Chapter 5 A SMALL PRICE

AVA'S POV

As soon as the words fell out of Alpha Axel's mouth, the werewolves who had been stalking the slave traders immediately attacked them.

They moved in a flash, the only thing my eyes could follow was their huge body and white sharp teeth. Bodies were dropping way too quickly and easily even when the slave traders tried to put up a primary resistance.

Even the leader of the slave traders was brutally torn apart, his body quickly shifting into nothing but pieces in only a matter of seconds. His limbs were ripped from their sockets, torn apart piece by piece.

The sound of flesh being torn and crunching of bones permeated the air, and it was accompanied by the strong scent of blood, which flowed like a river, staining the earth crimson. The gruesome sight unfolded with a terrifying speed, leaving them no time to scream or plead for mercy whatsoever.

Thinking of it, I realized the kind of utopia Rowan would establish with me gone. This scene would be a ghastly feast for any vampire, a sight that was capable of satisfying their darkest and most depraved desires - blood. And yet, this was exactly the kind of slaughter that Rowan had been craving.

Alpha Axel only turned after a while to survey the scene, while my eyes were glued on the gruesome sight. I almost felt sorry for these men, after all, they were just doing their work.

My compassion was short lived because a few breaths later, there was absolute silence, as if there hadn't been a killing spree, just moments ago . The gruesome reminder still lay on the grass.

Only one of the slave traders was left alive and untouched, as ordered by Alpha Axel. He stood shaking in the middle of all the corpses and blood, his face totally drained of color, his eyes filled with fear.

'I remember this guy,' I thought, rummaging through my memories in a bid to recall our interaction, 'He was the one who cut the rope that hung the trap next to a tree.'

The irony was cruel, I was at their mercy a while ago and now they were at the mercy of a bigger and stronger predator.

The slave trader began, stuttering, his voice trembling with fear, "P-p-please, h-have mercy on y-your s-servant, Alpha. I-I-I won't sp-speak a w-word of wh-what h-happened h-here. I'll d-d-do anything y-you w-want me t-to d-do." His legs seemed to give out from under him, no longer able to hold his weight, and he crumpled to the ground, still shaking uncontrollably from fear.

Alpha Axel didn't exude even an ounce of pity for the figure shaking furiously from fear. Rather he looked on the slave trader coldly, like he was a kind of disease to be avoided to the core.

'I doubt werewolves could get heart attacks like the humans but this guy could just be the first.' I thought to myself as I tried to suppress a laugh, 'He looks like he's gonna die from trauma.' I chuckled, negating my head slightly.

"Congratulations!" Alpha Axel said slowly, his voice exuding imminent danger. He straightened his back once again as he continued, "Don't worry, you're the lucky one."

The slave trader was still too afraid to raise his head up to look at Axel, so he kept it down even as he replied, his voice still trembling, "I'll do anything you want Alpha,"

"Sure you will," Kaiden murmured on the side note, his voice dripping with sarcasm straight to the core. He was quickly set in place by a cold glare from Alpha Axel, one that wanted him to hold his peace.

Alpha Axel's attention returned to the slave trader, his tone measured this time, "Don't worry, I won't kill you. I need your help, on the contrary. So you are going to be more helpful to me alive, not dead."

The slave trader nodded his head so hard, I feared his head would really come off from his neck. "Anything you want, Alpha," He said, unsurprisingly agreeable, that it already leaned towards the point of desperation, but then he paused, his previous enthusiasm turned uncertain, "What do... what do you want me to do?"

"Good question!" Alpha Axel said, his gaze narrowing slightly. "What is your name?" He asked, his deep voice was firm yet controlled as he awaited an answer.

"Marcellus alpha," The slave trader replied, his eyes roaming around as if seeking a route for escape before returning to the ground in submission. "My name is Marcellus."

"Okay, Marcellus," Alpha Axel began, his chin raised slightly as if to exude dominance, and his voice firm and commanding. "All I need you to do is simple. I want you to return to your associates and spread the word, far and wide, that my territory is strictly off bounds for any slave trading activities whatsoever. Recount every detail of what had transpired here tonight, and make sure they understand the huge consequences of defying me, just as you've experienced firsthand." His eyes furrowed, as he drove home the importance of the message, his voice low yet extremely full of oppression and dominance, "Make sure they know that any further trespasses will result in similar... persuasions. Do you understand?"

Marcellus nodded in agreement immediately, his head bobbing up and down like a puppet on a string as he replied, "Yes, yes, Alpha Axel. I will tell everyone what you have said. I promise there won't be a next time!" His voice filled with desperation, one fueled by fear despite Alpha Axel giving his word that he would spare his life.

Alpha Axel's response came swiftly and without mercy, "I don't need you to promise anything, if they keep coming despite my warnings, they will only get what they deserve, Death! And I will make sure it's served to them swiftly and mercilessly."

"Are you sure we shouldn't just send him off to join his fellow slavers, after all, I heard they swear allegiance to each other even till death?" Kaiden said, his voice dripping with sarcasm and disdain, as he struggled to contain his contempt for Marcellus. "We're only helping him fail his promise to the group, and I'm sure as heck they would love to welcome him back with open arms... or a noose. Either way, it's going to be a win-win for us." His tone was heavy with toxicity, with a glare that seemed to bore into Marcellus, as if daring him to meet his eyes, but the slave trader cowered, avoiding eye contact.

