Page 34 of Destined Mate

“Screaming,” Jerome whispered. “In horrible pain.”

Albert flashed his fangs at Jerome, then got out of the truck, shouting at a group of pack members who had arrived to unload their vehicles.

It looked as if they’d dragged some of the pack into this terrible situation. He hated that they’d be involved in this. Despite knowing about his visions, they were anxious about what lay ahead.

The ancient stone circle loomed in front of them. The slabs, weathered by centuries, stood solemnly, casting elongated shadows that stretched under the penetrating glow of the vehicles’ headlights.

There was a strange sort of comfort knowing the rogue and his betas would bleed out in there shortly.

Clyde’s truck rumbled down the path, loaded with equipment, causing it to jostle and shake. More pack members followed in their vehicles. After parking, he waved to the nearby vehicles. “Get the fuck out and get to work!”

Clyde turned to Jerome, eyeing him like a bug under a glass as he walked over. “It’s going to take us about two hours to get this set up. Hope you’re nice and cozy.”

Jerome shrugged and looked away, feigning disinterest, as he watched Elmer’s truck also arrive. He sucked in a breath as Elmer strode up to them.

“All going according to plan?” Elmer asked.

“Everything’s here,” Albert said quickly. “We’ll be ready—no mistakes, Alpha.”

“See that you are.” Elmer looked straight through Jerome and then moved off to survey the scene.

Time passed quickly as lights went up and generators roared to life, buzzing in the night air like angry metal bees. Cameras perched on tripods stared down into the circle’s center where Albert was setting up a raised platform—a makeshift stage for this particular humiliation.

Jerome watched as wires snaked from one piece of equipment to another. The pack swarmed like ants as Clyde installed monitors while Henry and Al adjusted camera angles under Elmer’s watchful gaze.

Albert muttered under his breath constantly as he double-checked everything in sight, gesturing wildly whenever something looked wrong or wasn’t done fast enough.

As Elmer strode over to Albert for an update, Jerome couldn’t help but notice the tension radiating from Albert’s rigid posture.

He hunched his shoulders, and his voice wavered slightly as he detailed their progress, a sure sign of his anxiety.

“It’ll be perfect, Alpha,” Clyde promised as he clambered down from a ladder where he’d been hanging a cluster of LED lights.

Elmer inclined his head slightly. “It’d better. I’m trusting you to make sure nothing goes wrong.”

Jerome wondered how often the two betas ended up on the wrong side of Elmer’s claws.

The torches that were part of the stone circle were lit, and all vehicles’ headlights were turned off. Thei flickering flames danced against the dark night sky, casting an eerie glow over the ancient stone circle. It was positively medieval.

The flames emitted a sharp, acrid smell that was not quite unpleasant but also not entirely pleasant. It mixed with the earthy scent of the stones and the crisp night air.

“Don’t screw this up,” Albert warned sharply, yanking Jerome out of the truck and guiding him to the middle of the stone circle.

The cold, unyielding wood felt harsh under Jerome’s bare feet, a chilling reminder of what this seemingly mundane stage signified. As he stood there, silhouetted against the flames from the torches, his vision blurred as his captors blended with the chaos of cables and cameras.

He bit his lip. Damn if he would cry, even if they could hear how his heart pounded.

He saw Clyde making final adjustments and shouting out last-minute orders. Everyone moved quickly, instinctively, knowing that any mistake could end in bloodshed. Jerome watched them work. Clyde shot a nervous glance at where Elmer stood.

The pack moved outside the stone circle, huddling together. He only just now noticed that none of the women were there.

The feeling of being watched had Jerome looking around, and he met Elmer’s gaze. The alpha moved with predatory grace toward the stage where Jerome stood, waiting for this atrocity to start.

Elmer’s gaze flickered between the cameras and Jerome, as if assessing every possibility and angle. The air was thick with tension, and the weight of the moment pressed down on Jerome like a heavy cloak.

It was time.

“We go live in three, two…” Clyde nodded to Elmer.

---