The Noble Heiress & Her Ancient Foe

Chapter 20

*Third POV*

Together, Alina, Armaan, Zafar, Junaid, and Sahil went down to the dungeons to interrogate Jeffrey. At first, the warriors guarding the dungeons were surprised to see Alina heading towards them, because typically these sorts of tasks were reserved for the Alpha, and other pack leaders. However, as she drew closer to them, her golden aura lit up the dark place. They bowed to their Luna, and after she gave them a gracious smile and ordered them to rise, they opened the gates and stepped out of her way. Many rogues and other criminals that were a part of the pack were present, but they cowered away from Alina’s aura and didn’t even utter a word. Alina kept walking until she was in front of Jeffrey’s cell. Before the guard could open the cell, Alina raised her hand and made a flicking motion to her right. The cell door slid open on command. Armaan was still enthralled by her power, and couldn’t understand why everyone else was looking at her like this was normal. Even the smallest spark of magic from his mate could easily bring him to his knees in admiration. He had never thought much about the traits he wanted in a Luna, but right now, all he could do was silently thank the gods for blessing him with this mate.

Jeffrey wasn’t chained because as a hybrid, he could easily escape. Instead, he was sitting in the middle of a circle created by black salt. The salt prevented him from using his magic, and from physically walking out. Alina entered the cell, with Sahil on her left, and Armaan on her right. Zafar and Junaid stood right outside to allow them some space. Jeffrey looked up at Alina, his eyes showed his emotions, anger, amazement, jealousy, and hatred. He was trying hard to avoid her eyes, but he was almost compelled to meet her gaze. “STAND,” Alina commanded. Oddly, Jeffrey found himself obeying, much to his chagrin. “What spell have you weaved, witch!” Jeffrey shouted at Alina, causing a growl to emanate from both wolves standing next to her, Alina raised her hand, and her lips curled up into a smirk. “IT’S ALRIGHT, I ACTUALLY WANT TO SEE HOW MUCH BITE THIS LITTLE HYBRID HAS,” Jeffrey was getting triggered by her words. “You b***h!! I am anything but little, I would let you know that personally if you let me out of this f-ing circle! Or, are you scared about just that? That I could easily overpower you?” Jeffrey moved closer to the edge of the circle, just enough for Armaan to grab him by the neck and strangle him. “Don’t you dare speak to my mate, and your Luna like that!!” Jeffrey was starting to lose consciousness, causing Alina to place a hand on Armaan’s shoulder trying to calm him, “It’s okay, Armaan. I need to get him talking, let him go, please!” Armaan begrudgingly complied and resumed his position by her side. Jeffrey clutched his throat as he slid to the ground trying to catch his breath. “He’s the one I met in the forest,” Sahil said. He could sense the same eeriness and vibe from Jeffrey that he felt in the forest that night.

“Yes, I was the one who tricked you, using your feelings for Alina to trigger you into letting your guard down!” Jeffrey confirmed. “WHY?” Alina inquired. Jeffrey responded through gritted teeth, “Because we had to stop this union from happening! You don’t deserve to be here!” “WHAT DO YOU MEAN?!” Alina pushed him further. “Armaan isn’t the rightful heir of this pack, and neither are you the rightful heiress of yours! Once the two of you mark each other and consummate your union, there will be no one stronger than you two because you both are true mates that both have ancient pure Alpha bloodlines!!” “So how is it that I’m not the rightful heir? I’m the last surviving son of the late Alpha!” Armaan yelled at Jeffrey frustrated at this whole situation. Jeffrey started to pace around the circle, laughing at Armaan’s confusion. “You really are clueless, aren’t you?” Jeffrey mocked Armaan. “How could you have even done this to me?” Armaan asked Jeffrey. “I treated you like a little brother, giving you a rank when no one else thought you deserved it because you are a hybrid.” “You think you were doing me a favor, f-ker? This is the same pack that kicked my father out for falling in love with my mother!! I rightfully belong here!” Jeffrey shouted at Armaan. “YOUR MOTHER IS ALIVE ISN’T SHE?” Alina inquired. “She is! And, she will be the one to construct your downfall, and kill off your entire line,” Jeffrey responded. “No one is powerful enough to destroy the whole Gold Crescent pack! Not you or some freaking witch!” Sahil shouted back. “Are you dunce f-ker?” Jeffrey taunted Sahil, “I said line, not pack!” Alina gasped and grew angrier at the realization of what he meant. Her golden aura suddenly became bold red, she put her hand up, and suddenly Jeffrey felt his chest and neck tightening, he struggled to breathe to the point where tears were streaming down his face. “YOU WILL NOT HURT MY PARENTS! I DON’T CARE WHO IS WITH YOU BEHIND THIS, I WILL DESTROY YOU ALL!” Alina suddenly relinquished control which caused Jeffrey to be thrown to the ground unexpectedly, he felt like he broke a few ribs. “TELL ME ABOUT THE ENTIRE PLAN AND WHOSE INVOLVED!!” Alina commanded Jeffrey. Jeffrey sat up and tiredly responded to Alina. “I will talk, but only if I speak to you alone,” Jeffrey responded. “Absolutely not!” Armaan roared. Alina nodded, “ONLY ARMAAN AND I WILL BE HERE, EVERYONE ELSE, LEAVE NOW.” Sahil, Zafar, and Junaid reluctantly obeyed, feeling comforted only by the fact that Armaan would be staying with Alina, in case Jeffrey tried something. 

