[Kael's Pov]
Lyra..." that name felt like a whisper to my ears as I eventually woke from my slumber, feeling a sudden sharp ache.
That was the name I had always heard whenever I slept. The warlocks from nearby said there was a girl—Lyra—they mentioned her being the solution to helping Marcus, my son.
And so I found myself venturing this far away, to the town of Blackridge. I had my research done, and thanks to the old man's help, he mentioned me finding her in the town of Blackridge. To think I would enter such a town.
"Is my answer really there, in Blackridge?" I questioned, having doubts that I would find her and if she would be the one to save my son. Marcus suffers from a traumatised past. I really blame—and hate—myself for it. Seeing him in such a state always felt like thorns were being thrown at me, piercing me deep. I could still remember that night like it was just yesterday when some rogues had attacked my pack, and with them they had a dragon. I never expected they still existed.
The once-great name I upheld, the fierce brute strength I had used to rule, weakened that day. We won the battle but I lost her—Saraline, my fated mate… and my son had to witness his mother being torn to shreds by the hands of those monsters. I really hated myself for being so weak, for not being able to protect my family. He screams at night. Tries to kill himself sometimes. And I grew scared of losing him too. I can't.
Then the old man came with his prophecy. Even though I had already begun this journey I still wondered if what the old man said were true—how would she be the one to save my son who had fallen into such a deep despair. Even I, his father, had failed to help him.
"We are here, Alpha," Dante said as I got off the royal chariot, assigned on the journey. A sight of the town at last. "Lyra," I heard the same whisper again and for no doubt I was sure this was the place… the old man had mentioned. "The whisper will guide you."
"Let's go, Beta," I addressed, mounting the horse, half masking my face with cloth—a hope that I would at least be able to prevent many from telling who I was. I rode with my beta Dante and some of my soldiers that I had taken along on the journey. We passed the town's border and for a moment I was shocked not to find any guard at the border requesting a pass. I guess it was really a shitty town in the end. Honestly, being here had already done enough damage to my name. A town where the evils of most happen—smugglers, kidnappers, worst criminals. All live here; someone could call it a special place they addressed as their home. And there was the place I was heading to. A place not meant for an alpha of my kind. The well-known house of pleasure. But I had to do this. I have to save my son…
"Are you about this, Alpha?" Dante asked, his eyes scanning each part of the town. "We shouldn't be here."
"There is no choice, Dante. Let's go." I ordered and rode on, riding further through the streets. Eventually we arrived at the place. As I dismounted from my horse, I left a gaze around the whole area. I could hear the screams, moans and loud music from here without even entering.
"Alpha," Dante called for my attention again, but I didn't pay a single head— I knew this must just be about the fact of us being here. He must be worried about my identity possibly been discovered, because it would mean a serious threat to my pack. And mostly me. The Lycan King wasn't that merciful I could say. He ruled the country but this was a matter of my son and I would do anything if I had to.
We entered the building as I was welcomed by the smell of half-burnt tobaccos reeking in the air. Alcohols being gulped and glasses of wine clinking.
I felt some of the shifters and humans present there gaze on me. A new alpha, hoping for some fun—they must think. I took the stairs. I wasn't here for a sight of pleasure like them. But If she was really here. Leaving with her would be the hardest. The house of pleasure—never sells there slave, they prefer to have them killed. But with a good price there could be a change of mind…
We kept on walking the stairs further up, being bumped by some of the other shifters. "Watch it!" one snarled, his gaze darkening. My beta almost reacted, hoping to slaughter the man, but I merely held him down with a gaze. Attacking now would risk exposing our identity even if I had really wanted to make him beg for his life at the very sight. "Let's go, Dante," I said as we continued further. Just then we arrived at the top floor, a place banned for any of the customers who come here to step on. I had gotten all this information from a spy. And this was the place where I would meet him—the owner of this place.
