Chapter 3

Damon

My canines gritted in anger as my eyes narrowed to meet the half-dead man pleading for his life before me like a coward.

I hated cowards!

And pleading only rekindles the burning inferno inside me.

"Be a fucking man, not a pussy!" I lashed at him, ignoring his screams as my elongated claws dug deep into his flesh, slashing his ugly face.

"You weren't pleading when you joined the conspiracy," I spat, irritated by his pitiful state.

Fucking hypocrite!

"Please, my king," he coughed weakly. I could feel his pulse getting weaker as seconds went by. By the way his blood oozed, he won't last long.

"It was the devil," His trembling fingers grabbed the edge of my shirt in desperation.

Blinding rage washed over me as my eyes turned red.

How dare he touch my cloth with his filthy hands?! He was lucky he didn't touch me.

"It would be a pleasure to send you back to him," I shot coldly, ripping out his heart from his chest and watched his lifeless body slump down like a pack of cards.

"What have you done? You monster!" A voice from behind yelled.

Monster?

I have been called all sorts of strange names, but not a monster.

A thrill of excitement coursed through my bones at the way the name sounded on his lips.

Monster. Hmm. I like that.

A dark smile played on my lips as I turned to meet him, "I forgot you were here for a minute," I walked toward my second prisoner. I recognized him at once despite his battered face. He was a member of my council.

The thumping of my heavy boot against the hard floor and his erratic breathing were the only sound that filled the dungeon.

Unlike the first one, this one was no pussy. He was a man. But beneath his brave face, was a scared cat. The smell of his fear only excited me.

I couldn't wait to feed on his fear and end him!

I hated long talks.

"We know who our king is. You won't occupy that position for long, your end is near, you demon!" He growled pinning his gaze on me.

Demon? I liked that too.

I commended his boldness but his arrogance started to irritate me.

"And who will the unfortunate successor be?" I asked calmly, leaning close to him.

He grinned, flashing his bloody teeth and torn lips, "It would be a surprise," His bloodshot eyes were still fixed on mine.

Was he challenging me?

"You think we like you and want you to rule over us as the Alpha King?" He started.

It was no news that almost all my council members hated me and they didn't like my judgment. They hated that I survived this long on the throne as the Alpha king, but I didn't let it bother me. Leading my people was my priority, no matter how cruel I was.

It was high time I sanitized my council members.

"A war is coming, Damon," His voice filled my ears, snapping me out of my thoughts.

Anger flooded me at the way he addressed me without adding my title. But I contained it, I wanted to hear what the bastard would say.

"You will be overthrown and your life will be wasted just like brother and Ivy,"

"Enough!"

"You can't even father a child…" He gave a mocking laughter.

"Enough!" I bellowed, growling at him and slashing his face with my claws. My voice was so loud that I could feel the room vibrate.

I could feel rage taking over me as smoke radiated me.

How dare he mention my late brothers and my mate!

And my problem.

His words only brought back the memories that I tried hard to forget. His words were like a sharp knife that pierced my heart, opening scratching a huge half-healed wound.

I shut my eyes to stop the hot tears from steaming down my face. Seeing me cry was the last thing I wanted.

No one has ever seen me cry and no one will!

The memories resurfaced in a rush, playing in my head. It was so vivid, I could picture every detail of it.

The rogue's attack on my pack made me lose everything I loved dearly. My mate and my brothers.

We were triplets Alpha Kings ruling other packs fearlessly, but I was the only one alive. For years I tried to move on, but I was stuck.

No matter what I did, I never healed. I was broken, no one could fix me.

I acted tough before my subjects, but deep down, I was shattered to pieces. I needed help, but I wasn't going to allow anyone to perceive my vulnerability. I was the Alpha King.

Moving on was almost impossible, most nights, I see them and I talk to them as if they still existed. I knew I couldn't move on no matter how hard I tried, instead, I buried myself in work, but it only made me more cruel and ruthless.

I bit my lips hard as guilt overshadowed me.

Maybe if I was there on time to help, my brothers wouldn't have been captured and killed and our mate wouldn't have drowned in the river with our… No! I wouldn't think about it. The last thing I wanted was to lose my shit before this son of a bitch.

Molten anger rolled through me as I grabbed the man by his collar, choking him hard and pinning him with my blazing eyes.

"How dare you speak of my brother and our mate?!" I roared, punching him hard in his face till he lost all his teeth.

But I wasn't done with him yet.

