DARKEST ( Supernatural Beginnings Series) Book Three

Are You Worthy? Part one

Roman

The citadel, carved from gleaming crystal, bathed in radiant light, emitted an otherworldly brilliance that concealed its true, ominous nature. Its battlements, adorned with intricate designs and symbols, resonated with an eerie, harmonious energy that sent shivers down the spine.

From a distance, the castle seemed like a beacon of hope in the bleak world, its crystalline walls shimmering with an ethereal glow. But as one drew closer, the façade faded, revealing the dark and oppressive nature of the Silver Fang rule.

My thoughts were a wreck. Mariana was a sight to behold compared to her double Ariana. She surpassed Ariana in ways I never thought were possible. There was credibility in the saying “the grass is not always greener on the other side” even though I knew the woman appeared before me filled with a mountain full of lies. It was fun playing with her while it lasted, and it was no surprise that she would run and hide from me with an endurance as weak as hers.

Everything Wolfram said about the nullification of the marriage arrangement between our families was true. By Wolf's law, finding one’s fated mate trumped everything. I could care less about these things, for Mariana and her mate’s scent tantalized me. It disappointed me that she wasn’t my mate, instead of the fake that had attached herself to me for the short amount of time she was there.

I would get back what she owed in due time. She fell into my trap with ease and brought forth the one person I was definitely not disappointed in finally meeting. My mother had been a barrel full of complaints since I was young. Harold had been her bitter pill to swallow and would be for the rest of her life. His mate, Connie, was a force to be reckoned with, yet I could feel she didn't use her full power, serving my mother a well deserved blow.

She needed to get knocked down from her high horse before she messed up my plans. Those two women had to be mine and, at any cost, as soon as I got back to the Silver Fang Kingdom, I grabbed the nearest female servant and got down to business. My arousal was stimulated and me and my wolf Midas needed relief.

Standing at my bedroom window, I couldn’t help looking over toward the kingdom adjacent to my own. It was funny how our kingdom was at the peak of deception with its crystal clear presence symbolizing light, but The Fang Family was anything but.

The walls were cloaked in obsidian-hued stone fitting my taste to perfection, cold to the touch and with silver filigree patterns, casting eerie shadows as the flickering candlelight danced upon them. The floor, a mosaic of polished black marble, seemed as if it could swallow you whole, each step echoing ominously in the silence.

The centerpiece of the room was my grand, four-poster bed, draped in heavy, blood-red velvet curtains that seemed to absorb the very essence of light. The bed itself was a dark oak, adorned with silver accents that caught the dim light and glimmered like moonlight on a still lake. It exuded an unsettling air of both opulence and malevolence from my many trysts within it.

The girl I randomly chose hadn’t put up much of resistance for long, leaving me bored and unentertained and rushing to fill my needs quickly. I was by no means a gentle lover and rough and menacing was by forte, hence my primal nature.

Leaving her tied up and sprawled out on my bed with its red satin sheets left a startling image for my eyes to feast upon, but right now my mind could no longer get in the mood for this substitute. I felt the presence of my subordinate and Beta entered the room. He paused in his steps at the sight of the naked girl on the bed, but didn’t say anything as he continued walking forward toward me, standing at the window in all my naked glory.

“Sir, the medication you requested.” My Beta Boris, said, as he stood next to me, then bowed, holding his hands out in servitude with a tray lined with medicated patches.

My thoughts ran back to Mariana and that fiery temper of hers. The tea really did sting, but that was nothing in terms of the pain I loved to give to others. I applied the patches to the side of my face that would take a longer time to heal. Smirking, it was strange how I was more intrigued than enraged by this Mariana. She had fought with her compared to her doppelganger, if that truly was what that woman was.

The purple moon shone brightly in all its powerful glory, though I could sense its bountiful energy. It angered me that our Fang family had no connection to it like the Claw’s did. Even after all the tricks we had to pull in finally signing a pact, somehow the universe deemed our bloodline unworthy and we were left cursed instead.

If the Claw Family ever found out the truth about their family curse that never existed, heads would roll by the second when it came to that old man’s wrath. It was a good thing that I played it off earlier using Mariana’s attack as cover. Her aura rivaled Wolfram’s and compelled me to submit even though I was of Alpha blood myself. I wonder what she would do if she was extremely angered, but my wolf Midas cautioned against poking that particular hornet's nest.

Something was brewing inside this weird cloud that had been hovering above my city for some time now. No one I consulted with knew how to get rid of it. Each time someone tried to attack it, it would grow and gain strength and strike back, particularly at the buildings that were sanctioned under our protection.Someone was behind it. That much was clear, but who? I had yet to find out and this was becoming troublesome by the minute.

The castle grounds did not house the Silver Fang Pack members at all but rather enslaved them as they lived in fear and dread of me and my family. They resided in a desolate area behind the castle, where the land was untreated, covered in overgrown weeds and neglect. The grounds were a stark contrast to the gleaming citadel, mirroring the hopelessness of the enslaved pack.

Behind the castle lay the desolate living conditions of the enslaved pack members. They were forced to dwell in old, decrepit sheds that were falling apart at the seams. The sheds were made of rotting wood, and the roofs leaked during rainy seasons. There were different types of sheds, ranging from small, cramped spaces to larger ones that housed entire families.

The arrangement between us needed to stay in effect or the resources Wolfram had graciously provided for us would be gone and our livelihood down the drain. It was clear they knew what was happening within our kingdom just as we do theirs from the help of his ever foolish brother Ingrim.

This was all my mother Sade’s fault with my grandfather’s over indulgence when it came to her. We could have easily made those people with the resources of our own play the long game, but of course, Sade’s mouth knew no bounds, as in perfect example of today’s fiasco.

