The Alpha's Prisoner

Vanished

GEMMA

“What’s wrong, Gemma?” His voice dripped with mockery. “Did you come all the way just to stare or do you need something from your dear old father?”

My hand tightened on the door handle as I forced myself to remain calm.

“That’s what I thought” He let out a soft cruel laughter. “You’re still that frightened little girl playing Alpha. You think locking me here makes you strong? You think it makes you different from your pathetic weakling of a mom?”

Anger welled up in me as I turned to look at him. He gripped the bars with both hands.

“There. The real Gemma, always easy to provoke.”

“Shut up.”

“Why? Cause the truth hurts?” He tilted his head. “You’re just like her, weak and sentimental. We both know where that got her.”

“You killed her.” I clenched my teeth.

“Her delusion killed her, dear. She believed in the mate bond, in love, in all those fairy tales.” He grinned. “I just showed her the truth. Love is weakness and the bond is a chain. You’ll fall just like she did. It’s already started, hasn’t it?”

My blood ran cold immediately.

“I can see it in your eyes.” He continued. “Something’s changed. You came here for a reason and it’s not to converse.” His smile widened. “Who is he?”

I turned and proceeded towards the door.

“I hope you make a better decision than her though.”

I stormed out, slamming the door so hard.

I should kill him. the thought pounded through my skull as I climbed the stairs. Five years of keeping him alive, rotting in that cell for leaving me without a mother at age fourteen. Maybe that was the mistake. Maybe mercy was just another form of weakness or maybe he still had uses.

I hated that I was even considering it.

“Alpha.” Dontrell stood right in front of me. “I need you to see something.”

I followed him and there were some papers on his table. “I think I’ve found someone who can be of help to us. She is an ancient scholar and can find out from where that mark found on the guard is used.”

I nodded in relief. This was good news.

“I’ve sent some guards to find her.” He spoke and I let out a sigh of relief. Finally, things were aligning. “That means we do not need the stranger any longer.”

My heart dropped and I furrowed my brows. “If the scholar can decode the message, we’ll know who we’re dealing with. This stranger is a liability, Gemma. We don’t know who he is, where he’s from or why he was tortured. For all we know, he is the cause of this.”

“He’s a victim.”

“A victim or a bait?” He started. “Come on, the timing is too convenient and I have always known you to be smarter than this. Kane threatens you and a few hours later, we find a bleeding man on our border with a dead soldier?”

“You can’t seriously think....”

“I think we need to cut our losses.” He spoke with command. “I already took care of it.”

My heart skipped for a minute as I clenched my fist. “What did you do?”

“What needs to be done.”

Rage exploded through me as I slammed him against the wall so hard. He didn’t flinch. It was more like he expected it. “Tell me you didn’t do what I think you did.”

“He’s dead, Gemma. I made it quick and painless.”

My hand moved on instinct and I pressed my claws against his throat, barely resisting the urge to tear it out. “How dare you forget your position? How dare you go against my order? You had no right!”

“I have every right.” He retorted and shoved me back. “I’m your Beta and it is my duty to protect this pack and that includes protecting you from your stupidity!”

“He was innocent!”

“He was dangerous! Since when did you care so much about a common stranger?” He moved closer towards me. “And don’t give me the only lead bullshit. He is your mate, isn’t he?”

“What are you saying?”

“Don’t try to lie, Gemma!” He grabbed my shoulder, forcing me to look into his eyes. “You haven’t forgotten, have you? How your father destroyed your mom? How she wasted away believing in what didn’t exist while your father plotted her death and sold the pack’s secret? How at the age of fourteen, you were given the responsibility of being an Alpha while your mate was still playing games?”

“I haven’t forgotten anything.” My voice dropped and I lowered my head.

“Then why did you go to that prison?” He held my jaw. “You’ve only gone there when you needed to be reminded what betrayal looks like. I’ve known you since birth, Gemma and I can interpret every of your actions. I saw your face when you left him.

You felt the bond, you panicked and ran to remember why you shouldn’t trust it.”

I couldn’t speak as tears welled up in my eyes but I could not afford to let the tears drop.

“Gemma.” His hands cupped my face lovingly. “Eva, your mother, trusted me enough to make me your Beta. Not for once have we ever fought, we’ve never disagreed on anything that matters but suddenly, he shows up and there is chaos.

You’re questioning orders, your thoughts, hiding and running? Do you not see the pattern, Gemma? He is poison.” His expression hardened as he turned his back to me. “I did what you couldn’t do.”

“You had no right.” I whispered.

“I had every right cause I’m the only one thinking clearly. The bond is already making you weak.” He paused and I struggled not to let the tears out. “You’ve never tried to rip out my throat without thinking, Gemma.” He paused again. “I didn’t kill him.”

I looked up at him in confusion.

“I only wanted to confirm what I already know.” He turned to look at me. “You love him or maybe you’re falling for him but either way, it’s the same poison that killed Eva. Before it consumes you, let’s get it out of the way. Let’s send him away. We can give him all he needs and...”

“No.”

“Gemma...”

“The mate bond doesn’t care about distance.” I shut my eyes tight, hating myself for the words I was about to say. “It’ll pull me towards him no matter where he goes. Next time, I might not be able to resist.” I took in a deep breath and turned my back to him. “Kill him.”

“Are ... are you certain?”

“Do it quickly before I change my mind.” I walked to the window, hoping the air would stop the breaking pain in my heart. I guess this was what being an Alpha meant. “But please, make it quick and painless. At least, he deserves that.”

He nodded and walked out of the room. I broke down, embracing myself. The bond screamed in protest and every instinct demanded I run after Dontrell and stop him but I’d seen what it did to my mother. I couldn’t become her. I wouldn’t. I waited for the bond to snap and the agony to hit me like a tidal wave but then, the door flung open.

“He’s gone.” Dontrell uttered. “The room was wide open and the guards at the door didn’t see anything. He just...vanished.”