**Bane


    pov**


    It was official now - the mirror was my worst enemy. I stood in front of it again, watching the ck lines creep over my face. They traveled down my jaw and onto my neck, pulsing like they were alive. My hands gripped the sink so hard I thought the porcin might crack under the pressure.


    I was getting worse. The thing inside me was stronger than ever, and I couldn''t do anything to stop it.


    "Oh, look at you," the monster said, its voice oozing with mockery. Its reflection smirked at me, even as my face, my real face, the one hidden in this body, stayed frozen in despair. "So angry. So helpless. You''re almost pitiful, Bane."


    I red at it, refusing to give it the satisfaction of a reply. I''d learned long ago that arguing only made it worse. My anger gave him power and that was exactly why I refused to hand it to him on a silver tter.


    "You think ignoring me will help?" It continued, tilting its head in fake concern. "It won''t. I''m going to take everything from you. Your pack. Your friends. And oh, let''s not forget dear Aife. She''s going to walk right into my trap, you know. Remember the trap, hmm? The rumors about your struggles, the poor Alpha who is suffering without her? Yeah, she''s going toe... And when she does, well, let''s say that won''t be a pretty view for you to see." My stomach twisted, but I kept my grip on the sink, refusing to break.


    "She''lle for you," it went on. "And when she''s here, I''ll make her scream. I''ll make her regret ever loving you. And the best part? You''ll get to watch every second of it. Ah, how excited this makes me, you have no clue."


    My control snapped. "Shut up!" I roared, mming my fist into the mirror. ss shattered, shards flying everywhere. My chest heaved, and for a moment, I couldn''t hear the monster. Just silence.


    I looked down at my hands, blood dripping from fresh cuts, but that wasn''t surprising at all. What caught my attention were the ck lines that were fading. I blinked, realizing what it meant.


    I''d taken back control.


    But it wouldn''tst. I could feel the monster stirring, getting ready to strike again. I didn''t have much time.


    I stumbled out of the room, not even bothering to grab a shirt. My bare feet pounded down the hall as I headed for the cells. The guards stationed there straightened when they saw me, confusion shing across their faces. "Alpha?" Gregor, one of the senior guards, called out for me cautiously.


    "Lock me up," I growled, my voice sharper than intended. "In pure silver. Now."


    They looked at each other, clearly caught off guard by the suddenmand. I would feel the same, if I was honest - guarding the cells just to have your Alpha stumble in and demand silver restraints? Yeah, that sounded like a scenario of insanity.


    "Alpha, are you sure?" Gregor asked, his tone hesitant, almost like he was testing the waters with me. "Silver will weaken you-"


    "Do it," I snapped, cutting him off. "If you want the pack to survive, you''ll do it. That''s an order."


    Gregor hesitated, looked at the other guards and then nodded. "Yes, Alpha."


    The other guards moved quickly, though their nervous nces showed how unsure they were. They led me to the silver-reinforced cell at the far end of the corridor. My breathing was ragged, each step feeling heavier than thest.


    I could feel the monster inside me trash against the little control I regained, he, the same as me, knew what could happen if I got through with my n. Good, let him enjoy a second of the suffering I''ve been experiencing with him using my body as his personal ything. No more. This fucking ends now.


    "Inside," I ordered as they opened the cell door. The silver chains hung on the walls, gleaming even in the dim light.


    The guards grabbed the gloves for their own protection and got to work. One by one, they secured the chains around my wrists and ankles. The burn of the silver against my skin was instant and sharp, but I gritted my teeth and stayed still. Gregor stepped forward with the silver neck cor, his hands trembling slightly. "Alpha, if we do this-"


    "Do it now," I barked, ring at him. "Don''t think. Just act. Do it for the pack. And don''t take these off no matter what he says - don''t listen to anything he says. The onlymand you listen to is mine and mine only."


    He nodded and snapped the cor into ce. The searing pain was overwhelming, like fire spreading through my veins. I dropped to my knees, gasping for air.


    Then it came.


    Theughter started low, then grew louder, echoing through the cell. My vision blurred as the ck lines surged back, crawling over my skin faster than before. The monster roared, ripping control away from me in a single, brutal moment. "Idiots!" It snarled, its voice a twisted version of mine. The guards stepped back, their fear almost tangible. The monster tugged at the chains, testing their strength. "You think this will stop me? You think you can hold me down? Pathetic." "Alpha?" Gregor''s voice shook as his hand gripped the hilt of his de.


    The monster turned its ck eyes on him, a wicked grin spreading across my face. "Your Alpha isn''t here anymore," it hissed. "But don''t worry. I''ll make sure you remember me."


    Inside my mind, I screamed and thrashed, desperate to take back control. But it was no use. The monster was too strong, itsughter drowning out everything else as it pulled against the chains, raging at the walls of the cell.


    I heard him use my voice to curse my men, to curse their bloodlines and promise bloodshed no nations had seen before. The vile things he said, the promises he made, all of them made me sick to my stomach.


    And all I could do was watch and silently pray to the moon Goddess not to turn her back on us and help us get rid of the root of the evil that she herself had left to rule the unfortunate of my bloodlines.