C92 Artemis is a monster

Freya’s Pov

My eyes bulged as she dropped the news that Evelyn was dead, and Artemis killed her, what then was my fate?

I peeked a quick glimpse at Tobias who as I saw remained indifferent, it was hard to tell his emotions, she was after all his sister. In any case she was his only sibling despite their distance.

Evelyn was a witch from hell sent to torment me however I had never wished she'd die; I mean don't get me wrong, I did have thought where I would throttle her throat but that was as far as they were, I didn't wish her to actually die.

“I thought he took her in as his mate and Luna, why did he kill her?” Rachael asked in horror. A shiver ran down her and she cringed from her position.

“Words have it that she did something outrageous, the maids could hardly keep their mouth plugged with the evil wench gone from their lives. Different stories are about swimming in the pack house and Artemis is furious.” she paused as tho to prepare us for what was to follow, “his beta was severely punished, locked up in the cell, and tortured, that guy is a real psychopath. And then he executed Evelyn that same night.”

“What did she do to invoke his wrath?” I asked in hesitation as the story was making up assumptions in my head. I didn't want to accuse the dead.

“She cheated with Iris, Artemis’ beta, two faced cunt, both of them. Multiple times, Artemis got furious and snapped her head from her body,” she said in a tone that suggested she was more than satisfied to have the bitch gone.

While revelling in the bliss her eyes swept the room and along the way, they settled on a chill Tobias.

“I'm sorry for your loss but if you think I'm a bitch you should see your sister. It was better she died in his hands if not I would have done the honor,” Loretta's voice dripped with bile and hatred.

“What did she do?” I inquired with care, looking at her from my lashes. Everybody was still, looking to her for an explanation.

“That wench, the bitch laughed and tortured me while I was locked up in the dungeon——”

“Wait, you were locked up in the dungeon?” everyone asked in sync, waiting for her to object and possibly tell us something else but she rather cringed as tho she remembered the feeling.

Loretta closed her eyes and swung her head fervently to steer off the gruesome images.

“Yes,” she inhaled and made to measure her emotions, “he locked me up when I refused to be used as bait to get to you. I was tortured but I proved stubborn so he brought in my brothers…,” her voice tailed off and she gulped in air, bracing herself to continue.

“What? He brought your brothers to where?” By now I had moved from the chair I occupied and was sitting by the edge, legs trembling from anxiety.

“Oh my gosh?” Rachael lidded her mouth with a shaking hand.

Loretta smiled and brushed back her hair, she blinked multiple times attempting to fight back the tears that were threatening to spill.

“Umm, he.. He said if I didn't cooperate he would kill me like he did my.. My..,” she shut her eyes and clenched her palm, “like he did my father,” she breathed out. A parallel chill ran down my spine.

“What?” I snapped up.

Merona was quickly by Rachael’s side shielding her from unseen danger, if possible she wanted to block her ear from the revelation of Artemis’ nature or deed.

“He did what? He was the one who killed your father?” I was immediately by her side holding her hand.

“Yes, I always knew it was him, I mean I had my doubts but hearing him say it just—- I just didn't see that coming.”

“Oh my gosh Loretta,” I hugged her and murmured, “I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry I wasn't there.”

“What happened to your brothers?” Tobias asked, breaking me from my reverie. I leaned back and peered at her.

“Your sister—” she snarled, like she knew that she had ticked off she composed herself again, “Your sister suggested that they'd be locked up and instructed that I watch as they torture them!” her voice rose to the edge again, she had to squeeze my palm to even her rage.

“I'm sorry Freya, but with the torture and their screams I couldn't say no to him, I had to play my part as the bait,” her voice went low and timid. Impulsively I crashed her into my arms, “fuck that!”

“I'm so sorry Loretta, don't blame yourself, anyone would do the same should they be in your shoes,” Rachael explained.

I heard her sniff and I pulled back to give her ventilation and allow her to soothe herself.

“They tortured my brother right in front of me, I had no option but to tell him that I saw you at the mall, pregnant for him,” she said in a low tone, looking dejected. I patted her to continue.

“I was locked up afterward and left to starve. I heard about the attack from inside my room. I am so sorry alpha Tobias, I'm sorry Freya, I was just saving my skin I know I have no——”

“Shhh, you don't have to apologize for anything, okay?” I urged her with my head.

“He brought me into the court after his plan failed to abduct you. I got pissed and exposed every one of them for all their bad deeds which made Jude speak out, apparently, his son was locked up in the dungeon. My little show earned the death of my brother,” it was then she shut her eyes, reminiscing the pain as tears came streaming from her eyes.

“He killed my brother in the courtroom, for everyone to see,” she digested that, she didn't wait for us to react before she added, “he killed Jude’s son too. You were with a monster, I feel so bad for you,” Loretta said, taking pity on me.

“I was,” I choked on my tears, blinking it away so that I would not divert the attention from Loretta.

“After the death of Evelyn, the pack members have grown more worried, asking questions and demanding for a Luna which has aggravated Artemis. So his resolve to go after you by all means,” she explained, “he pulled me away and sent me out, if I don't return he will kill my brother,” her voice fell as she said that.

“But you will return,” I said.

Loretta humoured darkly, “I don't intend to, my brother would die anyways, returning or not.”

My expression darkened and the brow on my forehead knitted against the other, “What gives the right to do what he does, why?” I demanded.

“Because he's the ruthless Lycan king who would stop at nothing till he has accomplished what he had set out to,” Merona chipped in

“He would stop at nothing to get his hands on you Freya, he is currently training armies who would sweep anyone in his way out,” Loretta revealed.

“What are we gonna do?” Rachael asked with a face pale as one who had seen a ghost.

“We are going to die, that's it. I know my fate, however it may be I'm ready, I can't be the reason for someone’s downfall.”

“So we are just gonna let him have his way?” I got angry.

“We could try to fight but there's no guaranteeing if we would win,” Loretta suggested with an obvious look.

“You said, we, are you going to join us and fight?” Merona asked, baffled.

“Yes Merona, I intend on keeping my promise to Freya,” Loretta stated eyes on me.

“And I intend on protecting my family,” Tobias announced, coming to his feet. He strutted over to my side.

“It's been two years but he won't give up?” I voiced incredulously.

“Well we are not giving up either, I will stay by your side and protect you,” Tobias promised and I didn't know why the gravity of that churned my stomach.

“We fight, for our lives, this is the last battle,” I said marching the alpha’s energy because I was not only Freya, I was Luna, mate to the Lycan king, and if it's one thing I've learned, it was that I was a mother of all and I would not go down without a fight.

“For our lives!”

“For our families!”

“To the last battle, dead or alive, it would be the last!” I echoed.