My first spark of awareness was when I shifted during my sleep. That was one hell of a big mistake.

I groaned as the pain in my body made me nauseous and I immediately stopped moving and waited for the pain to subside. I was lying on the ground, that much I had gathered and upon turning my head I noted I was lying on the forest floor. My vision was blurred and I struggled to open my right eye. Reaching up to touch my face it was clear that I had sustained severe swelling from my earlier fight with the rogues.

'Did they knock me out?'

I tried to retrace my thoughts but failed. I honestly could not remember what had happened after I had been sitting on the rock in the forest.

'What day was it?'

I attempted to sit up and closed my eyes again as another wave of pain reverberated through me, making me completely disorientated. I noticed however, that my body felt the pain and bruising but my left ankle appeared numb to it all. Looking down towards it, I could see that a chain of silver was encased around my ankle and it ultimately prohibited my movements and kept me chained to the trunk of a tree, preventing any escape.

A light bulb went off...

'So that's why I wasn't healing?'

My wolf was being prevented from healing itself with the silver shackle. Putting my arms underneath me I attempted to sit up, careful not to hit the chain on my ankle and cause more pain than necessary to myself and my wolf.

Squinting through my left and only good eye, I was able to take in my surroundings. The pack or what appeared to be left of us were all chained to the trees and either sitting or kneeling on the forest floor, heads bowed and quiet with the same silver chains attached to them. Quite a few appeared to be sleeping and with the cover and darkness of night and only a small fire in the centre of the clearing for light, I was struggling to find my target. With relief, I noticed that the pups were huddled against their mothers, and our men were battered and wounded. The less "inured" werewolves were sleeping but I did notice one was looking directly at me.

Brad!..

His younger brother was no where in sight I noted.

"There is no point in asking us anything Beta Alec, we know about as much as you do". He whispered.

I could not fail to miss the way he scanned the woods around us after he spoke. Afraid of those who did this to us I suppose. Brad was no Beta or Alpha but as a 'Gamma' wolf he had a certain strength and resolve about him that I could admire.

Adjusting my voice to his level I said..

"Where is the Alpha and where are our warriors"?

My voice held a desperate note to it and I found myself feeling anxious as he took his time responding. He closed his eyes and exhaled..

"They took him not long after the pack was taken over by the Rogue King. No one has seen the Luna either. Most of our women and children who were taking cover at the pack house were brought here and tied up together. Our men have been spread out to avoid any uprising or possible plan of revolt. They have yet to bring us any food however".

He gave me a pointed look when he said the last part.

"I doubt that keeping us alive with food is at the top of their list Brad". I hissed.

But I was concerned. The pups needed sustenance and it was quite obvious they had yet to received any water either. Not that I was surprised to hear this from Brad's lips. The information we had received of the other 4 packs treatment by the Rogue King before they were annihilated was vague. But we all knew that 'compassion' was not something we were likely to expect from this self proclaimed "king"!

Brad continued..

"I hate to be a pessimist Beta Alec, but I don't think any of us are getting out of this alive".

He lowered his eyes to the floor and his voice was so low I nearly missed what he had said.

"Enough Brad. Make sure the women and children do not hear you speaking like that". I reprimanded.

Brad continued to stare at the forest floor and his shoulders dropped even further. The look of defeat was pronounced and terrified the life out of me.

"Where is Mark"? I asked. Changing the subject.

Brad turned his face from me and the silence ensued. I had my answer it seemed and I shifted to lie against the trunk of the tree I was attached too. Feeling like a caged animal I tried to put my brain into gear, it was clear we lost many of our men and the women and children were not fearing any better than if they had perished along with them, their lives were hanging by a thread and without food they would starve. The women who had lost their mates were devoid of all emotion. It was clear they had lost all will to live, even for the sake of their pups. My first priority in Liam's absence was to create stability and mend the packs emotional wounds in order for us to build enough morale to reach RedFang. It pained me to admit it, but Violets mate was possibly the only chance our pack had for survival. I hated the wolf personally, but my grudge would have to wait.

"Brad, losing a loved one is hard. You know how much it nearly killed me when I lost my mate..."

He looked up to me slowly and nodded his head so I continued...

"In order to avenge your brother and our other fallen brethren we MUST fight back and get the women and children out of here into RedFang's territory... do you understand"?

His eyes hardened in an instant as he sat a little straighter.

"Yes Beta Alec, I understand".

Letting out a breath I had no idea I had been holding... I started to plot.

********

Sitting on the cold, hard and damp floor of our packs dungeon I cradled my mates unconscious head in my lap. I looked around the barren and empty space with a feeling of absolute defeatism. Leaning my head against the wall behind me I thought back to the last time this space had been used to house all of Bloodstones enemies.

