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.

didn't wait for an answer, grabbing my wrist and breaking into

The deep, dark voice, that reminded me

was

If Hunter died…

so did Charlene…

and the very thought of Charlene dying terrified

Stay safe, Hunter.

I don't know how long we had carried on, the sounds of the fight behindus had long vanished as

that was in the shape of a cobra’s mouth,

“Alright…

have been

on, you’re going in

in and get the pearl, I’ll join you the

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

the layers of dirt, grime, and blood covering

when I signal, alright?" I know he said we weren’t

but.

met and I wasn't able to say

but the words refused

I

alert." He murmured, brushing my dirty hair

nodded, our eyes meeting and that intense

was about to turn, I grabbed hold of

pulled him down, pressing

through me, and it only took him a fraction of a second before

soft whimper

thundering and his grip on my hips was firm, pressing me

he felt so

a shaky gasp

I whispered, before I turned and

I was ready to await the first chance I

of his lips lingered

consumed my mind, I

something against the tree, making the Nagas turn, I saw the signal he gave

I remembered what Hunter had said, that

I’d be careful.

I scanned the darkness.

seem to

tunnel, which was long and

was cold and dark, and the sounds from

could only hear my own heart

to sense if the

silently, I placed my hands on the floor and

several other Nagas were far above,

the ground

to me, the sound of the ocean

a beat when I realised what

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

even I was unable to see, it

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

over my hands, and the squeaking of rats as they rushedover

soon the entrance became wider and I was in a small

eyes, trying to feel for life through the

was odd that no one had followed, and my worry for Theon

could feel

idea how far or deep down I was, and soon I was on allfours, crawling through the

harder, and I shuddered when I felt something crawl down my

insects, but not to see exactly

going, bit

paused when I saw a faint ray of light up