Once Torture Her, Twice Fear Her

GIDEON'S POV

Same old boring ones.

This gathering was proving to be as dull as the previous ones. I leaned back in my chair, fighting off the boredom as Alpha Soren of the Ironclaw Pack droned on about his desperate need to join the pack alliance I led.

His pack had been deteriorating under his leadership, their territory shrinking, their strength waning. It was clear he was grasping at straws, hoping to secure an alliance with my pack. But honestly, how could I accept such a weak pack, led by a weak Alpha?

Just as I was about to lose myself in thought, a woman entered the room. Her timid demeanor was evident in the way she moved slowly, almost as if she feared every step she took. She carried a tray of wine, which she carefully set down before me. I noticed her arms, marred with bruises—obviously, the Ironclaw Pack didn’t spare their servants from violence.

Now, that was more of a reason why the pack-alliance bullshit he wanted would not be happening anytime now.

"Hurry and serve Alpha Gideon," Soren’s gaze was sharp as he instructed her to pour wine for me. As she approached, I could sense her nervousness.

"Okay, brother," she absentmindedly uttered. However, that was not what mattered. Did she just call Alpha Soren her brother? What was going on here?

Before I could ask something, Soren, who was enraged by what he heard stood up and slapped the woman across the face. His eyes were red in anger, and the veins on his neck were protruding. "Do you think you deserve to call me brother? Call me Alpha, you dirty slave!"

The woman was on the verge of crying as she tried to calm the frantic Alpha. "I-I'm sorry, Alpha! I didn't mean to! I'm so sorry!"

She immediately went near to serve me, and as she did that, her hand trembled, causing the wine to slosh over the rim of the glass and spill onto the table. The dark red liquid also dripped onto my clothes, an irritating but minor inconvenience.

My frown deepened. Before I could say anything, Soren’s Luna, Talia, whom she introduced earlier, took action. Her face twisted in anger as she whipped the girl across the back, sending her crashing to the floor. The sharp crack of the whip cut through the room like a knife. The girl cried out in pain, her body curling in on itself as she tried to protect her head.

Luna Talia's voice was cold, dripping with a false sweetness as she addressed me. “I’m so sorry, Alpha Gideon. This slave is too careless and has ruined your clothes. I’ll punish her right away.”

She raised the whip again, her intent clear. I caught the movement out of the corner of my eye. Without thinking, I stood and grabbed the whip, pulling it from Luna Talia’s hand. The suddenness of my action seemed to freeze the hall in place.

Now, this is getting more interesting, I thought in the back of my head. “Don’t be so hasty to punish her," I started, then eyed the maid and Alpha Soren. "What’s going on here? She's your sister?”

Soren’s eyes were wide with a mix of embarrassment and anger upon hearing my question. But he knew under my scrutinizing gaze, he had no choice but to answer. “She is indeed my sister,” he said, his voice strained. “But she killed our parents! I no longer recognize her as my sister. She’s just a criminal now, a slave.”

I nodded slowly, taking in his words. “I see,” I replied, my gaze shifting back to the girl on the floor. Her face was hidden, but I could see her shoulders shaking with silent sobs.

Soren seemed desperate to move on. He quickly redirected the conversation to the alliance. “What conditions will you set to allow my pack to join your alliance, Alpha Gideon?”

I took my time considering his request. Normally, I would have rejected such a weak offer without a second thought. But tonight, the situation had changed. The girl’s plight, the desperation in Soren’s voice—it all added a new layer to this negotiation.

As I weighed my options, I glanced at the girl again. She was still curled on the floor, her body trembling. My thoughts were interrupted by Soren’s hopeful gaze. He was waiting, clearly expecting a positive response.

I took a deep breath and, to Soren’s surprise, I pointed at the girl.

"I want her."