Liam's father had never been a tyrant of sorts but he often housed rogues in this dungeon, along with other 'undesirable' or unworthy pack members as he would call them. Growing up in the pack during that time was hardly frightening as the Alpha had been firm but fair. He said that under his son's leadership the pack would become too soft. I had disagreed with him then and I still do to this day. Running my hands through my mates hair I thought about all the ways Liam had made this pack stronger. Stronger in kindness, stronger with compassion. It was true that Liam was the the most amiable Alpha remaining. He chose guidance over discipline and respect over fear. I had and will always continue to admire and love this wolf of mine. The Goddess had blessed me with a true 'Alpha'.

"Thank you".. I whispered to her.

I realised in that moment that I had never known how truly blessed I was and how I had never thanked her for bringing Liam to me.

I smiled thoughtfully when I thought back on all the ways he had always put me first. This busy man who made time for a shewolf who could never carry his pups. A tear slipped and I caught it quickly before it fell, careful not to wake him.

He loved me.

I've never questioned it and I will always put my Alpha and this pack before anything. It was now up to me to ensure this packs survival and I could have cried when I thought how completely unprepared I was for the role I had been given as Luna.

Shortly after the pack was taken over, myself and Liam were dragged into this cell and left without food. Liam had been knocked out after he tried to defend the school in town. They dragged his lifeless body down to the cells and threw him over to me. Noah had been torn from my arms and I had not seen him since. The leverage he had over me had been put to use and he was most likely sent to stay with the rest of the pack and out of the way. Wherever that may be.

'Miriam'.. had informed me that I would be graced with his majestys presence in due course, she sneered at my fallen status and warned me to prepare myself. That was almost 5 hours ago and my resolve was waning as the reality of the pack's situation sank in.

I felt him stir as I looked down to face him. Liam's eyes were wide and his breathing erratic. I rubbed his chest to calm him, terrified that he would hyperventilate. After a few moments when he made no other movements apart from breathing I gasped in horror.

Shifting him so he was sitting up and leaning against me, I hugged him to my chest.

"What did they do to you"?

My voice was broken as I searched his eyes for the answer. It now made sense why he had been sleeping for so long.

Dear god! Have they no mercy at all?He tried to mouth words but I hushed him.

"Don't speak, save your energy". I pleaded with him.

I closed my eyes and rocked him backwards and forwards savouring this time with him. Wolfesbane was a most hateful poison to werewolves. It paralysed a wolf and incapacitated even the strongest of Alpha's. Once it hit the blood stream it attacked the nervous system and soon enough even the smallest of things such as breathing, became too much effort. Your lungs would give out and death would follow. I was terrified. I couldn't loose him. My soul mate and love of my life.

This was my fault.

He kept the Rogues in this pack for me.

He ignored their oddities because of me.

My heart was breaking at the thought that he would die here because of me.

That I was in fact the cause and downfall of Bloodstone. Liam as his father had once predicted, but

Without the antidote Bloodstone would loose its Alpha and I would loose my will to live along with him.

Within a few minutes his breathing stabilised slightly and I was not sure if that was a good thing or not when I heard the lock of our cell door opening. Liam stiffened as he stared at our visitor. He was feeling the same feelings I was through our bond... he was worried that he could not protect me in his current debilitating state. For the first time in our relationship, I was now the protector and he the damsel. I would have laughed but not a few hours ago at the very thought, but the stark knowledge of that thought was abundantly clear to me how truly doomed we were. It was time to show no weakness. I straightened my spine.

Looking up with a hate I had no idea I could posses I finally laid eyes upon the rogue who everyone had only whispered about before today. He was everything they had described and more. Terrifyingly vulgar with his scraggly uncombed mop of black hair and yellow eyes to match his already yellowed teeth. His countenance was placid, languid and uncaring of the scene in front of him.

Of my mate dying slowly in my arms.

"What is it that you want from me"! I spat.

No point in beating around the bush. I had limited time to ensure Liam's survival and I was in no mood for this spawns theatrics and gloating.

I watched him lean against the cells bars. He opened his arms out in front of him.

"Everything my Luna"

His voice was like a swarm of cockroaches. That feeling you get when a spider runs across the floor towards you and you run out of space to run. A total feeling of being trapped in his Webb with no escape. I fought hard to prevent the shiver his voice sent down my spine. The light in the cell was dim and with only a torch lighting the space between us so I had to rely solely on my wolf's eyes to see my enemy.

"Be more specific, what do I need to do to save my mates life and that of my Pack".

Liam tensed and began to shake in my arms. Our mind link was blocked by the wolfesbane coursing through his veins. But I knew him long enough to know that he wanted me no where near this parasite before us. The thought of me talking to the 'Rogue King' was sending him into a fit or fear.

"TELL ME"! I screamed.

I was in agony watching Liam struggle.

The Rogue King laughed.

"I have the antidote Luna Anya, but nothing in this world is free, everything comes at a cost. As one of my subordinates explained to you, I will need a show of loyalty from you in order for this pack and your Mate to survive. Their survival depends on you and you alone".

I swallowed as I waited for his explanation...

"A Kingdom is what I will create. This will be created by abolishing the weak and those who would oppose me. In my Kingdom there will be no separate packs, but only one."

He held up a single digit to make me see his world.

