Anger of the Devil

13. Stone cold

The cell was cold, damp, wet, and the chains binding them were tight around the wrist. Nathan didn’t know how long they had been there, but it had been some time since they had woken. However, given the fact that the cells of the Grey Pines Pack were placed in the cellar, he had no idea of how long they had slept. Had the sun risen? Probably, but Nathan had no way of knowing since the light in the room was limited to a small, blinking lamp in the ceiling. 

He glanced over at Jake who looked calm as he relaxed against the wall. His eyes were closed, but Nathan knew he was awake. 

    “Hey…”

Nathan gently nudged closer to Jake while he tried to stay as quiet as possible as to not alert anyone who could be sitting on the other side of the door. Jake opened his eyes and moved his head to look at Nathan who continued. 

    “We need a plan.”

Jake raised an eyebrow as he replaced his head to look straightforward and closed his eyes once more. 

    “Sure. Got any?”

Nathan sighed in despair as his jaw clenched a bit. 

    “Well… no, but two heads work better than one. Do you think there is any way that we could break out of this place?”

Jake huffed as he kept himself steady. 

    “You tell me, you’re the one who grew up in this place.”

Nathan’s jaw and eyebrows tensed up even further as he considered Jake’s words. He did know this place. It wasn't as high tech as the cells at the Lake Maroon Pack, but these cells were still designed to keep whoever was placed there trapped. He had never heard of anyone being able to get out, and whenever a small hole or otherwise was found, it was quickly covered. Besides, he knew that there would be at least a dozen people outside making sure that no one got in, or out for that matter, without permission. 

A wave of sadness hit Nathan as he for the thousand time remembered that it was his own father who had put him there; his only close blood relative. The feeling of despair hit him even harder than before as he slumped back against the wall. 

    “He won’t kill us. He can’t.”

Jake gave a quick sarcastic laugh as he lifted an eyebrow slightly. 

    “He can. No one can stop him. But I don’t believe he will kill you, no.”

Nathan regarded Jake. The man looked worn out with dirt covering his skin and ash blond hair, yet his face was calm.

    “You don’t believe he will kill me? Do you think he’ll kill you?”

Jake took in a deep breath as he shrugged. 

    “Perhaps, but only time will tell. Can’t do anything but wait at this point.”

Nathan opened his mouth, but a loud sound of squeaking metal stopped him. The door was being opened. A bright light hit him as the door was pushed open. Nathan blinked for a short while to get used to the light, but he soon saw the frame of a man; his father. The great Alpha Dominique Dugrey looked intimidating as he towered over them with crossed arms. Soon, Nathan regained all of his sight which made him able to see his father’s expression as well. Though he had never been a smiling man, he looked particularly angry at that moment. He looked at Nathan with a furrowed face and spoke with a cold voice. 

    “Get up.”

Nathan was hesitant at first, but he eventually did as asked. He had barely gotten up before his father had janked him in the chains and forcefully opened the lock. Nathan’s face twitched in pain, but he tried to conceal it as much as possible. He gently rubbed his wrists as he looked at his father who stepped towards the door. Dom stopped at the door as he nudged outside.

    “Move.”

Nathan frowned in confusion as he looked at Jake. He then returned his eyes to look at his father before he finally spoke. 

    “What about him?”

Dom slowly moved his eyes to look at Jake sitting on the floor. His eyes got narrow before he slowly refocused on Nathan. 

    “He stays. Now, I said move.”

Nathan could feel the anger inside of him taking root as he stood his ground. He mimicked his father’s stance as he too narrowed his eyes.

    “No. Not without Jake.”

The fury in his father’s eyes was clear, but he stood his ground. Several seconds passed as they just stared at each other, and it wasn’t until Jake spoke that the silence was broken. 

    “May I ask why we have been placed in your cells, Alpha Dominique? Have we wronged you?”

Nathan could see a small twitch in the corner of his father’s mouth, but he couldn’t decipher what it meant. The silence started once more and continued for an excruciatingly long time until Dominique Dugrey finally answered. 

    “I have made it clear to Nathan that his choices would have consequences. As you have gotten into my territory, it’s my right to detain you.”

Jake gave off a crooked smile.

    “You are correct, it is your right. I have just never considered you a man that does not uphold your promises, and I recall us being allies, I recall you having taken an oath. Am I wrong, Alpha Dominique?”

Nathan wasn’t in doubt when his father twitched once more; he was angry now.”

    “My oath was to Logan Black, not you, your pack nor the girl or Lake Maroon Pack. Since Alpha Logan is gone, I don’t have any ties left.”

Nathan looked back at Jake, but he seemed unfazed. 

    “Is that so? First, I agree that Alpha Logan has gotten increasingly worse than he was before,but he is still very much alive. Also, I thought you wanted to protect Lena? You’ve done it before.”

Nathan looked back at his father and catched a glimpse of something he hadn’t seen on his father that night, or any other night since he was a child; surprise. The surprise was still plastered onto his face as he quickly closed the door. He stepped closer and Nathan could have sworn that he could see him shake just a bit. 

    “I did that for Anna. She wanted me to help her brother’s child and mate. And it was twenty-one years ago.”

    “Yet it would probably still be news to Fenris, wouldn’t it? Even so, I’m actually not trying to bribe you, Alpha Dominique. Though I’ve never tried it myself, I’ve heard that the feeling of finding your mate is like no other, but one feeling can still beat it; getting a child. You know that to be true, I can see it on your face. I know that you would never hurt your son, and I know that you would never tarnish the memory of Anna by doing something that would be fundamentally against her spirit. So tell me, Alpha, why have we been placed in your cells?”

Dominique was breathing hard as he stared daggers at Jake. Nathan was slightly concerned of what would happen as he watched the massive frame of his father moving closer to Jake who sat down in chains. However, Nathan was shocked when he saw his father kneel and whispered.

    “They’ve made a deal, Fenris and the Red Cross Crows. It happened almost immediately after he was beaten at the Lake Maroon Pack. I can’t fight them, they’re too strong.”

Jake nodded as he had a pensive look on his face. 

    “You need him to believe that you’re on his side.”

Dominique nodded before he turned to look at Nathan. Nathan couldn’t believe it as he watched the man he had called ‘father’ for more than ten years, because the look in his eyes suddenly reminded him of the dad he had as a child. 

    “I need to protect the pack... but I won’t let them kill my son. You need to get out, Nate.“

Nathan could feel his heart pound hard against  his chest. 

    “How?”

Nathan looked at his dad, and Dominique got up. 

    "I need you to come out with me right now. They'll spare you if you cooperate."

Nathan huffed a laugh as he shook his head. 

    "No."

Dom looked frustrated, almost angry, as he got very close to Nathan. 

    "This is not a joke, Nathan. They will kill..."

    "... I will not give up, dad!"

Though his voice was low, his power was strong. Dom looked at him as is he was baffled by the aura that oozed out of Nathan. However, he soon smiled - something Nathan hadn't seen since his mother's death. It was as if something ignited in the strong, proud man, and Nathan could have sworn that it looked like a flicker of hope. Dom then took in a deep breath before he crossed his arms once again.

    “Be ready for my signal, bring our pack to safety in Wyoming, and find a man called Topher Crops.”

Nathan opened his mouth to answer, but Dominique had turned on his heels so fastly that he had reached the door before Nathan could formulate a single word. They then heard the door open and close with a clash as silence fell upon the cell.