then," he purred, selecting a wicked curved blade. "Shall we continue our fun?"

He sliced into me slowly, precisely. I clenched my jaw, swallowing back screams.

"Come now, don't be shy," Viktor chided. "Let me hear that sweet agony."

He twisted the blade. A choked noise escaped me. Viktor smiled.

"That's better."

He continued his ministrations, lost in sadistic pleasure. I focused on keeping breathing, staying conscious. Viktor prattled on, taunting and gloating. Waiting for him to let something slip.

"With Rowan's power, we'll be unstoppable," he mused. "No one will dare stand against us."

He trailed the knife down my chest. "Eternal life. Invincibility. All ours for the taking."

I filed away each word. There had to be something I could use. Some way to save Rowan from this monster's clutches.

Viktor gazed at me with those cold, empty eyes. "She will serve us, open the gateway to the spirits' realm." He smiled slowly. "Our conduit between worlds."

Between worlds.

My fury reignited. Over my dead body would I let Viktor use Rowan like that.

I glared at Viktor with every ounce of hatred I possessed. He would regret the day he threatened someone under my protection. I strained against the chains binding me, the metal cutting into my wrists. Viktor laughed.

"Struggle all you like, mutt. These chains were designed to hold creatures far stronger than you."

He was right. The bindings were enchanted, the metal infused with magic. There would be no breaking free by force alone.

I needed to outthink him. Viktor was cunning, but arrogant. He believed himself infallible, which could be used against him. Somewhere in this labyrinth of a lair there had to be a weakness. A way out.

My mind raced, analyzing each detail. The stone walls, flickering torchlight, heavy wooden door. The rusted metal tools on the table, remnants of past tortured souls.

Viktor selected a new instrument, the curved blade glinting, runes etched into the surface. My window of opportunity was shrinking. I had to find an answer before Viktor grew tired of his games and finished me off.

Rowan was depending on me. Sweet, stubborn, brave Rowan who saw light even in creatures like me. I would gladly lay down my life for hers. She who was hope to my darkness. My last shred of humanity.

Viktor traced the blade down my chest, applying just enough pressure to split the skin. Blood welled up, a vivid crimson against my tanned flesh. I refused to make a sound. Wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

"Come now, don't be shy," Viktor purred. "Let me hear that wolfish howl of yours. Your stoicism is grating."

He carved another line parallel to the first. This time I couldn't hold back a grunt of pain as fire erupted across my nerves. Viktor's smile widened, baring the points of his fangs.

"That's better."

He enjoyed this too much. Relished having me at his mercy. I stared back defiantly, meeting the cold emptiness in his eyes. Viktor had lived too long, grown too accustomed to cruelty. He barely registered me as anything more than prey to be toyed with.

But he was wrong. I would never be just prey.

My bonds may hold me for now, but they would not contain my spirit. I was the Alpha King of the Black Moon Pack. Survivor of battles Viktor could not fathom. I had conquered far greater foes than him.

With clarity, I saw my escape route. Viktor's arrogance and my resilience. When the time came, I would be ready.

Viktor raised the blade again, but this time I did not flinch. Let him carve what marks he wished. My body would heal, the blood would dry. But my purpose would remain.

I would endure this torture to protect Rowan. And one day, Viktor would endure his.