“It’s a long story, so I hope you both are ready,” Jeffrey said with a mocking smile. Armaan and Alina glanced at each other. Alina was calmer, and her aura was a gentle gold glow again. She was not taking chances by letting her power subside while she talked to him. Armaan, wasn’t Armaan completely since they arrived in the dungeon. Nox had taken over. His blue eyes shined brighter than ever, almost neon. He smiled at his mate and held her hand. This annoyed Jeffrey more. “SPEAK!!” Alina commanded which instantly caused Jeffrey to shudder in fear. Immediately he straightened up and began to speak. “My father was a regular warrior in the Dark Moon pack when he met my mother, a young sorceress. He ran into her in the forest while he was patrolling, and she was gathering herbs. They instantly felt an attraction for each other, although they weren’t mates. One thing led to another and soon she was pregnant with me. Armaan’s father was Alpha at the time, and when he found out, he banished my father from the pack. My mother and father tried to handle the situation, but my father was now a rogue and that led to many difficulties. They stayed with my mother’s coven until I was born.” Jeffrey almost looked pained when he spoke about his past. He sighed deeply and continued. “My mother soon met her mate and left me and my father to join him. I was upset by the loss of my mother, but my father said he felt pain more than he ever felt in his life when she left. Sometimes a strange burning in his chest to the point where he committed suicide.” Armaan looked shocked, as much as Alina felt right now. “That pain is only experienced by true mates when their mate leaves them for another,” Armaan spoke, “also, you had told me that your father abandoned you, not that he committed suicide.” “Committing suicide is the act of a coward! He abandoned me! Left me without either parent,” Jeffrey said the last part quietly, looking at every part of the small child truly left alone at this moment even though he was a grown man. “Which pack is your mother’s mate from?” Alina questioned Jeffrey. At that Jeffrey only looked at Alina with a mischievous smirk. Alina instantly received her answer. “The Gold Crescent pack?” Armaan inquired. Jeffrey nodded, never looking away from Alina. This caused Armaan to growl loudly at Jeffrey, which ripped his attention away from Alina. “Anyway, she figured out a way to exact revenge for my father being kicked out of the pack, so she could have me, her son, become the Alpha of this pack.” Armaan let out a pained growl and nearly shifted. Alina on the other hand was calm, “My father didn’t orchestrate the m******e all those years ago, did he?” “Why ask a question if you already know the answer?” Jeffrey smirked at Alina as he responded. “But, the coven told me someone from the Gold Crescent pack was the one responsible for the attack!” Armaan yelled as the frustration and pain of loss felt fresh again at this moment. “Well, they weren’t wrong. You just never properly investigated.” Jeffrey taunted Armaan. Armaan’s eyes glazed over and regret and shame were the only feelings he felt at this moment. He closed his eyes and hanged his head back, he couldn’t believe he doubted his mentor and friend. Forced him to give up his daughter. He never believed Alpha Daniyal. “So, your mother is mated to someone from in my pack?” Alina said. Her heart was racing because she had an eerie feeling about who Jeffrey’s mother is. “Is your mother…” Alina dropped the rest of the statement off, not being able to bring herself to actually say the words. Jeffrey looked at Alina in the eyes and grimaced while nodding his head. No, it couldn’t be. She was like an aunt to Alina. How could this be possible? “It is possible, and there is more,” Jeffrey began. This time, he faced Armaan directly in the face, “Hamed is alive.”