"No Alpha's and Luna's. There will be a King. One wolf with absolute power and sovereignty. And every King needs a Queen. But not just any Queen."

He wages his finger in dismissal before making his way towards us. He crouched in front of me and Liam's eyes widened.

"I will need a strong Queen. One who can provide me heirs for formed continuation of the strongest line and ofcourse to be my protector".

He smiled and I edged backwards and away from his pointed gaze. As if any shewolf would jump at the opportunity to protect this filth. Not without being forced to do so against her will of course. He glanced down to my mate and watched his ragged breaths with glea.

"You're insane. The other packs agreed to no more sovereigns almost 100 years ago. The other remaining packs will not accept a Rogue as their King".

His eyebrows creased as he challenged my statement.

"And what will they do about it Luna Anya? Four out of the nine packs have dropped like flies. One by one they have fallen under my will and if you dissapoint me, yours will do the same".

I was so flippant with his statement. Like mine and my packs lives meant nothing of I could not prove my worth to him.

I gasped and held Liam tighter to my breast.

"If you succeed in the challenge I sat you, I will crown you as Queen. A Queen can beg for the lives if those she cares for. If, you fail in that challenge... you and every single one of your pack members will all be buried together in the same grave. Maybe, if you are lucky, I will take pity in your mate and allow him to live his life without you or his pack".

I knew this was coming but I was still reeling from his confession. For the crazy and maniacal plans he had in his head. I was out of options at this point and I was left with no other choice...

"I accept your challenge Rogue". I said dejectidly.

The Rogue King stood and hovered over my slunked form on the cell floor.

"My King"!... he corrected.

I bit my tongue and tasted the copper in it. The pain helped me through this moment like nothing else could.

Resolving myself to my fate and understanding the meaning behind his words, I craned my neck to face the devil himself who was standing above me.

"I accept your challenge....My King".

My voice held a note of confidence to it that the rest of me failed at but he took my response with an exhale of satisfaction. He reached forward and placed his clammy pale hand against my chin, caressing it almost. His eyes held desire and it was noticeable how turned on he had become by my reference to his "Title". I wanted to vomit but I managed to hold it together.

"If you play your cards right Luna.. you'll be treated very well".

He emphasized the word 'Very' and I almost heaved in front of him.

I spun on his heel and proceeded to leave the cell.

"What about my mate"!

I almost lost control and shifted at the fear which began to rise in the pit of my stomach, praying he had not lied to me.

He paused in his accent up the stairs and turned around casually with a contemplative expression. He tapped his chin and looked pensive.

He sauntered casually over to us and I could have ripped his throat out with how slow his movements were. He reached into his pocket and retrieved the antidote. Relief flooded through me and my beating heart almost consumed me with this moment of pure happiness.

He reached forward and offered me the pill, the pill of 'life' so to speak. I snatched the pill from his hands and forced the contents into my mates mouth. I had failed to notice until that point that Liam had been crying. He had heard the entire conversation despite his paralysis and the wager I had made with the Rogue to save his life and that of this packs.

I had sold my soul to the devil and I was unsure if I could even follow through on my promise to him. The devil left us be after that and I refused to take my eyes off of my mate. We stared into one anothers eyes in silence. An understanding passing between us.

As the antidote began to work I felt his tired voice push against my mind

"What have you done"?

His energy had been zapped from him with his efforts to fight the drug but he forced himself to remain conscious out of fear of what would happen to me.

I spoke back to him in his mind

"I chose to save my mate, because without you I am nothing".

Another tear slipped from his eye and I swiped it away and cradled his face in my palm.

"Promise me that if I fail, you will protect the pack and continue to lead them, find a way to get them out if this if I fail, you MUST survive".

I made my voice as confident as I could but he still saw through my wall.

He was so tired by this point that he could not even push his response through to my mind so he shook his head in answer instead.

I grinned.

"So stubbourn"

I smelt her wolf before I saw her. My hackles raised in a protective manner and I lowered Liam's body to the floor before standing in front of him to protect his body from this - Bitch!

I stared at Miriam and growled a low warning.

She grinned.

"You still have some fight in you then Luna?.. Good! Because you're going to need it."

Like lightening I flew across the cell and grabbed her by the throat. I pushed her body against the bricked wall and aimed my hatred directly into her beady eyes.

"You'll get what's coming to you some day Miriam. I might not be around to see it....But I promise you that you will. You'll pay for ruining the friendship between myself and Violet, you'll pay for harming mine and the other packs. Your time has already begun to tick against you".

Her legs dangled in the air and she began to turn blue from the lack of oxygen.

Without warning I dropped her to the floor. And turned around to see Liam leaning on his arm to sit himself up. It seemed the antidote was reversing the effects and he could move again. He was worried for me that was clear to see.

We exchanged a look. A look of foreboding between us.

Miriam coughed air into her lungs on the floor behind me as I heard the footsteps of the Rogues men coming down into the cell.

Looking down at Miriam she mouthed to me..

"Its time to show your worth Luna".