The Black Alder Series (Books 1-3)

It’s been almost a week since the attack, and I’ve been in the dungeons. I got my voice back, but I don’t use it. Tomorrow is my birthday, but I wish more than anything that I were dead. The cells here smell like piss and shit. All you hear are the screams of the ones being tortured down here. I try to tune it out. I can’t sleep. Every time I close my eyes, all I see is my dad’s head. My dad… It’s my fault he is dead… I didn’t attack him, but he died protecting me. Fresh tears come to me as I try to remain silent. The first few nights in my cell, I was visited by Lynx, who beat me severely, asking me why I did it. I tried to tell him I didn’t. It was Mom, but it only pissed him off even more. On another night, David came to taunt me, saying if he were the alpha, I would already be dead. Even slapping me around a few times to prove he can. Jen only came once. Her visit hurt the most. I was so happy when I saw her, but she looked at me so full of hatred. She punched me in the face and called me a traitor to the pack. I attempted to explain that my mom set it up, but she didn’t have any of it. My brother joined her, putting his arm around her and threatening me to stay away from his mate. Wait… his mate? I tried to smile and tell her I was happy for her, but they kicked me in the stomach. The servant brings food out right after they leave, barely enough to survive. I always push it to the side. I can’t eat it. The alpha comes into the cells after they tell him I’m not eating and forces it down my throat. My mother is behind him, smiling as if she is getting some sick thrill out of this. It’s at that moment that I realize just how much I hate her. I vowed to myself to seek revenge on my father. My silent threat must have reached her when she looked into my eyes, because her smile vanished. She came in and kissed the alpha, and he left her alone with me in the cell. As soon as she sees that he is gone, she smiles again. “Look at you, exactly where you belong,” she taunts. I spit at her.

“You bitch,” I told her. “You had my father killed and blamed it on me. For what? To be the alpha whore.” She comes up to me, takes her hand, and slaps me across the face, but I don’t even feel it. All I feel is hate, and this feeling is slowly building up.

“Watch your fucking mouth, you little shit. He wasn’t supposed to be there; you were the target.” I remember her saying that it was a rogue way to get me. “Why?” I ask. I’ve done nothing to you.’. She slaps me again. “You’ve done everything to me, and you will pay. My rogues may not be able to reach you right now, but I will find a way to hand you over and get you out of my life for good’ she spats. “Why mom?” The anger has now reached its peak and is starting to come out. It gave me strength. She must have sensed it. She smiled and backed away. “Oh, dear child, YOU WERE NEVER MY REAL DAUGHTER.” I knew she was telling the truth. She never felt like a mother to me, and we never had a connection. She saw the realization come to my eyes and laughed. She walked away, leaving the cage. When she got to the door, I laughed. She turned around and narrowed her eyes. It was a cold laugh, full of no emotions. I was scared, lifeless, and powerful, and I swore I saw a massive dark aura come around me. She must have seen it too and continued to back away. I spoke “Hear my words, whore. One day, no matter where I am or how many years it will take, I will find you, and I will rip your heart out as a tribute to my father, but before I do, you will know the true definition of pain and fear, and you will suffer a thousand deaths before I allow you peace. Head me, mother. Tread carefully. I made this promise to you. The last face you will ever see will be mine.” I was pulsating this dark aura, and my mother felt it. She knew I wasn’t playing around, and she was scared. However, she played it off with a smirk and walked out, leaving me alone. I realized how quiet everyone had gotten in the dungeon, as if they were hanging on to my every word, but I didn’t say anything else. Yet it stayed silent. The guy in the cell next to me spoke. “What are you?” he asked. “What do you mean?” “You have a powerful aura around you, yet I don’t sense a wolf,” he says. I sat quietly for a while, since I didn’t want to think about it. I just felt myself getting weaker and weaker. Eventually, I couldn’t keep myself awake, and darkness overcame me.