My Alpha’s Betrayal: Burning In The Flames Of His Vengeance by Moonlight Muse

37. Down Dark Tunnels YILEYNA. My heart crumbled, even when he had placed a tender kiss on my forehead before taking my hand and leading me towards Hunter, Ihad been unable to think of 'anything else but what he had said.

I never knew what I wanted, but when he told me we were not meant to be, I wanted to shout andask why? Somehow we could work, right? A part of me told me he was right, that the kingdom would never accept a traitor as their king, but was he a traitor? No: He had been misguided and manipulated, just like many...

Sure, it did not make everything he had done go away, but even people like Nikolai Levin were allowed to walk amongst us, despitetheir sins.

Why not someone who was on the path to redemption? Fighting alongside me, ready to face his father andkill him for all he has done.

1 It was clear Theon loved his Pack, his family, and his people, but it was his father who had manipulated him.

I understood Theon wouldn't be able to simply forgive himself, but that in itself showed he was worthy of forgiveness.

We continued travelling, and we remained silent as we got closer and closer to the castle, that now came into view.

It wasn’t exactly how I had pictured it.

The entrances were simply gaping tunnels with barred gates.

Naga soldiers guarded the entrances, and although I could see the black stone structure of the ominous fortress, it was half built underground.

The green lights from the windows cast an eerie light on the land around it.

Dried cracked earth spread around for miles, and the closer we got to the castle of the Naga Emperor, the dryer and darker it allfelt.

These lands were screaming for water…

If it continued like this, no life would be able to survive living here.

Was their fear of Sirens so strong that they had blocked off all sources of water? It just felt wrong “Theland is dying." I whispered quietly, as we continued silently.

I had made a heavy fog fall over the area, however, we were sure they would be on high alertregardless, but even some coverage was better than none.

I had felt them cutting into the trees to help those we had trapped, but it would takethem time because I had made sure the trees held.

We paused when we heard a shout in snake-tongue, before a group of Nagas came out from the castle.

The middle one reeked of power and dominance.

His tail was the exact colour of a python and his muscular body looked almost human in colour, save for the scales on his neck and shoulders.

His black hair was braided from the top, the rest tied back in a ponytail.

He was different.

I could feel it, and when he tilted his head, baring his teeth in a cruel sneer,his eyes glinting, Hunter closed his eyes, exhaling "We're going to split up." He breathed.

“What?” I hissed.

“That’s Xenara Khasorin, the third prince of the empire.

We've met before and he's fucking lethal." Hunter explained quietly, frowning deeply.

“Why am I not fucking surprised?” Theon murmured.

"You two carry on, tonight it's just him and ..." I knew splitting up wasn’t a good idea, but ifHunter was saying to do so...

"The cave of treasures that belongs to the Emperor is rumoured to be down south from here, it’s beyond the castle and I’m sure it will be guarded heavily.

Theon may need to be the decoy, whilst Yileyna goes in and grabs the pearl.

I don't know how fast you'll find it, it's said to contain many things, but I pray that thepearl calls to you.

Plus, since we mentioned the pearl to the Naga, they may have hidden it, I just hope that isn’t the case.

If we end up splitting, we meet by the dead oak tree we saw a while back,but we try not to-he's found us! Run!" Hunter growled lowly.

His eyes blazed as he stared far ahead.

grabbing my wrist and breaking into a

The deep, dark voice, that reminded me of a

heart was

If Hunter died…

so did Charlene…

wanted, and the very thought of

Stay safe, Hunter.

the sounds of the fight behindus had long vanished

reached the cave entrance, that was in the shape of

“Alright…

may have been

here on, you’re

clear and kill them all, you go in and get the pearl, I’ll join you the moment I’m done

there may be some more inside." He murmured, turning

layers of dirt, grime, and blood covering him, he still looked like a

I know he said we

but.

and I

heart was hurting but the words refused

I

my

nodded, our eyes meeting and that intense pull between us made my

his gaze away, and just when he was about to turn, I grabbed hold of his shoulder, yanking him around

pressing

and it only took him a fraction of a second before he kissedme

whimper left

grip on my hips

he felt

shaky gasp and looked

was for luck." I whispered, before I turned and slipped

ready to await the first

feel of his lips lingered on mine,

he consumed my mind, I needed

making the Nagas turn, I saw the signal he gave me and

what Hunter had said, that they may know we

I’d be careful.

I scanned the darkness.

to be any life

walking down the tunnel, which was long and circular, almost like the body of

cold and dark, and the

alright? I could only hear

sense if

silently, I placed my hands on the floor and closed my eyes, sensing everything through

several other Nagas were

insects in the ground crawling

to me, the sound of the ocean and

a beat when I

needed to tread carefully as I hurried down, letting the pearlguide

until even I was unable to see, it was strange, almost as if there wasnothing at all

guide me as I continued, feeling the circular wall become tighter, and the sense of being

hands, and the squeaking of rats as they rushedover my

as I kept going, soon the entrance became wider and I was in a small opening

eyes, trying to feel for life

down now, it was odd that no one

kept going, blindly I could feel that I was

allfours, crawling through the tunnel that was becoming tighter, until I was on

shuddered when

didn't mind insects, but not to see exactly what it

going, bit by

saw a faint ray of light up ahead, encouraging me