Page 44 of Forced Alpha Bride
“Hmm,” Damon hums, staring at Mitchell. “I suppose he’ll live, then. One of the lucky ones, I guess.”
Mitchell glares back at Damon, and a shudder runs through me as I remember how many men Damon killed or maimed to gain his position.
Right here, in this very room.
The shadows are so deep and the light so erratic, it’s almost as if I can still see the bloodstains on the walls and stone floor.
“By all means, educate me,” Damon says. “I’d like to know the details of our offensive maneuvers in the area, and what led to them.”
“You don’t understand,” Regina says, struggling to control her voice. “Valentine Creek has always been our enemy. They sneak into town in the middle of the night and steal. They murder our wolves when they are out hunting. It has been known for them to kidnap women, too.”
She gives both of us a hard look. It sparks my anxiety so badly, prickles of sweat run down my spine.
Is she saying Damon is doing this because he’s evil? Because he’s like them?
“Do you have proof of this, or only stories?” Damon asks.
“My grandmother personally told me about one of their raids,” Regina answers, getting animated. “They stole food and supplies, set buildings on fire, and many of our wolves were killed. It was after that attack that we sent sentries out to make sure they couldn’t come near our town.”
“And since then, what have you done?” Damon asks, stroking his chin. “Focused purely on defense?”
Regina looks away, trying to hide her disgust.
“Perhaps I can enlighten you,” Cora says. She sits at the other end of the dais, next to Bryce, leaving Ledra at Damon’s left. Mitchell is next to me, with Norman and Regina taking up the last chairs.
You could fit a lot more seats here if you wanted to. I wonder when Flint will be officially made the beta? I’m sure he’s out right now with Damon’s gang, having a great time. Probably terrorizing the town.
“Speak, Cora,” Damon prompts, and he appears genuinely interested in what she has to say. From what I’ve heard, Cora is more level-headed than Regina and tends to look for fair solutions instead of quick persecutions.
“I was also told of the attack Regina has described,” Cora says. “It was a devastating blow for us, which is why we ramped up our defenses.”
“That’s not what I asked,” Damon says with a low growl. “I asked what we were doing right now.”
Cora sighs. “We have a ring of scouts and warriors around the town, with sentries posted through the mountains. Their orders are to kill anyone who leaves the village.”
“Anyone?” Damon echoes. “Women, children, innocent men?”
“Yes,” Cora answers uncomfortably. “Anyone.”
“How many casualties have been reported?”
Cora looks away, and this time Ledra speaks up.
Krista was right—Bryce and Norman are as useful as boils on the butt. Obviously, it’s the girls who have the most power here.
“We don’t have exact numbers,” Ledra answers. “We don’t ask for them. So long as anyone leaving that place is killed, we are satisfied. We have to protect ourselves.”
“That doesn’t sound like protection,” Damon replies. “It sounds like genocide.”
“Did you not hear—” Regina starts.
“Yes, I heard,” Damon snaps. “And if it was simple defense, I’d agree. But you are effectively keeping that town prisoner. How are they supposed to hunt or engage in trade? They do have women and children there, you know. Innocents.”
“No one from that filthy place is innocent!” Ledra hisses.
I watch the conversation around the table with interest, but the longer it goes on, the more nervous I become. AfterLedra’s comment, Damon glances at her, looking steadily into her eyes.
“What are you implying?” he asks, the hushed tone echoing through the room.
