UNTAMED: THE ALPHA

Once Hades flicked his fingers, the pain that Darius felt vanished without any trace, which left him dumbfounded.

But, Zuri still came over to check on his condition. "Are you okay? Are you still in pain somewhere?" she asked in concern, but Darius shook his head, which made her sighed in relief.

"I- I am fine…" Darius said, still panting because of exhaustion, but not pain.

Seeing such sight, Hades scoffed. "What a baby, crying out loud like that," he muttered under his breath, while staring at him disdainfully.

But even so, he did something that Zuri really wished for. He waved his hand and replaced the protection that had been withdrawn by the witches with his power, which meant, he protected this place instead.

July was the first to realize this, as she tugged Zuri's sleeve and pointed at the sky. "Who put the protection?"

Zuri looked up and saw the transparent wisp that canopied a large area around the McKeltar manor and the only person that she could think of doing this was Hades.

Yet, when Zuri turned around to look at the devil, he snickered. "Meet me in the library, white hair."

And after saying that, his figure vanished. He disappeared from their sight and Zuri knew what this devil was up to and what he wanted from her.

It was not hard to guess what thing that Hades wanted in exchange of his protection. After all, he had been offering the same thing over and over again for years, which Zuri had turned it down several times without a second thought.

But right now, Zuri was actually considering it. There was no way for her to be able to afford the power that Hades had, not to mention Chaos was out of question and Knox was out cold. She had no one to rely on.

The devil was truly wicked, as they offered their sweet deal when they were in desperate situation, leaving them with nothing, but to take their offer.

The same thing happened to July when she made a deal with Aaron, which she couldn't say that she regretted it, because by then, she would regret to have Rhea, which was not true, since she was the only source of joy in her life.

But, facing this situation, she knew how wrong she was to have any tie or deal with Aaron and how miserable her daughter was. After all, Knox had warned her countless time about him having a child.

"You take care of things here," she said to Darius and July, as she stood up and was about to walk toward the library.

Zuri knew, what Hades wanted to offer, but her mind was empty, she was blank. She didn't know what to do and what decision that she should make. She knew if she went there, she would cave in with the thought of saving the people in the McKeltar manor and most importantly; Chaos.

But, it didn't feel so right.

"Zuri," July called her before she could leave, her eyes told her everything and how much she worried about her.

She stared at July's wrinkles face. The stress had gotten on her appearance and she looked even a few years older than her age.

"Don't do it, whatever he said and whatever he offered to you, don't agree with it." July felt like crying when she saw the hopelessness in Zuri's eyes and she knew exactly how it felt.

However, what was in Zuri's shoulder was bigger than hers, because at that time, July only thought about herself, while Zuri had a lot of people depended on her at this moment.

The protection from the devil was important because they didn't know when the witch and Aaron would attack them, but then there was something big that Zuri needed to sacrifice as well, just like July.

There was something so important for her that she needed to sacrifice when she made a deal with Aaron and in her case, it was her youth. That was why, she aged so well, despite her trying to keep her appearance and how she maintained herself.

Even though she was no longer an actress, someone like July wouldn't age so rapidly. They would look younger than their age, but it didn't happen with her.

"Don't worry," Zuri replied, that was the only word that she could tell, as she turned around and left to the library.

Her walked there felt so heavy and so quick, she felt like she wanted to walk in this corridor forever and when she pushed opened the door, she felt like she lost all of her strength.

"What do you want?" Zuri asked straight to the point when she was already inside the room.

Hades was sitting on the couch in front of the fireplace, the couch where little Zuri used to sleep on it whenever she waited for Chaos to come.

Zuri couldn't help, but reminisced that moment. It could be said that was the best moment of her life after her father died.

"You know what I want Zuri," Hades said, he deliberately dragged his words, as he stood up and faced her with his exceptionally beautiful smile. "Be my bride and I will protect those people that dear to you."

That was right. She knew that his offer would be this, but this time, it was almost like a price that she should pay.

"What if I disagree?"

"I will not protect you anymore or those insignificant people." Hades shrugged his shoulder nonchalantly when he said that.

"What if you don't protect them, what will happen?" Zuri wanted to buy her time and Hades was very genuine to let her, as he beckoned her to come closer.

"Come here, and I will show you what will happen to this place if I withdrew my protection," he said, delightfully showing her the disaster that await them.

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*Read my new book: KISSED BY THE DARK ALPHA*

Alpha Micah Donovan's second chance mate.