Cursed Lycan's Scarred Mate
Chapter 36: Return of a nightmare

Chapter 36: Return of a nightmare

When Vivian regained consciousness in desolate, unfamiliar surroundings, her brows creased in discomfort. She attempted to move her limbs but ceased when the clank of iron shackles bounding her wrists and legs echoed in the dark cell.

Whoever it was, they wanted to prevent her from moving about.

Vivian blinked multiple times to adjust her vision to the darkness, but with her shifter side dying, she no longer possessed the same heightened eyesight as other wolves.

She could hardly be considered a wolf shifter.

Her mind was muddled, almost clogged as she struggled to recall. She only vaguely remembered when the two mysterious figures captured her; she saw visages of Ronan fading into unconsciousness and slipping off his horse.

What could they have done to him? And why?

From then on, they cast an usual spell to force her into slumber. Strangely enough, they could have simply knocked her unconscious at the back of her head, but they were being rather cautious for reasons unknown.

Judging from the fact that they cast spells, they were Wickans.

The thought didn’t sit well with Vivian.

Wickans terrified her to death.

Please be okay, Ronan. Vivian prayed fervently in her mind, already assuming the worst possible scenario. I hope you ran off safely, Avery.

Why did her niece run off in the first place? Did the child sense the Wickans? Why didn’t she alert them?

Too many questions that required answering.

Vivian’s thoughts were interrupted when the rusty creak of the cell’s gate sounded, indicating someone had unlocked it. The sound grated on the ear, and she grimaced; a familiar and wicked scent filled the air along with it.

Heavy footsteps graced the cell as a black cloaked figure entered, deliberately approaching with slow steps. Vivian recoiled in fear, receiving a rush of nightmarish memories of when Wickans were burning their symbols into her body.

"No...no..." Vivian murmured fearfully, her emerald eyes wide with horror.

Not now. This couldn’t be happening for a second time.

She wouldn’t survive this time.

"Hello, Vivian," an unpleasantly smooth voice belonging to a man greeted her, followed by an amused chuckle. "Did you miss me, my precious toy?"

Vivian was never fond of the creepy chills the man’s voice always gave her. To regular people, he sounded suave and gentlemanlike, but to Vivian?

He was an absolute monster in disguise.

Alaric Alessandro Crowley, the master of Estwood Coven, had become her greatest nightmare and fear.

Crouching down on his haunches, Alaric removed his hood, revealing youthful and charming features. Winged eyebrows framed deep, scarlet eyes that were sharp while long, pin-straight black hair cascaded down his back.

He wore black skin tight gloves, raising a hand to tip Vivian’s chin. The she-wolf’s chest heaved from panic, and her feet kicked away at the cold stone floor, desperate to find her escape from his clutches.

"You’re being unruly, sweetheart." Alaric’s voice sounded again, immediately immobilising Vivian’s movements. Her body was practically petrified under his voice. "Now that’s a good girl."

Vivian shut her eyes tightly, afraid to look him in the eye. The symbols on her body seemed to flare to life and burn just as strongly as when they inflicted the dark magic on her, responding to the caster’s touch.

"You know, Vivian," Alaric uttered her name in a way that made her skin crawl. "I missed you so dearly. I was nearly heartbroken when you fled from me."

Vivian stubbornly turned her head away, but the Wickan master gripped her chin more tightly and forced her to look back at him.

"You feel the burn, don’t you?" His lips curled into a sinister smile as he brushed his gloved thumb over her bottom lip. "You’re connected to me, Vivian, whether you like it or not. I warned you not to run from me, and now you’ll face the consequences for doing so."

Why did Alaric Alessandro Crowley want her so badly? Didn’t she pay the price for her brother’s crime?

Was Alaric not satisfied with the way he avenged his daughter Alexa?

"I paid my price." Vivian mumbled, her lips trembling. "Was that not revenge enough for Alexa?"

"Alexa?" Alaric scoffed, uttering his deceased daughter’s name bitterly. "Do you think I’m doing this for revenge for that illegitimate wench I had to tolerate just because I used her whore of a mother for one night of pleasure?"

Vivian tensed at his harsh and cruel words. What kind of father was he? Illegitimate or not, Alexa was his blood-related daughter.

If revenge was not his ultimate goal, then what was his purpose?

"Then why..." Vivian asked weakly, gritting her teeth to fight back the onslaught of pain and burns assailing her body.

"Oh, sweetheart, you have no idea," Alaric said with another dark chuckle, leaning closer. "You have no idea why I took you instead of your brother, do you? It didn’t matter if Vince was an Alpha; I could have killed him. Moonborn would have stood no chance against me."

Alaric was not the coward Vivian perceived him to be.

"You were meant to be mine, Vivian," Alaric declared boldly, his cold lips brushing over her cheek, which made her skin pale. "I’ve wanted you for years, and when your father didn’t want to give you to me even with the offer of a bride price, I had to create an opportunity to have you in my possession."

Vivian’s eyes flared wide with disbelief. What did he mean by creating an opportunity? It couldn’t be that he

"I paid your brother a handsome price to bite Alexa," Alaric completed, confirming Vivian’s suspicions. "Just to have a formal excuse to take you as the runt omega of Moonborn who willingly offered to pay for her brother’s crimes."

Vivian stared in disbelief. She found it challenging to believe every bit of information revealed from Alaric. It was certainly a lot to process.

"This can’t be." Vivian reluctantly denied. "Why would you go so far?" Rage-filled tears escaped her eyes, streaming down her face.

Why did her brother agree? Since childhood, Vince had despised and treated her unkindly, yet she posed no threat to his succession as Alpha.

Why scheme with Alaric of all people? Was it out of spite and hate?