Chapter 114

“Arrrrgh” Ella groaned, holding the back of her head as she slowly stirred awake. She felt a sharp pounding headache and her body felt unnaturally heavy as though a thousand chains were weighing her down.

Her thick lashes fluttered as she tried hard to regain focus, her vision was blurry and her thoughts foggy.

Where was she?

She tried sitting up, but the ache from her body made her collapse back on the floor, her throat felt dry as if she hadn’t spoken in hours. Gradually, her vision started becoming clear as she took in the unfamiliar surroundings. The air smelled old and damp. Something stirred within her fear.

Her heart flew, as her mind became a mess. The last thing she remembered was leaving Devil’s City with-Drake.

Her heart skipped immediately. Drake. Where was he? Where was their family?

Suddenly, a shadow started approaching her, her heartbeat increased as the shadow continued to step closer. Relief washed over her as she saw the familiar figure, well-until she saw his expression.

Drake didn’t look worried, he wasn’t scared, he wasn’t even as confused as she was.

Instead, he was smirking.

A cold feeling traveled down her spine.

Confusion twisted inside her. “Drake?” Her voice cracked, barely above a whisper. Her throat was dry. “What’s going on? What happened? Where-where are we?”

Drake crouched down until he was at the same level with her, his smirk widened, it was so chilling it sent a shiver through her. The warmth that used to be in his eyes was gone, replaced with a glint of something dark, something wicked.

Ella swallowed hard as he leaned closer, she could feel his breath on her face.

“I have done my part of the mission,” he said smoothly, tilting his head as if he were admiring a masterpiece.

Her heart dropped. “Mission?”

He straightened, folding his hands behind his back like they were just having a casual conversation. “You don’t need to worry, though. My leader will be here soon.”

She looked up at Drake confused. His leader? What the hell was he talking about? None of these makes sense.

Ella tried to move, only to realize her wrists were bound-by silver. A searing pain burned against her skin, making her suck in a sharp breath. Her wolf-she couldn’t feel Lila.

A cold sweat broke out over her body. She can’t shift.

She looked up at Drake, her voice trembling now. “Where is our family?”

Drake laughed a sharp, mocking sound that made her skin crawl. “Still feeling a little delusional, are we?” he clicked his tongue as he snapped his fingers on her face. “Ah. I see, the elixir hasn’t worn off yet.

Elixir? Her breath caught. Panic clawed at her chest as she realized something was not right.

Ella’s breathing became shallow, her head pounding as fragments of memories washed over her-memories that didn’t make

sense.

Drake, arriving at the manor. His warm smile. His gentle reassurances. The way she had trusted him without hesitation.

All these started after…

Her stomach turned.

“No…” she whispered, her entire body going rigid.

Drake let out a low chuckle, crouching before her again. “Ah, I see it now. It’s finally clicking, isn’t it?” He tapped her forehead lightly, his grin widening. “Took you long enough.”

Ella’s hands clenched into fists, her nails digging into her palms as the truth crashed down on her.

Drake wasn’t her brother.

He never was.

She had been drugged—manipulated. Every moment she had trusted him, every decision she had made since meeting him, wasn’t her own.

A suffocating wave of horror wrapped around her, making it hard to breathe.

She had betrayed Valen and Derek. She had foolishly drugged her mates.

She had walked right into the enemy’s hands on her own accord.

Ella jerked forward, fueled by rage and desperation, but the silver restraints seared into her skin, forcing her back. Pain shot through her, but it was nothing compared to the storm raging inside her.

“You bastard!” she spat, her voice raw with fury, yanking at the chains. “You’ll pay for this!”

Drake only chuckled, stepping back with an air of amusement. “We’ll see about that, Ella.” His eyes gleamed with sick pleasure. “I expected a challenge, but you made it so damn easy. You practically walked right into my hands. Honestly, I thought you were supposed to be powerful.” He clicked his tongue. “What a disappointment.”

Ella’s entire body trembled. How could she have been so blind?

She gritted her teeth, forcing herself to calm down. Panicking wouldn’t help. Focus. Breathe. Think. Ella. Think.

Her eyes scanned the dimly lit room, looking for any means of escape whatsoever. There was just a single metal door at the far corner, guarded by two men dressed in dark gear. They were not werewolves. Are they humans? Hunters? Vampires? She wasn’t sure, but whoever they were, they weren’t here for her well-being.

Drake followed her gaze and smirked. “There’s no escaping, love. You’re exactly where you need to be.”

Ella’s jaw clenched. “And where is that?”

Drake folded his arms, leaning lazily against the wall. “Somewhere no one will ever find you.”

Ella inhaled sharply, forcing herself to stay composed. Her mind was racing, calculating. Valen and Derek—did they wake up? Did they realize she was gone? Would they even know where to look? Would they even care to find her after what she did to them?

She hissed in annoyance at her stupidity.

Her gaze moved to Drake’s, trying so hard to hide the storm within her. “Who are you working for?”

Drake’s smirk widened, as if he had been waiting for that question. “You’ll meet him soon enough.”

A heavy silence settled between them, thick with tension.

A sharp knock echoed through the room, making her heart leap into her throat.

One of the guards stepped forward, unlocking the metal door.

Drake straightened, rolling his shoulders. “Showtime.”

Ella’s pulse quickened as heavy footsteps approached. A figure entered, his presence thick with authority as he stepped into the dim light. She barely had time to register his face before Drake spoke again.

“My lord,” he greeted respectfully. “She’s all yours.”

Ella lifted her chin, her heart pounding. Whoever this man was, he was the one who had orchestrated everything.

The real threat had arrived.

This time, there’s no Lila. No Derek. No Valen.

And she was trapped.