As we approached the only room door present there, I paused when I noticed some men coming out, blocking my path—a scent told me they were shifters. I could also sense a warlock among one of them. Possibly hiding at the back.
"I want to see him. Your boss," I said, my voice thick and I hoped they would simply obey. They all chuckled out loud in mockery.
"You kidding, right?" one of them said as he walked up closing the distance between us. By his build he must be the leader of this men and possibly the toughest.
"If I take him down, will you call your boss?" I asked but still they mocked in laughter. He also laughed.
"Try me." Those were the last I heard him say. My hands slammed on his face, sending him to the ground with a huge force. My eyes glowing red. As he fell unconscious immediately, bleeding from his fractured skull.
It only seemed I had used way too much brute force. I guess I had to hold back a little more.
"Let him in," a voice came from the room. The same men that had begun trembling split, allowing me passage.
"Stay here, Dante," I said to my beta.
"But Alpha…" he hoped to say, but paused from a single glare I gave him.
I made my way into the room. Only to catch sight of him—the well-known lord of the House of Pleasure. He held his own name in the criminal world and was quite wanted by other countries. But now all I gazed upon, was nothing more than a chubby loser. Two females sat beside him; one slowly straddled his body while he went for a kiss with the other, hardly paying any attention to me who had entered the room. My hands curled into a fist. But even judging by his outer look, my instinct still said not to underestimate him. His name had such a fearsome reputation for a reason.
Just then, the two females stood up, leaving the room.
This time, his gaze met mine.
"And who do we have here?" he said, gently taking a bit from a strawberry.
"Who I am, that isn't for you to know…" I said, refusing to take off my mask. "I am here for only business. I need to buy one of your slaves, and in return for her, I shall offer you a thousand gold coins.." I added, bringing out a stack of coins.
He chuckled out loud, taking another bite from the jar of strawberries placed in front of him. "I really like you," he gestured. But I wasn't here for any of his tricks and wasn't planning on staying longer. He stood up, wiping his hand with a handkerchief—one that he threw to the ground as he approached my side.
"But you see, we run some policy here. First: asking to buy one of my slaves means your death," he said. Then I watched the sudden change in expression from the two men with him in the room.
"And second: you show me your face and tell me your name, or die here in my den."
I didn't say a word. The air in the room thickened. He merely checked on the two men before his eyes met me again.
"Tell them to leave," I said as he gestured with chuckle, taking his seat back.
"You heard him," he said as the two men made their way out. Seeing nobody else in the room, it only seemed I had no other option now. I slowly removed my mask, revealing my face.
"Alpha Kael Donovan. Alpha of the Ravencrest," I addressed.
For a moment the strawberry he had placed in his mouth dropped before he could chew. I watched his eyes widen.
"Oh my. The legendary alpha here in my den!" he finally uttered, rising to his feet back, a smirk playing on his lips.
As I covered my face back. "I am looking for a girl named Lyra. You have any slave with that name?" I said, hoping to get straight to the point.
He didn't leave any reply at first, as though he seemed to be thinking if the name rang a bell.
"I won't really wish to disappoint you. But I must say—you don't want her." That response alone was enough to tell me she was here. So the old man's words were true.
"I will be the one to decide that. Take me to her…" I said as he smirked, agreeing.
We both made our way out of the room as then we walked down the stairs and my beta and soldier followed me. Arriving downstairs, he led me outside the house of pleasure, making me wonder where he was taking me exactly—only for us to arrive standing in front of a guardhouse.
"What is this place? Don't you try and trick me—I can guarantee it won't end well with you," I threatened, my eye glinting fury red as he chuckled softly.
"Of course not. I don't wish to die yet, now."
We made our way into the building only for it to lead to an underground room cave. Taking a sight of the place—it only seemed like a jail meant for prisoners.
"Is she here?" I asked but he left no reply, only that annoying smirk—one that I really wished to slam off his face.
He stopped at a particular cell.
"She is the one," he said.
I stopped in my tacks. I had finally found her. The same one the old man said would save my son.