Chapter 5 Blood And Betrayal

Ronald's POV

His screams bounced off the walls, so loud and pitiful.

The man in the chair was a mess. Blood dripped from his head and sides, staining the floor beneath him. He had already soiled himself twice, and I hadn't even begun the real fun yet.

I walked up slowly, dragging my knife gently across his jaw. He flinched and squirmed in the iron chair, trying to break free from the thick chains that bound him.

"Sit still," I scolded.

Normally, I didn't waste time torturing hunters. I just killed them. But things were changing. They were getting too close, too bold. I had to send a message.

Don't tempt me. I'm the ruthless Alpha for a reason.

"You know," I said, crouching in front of him, "it was really stupid of you to pretend you were dead earlier."

He nodded quickly, tears already coming down from his eyes.

"Did you really think that would work? That I'd just walk away and let you crawl out of here?"

"N-no..." he stuttered, shaking his head.

"Well then," I said, leaning closer, "I'm going to give you a chance to save your miserable life. All you have to do is tell me where she's hiding."

He didn't move. He didn't speak. He just stared at me like he was debating if cooperating would help at all.

"Remove the gag," I told my guards.

They obeyed immediately, untying the rag from his mouth. He coughed, gasping for air, looking like he might drop dead from fear.

"P-please..." he pleaded, "please spare me..."

I chuckled darkly.

"If you keep crying like that, you're going to end up drooling and snotting all over yourself. Not a pretty sight, is it?" I stood upright. "I'm being generous here. You can still walk out of this room in one piece. All you have to do is say something useful. Stop wasting my time!"

He kept nodding like a scared puppy.

"This is your final chance," I warned, letting my Alpha energy rise. My wolf was pushing at the surface. "Tell me what I want to know."

He swallowed hard, his lips trembling. "I...I know her... I recognized her... she's....."

But he froze. His eyes widened, his mouth opened in shock. I turned around and saw Beta Jerald, his hand lifted slightly, the air shifting. He was pulling the oxygen right out of the man's lungs.

"You were told to give valuable information," Jerald said coldly, "not babble nonsense. Of course, we know who Dora is. Everyone knows the name of that murderer."

The man gasped as air returned to his lungs. He looked at us with watery, bloodshot eyes.

Something wasn't sitting right with me. I didn't trust the energy in this room. I could feel the lies.

Without warning, I launched out my knife. I sliced the man's cheek and lodged itself in the wall just inches from his head.

"The next one won't miss," I said, glaring at him. "Now talk."

"I... I can't tell you where she is..." he stammered, shaking his head furiously "Because I really don't know."

His tone, his face was too calm, too fake.

I gritted my teeth. "You think lying to me is wise? That's the dumbest thing you could possibly do."

I looked at my guards. "Weatherboard him."

They moved fast. They wrapped a cloth tightly around his face, tilted him back, and started pouring water.

He thrashed and gagged, his body reacting like he was drowning.

We did it for an hour. I watched the whole time.

When I finally gave the signal, they stopped and pulled the cloth away. He coughed and gasped like a fish out of water, his chest heaving.

"Are you ready to speak now?" I asked calmly.

He couldn't even lift his head to answer.

"Let's leave him for a bit," Jerald said beside me. "If we push too hard, he might die before giving us anything useful. He'll talk... eventually."

I glanced at him. Something about Jerald felt... off. Like he knew more than he was letting on.

"If it comes to it," Jerald added, "we could release him. Have one of our own trail him. He might lead us straight to her."

I nodded. "Not a bad idea. But I'm not letting him go. Not yet."

I turned to one of the guards. "Bring a healer. I want him alive and talking. No point letting him die from infection or something nasty."

Minutes later, the healer arrived and went to work. I watched closely as they cleaned the wounds, stitched him up, poked needles in places that made him wince.

When it was over, the man looked half-dead but conscious. Just the way I wanted him.

"So," I stepped closer, "one more time. Are you ready to talk?"

His eyes burned with defiance. But then, he nodded.

"Yes."

Good.

"Let's start simple. Did you help Dora escape from the dungeon?"

He hesitated, then nodded again.

"Where is she now?" I asked.

He lifted his head, and something in his face shifted. The fear was gone. Replaced by something smug... almost mocking.

"I already told you what you needed," he said, voice low. "If you think I'll say anything else, you're wrong. I've got nothing more to give."

I stared at him, rage bubbling in my chest.

Enough! I was done. With one quick motion, I shifted my hand and drove my claws straight into his chest.

Blood poured out instantly as he gasped, eyes wide, body going limp.

I pulled my hand back, breathing heavily.

"Jerald," I growled, my voice low but full of fire. "Get out there. Find that girl. Bring her to me. I need her alive."

He didn't say a word. Just nodded, turned on his heel, and walked out of the room with purpose. He knew better than to argue with me when I was in this kind of mood.

The guards moved in quietly, like shadows. They grabbed the hunter's lifeless body, his head hanging limp, blood still dripping from the wound I gave him. No one said a word. No one dared. The sound of his boots dragging across the floor echoed in the room as they hauled him away.

I stood still for a moment, breathing heavily with my fists clenched. My claws were still out, stained with blood. My wolf was right under the surface, itching for more, but I reined him in. Not now.

"Stupid," I muttered under my breath. "He thought he could mock me? Me?"

I slammed my fist into the metal table, the force rattling the chains that were still bolted into it.

"This isn't over. Not by a long shot," I said to no one in particular, my eyes narrowing as I stared at the door Jerald had just walked through. "You can run, Dora. But you can't hide from me."

My jaw clenched as I looked around the bloodstained room one last time. The scent of fear still lingered, thick in the air. But it wasn't enough.

I wasn't done. Not even close.