Alpha of her Heart

CHAPTER 2

THE MOON HUNG HIGH in the sky, but there was no warmth, only a cold glow that sheened in Cassian’s room. He writhed on the floor, his massive form slick with sweat. The proud Alpha of Rogue Pack was reduced to a trembling shadow of himself.

The silver poison in his veins was acting up again.

The silver ran through his veins like wildfire. Each breath of his was a struggle, and each heartbeat was a scream.

His claws had made deep furrows in the wooden floor. His teeth clenched so tightly that blood trickled out of his mouth. He did not howl because he didn’t want to give the poison satisfaction.

This silver poison was given to him by the Poison Witch Nyxaria. A cruel sorcerer who was wanted by both werewolves and witches for committing heinous acts. And he was one of the people who suffered from the Poison Witch's cruelty.

His poison didn’t have a cure. His father had done everything he could to remove it, but to no avail. No healer and no doctor can remove the poison in his blood.

And now, all he could do was to wait for his death.

Cassian growled under his breath and clawed at the floor. Then he saw it. The small glass bottle is resting on the bedside table. It was dark green and swirling with gold. A potion given to him by Elena, a witch whom he sheltered when she was found in the forest and being chased by some hunters. And later, Elena became his pack doctor.

His pack was a Rogue Pack, and they didn’t follow any rules set by the werewolf society. His pack was not more than thirty members—they were hybrids, witches, and outcasts. The Rogue Pack was started by his father, and the Alpha title was passed to him when his father died.

Though their number was small, they were good at fighting. No one can defeat them so easily.

But now, his body—once a weapon, once a warning to all who dared to challenge him—was now a cage.

Cassian reached for the potion even if his muscles trembled violently, and the silver poison lashed at him for daring to move. But still, he reached for it as he was desperate to stop the pain. Though no potion could stop the pain completely, it was only to dull it. And to keep himself from shifting, from ripping apart his own flesh in madness.

He opened the small bottle with his teeth and drank. The taste was vile, bitter, and metallic. Then after a few seconds, the pain receded. It was not gone completely, but it was muted. He could breathe again.

Cassian collapsed onto his back and panted.

Then pushed himself to get up and leaned on the edge of the bed while sitting on the wooden floor. He closed his eyes, and his heavy breath started to calm and become even. His skin was pale with the aftermath of the silver still coursing through him.

His chest rose and fell unevenly.

The empty potion bottle rolled on the floor.

Then a soft knock, and the door creaked open.

Noah Ainsley, the Beta of Rogue Pack, stepped in, a tall and broad-shouldered man. The left side of his face was scarred, a jagged bun trailing from his brow to his jaw. It was an ugly reminder of the night their pack was slaughtered by hunters. A silver wound had nearly taken his eye.

“Alpha,” Beta Noah greeted as he bowed his head, “we have a lead. One of our scouts spotted a suspicious movement.”

“Where?” Cassian asked without looking up.

“The Black Tower. Three miles east. The Poison Witch was there.”

Cassian’s fisted. The Poison Witch was the one who put this silver poison on him, so he must find her. Even if he isn’t healed, at least he could kill her before he dies.

“Man, she’s a Poison Witch. You can’t fight her poison,” said Cassian’s wolf.

“Even so,” Cassian replied. “At least, I tried.”

Cassian stood. Though the silver poison wasn’t acting up now, every muscle in his body protested, but he pushed through it. He grabbed the black shirt on the chair, put it on, and looked at Noah. His ash-gray eyes gleamed like a blade when illuminated by the moonlight.

“Prepare the car,” he commanded, his voice low and lethal. “We’re going to pay her a visit.”

Noah nodded just once. “Elena has already warded the tires just in case the Poison Witch tries to twist the ground again.”

The memory of their car sinking into the ground like a living bog the last time they attempted to chase her made Cassian’s jaw tighten. It was witchcraft.

“Good,” Cassian muttered. “If she’s there, I will kill her myself.”

In the doorway, Noah paused. “Alpha, the scout spotted that she was not alone.”

Cassian looked at his Beta abruptly. “What do you mean?”

“Our scout saw that the Poison Witch was experimenting again.”

“No wonder she became wanted by the Werewolf Council and the Witch Council,” said Cassian. For some reason, he cupped his chest where his heart was. He felt pain—not physical pain, but a pain like he felt someone’s pain.

“Alpha, are you okay?” Noah asked in a concerned voice.

“I’m fine.”

Noah’s lips lifted into a grim smile. “I’ll have the engine ready in five.”

Cassian watched Noah leave.

Then he walked towards the French window of his room as he grabbed his phone from the bed.

He called his secretary.

“Yes, Sir?”

“I won’t come to the office for a week, maybe,” Cassian said with his cold voice. “I have an important matter to attend to.”

“Noted, Sir.”

Cassian ended the call. He looked into the far distance. It’s been more than a decade since the silver poison was in his system. He was lucky that he was still alive until now, but the poison was killing him every day. It was slowly killing him.

So, before he dies, he must kill the Poison Witch.

At least, he could get his revenge.

‘Man, this is not easy,’ his wolf said.

Cassian only smirked because he was already determined to avenge himself.

And it was a vow he must heed.