Chapter 171
Chapter 171
Avery’s POV
After Jessica’s unpleasant visit, I felt as though even my long–shot hope had been decimated. I had written the letter as she requested, though it pained me to have to write my false testament to her character.
It wasn’t all lies. I had no doubt that ruthlessness, pride, tenacity, and ambition were admirable traits in most. No doubt, when she wanted something, Jessica could be most persuasive.
But I also wouldn’t want her as MY coworker.
When she finally left, after forcing me to do three revisions that painted her in increasingly glowing tones, I was exhausted.
When I woke up, there was an unpleasant guest sitting at my table. 1
>My sister, Zara.
I had no idea how she had found her way in. The thought that she had been sitting there while I slept was most unpleasant. She knew it too.
Her smug cats–eye grin was sly and crafty as she observed me struggling to sit up with my injured arm.
“ You are quite torn up,” she remarked, taking in my various bandages and still–healing scrapes and bruises, “You must have been quite careless. Tsk tsk p>
I was sure that she knew very well that the wounds I had sustained were the result of the Rogue King’s attack.
“Why are you here?” I ground out, my voice hoarse from sleep, “You are not permitted on Nightwolf grounds p>
“Am I not? When our packs have an ancient alliance?” Zara’s eyes glittered, “I think you must be exaggerating. I had no trouble walking right in past the sentries p>
No doubt she had coerced them with her beauty, or at least, with bribes. Or, a horrifying thought crossed my mind, perhaps Gideon truly was ready to side with Silvermoon. That would be the ultimate insult, showing that he had never genuinely cared for my suffering.
He knew about the abuse that had been done to me, primarily at Zara’s hands. If he was willing to look the other way about the Rogue King’s capture of my mother, was he also willing to let my tormentors continue to wreck havoc on my life?
If Zara truly had been let in with Gideon’s permission, then the answer would be yes.
“ Leave, ” I demanded, although my voice sounded faint and powerless even to myself
“ Trust me,” Zara wrinkled her nose, “ I don’t want to spend any more time in your presence than I must,
1/21/3 2.
Chapter 171
but I came out of concern p>
+25 Bonus
“That doesn’t sound like you,” I said mistrustfully, sitting on the edge of my bed and glaring at her, Concern about what? ” I hesitated to ask, but of course, there was no way around it. Whatever horrible thing Zara was here for, she wouldn’t leave until she’d accomplished it.
“Why, concern about your mother, of course,” she said, sweetly, pulling a screen from her bag and holding it out to me.
My mother?
Dread filled me as I reached out to take the tablet from Zara. A video was playing on the screen. Unwillingly, my eyes took in what the images were showing me.
It was an image from a cell. The type of closed–circuit video that might be recorded in a store, or gas station, or the like. The timestamp at the bottom was from this week.
The cell showed a woman sitting on the bare earth. There was no bed, or chair. Only a simple toilet in one corner. She was shivering, with a single blanket, and filthy.
When she turned her face, I saw it was my mother.
“How dare you,” I turned to face Zara, furious. “Release her at once p>
“Well, of course I would be willing to do that…” Zara smiled unpleasantly, wresting the tablet from my
hand, “For a price p>
1 squeezed my eyes shut and balled my hands into fists at my side. I was in no condition to fight her, and it wouldn’t secure my mother’s release even if I did.
“What do you want?” I growled.
“We will let your mother go, if you agree to trade yourself. The Rogue King has no use for your mother, after all.” she smirked.
I felt angry tears gather in my eyes.
I had already had to compromise myself to meet Jessica’s blackmail. Now, Zara brought this offer, and I had no doubt who was its true engineer.
The Rogue King had already stated to my face that he wanted me to bear his heir.
He was of the belief that something in me, or my blood, would ensure that any child I gave birth to would be massively powerful. As a result, he would do anything to get his hands on me.
The last time he had almost captured me, he and Zara had planned on injecting me with a medicine that would force me into a mating heat.
I had barely managed to escape.
Now that he had my mother, he finally had the leverage required to make me come back to him.
2/3
Chapter 171
+25 Bonus
Panic was rising within me. I may not have been living my best life here, in Nightwolf, but I was arguably still free. If I went to the Rogue King’s clutches, I wouldn’t even be that.
My breath began to come in huffs as I started to hyperventilate at the prospect.
“Oh don’t be ridiculous,” Zara mocked, “Selling yourself is all you’ve ever been good for! It’s why you
married Gideon, isn’t it? ”
She leaned closer, malice gleaming in her eyes, “You’ve always been drawn to men who would use you, how is this any different? You’re just expendable to them. Don’t flatter yourself thinking that you’re too good for this,” she sneered.
Was she correct? Even my own father hadn’t wanted me once he had discovered my lack of a wolf might bring shame on his family.
Ryan, who I thought had wanted me for me, had abandoned me to sleep with my sister. Gideon had only wanted me to fill a role. To have a Silvermoon Luna so that he would fulfill ancient pack alliances and
cement his power as Alpha.
Now the Rogue King wanted me solely for the heirs he hoped I could bear him.
Was that truly all I was good for? Breeding stock, and a trophy on some Alpha’s arm?
Not even a trophy mate. I was nothing more currently than Gideon’s discarded wife.
Zara watched her insidious words strike home in my heart and she smiled to herself.
“ Come now, surely it won’t be so bad, ” She turned away and walked towards the exit, “Your ego is the only thing that will be hurt. Think of your mother,” She turned back to place a business card on the table near the door.
“He will be waiting for your response. Best not wait too long, he’s not a patient man,” and then she was
gone.
Horrified, I stared at the contact information scrawled on the card in an unfamiliar hand.
Could I really do this? Surrender myself to the Rogue King to save my mother? Even knowing that it would make me his prisoner for life? Even knowing that I would be locking myself into an arrangement where I would sleep with that psychopath and bear his children?
Panic bubbled within me as I pulled on my shoes and dashed out the door.
Editorial Board
Editorial Board Our editorial team works behind the scenes to refine each chapter, maintain consistency, and deliver the best reading experience.