chapter Six: Hidden agendas
Samantha’s POV
My ears perked to listen when the maids continued to gossip
and paint a picture of Theo’s predicament.
My feet pounded as I raced to the dungeon. I tried to send Theo
a mind link, but it wasn’t connecting. Fear twisted my heart as I
raced faster. The halogen lights shone outside, leading to the
mouth of the dungeon. I burst through the doors, and a stern- looking guard stepped forward, placing his hand on his
holstered gun.
“You can’t go in.”
“Get out of my way!” I yelled at the top of my voice. His face
twisted into a sneer and his grip tightened around his weapon. I
pushed hard against his shoulder, forcing him to step aside.
When I got in, the first thing I saw was blood. There was so
much blood from every corner of the dungeon. The horror sank
in that all the blood belonged to Theo. I felt so dizzy that
starbursts filled my vision. I stumbled to the ground and put
both hands to my head.
“Who let her in?” I heard my dad query the guard above the
chapter Six: Hidden agendas
pounding of my heartbeat, and I forced myself to stand, though
it made me feel dizzier.
My dad, Mia, and Daniel stood in a tight circle. Their eyes turned
to me as I entered. My dad’s face softened slightly. Mia’s arms
remained crossed, and she gave me the nastiest eye roll ever.
Daniel wore a guarded frown.
My eyes searched the room frantically, expecting to see Theo’s
head detached from his body or his mangled face. But I found
nothing, only blood on the floor.
“What have you done?!” I cried out. “Where is Theo?” I had bad
feelings and didn’t know if they killed him.
Dad and Daniel exchanged glances. Daniel looked shocked, like
he hadn’t expected such a reaction from me.
“Dad, why do you keep listening to Mia’s malicious suggestions?
Why does she get to dictate my fate and make all the
decisions?!”
“Take my name out of your fucking mouth, Samantha. I’m not
the cause of your misery.”
Mia’s voice sounded detached and bored, as if she loved every
drop of my tears that dripped down my face. She was enjoying
watching me suffer.
She hated Theo’s existence because she saw the potential for
happiness and squashed it.
“How cruel can you be, Mia? You took Daniel from me, or better
still, he foolishly allowed you to manipulate him. I endured that
heartbreak, yet it pained you that I accepted Theo into my-”
‘Enough!” Dad snapped. “This isn’t your sister’s fault. We
suspected Theo was a spy. When we took him here, he
abandened you and ran away from the pack.”
My mouth snapped shut. That wasn’t the response I’d expected.
I stared helplessly at my father. What did he mean by Theo
being a spy? And he left without me?
Then I remembered Theo’s behavior toward Mia, his acceptance
of her rejection without flinching, the strong aura he possessed,
how he challenged Mia everything replayed in my mind like
a broken DVD, and my legs felt weak and numb, threatening to
buckle under me.
“I don’t believe you,” I protested weakly.
Dad scoffed, “You really expect me to put the entire pack in danger just to protect your newfound mate bond with a spy? What’s gotten into you, Samantha? Mia was right all along it’s impossible for you to genuinely care for someone so quickly. I’m
starting to think you’ve been secretly working with him.”
my cheeks.
“Of course she’s never been a trustworthy person,” Mia retorted.
Daniel sighed and shook his head. “I might have to agree on that
one because I see no reason why she cares so much about
him.”
Every part of my body was filled with overwhelming shock and sorrow. I didn’t know where to turn and what to do. I remained
on the floor and let out a grief–choked wail.
Theo left, and they were trying to rope me in as his accomplice
and force me to accept everything.
I covered my face with my palms and sobbed uncontrollably.
“Samantha, stop crying…” I heard dad say gruffly. I lifted my
tearstained face and looked at him with glassy eyes. Dad bent
down and tried to touch me, but I whisked away from his reach
and jumped to my feet.
“Don’t come near me,” I warned, wiping the tears from my eyes
and swaying slightly on my feet. Daniel tried to speak, but I
yelled at him.
“You’re in no position to lecture me, you bloody liar! If you hadn’t
cheated, none of this would have happened. Nobody would have
chapter Sa Hidden agendas
cared enough to cook up lies about Theo being a spy, and the poor guy would have been alive. Don’t dare speak to me, you’ve lost your right!”
Daniel’s head bowed and shivers nipped my spine. I couldn’t
bear this anymore. With a calmness I thought I never had, I
spoke.
“Banish me,” I said to my dad. “I don’t want to remain a member
of this pack.”
“You have lost your mind,” my dad growled.
“Don’t be silly, Samantha,” Daniel faced me. “The world outside is harsh, especially to females. You’d get abused by rogues, carry bastard babies, and your chance of survival is slim.”
Daniel’s words made Mia frown. The next second, she fell to the
floor with groans.
I got out of my trance when I saw that Mia had pretended to be sick and was sprawled on the floor. The attention–seeking bitch would do anything to put herself at the center of the spotlight.
Daniel and my father rushed to her side immediately, and knelt beside her. Daniel lifted her up and spoke to her with a
concerned tone.
“Are you okay?”
chapter den grind
Her eyes flickered open and she blinked slowly, I looked away,
irritated by her drama.
Mia wouldn’t let me go. “Samantha’She said weakly.
I grabbed my left arm which there was full of scars.
Daniel left with Mia in his arms. And my dad realized I remained
rooted on the spot.
“Samantha, come with us. Your sister needs your blood.“
