BETA TIM’S POV They dragged me out of the hall and a little distance away showing no mercy. They did not even consider the fact that I am an old man as they manhandled me. But not to worry, I know the alpha must be receiving his share of the ill-treatment right now. They only removed me from there because they know I would react if anything is done to the alpha. I am his beta and I would naturally defend him if he is in danger. They want to deal with him in their own way. Actually, I have no pity whatsoever for the alpha on whatever torture he is made to bear. Coming here was his sole idea, and bringing me along was all his doing. Left for me, we should have stayed back in Diamond Cut and figured out a way to get ourselves out of this mess. There was no point retreating cowardly like chickens. “Where are you taking me?” I demanded and tried to pull away as they led me towards the part that leads to the despicable dungeon. I would rather die than be taken back there. “Keep quiet, old man” one of the guards yelled. “No, not back there, don’t take me back to the dungeon” I struggled. The guard took out his whip and sent it landing on my neck. I winced in pain, but that did not deter me from putting up some resistance. “Take me somewhere else, or still, send me back to Diamond Cut” I appealed. The other guard chuckled. “Diamond Cut is now a territory of our great Chamlar, lousy old man” he spat. Yes, they are right. I might as well be considered a rogue now with no Pack. What if the queen refuses to admit me to any of her Packs? Oh precious moon goddess, look with pity upon me. I would rather die honourably than turn rogue. “Okay, at least give me some water, this old man is damned” I begged. Contrary to what I had imagined and much to my delight, the guards stopped at an open shade with some guards in front and threw me to the floor. “He would remain here,” one of the guards that had brought me informed the guards stationed at the front of the shade. “Okay” a guard replied and they left. I looked up at the faces of these new guards, they are even more fierce than the formal, and they look like they feed on raw flesh and blood. Why does everything in this place look so antagonizing? “Old man, don’t be lousy around here, else we would cut off your head” a guard threatened. “But I am here on the behest of the Chamlar, surely you cannot just kill me. I am the beta of Diamond Cut” I replied. “And what does the Chamlar care about a frail being like you? And just so we are clear here, the only authority in the three brother Packs is the great Chamlar” the guard responded. “Excuse me... you just say...” Before I could finish my question, one of the guards landed his baton on my mouth. “Shut up...” he yelled. The pains were too severe that my lips automatically separated from each other and I could not dare to bring them together again. I fear I might lose a good number of my teeth if he should repeat the act. Now I must not get on their nerves, I must make no other sound. The three brother Packs? Does that mean that the queen actually has her eyes on all three Packs? Then, our visit here is almost fruitless. Should alpha Fred dares to demand Crystal Realms Pack and Black Moon Pack, the queen would not hesitate to end his life. Oh no, does that mean that they only sent me away just so as to kill alpha Fred? They have been planning this all along. Now, what will I do, what will become of me? What if the queen decides to make me a prisoner here, or even a slave? That will be a better punishment. Her allowing me to remain here would be the best for me because should she send me away, no other Pack would dare to accept me and then I will have to turn rogue. I don’t want to be a rogue. What about the servants that we came with, what has become of them? It baffles me that in all of this I am the only one that the queen wants to spare. She can see through my innocence. The situation of the servants was even worse. The chains on them were not even taken away before they were all led away. Surely, these ruthless soldiers would show them no pity. I was still engrossed in my thought when I saw the servants being led to where I was. Seeing them alive, I was excited and so struggled to make it to my feet and waited anxiously until they were brought to me. “What happened to you all?” I inquired in a whisper. I searched through their bodies for a trace of torture or injury but there was none. This increased my anxiety. What if they were given internal injury or some deadly substance? What if they are all brought back here to die? “We are okay, beta Tim” one of them answered quietly. He seemed to be very tired. “Tell me, what have they done to you? Are you all in severe pain?” I asked suspiciously. “Where are your chains?” I added when I finally caught a glimpse of their unfettered legs. “The chains have been taken away” a servant replied. “Okay, that is great. Now tell me, what did they do to you all, where did they lead you to? I asked. “Did they use any of their neutralizers on you or any poison?” I added. The servants all shook their heads and one of them responded. “No, they did nothing of such to us” “Oh, that is great” I murmured. “And where is the alpha?” the servant asked. “I was released, but he is still there with the queen. Sincerely, I don’t know what had become of him but I don’t think whatever it is they are doing to him is good” I replied. “The queen would not want to harm him, would she?” another servant asked. “I don’t know. She only allowed me to go. What exactly did they do to you all?” I asked. If they have led them away, then something must have happened. They must have taken them away for a purpose and I want to know exactly what it is. At least in that way, I might be able to decipher what the queen has in mind. “Actually, beta Tim, we were only led away to some hall where our chains were taken off. We were allowed to wash our bodies and then given some food and water” the servant revealed. “What!” I exclaimed with my hands over my mouth. “Don’t lie to me” I warned. Are they lying to me, do they think that this is time for a joke? They should not think that I am helpless even now. I will make sure to end their breathing if I should discover that this is some type of a stunt they decided to pull. “It is the truth. When they were leading us down here, we were told that our alpha will join us soon and we will return to Diamond Cut Pack safely” another servant replied. “You mean to say that no harm was done to any of you... and that the alpha is also alright?” I stuttered. “Yes, beta Tim, that is it” he replied.Then why was I targeted, why did I get all the harm and torture? Now I see that there is more to this than meets the eyes. Not to worry, I will unravel this soon enough, at least now I am sure of leaving here alive. That is the only good thing that has happened or will be happening today.