Part C: Chapter 69

***Unknown’s POV***

“Carla?” I called out from my bedroom. I’d made her my right-hand and so far, she was turning out to be a really learned student and I liked her even more.

There was a knock on my door and then she opened and entered, closing the door behind her and bowing her head. Such a sweet girl. She had so much potential and I figured if she was going to be under my wing, I had to make sure she went through the loyalty test and what better way than to have her see her cousin being tortured. Provided that she knew how her cousin looked. I was a pure genius but I knew Julius would be against it so I didn’t bother telling him about my plans for her.

“Yes Alpha, you called for me,” she said, her head still bowed. She was dressed in black ripped jeans, black combat boots and her black leather jacket. Truly a piece of me.

“Come, come,” I wavered at her from the mirror I was standing looking at myself. I watched as she walked over to me and finally stood with her head bowed when she was next to me. “Raise your head child, I want you to see yourself in the mirror and understand why I chose to make you my next successor.”

Carla’s face flushed at that because I had never mentioned that to anyone, not even Julius and he was the closest person I had left in this world. I truly saw so much potential in her and that was one of the reasons why I took her under my wing. But then again, everything would be truly decided once I saw her reaction when she saw her cousin and had to torture her to earn my utmost loyalty. “Alpha,” she breathed but that was all she said as her face turned a tad bit red.

I walked behind her and pushed her fiery hair behind her ear, that sinister smile still plastered on my face. “You look beautiful with your hair up, it shows your features very well,” I said next to her ear. “Always keep it up for my sake.” I used the hair tie in my hand and tied her hair into a bun over her head.

“But Alpha, how could I?” she breathed the words so softly and I knew I hadn’t made such a bad decision despite Julius’ warnings about her being a threat to what we had planned. Then again, he was the reason I hadn’t had her beheaded for the accusations lebelled against her and had me talk to her.

“Now, now, child, wipe that look off your face because you have to believe that you were meant to do great things and that starts with me,” I walked around her and held her shoulders, looking her right in the eyes. The bright blues of her eyes looked brighter underneath the light of my room. “You remind me a lot of myself when I was your age but I didn’t have anyone to look out for me and guide me when I was lost. That’s why I decided to take you under my wing and guide you to the future that was meant to be yours but was denied to you because of your parents’ status.”

“But Alpha-” she tried to say but I cut her off by placing a finger on her lips.

“Shh, if you refuse my offer then you might as well be committing treason against our people.” I knew I was laying it a bit too thick for her but it was all part of my plan.”

“Of course, forgive me Alpha. I didn't mean to disrespect your word,” she said, bowing her head even further.

I straightened up to my full height and clapped my hands together. “Now that we have that out of the way, as my successor, there are things that you ought to know in order to be properly prepared for what is to come. Follow me.”

I walked out of my quarters and turned around to find Carla following closely behind me like the humble little minion I was training her to be.

“This place used to belong to my family but when they died, everything changed,” I said as I pointed to the remaining portraits of Mum and Dad when they had still been alive, one of the many times I actually despised them because they are the reason I turned out the way I was. They never paid much attention to me and so I grew up in the shadows of their favourite child who turned out to be not so great when his life was on the line. I smiled as I remembered the look on his face the day that he died, it was truly a sight to behold if I do say so myself. “Our pack prides itself on its incredible strength and togetherness. It’s a deep bond that each and every one of us shares and it will all be yours to rule one day.”

I looked straight ahead as I kept listing off things that she ought to remember as someone who was a part of my inner court. “But keep this in mind, there are things that you will have to do as the Alpha that may make people hate you but as long as you know what you are doing is for the betterment of everyone in the long run, then you shouldn’t let their words get to you at all. You have to keep a strong front even when confronted with your biggest foe.” I glanced over my shoulder at her as she seemed to be taking everything in. “Power is an incredible thing to have but if it falls into the wrong hands then all will be lost. Those with power get to decide how those without it live.”

We walked all the way below ground where the dungeons were located and we could hear the sound of her screams. Ah, Julius must be at work. That brought a smile to my face.

“This is where all the prisoners are kept and tortured for information. Should you ever find yourself in a position where someone just annoys you, let me know,” I said with a smile as I turned to face her when we reached the place where she was being kept. “What you see in there remains among those who know. If I find out that you told anyone, I will have to behead you.” I cupped her cheek in my hand tentatively before I turned and opened the doors.

She was still hanging on the ceiling with nothing but chains keeping her from falling and breaking so many bones in her body.

“Alpha,” all of them said bowing their heads but Julius stood still, a knife covered in blood hanging by his side.

“As you were,” I dismissed them and ignored the look that Julius was giving me. “I brought someone to observe.” I sat in the only chair available and turned my attention on Carla whose face gave nothing away. She truly was a girl after my own soul. “Continue.” Her cries of help were music to my ears as I casually sipped on the wine that one of the guards had brought for me. Truly an amazing sight to behold.