Antonio

I could feel myself getting weaker. Returning to the state I was before I syphoned Lelia's powers.


The search was still ongoing for the two brats. It's been a week and it was like Leila vanished.

There is a weak trail of my daughters scent and some of my men followed it religiously but nothing on Leila.

The search for Xander's body was futile. The map gotten from the hint led us to nothing. Just open fields and blue sky.


'My Lord, your bath is ready."

I sighed. Leaving my thoughts for now and turned to the slave at the door.


She was one of the maids in Lucian's pack, I couldn't be bothered with remembering her name.

I could feel her trembling fingers as she peeled my clothes from my body. The obvious fear in her scent and pathetic figure filled me with so much joy.

It was almost euphoric.

'Do you need me for anything else my Lord?" her head was bowed and her eyes were fixed on the floor.

Gripping her chin, I lifted her head. She was pliant with fear. Her eyes dilated and I could hear her increasing heart beat.

'You tempt me but no, I don't need you this night."

I traced her full lower lip with my nails leaving a red line in my wake. I didn't use enough force to break skin.

'Beautiful."

Her eyes shown with tears but they didn't fall.

'Come. While I don't need your pretty mouth warming me down there, I need you to scrub my back."

I released her and left the room. The sound of her muffled sobs were pleasing to my ears.


****


'My Lord, you sent for me." Lucian said as he fell to his knees.

'Yes. How is the search going?"

I relaxed into the big comfortable throne like chair. Lucian and his precessors were really narcissist. I didn't even have a throne in any of my packs but here they were, seating on such a high chair looking down on others.

There was nothing really special about them. So why have this type of setting?

Well, I guess it's mine now.

Taking control of Lucian's pack was a lot easier than Xander's. Their Alpha was still trying to realize that the love of his life was lying dead in his arms and his father was weak.

It was like taking candy from a baby.

'We haven't found any of them my Lord but the scent of your daughter is getting stronger. I'm sure we're getting close."

I smiled, imagining all the things I could do to punish my insolent brat of a child.

'How is your father doing?"

I had spared the life of his father. I locked him in a room painted with wolf bane and ordered Lucian to visit him everyday for an hour.

It was such a creative punishment.

'He's doing good my Lord."

Lies, I wonder how long he'll last.

'You may go. Send in the sorcerer for me."

'Yes my Lord."

He got up and I caught a look of his eyes.

It was blank, void of emotion but I could see the concealed rage in them. He wanted me to believe that he was broken and was just a puppet for me to control.

It was a shame but I'll have to kill him once all this is over. The main reason I took his pack was because of their stealth skills. Not only did they successfully ambush my original pack, but they were so good that none of them where captured.

I didn't need anyone burning with rage and the need for revenge around me.

Fear was what I ruled with and anger only dampens the feeling of fear.

'Call in the sorcerer for me."


'I take it you haven't found them." I said once he entered the room. His face was gloomy.

'My Lord, do you think that Xander may actually be dead."

He sat on the floor, ignoring the chairs around him.

Idris was normally withdrawn buth this was different.

'I can't find any trace that he's alive. Fuck, it's like he doesn't even exist."

'Is there anything else we can do? I'm very sure that he's alive. There was nothing of his where we fought, not even his armor."

Idris sighed, 'I'll talk to some sorcerers and report back to you. I don't know anything else but I'm sure they'll know something."

'Did you get the artifact?" Idris asked.

'No. It wasn't in the area where we fought. More reason to believe that Xander's alive."

I frowned. Xander was like an annoying itch that won't stop scratching.

'I'll take my leave and start searching for more clues."

I nodded.

'The ritual can still be conducted without the artifact but, it may be dangerous to you" he warned as he got up.

'Let's find them first. We'll worry about that then."

Idris nodded and left.

My mind drifted to my daughter. First her mate then her, did she leave to find him?

Did she fall in love with him and only pretended that she didn't in front of me? If she did, I'll be forced to kill Damien in front of her. Her devotion belonged to only me.

I looked around.

Another pack was needed. In a matter of time days, I'll become an immortal. A god.

I needed a large territory.

Taking over all the surrounding packs didn't sound bad. It'll make his territory large and in one place.

A crooked smile grew in my face as I imagined the carnage I would cause. The terror I'll plant in the heart of many.

My daughter better come back on her own accord because I had tried hard to be something I wasn't.

A kind father, a manipulating but kind uncle. A ruthless leader but not a tyrant.

I wasn't any of those things and it was high time that I let everyone know. If I caught Amelia by myself, she would realize the reason her mom left her mate.