I couldn't help not laughing but when a little chuckle attracted attention to me, I realized it was better to swallow my laughter and so that was what I did. Axel's gaze lingered on me for a moment before finally redirecting his gaze back to Marcellus and then Kaiden.

"You will not lay even a finger on him Kaiden, that is my order and you will respect it," Alpha Axel said, his voice low and magnetic. Then to Marcellus, he ordered, "You can leave now, but remember I'm watching you. If you go back into slave trading ever again, you will envy those of your comrades who lost their lives today."

For a second or two, Marcellus stood up, looking around to see if he would be stopped but even the elite wolf pack didn't seem interested in going after him. Immediately he fled, not bothering to look back, most likely worried that they would change their mind and chase after him again.

Alpha Axel looked in the direction Marcellus had disappeared into for a while. He stalked towards the pile of corpses, staring at them with disgust written all over his face.

I was already so tired of standing, 'Can we go now?' I screamed in my head, gritting my teeth and bearing the pain, 'I was already so bruised, can't you all at least be considerate enough?' I thought angrily as I shifted from side to side as subtly as possible.

Alpha Axel must have noticed it, he suddenly stared at my feet that I was in the process of moving, making me freeze. He didn't say anything at all, rather I caught a subtle nod he sent towards his best friend, Kaiden.

"Let's g-" Something snapped and before anyone could react, a slender razor sharp dagger came rushing towards Axel from behind, I wanted to warn him but I realized the deed would be done before I could say anything so I rushed towards him and tried to push him out of the way but he caught me and instinctively, I turned so that now I was in harm's way and he was out of harm's way.

The dagger hit me but at first I felt nothing, then the pain came rushing in torrents, it was lodged under my left breast in my rib cage.

Alpha Axel caught me immediately, his face dangerously close to mine, his breath mingling with mine. I found myself lost in his eyes, my hands nervously caressed his shoulder blades. I felt my desire burning furiously in my heart, all I wanted was to have him to myself. If of course, I would survive a second death.

It was getting harder to breath and I was losing consciousness, I could feel the warmth of blood staining me crimson red.

"Do not close your eyes, keep them open," Alpha Axel commanded, his hands lightly tapping my face, all in a bid to keep me focused and awake.

"I told you, we shouldn't have let that slave trader go! We should have sent him straight to the moon goddess to meet his accomplices. They would've appreciated his death and even given you their blessings," Kaiden raged, his voice a blend of anger and sarcasm.

"Since you're in the mood to see blood, here, you can take her," Alpha Axel said, his gaze never leaving my face. It made me feel warm seeing how much he cared for my well-being.

Just then, the sound of a loud snap came, and in an instant, Kaiden's form began to shift and contort, his body growing bigger, his limbs stretching, and his eyes turning a piercing green. In the place where Kaiden stood, a large wolf now stood there, its fur a beautiful crimson red.

As I was lifted onto Kaiden's back, the dagger still lodged in my ribs, I winced in pain, quickly settling into a more comfortable position on my side. When my gaze met Alpha Axel's, I thought I saw a flicker of worry, his eyebrows furrowed in concern.

His rugged features, which usually screamed danger, appeared vulnerable as he watched me intently. My eyes followed the way his muscles flexed as he moved, the way his eyes seemed to bore into mine.

He was also stained with my blood, like a brand, as he had caught me first, looking like a walking piece of seduction.

'Being a blood slave to him wouldn't look so bad, especially if it is a step forward in my new plan of tasting you, my dear ex,' I thought, subconsciously licking my lips which Axel caught and in a low voice he sneered and said, "If you dare to look at me in such a manner ever again, I will gouge out your eyes and feed them to you."

'This moron, I fucking saved your life and as payback, even admiration is now a crime worthy of gouging out my eyes?' I thought angrily.

"Dammit, Alpha, she is still losing blood, why don't you come later?" Kaiden suggested through a mindlink, as he felt the blood staining his fur even more, his wolf greatly displeased as it released a growl.

"Sure, you can leave. I'll meet you..." Alpha Axel said, but I was already losing consciousness, my mind finding it hard to register what was going on around me and my sights getting even blurrier.

"But Alpha, you can't move her. She would die before the pack doctor can do anything about her," one of the elite wolves said, moving forward.

'I'm really going to die here,' I groaned in pain, mentally bemoaning my fate. 'What was I thinking when I even saved him?' I continued, regretting my actions bitterly right now.

"She's going to die here anyways if we don't take the chance," Alpha Axel said, glancing at me again.

"I already mind linked the pack doctor, he will be here soon accompanied by some of the pack guards." The man said again, his hand stroking his jaw.

In response, Alpha Axel harrumphed while Kaiden's wolf growled. The man stared at me for a while, "You should hang in there, help is on the way."

'Moon goddess, please give me another chance.' I requested, hoping that she would answer me.

Before I completely passed out, possibly to my death, I tried to raise a middle finger but my fingers failed me so I had to settle with making it in my heart for Alpha Axel.

"Dumping you was the best decision of my past life," I managed to whisper, particularly sure of the fact that even as sharp as these Alpha and Beta wolves were, they couldn't even hear me.

Then everything went dark.