His Mate, His Heirs : The Alpha King’s Claim

Episode Eight

Chapter Eight

*First Person's Perspective*

~Marie~

The door clicked shut behind Brandon as he entered the dimly lit basement. His sharp suit looked oddly out of place against the grimy walls and the eerie tools scattered around. He walked toward me with a slow, deliberate pace, his shoes tapping against the concrete floor.

My heart raced as I watched him approach, disbelief and betrayal etched on my face. "Brandon... What is going on? Why am I here?" My voice cracked as I struggled to understand the nightmare unfolding around me.

Brandon tilted his head, a smirk playing on his lips. "Ah, Marie. You always did have that sweet, curious tone."

I clenched my fists behind my back, the cuffs biting into my wrists. "What do you want from me? Why are you doing this?"

His smirk widened into a cold grin. "It's not about you, darling. You just happen to be... useful."

"Useful?" I repeated, my voice rising in pitch. "What does that even mean? I thought we were friends."

At that, Brandon laughed-a loud, mocking sound that echoed through the basement. "Friends? Marie, you're too gullible for your own good. Did you really think I wanted to be your friend?"

My breath hitched as his words sank in. "You're saying... this was all fake? Everything?"

He chuckled darkly, shaking his head as if he found my naivety amusing. "Oh, Marie. Of course, it was fake. Do you think I'd waste a month of my life on you just for fun? No, I had a purpose."

My stomach churned, and I fought back the wave of nausea rising in my throat. "What purpose?"

His expression turned cold and calculating. "I needed information. Information about your boss."

It felt like the floor beneath me crumbled. My lips parted, but no words came out. I wanted to scream, to cry, to hit him, but I could only whisper, "So you lied? About everything? Even about... liking me?"

Brandon's laughter filled the room, cruel and heartless. It went on for what felt like an eternity before he abruptly stopped, his face darkening. "Yes."

The single word was like a knife to my chest. I couldn't breathe. The humiliation, the foolishness-I had let my guard down, trusted someone, and this was where it had led me. My vision blurred as tears welled up in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.

Brandon leaned closer, his tone dripping with mockery. "You really thought someone like me would be interested in someone like you? Come on, Marie. I've met smarter doormats."

"Why?" I croaked, my voice barely audible. "Why would you do this?"

He straightened, brushing imaginary dust off his jacket. "I already told you. I need something from someone who seems to care about you."

"Who?" I demanded, desperation creeping into my tone. "Who are you talking about?"

Brandon smirked but said nothing. He turned to the man who had brought me down here, gesturing toward me with a flick of his hand. "Start with the job."

Panic surged through me. "What job?" I asked, my voice trembling. "What are you talking about?"

But Brandon didn't answer. He gave me one last cold glance before walking out of the room, his footsteps echoing until the door slammed shut behind him.

---

I barely had time to process what he'd said when a sharp, stinging pain exploded across my cheek. The man had slapped me so hard that my head snapped to the side, and I tasted blood in my mouth. Tears streamed down my face, stinging the already tender skin.

"You think you're tough, huh?" he sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "We'll see about that."

I clenched my teeth, my vision swimming as I tried to steady my breathing. The metallic taste of blood lingered on my tongue, and my heart pounded so loudly it drowned out the rest of the world.

The man leaned down, his face inches from mine. "Where do I start with the butchering?"

My eyes widened in horror, and I instinctively tried to pull away, but the cuffs held me firmly in place.

He laughed, a sound so vile it made my stomach churn. "Scaredy cat," he taunted, his grin stretching across his face.

My voice caught in my throat, and I could only shake my head in silent plea as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blindfold. He tied it tightly around my eyes, plunging me into darkness.

The absence of sight heightened my other senses. I could hear the faint drip of water in the corner, feel the damp chill of the basement air against my skin, and smell... lemon?

The sweet, citrusy scent filled my nostrils, overpowering the metallic tang of blood that had lingered earlier. My head began to feel light, as though the floor beneath me had vanished.

I tried to resist, to fight the drowsiness creeping over me, but it was no use. My thoughts grew fuzzy, and the sounds around me faded into a distant hum.

The last thing I heard before everything went black was his voice, mocking and a slight chuckle. "Sweet dreams, Marie."

~~~

I felt cold liquid substance pour on my body. A cold shiver ran down my spine as I jolted awake

"Don't get too mad at me, okay pretty? I'm just following orders, now cry more" he said and another slap landed on my cheek

"What the hell? What is this, Brandon? What is going on?" That voice sounded all too familiar. I raised my head almost immediately, my eyes scanning the whole room in search of his face. "Over there" large hands landed on my head and turned my head to my right. It was...he was on screen. He wasn't even here. Anger boiled inside me. I knew I shouldn't have accepted this job. I've always known something was wrong, that it wasn't all as it seemed. I knew something dark was beneath

What was he going to do with me now? Maybe a trafficker he was.

"Brandon what is this?" He asked again, his eyes never leaving mine. "What do you think, Zarus? What does it look like?" He asked mockingly. There was silence in the room and Zarus laughed

"Whatever you have planned just forget about it. She's just an ordinary secretary, and I really don't care about her" he said. Brandon laughed too. "Of course" he answered and raised his palm. Wanting to hit me again. Tears welled up in my eyes as I stared in fear. His words stung harder than they probably should have. Does this mean that if Brandon had planned to kill me then I was gone for good?

"Hey, don't you dare lay your filthy hands on her again"

"Now you're talking" Brandon laughed again. His jaw worked, " Relax Zarus my man, it's not like you could do anything, you're only watching through a camera" Brandon said with a smirk

"Pray I don't get to find your location, I swear I will kill you if I do. I'll make sure to crush your bones and revel in the taste of your blood" I creased my brows at that statement. How he said that so casually yet, promising. Cold shiver ran down my spine

"You would do that?" Brandon's smirk remained intact as he asked. He was unfazed

"I meant to put you behind bars ... .in jail, where you will never come back" I only stared back and forth from the both of them in utter confusion. Was there something they didn't want me to know?

"What do you want Rand?" Now he sounded composed and Brandon? He had a triumphant smile on his face. As though all the problems in his life had just been dissolved