Aurora's POV
I sat on the dungeon floor, face down in anguish as my encounter burned into my memory. It felt like some force was trying to mess with me, to toy with my mind. I woke up years after being killed, and now I had a mate — a new one after the last had taken part in my murder.
"The guards said you won't eat," someone said from the shadows. He stepped into the light wearing a radiant smile, the mark of a beta visible on his neck.
"I have this fetish for girls in cages. It turns me on."
"You are his beta. Did he send you?" I asked. "Tell him I'm not playing his games. If he wants to mess with me, he should come do it himself."
"Feisty," he purred, his grin widening with excitement.
"I would've loved a girl like you under different circumstances. But I'm here for business."
"Business?"
"Uh… uh. I don't know who you are, but something feels off," he replied, pacing back and forth. It was normal for him to sense the mate link Kane and I had formed. Betas and alphas shared a bond similar to mates — a connection between souls.
"What are you? Sorry… who are you?"
"Doesn't matter." I dropped my head again, disoriented as the room spun.
"Nothing matters."
"You intrigue me, stranger, I guess…"
He paused as the door creaked open and Kane walked in.
"It's a glorious morning, and you're just as handsome as ever."
"What are you doing here, Rod?" Kane asked. He turned to me but avoided my eyes. He must have felt the same tension I did.
"She's my prisoner."
"Hey! You have no problem with me," Rod said, backing away with a warm smile.
"I'll see you around, cage girl."
He waited for his beta to leave before opening the prison bars.
"Come with me."
*****
My vision was blurred, barely allowing me to see where we were going. He noticed and took my hand to guide me. The zapping sensation when our skin touched was disturbingly familiar — the same feeling I once had with Alphonso. To some, it would bring comfort. To me, it was fuel for a burning hate, tied to a painful chapter of my life.
"Get in." He helped me into a massive bedroom. From the scent clinging to the bed, I knew it was his room.
"I'm older," I groaned as I sank into a chair.
"What?"
"If what you say is true and you're the little kid I met years ago, then I'm older," I replied.
"Why should that matter?" He handed me a map.
"The river separates us from Crimson. My mate was taken from a settlement close to the riverbanks. Do you have any idea where they'd have taken her?"
"Yes… yes, I do. In fact, I saw her about a month ago," I replied with a crooked smile.
"What part of I just woke up in the woods don't you understand? I don't even recognize this map, and I used to know it by heart."
"The map has changed six times in the past ten years. Empires fall, new ones rise. More silver mines were developed , more slaves."
"That's how he funds the war," I muttered. "He's using the mines to extract silver."
"Eat this." He placed a fruit basket in front of me.
"You won't be any use to me if you're constantly fighting hunger."
I hesitated, but my stomach rumbled violently.
"Kane!" Rod burst into the room.
"Oh… sorry to interrupt you and your guest prisoner."
"What do you want?"
"You need to come with me to the council chamber. It's urgent," Rod replied, his expression serious.
"The council chambers? But there is—" Kane stopped mid-sentence, realization flashing across his face.
"One moment. Don't go anywhere."
He left with Rod. I grabbed an apple and followed them, unsure of where I was going, guided only by his scent. We crossed to the other side of the Alpha mansion. The towering pillars reminded me of Crimson — my pack house.
I bit into the apple as I approached a large room buzzing with arguments. Men shouted and cursed at one another.
"Halt!" A guard blocked my path.
"Only elders are allowed in here. Tell the chief maid that if she wants to deliver something, she should come herself."
"Oh, the chief maid is sick," I said softly, my eyes misty.
"I was sent to pass a message to the beta."
"Tell me. I'll pass it along," he said, his gravelly voice making my heart race.
"You are not allowed in."
"It's a matter of pack importance," I pleaded, tears rolling down my cheeks as I chewed my apple.
"Please… I don't want to be killed. Do you want to be the reason for my death?"
"Uh…" He hesitated, glancing around.
"You have five minutes. If you're not out by then, I will be the reason for your death."
"Thank you." I wiped my tears as he opened the door. The noise inside was even louder than I'd imagined. Kane's disapproving stare locked onto me instantly. He sat at the head of the table while the others argued.
"You've been silent, Alpha Kane!" one thundered.
"Our limited resources are being used to cater to slaves you saved, yet we're still sharing with other packs. How do we survive?"
"What do you expect me to say?" Kane replied coldly.
"You called a meeting without my approval."
Silence fell as he stood. His gaze swept the room before landing on me, making every head turn.
"Who is she?" they whispered.
I moved to Rod, who stood at the edge of the room sharpening his dagger.
"Hello again," he muttered.
"Here to join the fun?"
"Are these members of the Elders' Court?"
"They're the pioneers of our great pack," he replied, sheathing his blade.
"Stay. Observe."
"Our children are starving," an elder argued.
"Why prioritize outsiders over our kin?"
"What defines kin?" Kane asked huskily. Silence followed.
"Many of you weren't born Crescent, yet you are kin. These people stood with us when we needed them. I won't abandon them."
I knew the real reason — secrecy. An alpha's instinct was to protect his people. Sharing what little they had only delayed the inevitable.
"Our supply from the north has been cut off," another elder said.
"We have a month at most."
"Not necessarily," I spoke up from the corner.
"Who is she?" an elder snapped.
"Why is a refugee speaking?"
"I—"
"I told her to speak," Rod cut in sharply.
"Does anyone have a problem with that?"
"Go on," Kane said.
"Late Alpha Ray of Crimson built a food storage east of here. The town is still marked on the map—"
"You want us to steal from people trying to exterminate us?" an elder retorted.
"That storage hasn't been used in ten years."
"He built it to store food for twenty. It's preserved. He spent a fortune on it."
"How do you know this?" another asked. I froze, words failing me. I glanced at Kane, but he was just as stunned.
"Her father helped build it," Rod supplied.
"I heard stories of it as a boy. The food could last us months."
"You want to send troops on a ghost hunt?" another protested.
"Not troops," Kane said, stepping toward me.
"I'll take her alone."
"That's absurd!" they shouted.
"You're the alpha!"
"Enough!" He growled, freezing the room.
"I leave at first light."
His eyes locked onto mine, pressure tightening in my chest.
"You'd better be right about this."