“You can take it back now.” I said to Boris and he finally straightened up from his bow.

“Yes, my prince,” he said in filial servitude, and turned to walk back to the door.

“Wait! Take her with you.” I said, nodding over at the woman still lying shackled on the bed. What a waste. I still had more pent up energy to release and she had passed out.

“Um, my prince, I think I could ask for more assistance in this matter?” Boris said, a hint of nervousness in his voice. Frowning, I was quickly becoming annoyed at his hesitancy.

“You can’t handle this simple matter. Seems you are becoming more and more unqualified to be my beta!” I growled at him, both my wolf Midas and I clearly irritated. All he had to do was wake her up, unshackle her and lead her away from her. She was inexperienced at meeting my needs, completely unworthy of meeting my needs.

“Please, sir, that is not what I meant. It’s just the girl, she’s dead, my prince.”

“Absolutely weak!’ I yelled, causing Beta Boris to jump, but he didn’t move from his position near the door, waiting for me to give out orders.

I walked over from the window back toward the bed to straddle the girl in bed. She was young, just above the age of eighteen and a looker at that. How sad I thought as I caressed her now cold-tear-stained face. I must have been really deep in my thoughts to not notice when her heartbeat had stopped.

Oh well, another one bites the dust. Where have all the willful subjects gone in this world? Suppressing my anger, I nodded towards Beta to summon the clean-up team. SIghing, I climbed off the bed, heading toward the carved ebony wardrobe near the bed to grab one of my silk robes to cover myself. Tying the robe closed, I walked back over to the view I was just appreciating.

The colossal window stretched across one wall, offering a view of the castle grounds below. However, this window was unlike any other. Its glass, tinted with a foreboding shade of midnight, distorted the outside world, casting an eerie pall over the usually picturesque view.

The window was framed by a crystal wall, as if trying to contain the malevolent energy within, while an awning above it resembled the outstretched wings of a sinister bird, casting a perpetual shadow over the room.

Making me wonder in my thoughts again. “Beta Boris stay put once they arrive.” I command him.

“Yes, sir.” he said with a slight shiver. This brought a smile to my face just as a timely knock came at my door.

“Enter!”

The clean cleanup team had always been quick and tidy. They handled the girl's body and cleaned it up on my bed without a frown. It hadn’t been their first rodeo incident like this. As they cleaned up behind me, I planned things in my head for my next meeting between Mariana and her mate. A voice I detested rang in my ears like an annoying bug. Her footsteps were getting closer to me and all I could feel was my skin rising in hives.

My mother Sade came to a stop beside the window, her arms folding over her chest as she breathed heavily in anger, obviously upset. I turned to look at her and held my hand to hold my laughter at her appearance, a silver mask now covered on the side of her face. From the scent of it was medicinal, but there would still be some damage.

“Son. I’m so pissed! That b***h hit me with wolfsbane! Now my face will be disfigured! Ahhh I hate that woman, we have to make her pay!” she said, stomping her foot in the process like a small tantrum having a child.

“And how do you suppose we do that? Nothing else will leave us at a disadvantage with the pact.” I said clearly. Silencing her further ranting. She looked at me with pure indignation. Her stubbornness to listen to my words was showing.

“I can’t take this lying down! We have to do something! When did you become such a punk? Don’t tell me you are jonesing for that slut kid! I won’t allow it, not ever, not after Harold…….”

Boom! The wall beside the window now contained a dent in it as I held my mother by the throat, her feet dangling significantly off the ground as I glared at her. She made me sick with her constant stupidity. Her hands now clawed at my arms, drawing blood as she barely gasped in her attempt to get me to let her go.

“Did you forget who is in charge here? Or do I kindly have to remind you? f**k up my plans and i promise not even my own mother will be spared!” I growled, watching in glee as she gagged and choked for air. Her eyes filled with fear, but it wasn’t enough for me. I wanted her to be near death so she would truly understand. There was no going behind my back for this. Her eyes began to dim and just as she was close to passing out, I released her from my grip.

Sade fell to the ground coughing and glaring at me. She didn’t say anything more because she understood my meaning. Scoffing, I left to head to my bathroom to wash my hands. I always felt filthy being near her so much, so I had to scrub myself clean. Luckily, my hands were the only thing used and tonight would be a hellish one for everyone present.

After washing my hands and drying them with a towel, the clean-up team had long since left without making a sound or input to what they had witnessed. Beta Boris still stood at his station like the good wolfy he was, the fear wafting off him in delicious waves as I stared at my mother who had still gotten up from the floor.

“Well, what are you waiting for, mother? I’m busy, so you can leave now,” I said with a sinister grin on my face. Causing Boris and her both to shiver.

“Yes, my son.” Sade croaked out, her voice hoarse from the nice lesson she had been taught.She scrambled to her feet in a hurry, giving me a quick bow as she should and leaving in a much more humble way than the haughty way she had entered. The door closed shut with a click, causing my Beta to jump.

Smiling, I sat on the edge of the bed, untying my robe, revealing my naked glory and a very erect opponent. Boris' eyes connected with mine, very aware of what his duty had now become.

“Well?” I said, revealing myself even more. Reveling in the tears of my Beta as they slid down his face and on the floor one by one.

“My Prince….” he whimpered.

“Are you going to defy me?”

“No, my prince.” he said, walking closer to me near the bed and obediently getting down on his knees.

“What a good Beta you are, Boris. That is one of the reasons I have you by my side. Never deny yourself the service you serve very well.” I said, reaching a hand out to rub them through his soft hair, bringing his head forward.