Dimitri’s POV
The dungeon where I kept my prisoners was a dark underground place. The silence was only sometimes broken by the sound of water dripping from places I couldn’t see. The air smelled old and damp, and it was much colder than the outside. The smell was burning my nostrils and I couldn’t wait to leave this place.
As I entered the dungeon, I immediately felt a shiver run down my spine. The walls were made of rough stone blocks, with moss and lichen growing on them. Torches on the walls were the only source of light. If I wasn’t a Lycan, I would have a hard time moving around.
The ground was uneven, with rocks and weeds in the way. Old, rusty iron chains and shackles hung on the walls, reminding me of some good times I had down here with some of my prisoners.
The ceiling was low and I could feel droplets of water fall on my neck from time to time. It made me shiver. I hated moist places.
As I went further into the dungeon, I couldn’t help but feel more and more angry. I wondered what the fuck my mother had to say.
“Goddess, I hate this place,” Will mumbled, breaking the silence.
I glanced at him. He was walking behind me because the corridors were too narrow for us to walk side by side.
“I have some good memories here,” I said, looking back in front of me. “I wouldn’t mind if it was a bit more dry, though.”
Another droplet of water fell on my neck and I growled quietly.
Will chuckled quietly.
“Good memories as in torturing your enemies?” he asked, already knowing the answer to that question.
“Of course,” I said just as we approached the door. “I am unforgiving when it comes to my prized possessions.”
Up until nine months ago, my only prized possession was my Kingdom. Then Maddie came into my life and everything shifted. I still valued my Kingdom, but not nearly as much as I valued her. She was everything.
“Alpha,” the guard said, bowing his head.
He grabbed the key that was hanging on his belt and unlocked the door.
“Thank you, Jeff,” I said as I grabbed the doorknob and opened the door.
It led me to another hallway. This one was wider, with cells on each side. My mother and Savannah were in the last two cells. I specifically asked for them to be put there. Those two cells were in the worst condition of all.
I could hear quiet sniffling as I approached the cells and my anger grew. Did they think I would have compassion for them?
“You wanted to see me?” I spoke as I approached the first cell.
They were silent for a moment, but then both of them jumped to their feet and rushed toward the bars that were separating us.
I barely recognized my mother. She was always an elegant woman, but now she looked like a sewer rat. It made me smile a little. She deserved it.
“Dimitri,” Savannah cried out. “Get us out of here, please.”
I looked at her and raised my brows.
“Are you serious?” I asked, looking from Savannah to my mother “Is that why you called?”
My mother gulped and reached out for me through the bars. I looked at her hands with disgust written all over my face.
“Dimitri,” my mom called, her voice trembling. “I am your mother. Help me, please.”
“I have a child, Dimitri!” Savannah exclaimed before I could speak. “You can’t keep me away from him! My son needs me! He needs both of his parents!”
I rolled my eyes at her. Her delusions were starting to annoy me.
“Your son is in good hands,” I said, looking back at my mother. “He is with people who will actually love him and care for him.”
“You gave our son away?!” Savannah screamed.
I looked back at her and tightened my jaw.
“I gave your son away, yes,” I said, trying to remain calm. “The father never came forward so the boy was left alone. I couldn’t let that happen so I found him a family.”
Savannah’s eyes widened. She sobbed loudly. I looked back at my mother and narrowed my eyes.
“Why am I here, mother?” I asked. “What do you want?”
“Forgiveness,” she said. “I will change, Dimitri. I promise, son.”
I chuckled and shook my head.
“Do you really consider me that stupid, mother?” I asked as I took a step closer to her. “Do you really expect me to believe that?”
My mother glanced at Will.
“Please, Dimitri,” she cried out. “It’s the truth. I am willing to change. I am willing to accept Mad…”
“Don’t say her name!” I exclaimed as a loud growl escaped me. “You are not allowed to say her name ever again.”
I could feel the anger pulsating in my veins. I didn’t want her beautiful name to ever be spoken by my mother or the bitch in the other cell. I didn’t want them to taint her name.
“That goes for you too, Savannah,” I said, keeping my eyes on my mother. “You are not allowed to say her name ever again.”
My mother gulped and glanced at Will again. He growled quietly.
“You won’t be forgiven for what you did,” I said, clenching my fists and tightening my jaw. “You will never get out of this cell alive.”
My mother sobbed loudly. Savannah screamed.
“What did you think would happen?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at my mother. “Did you really think that I would forgive you for torturing my mate?”
“We thought that maybe you would want a strong mate,” Savannah answered instead of my mother. “We thought that maybe you would want someone more suitable than that little…”
“Watch it,” I interrupted her. “You are sentenced to death already, but I have a choice of how painful that death will be. Don’t piss me off.”
Savannah’s eyes widened.
I looked back at my mother and sighed.
“Well, my visit was pointless, just as I thought it would be,” I said. “I was hoping that you might want to share some new information with me, but I was wrong.”
I looked at Will and narrowed my eyes slightly.
“Well, Will was wrong,” I said, making him raise an eyebrow.
I looked back at my mother and clapped my hands theatrically.
“Well, I would say it was nice to see you, ladies, but I would be lying,” I said. “I will see you again on your execution date.”
I turned to my right and started walking away, ignoring their screams and pleas.
Do you think we made an impact? I mind-linked Will as we walked out of there.
We will see. He responded. Nothing to do but wait.
I tightened my jaw and took a deep breath. My lungs burned and I couldn’t wait to get out of there and breathe in fresh air.
