A Queen's Dark Prison

Chapter 2: Nightmare

-Valerio-

As everyone left the meeting, I lingered behind, reclining in my chair and closing my eyes for a moment. I had tracked Octavia to some remote location in France. Unsure of her current direction, I knew I had to follow the trail of bodies again. I could only hope that Connor wouldn’t reached her first. I wouldn’t allow him to lay a finger on her again. I’d sooner tear this world apart.

My love for Octavia surpassed anything else. In the beginning, I’d been foolish, believing I could resist our bond, honor my promise to Michael, and simply not desire her. But I’d learned the hard truth—it was futile to fight the bond. It always prevailed in the end. There were many things I regretted doing to her, but we both had changed. We’d atoned for our past, and then... then others attempted to snatch her away from me once more.

I knew the older alphas were angry by my decision regarding removing the council, but I made certain that anyone who dared to oppose me felt the full force of my wrath. It hadn’t been a pretty sight, and I realized it might also push them towards Connor’s side. However, I swore to eliminate anyone involved in Connor or Octavia’s kidnapping. I wouldn’t show mercy. That much I vowed.

“Meow!” Suddenly, the orange fat cat decided it was the perfect moment to join me. Clearly, someone hadn’t properly closed the door, allowing her to slip inside. She perched on my desk, her tail swaying from side to side, and her yellow eyes fixed on me.

“Meow!”

“Don’t you have something better to do than annoy me?” I inquired.

I wasn’t particularly fond of this cat, I had to admit, but of course, she didn’t seem to mind. She approached me, and I instinctively backed away.

“No!” I protested, anticipating her intentions, but she didn’t listen to me. She leaped onto my lap and settled in. Unwilling to tolerate it, I grasped her by the neck and held her up. There was a hint of smugness in her expression.

“No! I said no!”

Just then, Koda joined us. He was always near the little cat, eager to make friends despite her disdain for him. If only she could see the irony.

“I prefer this one,” I remarked, petting Koda’s head. This seemed to displease her, and I returned her to my desk. Clearly unhappy now that Koda was present, she turned away from me before leaping off the desk. There was a loud thud as she landed, and I sighed.

“Someone needs to get you on a diet,” I muttered.

“Meow!”

Seemingly offended by my comment, she let out another meow. I sighed and leaned back in my chair, running a hand over Koda’s head. He licked my hand briefly, sensing something amiss, and gave me a concerned look.

“I will retrieve her,” I affirmed.

He tilted his head to the side in response.

“Octavia will return to me... she has to...” I whispered.

She had to... Knowing I couldn’t linger there indefinitely, I rose from my chair and made my way to my room. Collapsing onto the large bed, I found her scent barely discernible anymore. It pained me more to catch a whiff of it than it soothed me. Hence why I had chosen to spend time in the office instead of my room. Nevertheless, I was determined to retrieve her. With the assurance that I had garnered support to help me catch her, I found it somewhat easier to breathe. I didn’t expect to actually fall asleep, but I did.

I am walking down this long, dark hallway, unsure of my destination. I can’t see much, but at the end, there’s a faint light. I follow it until I’m standing in front of a partially open door, revealing a dark forest beyond. Surrounded by trees, I’m disoriented, unsure how I got here. Suddenly, I hear rustling and swiftly turn, locking eyes with a pair of silver orbs.

“Octavia?” I venture.

She growls, emerging slowly from a bush. Circulating me, her dark fur provides perfect camouflage, but her eyes gleam oddly, not like a normal wolf’s. If you didn’t know better, you might miss the subtle difference, but to me, it’s clear. Her eyes have changed. Once, they held a mix of hardness and love, a reflection of her upbringing. Now, they hold nothing. She’s not herself.

“Octavia, listen to me...” I extend my hand to signal that I pose no threat, but she growls at me. Suddenly, she pounces, catching me off guard, but she passes right through me as if I’m a ghost. I turn, hearing another wolf whimper. They vanish into the darkness, and I pursue.

“Octavia!” I call out, but receive no response. I can hear whimpering and growling, but I can’t see anything.

“Octavia, where are you?!” I continue, attempting to trace the sounds. Eventually, I find her by a small river, standing over a mutilated body—once human, now unrecognizable due to numerous scratch marks.

“Octavia... step away,” I urge, noticing her reluctance despite the rogue’s demise.

She doesn’t seem to hear me, yet for some reason, she lifts her head and looks right at me.

“It’s okay. I am coming for you,” I reassure her.

Just then, I hear a loud howling and realize it’s the rogue’s friends.

“Go!” I shout urgently.

She continues to look around, confused, trying to find the source.

“Go now! His friends aren’t far away! You can’t take them all,” I implore.

She growls deeply and then stands over the body as if she wants to protect it. But I know better. She doesn’t really want that. She simply wants to show them that she isn’t scared, and that their friend’s demise is because of her. Who is she even? Octavia isn’t like this. Her wolf isn’t like this!

I know her wolf. I have felt her. She has always had a very kind heart. That kindness is what prevented Octavia from becoming the cold killer Xavier wanted her to be. Her wolf remained kind, and she reminded Octavia of that kindness within her. It helped her find a way to love me. But I don’t see that kindness now. I see someone who wants to kill anything in her path.

“Octavia, my strong queen, run!” I urge her desperately.

I just want her to hear me. Why can’t she hear me?!

“Octavia!” I shout again.

Like she had actually heard me, she turns her head and looks at me again. There is a strange expression in her eyes, as if she truly sees me, but then she shakes her head in an odd manner and bolts in the opposite direction. I watch her flee, wanting to pursue, but it feels as though an invisible force is dragging me backwards, and soon I find myself back in the dim hallway, being pulled away from the light ahead.

“Octavia!” I shout one last time.

I woke up covered in sweat, unsure of my surroundings. Glancing around the room, I struggled to piece together what had just happened. As I realized I was at home, a sense of calm slowly washed over me. Though my heart continued to race in my chest, I felt a bit more composed.

Running my hand through my black hair, I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the remnants of the dream. Lately, I had been plagued by such dreams, making sleep elusive. It wasn’t just the difficulty in calming down. It was the haunting visions of the terrible fates befalling my mate.

Sighing, I attempted to soothe myself when a strange rumbling sound caught my attention from behind. Sitting with my legs dangling over the side of the bed, I turned to find the fat cat now occupying my space.

“What are you doing here?!” I exclaimed.

She merely cracked open one eye, clearly having made herself at home. Purring contentedly, she shut her eye once more. Glancing at the closed door, I wondered how she had managed to enter.

“How did you get in here?” I inquired.

Receiving no response, she rose, stretched her large body, and settled back in comfortably. It was evident my loud voice had disturbed her slumber, and she made it known she intended to resume her rest.

“You're not supposed to be in here!” I growled.

Ignoring my protest, she curled up into a ball again.

“Doesn’t your owner miss you?” I questioned.

She responded with a loud purr, irritating me. I seized the fat cat, who promptly dug her claws into the blanket, nearly tearing it. After coaxing her to release her grip, I carried her under my arm like a football and deposited her outside the door.

“I don’t know how you got inside, but don’t do it again!” I warned, pointing at her.

Seated on the red carpet, she gazed up at me, her tail beginning to sway.

“Meow!”

“I mean it!” I snapped, slamming the door shut and exhaling deeply, still on edge from the unsettling dream.

Shaking off the unease, I quickly stepped away from the door and began to undress, eager to wash away the sweat. Unsure if what I had seen was real, one thing remained clear—I needed to retrieve my mate before it was too late.