Chapter 87

JAX'S POV I stood in the dimly lit underground chamber, the cold stone walls reflecting the flickering torchlight. The air down here was heavy with the scent of damp earth and rusted metal, a fitting atmosphere for my private sanctuary beneath the Crescent Moon Pack's territory. My grip tightened around the silver-laced whip as I surveyed my handiwork on Natalie's skin. The once-proud Alpha of the Northern Territories hung from enchanted chains, her wrists bound above her head. "Is this what passes for power in your world?" Natalie's voice echoed through the chamber, hoarse but still dripping with contempt. Despite her wounds, her green eyes burned with defiance. "Hiding in the shadows, using tricks and torture instead of facing your enemies with honor?" I circled her slowly, my boots clicking against the stone floor. The chamber was sparsely furnished—just a few wooden chairs, an ancient desk, and various implements arranged on the wall. The dancing shadows from the torches made the r