I would tear him limb from limb!

I would make sure that he doesn't forget me in a hurry after killing him in the most unimaginable manner.

Satisfaction courses through me as his fear almost suffocated him faster than I choked him.

Now I could feed on his fear.

I growled, baring my canines at him as I was irritated by the way his eyes rested on mine.

Stinking arrogance!

I would make sure all he saw was darkness as he walked through the lonely path leading to hell.

"Don't you fucking look me in the eye!" I spat, gorging out his eyes without warning, enjoying his horrifying screams.

But I wasn't done with him yet.

"Any last words before I send you to hell?" I chuckled dangerously, picking up a large hook that was resting on the wall and caressing it.

I couldn't wait to put it into use. My hands ached in anticipation.

"I won't forget you in a hurry and I'll make sure to avoid paths with you if we come to the world a second time…" He coughed out blood, gasping for air.

"You are death!" He started choking on his blood as I stabbed him with the hook, ripping his insides with it and watching his body split into two as they fell lifelessly on the cold floor.

I earned another name. Death! I fucking love that.

The sound of footsteps made me glance at the door sharply. Relieve courses through me seeing my Beta. Jasper was everything to me. My Beta, he was more than a best friend, he was like a brother to me. He was my right-hand man and I trust him with my life.

"Monster, Demon and now Death? I'm impressed. How did you do that?" He asked excitedly, clapping his hands.

"Watch and learn, Kane," I replied my Beta in a gruff voice, "Learn from the best,"

I just hope he says what he wants and leaves. I wasn't in the mood for fun, thanks to that son of a bitch.

"I hate to spoil your fun but we have a meeting with the Alpha of the Diamond Heart pack, right now," He stated, going through his iPad before putting it down and glancing at me.

The moment his eyes softened, I looked away from his gaze. I didn't want to be bothered by him.

But I was wrong, he saw my troubled face before I could mask my expression.

Great!

Now the never-ending lecture begins.

I like the fact that he cared about me and put the pack and I first, but sometimes, I nodded to be alone. I didn't want his pity.

"Are you okay?" He asked gently, walking to meet me. I shifted uncomfortably when his hands held onto mine.

I wasn't comfortable with physical contact.

"Is it because of what the fucker said? Or is it because of the incoming attack and the conspiracy?" He gave me a light squeeze, making me tense.

I didn't like physical contact. It was worse with the opposite sex.

"Don't worry about the attack. It's because you don't have an heir yet. Once you find an heir, this madness will stop," He assured, patting my shoulder.

It sounded so easy.

Find an heir and all this will stop. But I have been trying and it's not working. Nothing seemed to work.

I don't know what else to do.

I was already fed-up with myself.

I rolled my eyes, giving him a pensive look while he raised his hands on a surrender.

He knew how much I hated being reminded of my problem

I don't need his pity. I don't need anyone's pity. Pity means weak people. I was not a weakling!

I can handle anything. I was the Alpha King.

"Have you been eavesdropping?" I asked, waving his questions.

"I couldn't leave you with them, plus I couldn't help but give in to the urge to see how you will kill that one," He sighed, pointing at the man who got ripped into two.

"How do you even come up with creative ways to kill?"

"Watch and learn," I said, looking away from him.

I couldn't deny that what the bastard said got to me badly.

My insides were raging with rage and my hands trembled.

Fuck!

I quickly buried my hands in my pocket to avoid My Beta from noticing. I didn't want another round of lecture and sympathy.

Silence stretched and my breathing became more erratic. I couldn't stay around him, my body language would give me away.

I needed a distraction.

"Give me a minute," I said sharply, walking away immediately, leaving him no room for questions.

I had a very bad temper and I hated it when I lost it.

I couldn't go to the Diamond Heart pack like this, I could kill them all.

Why did he have to bring this up, knowing how much I hated to be reminded of my past and how I failed my family!

I knew he did it to mock me, to remind me that I was weak. But I would prove him wrong.

I needed to relieve myself of this burden right now.

Anxiety filled me as my legs found their way to Rosa's chamber. Rosa would do.

Rosa was my mistress. She was the only one that could relieve me and accept me the way I was. After the death of my Luna, Rosa was the only woman I had. She pleased me the way no woman can and she understands my desires and limitations.

Without knocking, I flung her door open, bursting into her room and flooding it with my terrifying aura. I didn't need to look at the maids before they scurried like scared rats out of her room.

"Strip!" I commanded, leaving no room for hesitation.