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.

wait for an answer, grabbing my wrist and breaking into

Alpha in our midst!” The deep, dark voice, that reminded me

was

If Hunter died…

so did Charlene…

was a death I wanted, and the very thought

Stay safe, Hunter.

we had carried on, the sounds of

the shape of a cobra’s mouth, Theon had pointed

“Alright…

may have

on, you’re

and kill them all, you go in and get the pearl, I’ll join you the

chances there may be some more inside."

grime, and blood covering

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

but.

I wasn't able to say

hurting but the words refused to leave

I still

brushing my

and that

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

down, pressing

it only took

soft whimper left my

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

he

a shaky gasp and

before I turned and slipped

ready to await the first chance I

lips lingered on mine, and I slowly licked

consumed my mind, I needed to

the tree, making the Nagas turn, I saw the signal

had said, that they may

I’d be careful.

I scanned the darkness.

to be any life

tunnel, which was long and circular, almost like the

and dark, and the sounds from outside seemed to

I could only

sense if the pearl

floor and closed my eyes,

other Nagas

the

called to me, the sound

beat when I realised

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

to see, it was strange, almost as if there wasnothing at all to

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

feel spiders and other insects crawling over my hands, and the

as I kept going, soon the entrance became wider

eyes, trying to feel for life

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

none was anywhere near, so I kept going, blindly I could feel that I was getting closer to the pearl, and it was theonly thing

on allfours, crawling through the tunnel that was becoming tighter, until I was on my elbows and stomach crawling

and I shuddered when

mind insects, but not to

going, bit by

when I saw a faint ray of light up ahead, encouraging me