RAMON’S POV

The bastard didn’t have the courtesy to lift his head, even after I was quite certain he heard us enter the room. The dim light from the single lantern flickered across the stone walls, casting long shadows that danced with every movement.

I picked a chair, pushed it over to Liam, who caught it effortlessly, and then grabbed mine. The wooden legs scraped against the rough floor, the sound echoing in the small cell.

We placed the chairs in front of the captive, and took our seats, the air thick with the scent of damp stone, sweat, and fear.

"Looks like a man from MoonRay," Liam observed, his eyes narrowing as he studied the markings on the captive’s skin.

I had almost forgotten how intuitive he was. If there was anyone capable of helping me crack the code, it was definitely him.

"You won’t believe how we captured him," I said, ignoring the captive for a while as I leaned back in my chair.

"How?" his eyes shone in readiness to be proud, his body shifting forward with interest.

"Blane and I went to the borders to explain to anyone who cared to listen, that Sonia is alive," I began.

He lifted his brow in confusion, and I nodded in understanding.

"Long story, I’ll get into that later. Anyway, Ferins sons arrived. Cade, and Jed. An explanation was given, and they hopped into their car to leave. Boom! A car filled with these raggedy bastards, pull up, and they all file out. They attacked without saying a word."

"What?! That audacious, huh?"

"I thought so too. Blane and I were ready to take them on our own. Oh, Slade was there too. We had started to fight when Ferins boys pulled right back, and joined the action."

"Against you two?" He gasped, his eyes widening in disbelief.

"That’s the shocking aspect. They actually fought for us. Granted, I’m certain the last boy just wanted to exercise his fist, but I was more surprised by Cade."

"I’m not. He’s very different from his father. Idolises the man to death, but is also capable of thinking for himself. That’s a rare trait to have."

"Hmmm," my brow twitched. "If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re in love with him," I teased, a smirk tugging at my lips.

"There you go again assigning lovers to me. Don’t you think you’d be the first to know if I found someone remotely interesting? Even the moon goddess doesn’t seem to care, so why do you?"

"Shut up," I said, and we chuckled together, the sound echoing off the stone walls and breaking some of the tension in the cell.

In sync, our gaze shifted to the captive who was still pretending not to know about our presence. His breathing was shallow, his body tense, but he refused to meet our eyes.

"What’s the best way to deal with people like him?" I asked.

Not because I didn’t have ideas of my own, but because I did in abundance.

I just wanted to hear what someone like Liam would rather do.

"I’d cut his tongue if we didn’t need him to speak. Something poetic about watching him struggle to speak," he replied sinisterly, his fingers drumming on the arm of the chair.

I smiled, and bobbed my head proudly. Liam was the kindest soul I knew. The kindest alpha around. But when he wanted to get mischievous, there was no one better.

"Hey," I snapped a finger across the captives face. "You can stop pretending now."

"I can’t believe how bold Jack has gotten. Why haven’t you battled him already?" Liam questioned me, his tone shifting to serious.

"I tried to kill him on the eve of the full moon. I was ready for whatever consequences followed. Unfortunately, Blane and Daniel, those idiots, failed. In hindsight, I think I shouldn’t have let my emotions take control of critical thought. If I had killed him, how would I have this perfect excuse to finish him off for good?"

My eyes returned to the captive who was still proving stubborn, his jaw set tight.

I had to admire his resilience. But we were only just talking. We were not going to talk forever.

"I bet you a million bucks he’s going to spill like a bitch when the torture begins," Liam offered, rubbing his hands together in anticipation.

"Within what time frame?"

"Ten seconds."

"I say give Jack some credit, otherwise it would be insulting to have someone that easily cracks in the face of pressure, attack me. I’ll say at least two minutes."

"Alright. So anything below two minutes, I win. But if it gets to two, and beyond, you win. Deal?"

"We have ourselves another deal, Liam."

We shook hands, and rose to our feet at the same time, the chairs scraping against the floor.

"What do we start with?" Liam asked, rubbing his hands in excitement, his eyes gleaming with dark anticipation.

"Since we’ve made a bet, I think we should go full throttle. How about some pressure on the neck? They never like that."

"Go ahead then," he replied, licking his lips as he stepped closer.

I drew closer to the captive, and lifted his head with a firm grip on his chin. His skin was clammy and cold under my fingers.

He was awake, alright, but he was also very weak, his eyes bloodshot and unfocused.

"This guy is at the cuffs of death," Liam scoffed. "Is he going to be of any help?"

"By the moon goddess, he will. Even if I have to drag the packs doctors, and make them heal him, he will!" I declared stubbornly, my voice echoing in the cell.

"But first, let’s test him."

Liam stepped beside me, and bent his body.

I watched as he grabbed the captives wrist, and began to apply some pressure on it, his fingers digging in with precise force.

The captive who had his eyes closed before, opened it abruptly, a gasp escaping his lips.

His eyes were red, almost as red as mine when I go berserk.

Liam let go, and turned to me.

"Jack, that bastard!" He cursed, his face twisting in anger.

"What?"

"He didn’t send you his best men. He sent the already dying ones, perhaps, hoping you’d finish them off, and rid him of the guilt of doing it himself. Maybe he was even trying to set you up. What happened to the other guys that attacked you?"

"I sent them back to our border with MoonRay. I wanted Jack to know not only did he not succeed, I also had one of his boys. Why?"

"I don’t think you should have done that, Ramon. He’s probably going to find a way to use that against you. Do you know why I came around?"

"You said it was to relax? Don’t tell me that was a lie."

"I heard rumours, Ramon. Some of the alpha’s are forming a bond to go against you. If the seven calls for a hearing, and the popular vote agrees, you might be in trouble."

"Then I guess it’s time to remind the seven who they’re messing with."

I turned around, and walked out of the room, my wolf blood, sizzling with an urgent desire to cause chaos. The stone walls seemed to close in as I moved, the weight of the pack’s future pressing on my shoulders.