Chapter 285
Chapter 285
Chapter 285
“Still want to eat? Eat filth instead p>
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With a vicious snarl, a man hurled another body out of the crumbling house.
The sound of flesh striking dirt echoed-thud!-dust exploding into the air as the figure hit the ground. The man who landed writhed in the mud, his limbs twisted and useless, unable to rise. His throat worked, producing only guttural, broken
moans.
It was Alpha Alaric.
Once the proud Alpha of the Ebonclaw Pack, a man who had commanded warriors and studied at Ebonclaw University, now he was reduced to this: a ragged shell dressed in tattered rags, reeking of filth. His frame was skeletal, cheekbones like blades beneath stretched skin, every inch of exposed flesh scarred and broken—a living testament to the rogues’ merciless cruelty.
A gaunt elder emerged from the doorway, skin darkened and weathered by age, eyes as cold as flint. Without a word, he drove his boot savagely into Alaric’s body.
“Useless filth,” the elder spat, each kick punctuating his venom. “You should have died long ago p>
Alaric convulsed, trying to speak, but his ruined body betrayed him. His stroke had stolen his voice; his slack mouth spilled only foul-smelling drool as he gurgled in despair.
It was then the elder finally noticed the newcomers at the edge of the yard-Riley, Lucien Duskgrave, and Caelum Knox. His gaze lingered on Caelum, recognition flashing; he remembered the one who had delivered Alaric and Scarlett to this forsaken place,
“You…. what business do you have here?” the old man demanded, suspicion in his
voice.
Before Caelum could reply, a shrill scream tore through the air, carried from the direction of a crude pigpen.
The scream twisted into sobs as a man’s voice, dripping with malice, followed.
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Chapter 285
“Ungrateful whore! To share my bed is a blessing, and yet you resist me? You’ve already been used by every male in this cesspit of a village, and still you pretend you’re pure? I’ll beat the defiance out of you p>
The sound of fists and boots colliding with flesh reverberated, followed by the woman’s ragged, desperate cries.
“I am the daughter of the Ebonclaw Pack’s Alpha! My father was a leader, my mother a noble lady, my brother a powerful heir! They will come for me-they will rescue me!” she screamed, clinging to delusions of her past life.
“Ha!” the man’s cruel laughter echoed. “Your father? That cripple in the dirt? He can’t even lift himself from the ground. You think he’ll save you?” His voice lowered to a growl. “You barren bitch. Can’t even give a male a pup. The only thing you’re good for is spreading your legs for us p>
He kicked her again, over and over, until his own breath came ragged and shallow. Finally, sweating and panting, he straightened, tugging his torn shirt into place. As he stepped out of the pen, his eyes found Riley.
The shift was instant. Hunger gleamed in his gaze, dark and feral. His lips peeled back into a grotesque grin, showing jagged yellow teeth.
“This one,” he rasped, eyes locked on Riley’s form. “She’s strong, healthy. She’ll give sons. How much? Name your price, and she’s mine p>
The lecherous words had barely left his mouth before Lucien Duskgrave moved. The Alpha Prince’s arm wrapped protectively around Riley, his obsidian gaze narrowing into a predator’s glare that promised death.
Caelum’s reaction was swifter, colder. With a snap of movement, his boot connected with the rogue’s chest, sending the man flying through the air. The impact shook the earth as he crashed three meters away, groaning and choking in the dirt. One strike had shattered his arrogance. He no longer dared to breathe a word of claim.
Chains clattered from within the pen-iron links dragging across stone. A figure crawled into view, each movement grotesque and agonizing.
It was Scarlett.
Or what remained of her.
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8:27 pm D
Chapter 285
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Her body was wasted, nothing but skin clinging to bone. High cheekbones jutted sharply, eyes hollow and dull as if her soul had long since fled. Her tangled hair was caked with filth, her upper body clad in rags while her lower half was bare, stripped of dignity.
Her legs had been shattered, twisted into unnatural shapes so that she could no longer stand. Like an animal, she dragged herself forward, iron shackles locked to her ankles rattling with every pitiful crawl. Scars marred her flesh in every direction-slashes of blades, lashes of whips, bruises layered over bruises.
Scarlett’s lips moved as she muttered to herself, her voice broken and distant.
“My father, my mother, my brother… they’ll come. They love me most. I’m their jewel. They’ll come for me. I must eat, I must be strong… eat, eat p>
Her words dissolved into empty repetition, as if the mantra could shield her from the nightmare around her.
Riley’s breath caught in her throat. She had known Scarlett would be here, but the sight of her-reduced to this, yet still clinging to the shadow of the Ebonclaw Pack’s glory-was a cruelty sharper than any blade.
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