"Please allow me to see Cayden." Selna begged Michelle as she entered Selena's room with the food tray.
Her father vanished after repeatedly threatening her. Selena remained restless in her bed for the rest of the night. She knew she wouldn't be able to forgive herself if he died or if something happened to Cayden. She spent hours lying in her bed, tossing, and turning in its comfort. Her mind was agitated and stressed because of the long night she had endured. Her father had used her as a pawn in his game. He didn't require her to act as a spy. But why was he keeping her alive?
"Shut up, Selena! You can't see Cayden," Michelle stated flatly.
"At the very least, tell me how he's doing."
"If he doesn't die on his own, that bastard will be killed soon." Michelle smiled and exited the room.
Selena knew in her mind that she was the reason for all his problems. She kept asking herself the same question: "Did I do the right thing?"
It took some time for her to succumb to the soothing embrace of sleep. The exhaustion was too much and too overwhelming for her to bear. Her dreamless, deep sleep soothed her, providing some relief from the troubles and stresses of her daily life.
~~~~~
Selena finally woke up in the late afternoon. The bright summer sun shining through the windows did not awaken her, but a knock on the door. She paused for a moment, looking at the door with dread in her eyes. The last thing she wanted was to face her father. When she got out of bed and put on a robe from the closet, she opened the door and saw the man she had been dreading.
"It's time for you to wake up, you lazy bum," Oscar stated, eyeing her body. "I should fuck your ass for making me wait. The boys have informed me you enjoy it."
Selena remained silent, feeling her rage rising within her. Her body and mind were tense just being in his presence, with the threats from the previous night still fresh in her mind. To put it mildly, he was a dangerous man who was positioning himself to strike.
"Where is Max?" she asked.
"Busy with his human whore," Oscar said with disgust. "Were you thinking of snagging him now that Cayden is dying?" He laughed.
"I want to see him. Please," Selena pleaded, though she knew it was fruitless.
He smirked at her request. "You're lucky that I am in a good mood. Otherwise, you'd be down on your knees begging for mercy," he commented, smirking as his eyes wandered across her feminine form.
"So, I can see him?" Selena asked, her eyes wide with hope as she spoke.
Again, he smirked, slowly pushing his way into her bedroom. "Yeah, he's lucky to be still breathing," he said, slipping beside her and closing the door behind him. Oscar paused at the window overlooking the vast, sprawling forest beyond the glass. "But for how long, no one knows. Poisons like that can be very tricky to contain."
Selena disliked what was going on. With him in her room, she felt so naked, as if standing under a spotlight, waiting to be hurt. Oscar seemed to her to be a ruthless man who took pleasure in the discomfort of others. She did not know how far he would go. He was a dangerous man, capable of bringing anything down. He would stop at nothing to get what he wanted, somewhat like Cayden. Though Cayden had warmed up to her since discovering their past connection, he would have continued to treat her badly if her mother hadn't saved him, right?
"Take me to Cayden now," Selena said, trying her best to sound resolute and firm in her stance when she felt nothing but fear and dread for the man standing before her.
His laugh was mirthless as he turned to face her, and that gleam in his eyes was unsettling as he sat himself down on the corner of the bed. "Look at you. You are just his fuck toy, yet so eager to see him. I am not taking any orders from you," he said, glancing over his shoulder and looking in at the look of dread in her eyes. "You and I are going to discuss a few things."
Tightly, Selena pulled the robe around her body, completely on edge just to be around Oscar. "Like what? I have nothing to discuss with you," she said with stiffness in her voice.
"I would beg to differ," Oscar said, his body gradually sitting up on the edge of the bed. His back was straight, his eyes were cold and determined, and his presence exuded a dominating sense of confidence and power that intimidated the young woman as she stood before him.
"Your master is in no position to give commands and take control as he once did," he began, his voice unwavering as he spoke to her. All too well, he knew he was playing with fire, taking a risk that could destroy him, but there was just something about her that made him want her more. She was beautiful, intimidated, fearful, and ripe for the picking. No matter what happened with Cayden, Oscar was going to see that she was going to be his.
"The pack is losing their confidence in him. Men have been killed; families have been destroyed. And lives have been put on the line, all because of him and his actions. It would be very easy for me to take control of things around here. He could be in a coffin tonight if I wanted it to happen, and you could be in some ditch." Slowly, he adjusted the cuffs on his sleeve, straightening them with idle care as if this were nothing more than just an ordinary conversation.
"But I'm not such a bad guy. I'm pretty nice once you get to know me. I can spare Cayden once I take charge. There's nothing stopping me from going in there and finishing the job."
Selena didn't like where the conversation was going. Her stomach was knotted in dread at what was taking place. The smart woman knew what was coming and what the bastard was implying, and she was powerless to stop him. Deep within her heart, it pained her to know what was expected of her and what was needed to save not only her life but Cayden's as well.
"You are fucking crazy! The pack will never accept you. And Cayden is not alone. He has the support of powerful betas like Natasha and Max; do you assume taking over his pack would be so easy?"
He chuckled as he slowly rose to his feet. "I see you already know what I want from you."
He said this as he strolled towards her. There was no denying that look in his eyes—that predatory gaze filled with an insatiable hunger. It frightened Selena just to look at him, making her feel even more alone in the world at that moment. The world felt so far away, as if she were all alone with Oscar with nowhere to run or hide.
His forefinger slowly moved towards her face, wiping away the tears as he towered over her. "I love it when sluts cry."
"But I have some good news for you. Natasha is dead!"
He remarked crudely as his hand slowly moved lower to her collarbone.
"What! Natasha is dead?" Shock and fear coursed through Selena. She despised that woman but had never wished for her death!
"Aren't you happy? That your competitor is dead? Or are you into harems?" He roared and laughed, mocking her status.
For a moment, Selena was stunned by the news she had heard. A sense of dread and fear washed over her. She had betrayed her mate, forced to do so with no alternative other than death. How would he react? What would he do?
"Your bastard, don't touch me!" She yelled and yanked her hand away from him. She was a wolf, no matter how weak she was. She kicked Oscar in the nuts and dashed towards the bedroom door with all her might. The man guarding the door couldn't believe what was going on, as Selena dashed through the corridors at breakneck speed.