chapter twenty eight

POV Alpha Gideon

I entered the filthy cell, the smell of death and despair penetrating my nostrils as I walked down the narrow corridor. Most of the prisoners had already been executed that morning, leaving only Johanna and her daughter, Emily. Johanna's body lay on the dirty floor, her lips purple from hanging, and her skin as pale as snow. As I touched her, I realized she was already stiff, indicating that she had passed away a few hours ago. However, I was only notified thirty minutes prior, fueling my anger.

"How did this happen?" I asked furiously to my beta, observing the surroundings filled with iron bars and sharp handcuffs marking the prisoners' skin.

"Emily convinced the guard that she needed to go to the doctor. Since we were still in negotiations with her mother, one of the requirements was to keep her alive," he explained, leaning against the wall.

"I said we would keep her alive! Not that we would set her free," I grunted, frustrated. "She should have been kept under con