The Alpha’s Contract (Taylor West) novel Chapter 160

Raven

The crutches were a nightmare, but not from my point of view.

Damien and Dane walk either side of me as though I was going to fall any second. Any stumble, I would hear them catch their breath and I was half expecting someone to say it would just be easier if they carried me. That’s what Dane had done to Neah when she first came here.

I see a slight head shake from Dane that's aimed at Damien.

“I can do this. You may have forgotten Dane, but I did have to use crutches once.” I grumble

“When you were seven.” My brother retorts, just as we make it to the dungeon. "And for a few hours."

"Then longer won't be a problem, will it?" I grumble

Dane unlocks the door and pulls it open.

I’m met with the stench of dried blood, piss and shit. Every ounce of me has to stop myself from gagging.

‘Why are we doing this?’ Midnight groans.

‘Because it is Salem.’

She knew the real truth, I had no idea why I wanted to speak to him. Closure? Understanding why he rejected me? Maybe to stare at the man who had fucked up my ability to do anything physical for a long time? Who knows, I just know I had to see him. I had to look him in the eyes while learning how he could be so cruel.

‘Oh, looks like we have more guests.’ Roan mutters as Dane walks in, in front of me.

“Shut the fuck up!” Dane snaps at him

“You shut up!” It was a pathetic response on Roans behalf. And before I know it, Dane is unlocking the cell door and is punching Roan in the face. His death couldn’t come soon enough.

Turning around, I see him, Salem. Attached to the wall with chains. Damien hadn’t been wrong either when he had told me that Neah took a chunk of his leg. The remaining leg dangled from his hip at an odd angle, the bone still exposed.

Damien is already staring at him, his arms folded across his chest, but his face shows no anger, no frustration, it is practically unreadable. A statement I had heard from Neah many times but never quite understood what she meant until now.

Salem’s eyes are on me. His snout pulled up into a warning, yet no sound comes from him. His eyes briefly move to the crutches before locking on mine again. I didn’t know what I expected to feel, but feeling nothing is worse.

“Ask him whatever you want.” Damien whispers to me. “I am not concerned about what he once was to you.”