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As Alpha Nathan arrived, he saw Lena on the floor and reached over to lift her. Even though he was not her mate, he had been following her scent to locate her and calm her because he knew she would be in heat tonight.

Don Dante made a protective position over Lena and shook him off as he bent to cradle her.

"Attempting to eclipse the Don, what does that mean?" his icy tone echoed back to the trio. He smirked and looked at Lena, who had sat up. “What is the Alpha of Celestial Pack doing in my privacy with my mate? Why would you invade my territory?”

Lena's pulse was racing because she did not want to think about what would transpire in front of her eyes between the two Alpha Kings. She is certain that Alpha Nathan has not let up his rage because she has known him since they were young and they were friends before they started to feel something for one another.

Speaking of which, the Alpha Don is a demon himself who would tear Nathan to pieces if he were to come across his way. Considering their current standing, Nathan is unable to trespass into Dante's domain because Alpha Don is the pack's supreme Alpha.

Why would Nathan enter the domain of a powerful Alpha like Dante, given that he is said to be the Alpha of all Alphas?

He must have lethal intentions or a death wish.

Nathan moved a few paces nearer to Lena once more, extending a hand to help her get up. Knowing that it would make matters worse for her, she shook her head. "Are you suddenly avoiding me? Or can't you recognize me any longer?” His voice ripped through her ears, causing her to shake her head again.

Her gaze fell on the Alpha Don, making her shiver with fright.

“She is my slave. She is my possession. Nobody has the right to look her in the eyes, much less rub shoulders with her.” Don Dante's voice reverberated in Nathan's ears as he moved slowly and silently towards him. “She is my mate. What more do you want to know?”

Nathan spun around and faced Dante. "How terrible you are to enslave your mate—" he groaned bitterly. "I am sorry, but I am not going to allow her to be a slave. I will take her with me tonight…”

Dante struck him hard in the face, causing him to stumble back and lose his equilibrium. Grasping his cloak, he fixed his gaze on his visage. "I placed you on that throne to take care of my people, not to speak trash about me," he said, sending another punch to his cheeks but holding him back. "What relationship do you have with my mate, that you came from your Pack to separate her from her mate and master? Do you want to see me murder her in front of you?" he sneered. "You should be happy that I allowed her to survive so that I could use her and sate my craving."

"I came for her because she is my girlfriend," Nathan said, igniting Dante's wolf. "I learnt that you murdered her father, usurped his reign, and enslaved her. I looked for her and considered ways to break her free from you, but I was at a loss for ideas. That is why I am here today, knowing she will go into heat and not be herself. I am here to take her away from you…..thank you for letting her live.” With ferocious eyes, he shot back.

Lena was desperate to talk, to urge Nathan not to worry about her, but she was unable to release even a single syllable. She could only cry and itch her fingers on the ground….sitting naked.

Dante scoffed as he followed his gaze over her body. "Grab her while you can," he scowled right away. His eyelids shot up, allowing him a perfect view of Nathan. “Take her if you dare…” he repeated.

They were silent for a moment, but Lena had already pulled herself together. She is going to depart before everything goes bad in front of her eyes. Since he is unaware of the circumstances behind her father's death, Nathan will not think twice about dragging her. Though uncertain, she will not dare unleash the monster within the Don now that she has a clue. Until she learns the real truth, she will have to continue serving as his slave.

Stepping forward, Nathan scowled and cast a sidelong glance at Dante. "She was mine from the start, not yours, Don," he mumbled as he took slow, deliberate steps in Lena's direction. However, she ignored the fact that the fire inside of her was still there and active and instead took hold of her ripped garments and wrapped them over her.

Even if it meant betraying Nathan, she can not take the chance of going with him this time. Yes, even though they were not mates, she was his lover and was preparing to become his Luna. But, because things came out this way, Alpha Nathan's life will be jeopardized if she ever returns to him.

Now, she found her mate and is already marked. She can not drag Nathan into the hell she is going through at the hands of the Don since she is Dante's slave and is paying for both her and her father's sins. Nathan will have to find someone else and let her suffer alone.

She did not dare turn around as she ran back to the palace; instead, she entered the mansion and went straight to Don's room. She fell to her knees, prepared to ask for his forgiveness without hesitation, already envisioning what tonight would hold for her.

Her heart raced faster than she could control. Her clothes had slipped off at the doorpost, but she was so distraught that she overlooked it. "Please do not murder Alpha Nathan. Don't kill him.” that thought clouded her mind. "Shower your rage on me instead; I will take it. He can't suffer my pains.” she burst into tears.

She could not contain her tears as she thought back to the times she had spent with Nathan before all of these tragedies had happened to her. She did not want to meet her mate because he was the only one who could truly care for her.

Her face was dripping with tears as she turned to face Alpha Dante at the doorpost. Her heart skipped wildly when she saw the blood all over his shirt.

"Now that I understand why you were running...," he drew nearer. "To rendezvous with your long-term partner." He took her by the throat and gave her a violent shake. "It is a shame he forgot how deadly I am here and risked taking you from me…" his brow arched. "I would kill him and burn you to ashes if he ever came near you again, but for now I only punished him."

Though she was still terrified of what would happen to her tonight, she let out a loud sigh of relief. He made the ultimate sacrifice to keep her warm while the full moon lingered. Without uttering a word, she winced from the intense pain shooting through her veins as he pulled her by the hair and hauled her out of the room.

“Where is he taking me to?” She sobbed silently, not attempting to free herself from his hold. He pulled her into a room with a metal door that only he could open with his palm print. He had her shackled to the bed there. "Pardon me! I won't dare….”

She was startled to hear the door slamming from behind.

In a room as hot as a furnace, he had just abandoned her. It was her penalty.