The Alpha's Forsaken Feisty Mate

"It was a rumor I heard when I was a child," Leon murmured. "Over time, it faded into obscurity. But now, I believe there might be some truth to it."

Then after a brief pause, he continued, "As Crown Prince, I can grant you access to the deepest part of the prison. However, we must go at night."

Radulf studied him intently. "Why have you never tried to enter on your own?" he questioned.

"Because I never had a reason to," he admitted. "And for years, I dismissed it as nothing more than a baseless rumor, until now. So, will you come at midnight?"

Radulf didn’t hesitate before responding. "I will."

"Good," Leon nodded. "But be cautious. Bring suppressants to mask your dominant alpha pheromones. If your presence is detected, it’ll raise suspicion. The palace has a different level of security. One mistake, and we’ll both be caught."

Radulf’s lips pressed into a thin line. "I understand."

"Then I’ll see you at midnight," Leon said, turning toward the carriage. However, before he could enter it, he stopped. He wanted to ask Radulf if he killed Sylvan, but he felt it wasn’t the time to discuss it.

Entering the carriage, the coachman closed its door before driving it back to the palace.

~~~~~

Phillipe stood in silence as the prison guard unlocked the heavy door to the underground dungeon. Without a word, he stepped inside. Holding a lantern in his hand, he moved steadily down the narrow pathway. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

As he neared the end of the passage, he came to a slow halt.

His gaze fell upon the woman lying on the ground. She looked pale and fragile. The silver chains on her ankles and wrists shackled her, causing her not to move much.

Phillipe again walked toward her and let the lamp rest on the damp floor. With one hand, he yanked the silver hair of the woman, and her eyes opened.

"Karina!" Phillipe spoke as he looked into the eyes of the omega wolf, who was once his mistress. Now, she was nothing but his prisoner.

"Phillipe," Karina whispered and let out a smile. "Why are you here?" She hardly had the strength to keep her eyes open for long.

"Your daughter is disobeying me. She is refusing to give me what I desire," Phillipe said, his eyes turning pale blue, showing how weak his wolf had become.

"Why didn’t you tell me she inherited your power?" Phillipe’s furious voice thundered through the dungeon. "You deceived me, Karina! You never told me the whole truth!"

His eyes burned with fury as his grip on her hair tightened. "You swore she was nothing like you that her black hair was proof she didn’t carry your gift. You convinced me to spare her life, promising that, one day, she would grant me immeasurable power."

A laugh escaped Karina’s lips, her eyes gleaming with scorn. "Have you already forgotten what you did to me, Phillipe?" she asked. "How you wiped out every last wolf of my clan? How you forced me into servitude at your palace, made me bow to the very man who destroyed my people?"

Her gaze burned with vengeance. "And then you forced a child into my womb, expecting her to be your weapon."

Phillipe’s jaw clenched, but Karina only smiled bitterly. "Tell me, Phillipe," she whispered, tilting her head.

"Stay quiet, Karina. Your daughter’s life is still in my hands," Phillipe warned, his voice cold and sharp. "Don’t forget, she carries my blood too."

Karina let out a hollow laugh, her eyes gleaming with defiance. "She will kill you, Phillipe. That is the truth." Her laughter grew louder, echoing through the dungeon’s damp walls. "You will beg for your very life at my daughter’s feet!" she screamed, her voice filled with both fury and triumph. "If you think you can use me against her, you are mistaken. She despises me, Phillipe, and that is all thanks to you. When my time comes, I will have no regrets."

Phillipe’s expression darkened, his lips curling into a sinister smile. "Then you are the fool, Karina. I will kill your daughter tonight, right before your eyes," he bellowed, his voice dripping with cruel satisfaction.

Yet, Karina didn’t so much as flinch at his threat. Instead, she tilted her head, a knowing smirk playing on her lips. "You ordered her to marry Radulf, didn’t you?" she mused. "Your downfall is near, Phillipe. Do you want me to tell you the future you have been carving for yourself all these years?"

Phillipe shoved Karina to the ground with brutal force, the impact sending a sharp jolt of pain through her body. He yanked the shackle on her wrist, the silver searing into her skin like fire. Agony tore through her veins, spreading to her very bones, but she refused to cry out.

"Karina, you will never win against me," he sneered, tightening his grip as he watched her writhe in pain. "I will make sure to end your daughter."

With that, he released his grip on her silver hair, letting her lay on the damp floor.

"Phillipe, didn’t the witch tell you your future twenty-two years ago?" Karina asked, her voice laced with dark amusement. "She prophesied how you’ll end in the most brutal way you can ever imagine, Phillipe." Her eyes locked onto his, burning with contempt from the bottom of her heart. "Phillipe, if you want to live, then don’t even think about touching my daughter."

It was a warning from Karina for the upcoming storm. "No force in this world can prevent your demise if you harm her!" she screamed, her voice echoing through the dungeon, wanting him to keep those words in his mind.

Phillipe let out a low chuckle, and he tilted his head to study her. "It seems like you’re afraid of seeing your daughter dead. I’ll make that happen," he pronounced, threatening her directly this time.

He took a step back before retreating with a satisfied smirk. Now, he knew exactly what he had to do with Zenna.