(Author’s POV)
He poured the bucket full of water, mixed with two handful of salt on Noah as Noah grunted with burning ache. The silver thorny chains were piercing his skin and the salty water was making the pain even worse. If one could compare his pain, normal human could just die by the sheer feeling and a regular werewolf might pass out then and there, but Noah was an extraordinary wolf, a Lycan wolf. He managed to hang on.
The laughter resonated inside the dungeon as the person sitting on the wheelchair was laughing loudly and relentless at Noah’s pitiful and dreadful state. Sweat beads formed on his forehead.
Noah recognized the voice instantly, though there was still no scent coming from that person. His mind raced with many questions, ’Just how, how is this possible? Am I imagining it? Or is it~’
The next second, ear piercing cries of Janet, Ryan and his other warriors echoed inside the dungeon. Noah was pulled back from his inner monologue when he realized that it was no illusion but everything happening was real. He muttered a curse under his breath, and asked with a blank face, "What are you trying to achieve by this, successor of Alpha Keith or should I call you by your name? Caiten Snow."
Caiten stopped laughing and replied, his words filled with concern and fear, "Tskkk, ohhh my moon goddess. How did you figure out who I was? Shit, now I will be dead like that night, right? Ohhh goddess, what do I do? I am trembling in fear." He smirked mockingly as he got up from the wheelchair and kicked it away, forcefully with his left leg. He walked closer and closer, standing just in front of Noah, giving him a sorrowful look.
Noah didn’t change his expression as he kept staring at him blankly. Caiten started laughing again as he grabbed Noah’s chin roughly, his sharp nails digging into Noah’s jaw and cheeks, "Still showing me that haughty attitude, huhh. Can’t you see, the tables have turned. You are inside my dungeon. Ohhh, by the way, I heard you became the Alpha King of that beggar pack, Moon Shine. Why didn’t you invite me to your coronation? I was deeply hurt." He made a sad face.
Noah still kept silent, making Caiten frustrated. He was trying to transition into his wolf form but it was of no use. Arth wasn’t responding to any of his calls.
"Aye, you are no fun. Anyways, tell me how is my childhood sweetheart? Is ’my Ras’, okay? I really miss her. She is always in my dreams with that sexy body of hers, pinned beneath me." Caiten said, his tone full of sweetness as well as twisted obsession as he described his lustful fantasy.
Noah couldn’t keep calm when he mentioned Sara’s name with his vile and uncouth mouth. He cussed at him loud and clear, "You freaking bastard, don’t you dare speak about my wife with that filthy mouth of yours. I swear on moon goddess’s name, I will tear you to pieces."
"Did I say anything wrong, Beggar Alpha King? We were childhood sweethearts and even about to get married, if you hadn’t come between us. I was going to propose to her. But you inserted yourself between our relationship. She should have been mine. No, she is mine. Those bastards you have planted inside her and those that have already been born, they all should have been my seeds. But you mutt~" Caiten said angrily. "Because of you, your so-called weak friend and that bitch, Bella. I had to play a dead person’s role for such a long time. Don’t you feel sorry for me?"
"Sorry, huhh. Just tell me, how are you still alive? You clearly died that night. I checked on you and the doctors also confirmed it," Noah asked. He couldn’t wrap his head around the thing about how Caiten had managed to escape and cheat even death. After all, at that time his breathing as well as his pulse had stopped.
"Awwww, what a curious cat you are. Want to know my secret from get go, ahh?" Caiten teased Noah playfully. "I will tell you my story of rising from my own ashes. But before that tell me, are you happy to see me?"
Noah didn’t give him any reply again as he wasn’t interested in his verbal nonsense, he just wanted the answer to his questions. Caiten didn’t like it and yelled, "BROOKS...."
A sharp cry vibrated as Janet screamed in pain. Noah clenched his jaw tightly, "Stop this at once Caiten Snow. I am warning you."
"You answer me and this will stop. So, are you happy to see me alive and well, that I am back?" Caiten questioned sharply, his eyes filled with anticipation as he waited.
Matthew caught Alaric in time. Then, he glared at the crowd, his voice laced with venomous threat, "Disrespecting the Alpha King and his family will lead you to your death. I am watching each one of you. So, be better prepare yourself for your punishments."
The crowd gasped and shivered in fear. Their hair stood on ends. Someone bold and fearsome commented, replying to Matthew’s threats, "Beta Matthew, this is not it. No one tried to disrespect the Alpha King or his family. But two people have lost their lives and the others are battling for theirs. Shouldn’t your side show some respect to the deceased and their family members?"
Listening to these bold words, the family members back up the person and others also chimed in. They all gathered and crowded Alaric and Matthew not giving them any chance to escape.
The hospital staff and Matthew tried to calm the riled-up crowd, down. They were getting out of hand. Matthew wanted to use his Beta wolf powers to subdue them but according to the pack rules, he couldn’t do that to a bare handed human.
In the middle of all this, an elderly lady was shoved and fallen to the floor. But people were so exasperated and agitated, they didn’t even care about her. They crushed her, stamping on her as her cries and screams muddled up with their complaints. Matthew was alert as ever, he roared at them and made his way to the lady, she was on the verge of fainting.
He, carefully, held her in his arms and rushed her to the emergency room. He made sure that Alaric wasn’t left alone.
Now, that Matthew had gone and there was no stopping them. The crowd started messing around even more. Few suspicious looking people slipped past the crowd and reached the Neonatal Unit, where Elio and Nora were kept. No adult was inside the room.
To Be Continued . . . . . . .

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