/Melucia-/

My eyes watered as I stared at the doctor’s smiling face. I was pregnant! Finally!

After three months of unending violation and annihilation, I was going to give the cruel man a son.

Just as he said, I was only allowed two maids. One was a doctor and the other a servant girl. The doctor came by every month to run a pregnancy test while the maid attended to my daily needs.

Locked up in a room surrounded by iron bars, my only connection to the outside world was the windows.

My people were turned into slaves and although it was good to see them alive, the nine heads I have been forced to see haunted my dreams.

It was a relief to see that all that was about to end.

“Are you certain?” Ezra walked into the room. I shot him a glare. She was a doctor, why on earth wouldn't she be certain?

He was just looking for a reason to kill more people.

“Yes, Alpha. She is indeed pregnant,” she affirmed. He didn't even smile to show if he was happy or not. His face remained expressionless as usual.

“Good. Any precautions?” He asked.

“You should let her out once in a while for fresh air. If she feels claustrophobic, it might trigger a lot of nauseous reactions. She needs to do some light exercise too and take lots of rest. Her diet is okay for now, although she might not have much of an appetite,” she said.

“Alright, you may leave,” He dismissed her.

Once she was gone, I stood.

“You heard her. You'll stop the killing now, right?” I asked.

“I gave you my word. Lucky for you, you get to leave with the majority of your people,” he shrugged. “Right now, I just want my baby to be safe and sound.”

“My back hurts; I need a massage,” I said, and those beautiful eyes narrowed at me.

It was quite a shame that such a beautiful man had such a dark heart. If he wasn't ruthlessly beheading my people, I might have fallen for him.

“So what?”

“So do it. I am carrying your seed, remember. I need to be as comfortable as possible,” I said.

His lips contorted in a deep frown.

“Don't think you will get this every day,” he scowled, walking to the bed. “Get on it.”

I smirked inwardly. It was a test to see if I could get to do whatever I wanted and now that I had gotten my answer, I was going to enslave and punish him for all the nights he made me cry.

The joy of punishing him, however, was short-lived.

Nine months had gone by and although they weren't the best days of my life, the thought of freedom was elevating.

Ezra made sure all my wishes were granted except for leaving the room. No matter how many times the doctors advised him and how many tantrums I threw, he kept me locked in.

No wolf or witch was to know I was pregnant and when the time for delivery came, the goddess blessed me with twins.

They had his beautiful eyes and hair. My heart tugged at the thought of leaving them.

“Our deal is done. You will be allowed to leave with your people at dawn,” Ezra said coldly to me.

“Already?” I asked. “I just gave birth, they need to be breastfed and…”

“That will be taken care of,” he cut me short, disregarding the fact that I was still weak from labour. He wanted me gone.

My heart ached. These last few months, I had grown attached to him even when it was bound to end in heartache.

He was cold and brooding but he made sure I didn't lack anything. Everything I wanted, be it care, attention, emotional support or physical contact, he was available for that.

It was mostly for his baby but still.

It hurt to think it was coming to an end already.

“You're right. A deal is a deal, but the deal was for a child not two…” I started when he cut me short.

“You are not leaving with any of my children. They belong to me. They are both mine!” The possessiveness in his voice startled me.

“But I carried them! I felt them kick! I went through the pain and discomfort. I am only asking for one, why can't I have that?” I asked weakly. Tears were already falling off my cheeks.

My heart was breaking and I didn't know how to stop it.

“You know what you were getting into. You picked your people over your children. You have no right to claim any of them! Leave now, while I am still willing to keep to my part of the bargain,” Ezra growled.

There was no use pleading any longer. He was right. It was me who made the choice to give up my child for my people. It was too late to take it back.

Yet, my heart refused to let go.

“What if I stay back? To nurture them as a slave or whatever. You can let my people go but please…”

“Melucia!” He thundered. “Get out!”

Tears streamed down my cheeks and I pushed myself weakly off the bed. I kissed my sons goodbye, caressing their faces softly as I memorised their small beautiful faces. The doctor came to support me as I walked to Ezra weakly.

“Take care of them, please,” I sniffled.

“I intend to.”

I took in his features as well. He was, after all, the man who took my virginity and my first fruits. I didn't want to forget him either.

He shifted his gaze to the nurse.

“Escort her to the pack borders. She will meet the rest of her people there. Make sure she never returns,” he instructed.

“Yes, Alpha.”

For the first time in a whole year, I stepped out of the room. The doctor led me into a secret passage that led outside the pack.

Just as Ezra said, my people were waiting for me.

“Priestess!” Eli exclaimed running to me. “You're alive!”

They gathered around me, all trying to support me at once. It was so heartwarming.

“I… I told you… diplomacy always works,” I said with a weak smile.

“What happened to you?” He asked worriedly. “You are covered in blood!”

“It was a little accident but I am fine, trust me,” I smile.

“But your stomach…” another muttered. There were so many questions, but I couldn't provide answers to any of them.

“Trust me, I am fine. We should leave now,” I told them. “Eli, can you portal us out of here?”

I was too weak to perform any magic.

“Yes, Priestess,” he got up and walked away from us a little but before he could do anything, an arrow struck him in the neck.

“Eli! No!!” I screamed but then, a giant iron net dropped on us, trapping everyone inside.

Screams of agony followed and before we knew it, wolves emerged from the shadows.

It was there and then I realised that I had been tricked.

Ezra Maverick used me and went back on his words.

Eli was right. I was just too naive to think he would let me go after I helped him.

I was nothing but a fool.

While I thought I was saving my baby, I had actually given up my babies for nothing.

Tears brewed in my eyes as more shoulders emerged with rubbers of fuel.

“For the glory of the BlackClaw! To honour our Alpha!” They chanted emptying the cans of fuel on us.

I looked at my suffering people. The pain in their eyes tore me apart.

He lied to me! He took my children from me and now he was going to take my coven away from me!

Ezra was a liar! A liar who didn't deserve to live!

Anger coursed through my veins. I will make him pay! For the agony he had caused me, I will make him suffer! For every blood he shed today, he will suffer in tenfolds.

“Join your hands, brethren,” I urged them, but they were too weak to move. “I know you are afraid, but I promise our pain will not be forgotten. Hold the hands of your brothers and sisters. Find strength in your pain!”

“Burn the witches! Burn the witches!” They chanted as we joined hands.

I felt a surge of energy through me, and grabbed the sands with my hands, eyes blazing with hatred and pain. They lit a wooden stick.

“Burn the witches!”

They threw in the burning wood and we went up in flames. With the fire burning through my veins, I screamed the spell.

"By the flames that take my flesh,

I rise anew from fire’s breath.

Your hate shall feed my wrath untamed,

In death, I live, your souls I claim.

As I burn, so shall you,

From this pyre, my power grew.

The smoke you breathe, the ash you tread,

I will return, the unforgiven dead.

My blood, my bones, your fuel to light,

But in your dreams, I shall ignite.

Curse your lands, your lives, your kin,

From my ash, the dark begins.