I’m back in my cell. I’m shaking worse than ever and my head has a dull aching throb that I can’t shake. It’s freezing. I’m still in just my t-shirt and knickers.
A tiny flap in the door opens and someone slides a tray in. I guess my eyes have adjusted to the darkness because I can see well enough to crawl over and get it. I can smell the food. I’m so hungry I don’t even care what it is. I scoff it down, burning my mouth, burning my throat. I barely even taste it.
When I’m done, I push the tray back and then crawl to where the mattress is. I’m exhausted. My body aches so badly and all I keep thinking about is the fact the Alpha Twins have me and that soon they’re going to hand me back. Back to Silas.
I lie down, feeling the springs dig into my bones and for a second I swear I hear a noise. A click. I glance up and realise it’s coming from the camera. That someone is watching me right this second. I scowl rolling over, turning my back.
They’re treating me like a dog. Like some piece of vermin though I know this is nothing compared to what Silas will do once he has me back.
***
I wake to the sound of footsteps. I’ve been in this cell, locked away for days now. No one has visited me. No one has even bothered to check on me beyond the food trays and the camera that I know someone is monitoring.
They’re getting near. Each step echoes so loudly and from the sounds of it there’s more than one person. I sit up. My fear is ripping through me. This is it, isn’t it? They’re going to hand me over. To get rid of me.
I feel the tears falling before I can stop them and I’m trembling so much it’s hard to sit still.
The door opens and I stare up, squinting as the light pours in. There’s two of them. Both staring at me. I don’t recognise either and for a second that throws me off.
One walks in, grabs me by hair and drags me out as I scream.
He drags me back through the corridor, back up the stairs and out into what look like the gardens. The air is warm, it’s like a cool summer’s breeze outside despite the freezing temperature of what the cell had been.
I’m shoved to the ground and I groan as my knees take the impact. A group of men surround me. All of them Wolves. I shudder, cowering, staring at the ground. I don’t know what they want. I don’t know why I’m here. I expected Silas to be here. For his men to be here too but they’re not. I don’t know any of these men.
“Filthy little human whore.” One of them spits and I flinch as his saliva just misses my thigh.
Another grabs me, pulling me back up. “Let’s see what makes her worth all that money.” He says as the others jeer.
I squirm, trying to get out his grasp. Another Wolf steps in front of me grabbing the collar of my t-shirt and rips it off me.
I shake my head, I know what they’re going to do now. What this is. The Alpha Twin’s Pack has always been a rival to Silas’s Pack. That’s what they see me as too. A rival. Nothing but a slut who’s whored herself out for all she can get. I guess on paper that’s exactly what I am.
My breath is coming so fast, my chest is heaving and they’re all staring at my breasts as if they’ve never seen a pair of tits before.
“A million bucks is a lot of money for just a human.” Someone mutters.
“She must really know how to suck good for that.” Another says and they laugh.
“What do you reckon it feels like to fuck a million dollar cunt huh?” Someone else says.
I’m struggling now, trying to get free. I can hear my whimpers. I sound pathetic.
Someone rips my bra off and I quickly cover myself with my hands, pressing my bound wrists against myself and huddling over as if I can somehow hide myself from these men. These Wolves.
They jeer at me. “Dance bitch. Show us what Silas’s money is worth.” A Wolf growls pushing me into the centre and I stumble falling to my knees. I can’t put my hands out to stop myself and I end up landing awkwardly on the grass.
“Looks like she’s all ready for us.” Someone comments grabbing my legs and yanking them apart even as I kick out and try to shove them off.
A Wolf is on top of me, his huge body is pushing down on mine and I scream. My legs are kicking out under him and he laughs grabbing my arms, trying to wrench them away from my breasts.
“Show us what you’ve got bitch.” He spits but even as he does, we all hear a growl.
It’s loud. Possessive. Horrifying. My skin erupts in goosebumps and my stomach drops in fear. I don’t need to look to know who made that noise. I know it’s Alpha Aeron. I don’t know how, but I just do. The Wolf on me turns just as Aeron collides with him. Only Aeron isn’t a man anymore. He’s transformed. He’s all Wolf now. All beast. He rips the other Wolf’s throat out with his jaws before turning and fixing his eyes on the others.
They’re the ones pleading now. Begging for mercy but Aeron snarls and in quick movements he attacks them. Two are stupid enough to think they can fight. They transform into their beasts. Only their wolves are smaller, so much smaller. They look like tiny dogs compared to the massive bulk of Aeron. He snaps at them and their snarls fill the air.
I can’t watch. I look away petrified and my eyes land on my torn top. I crawl over grabbing it and use it to better cover myself. I don’t want any of these arseholes seeing me.
A shadow falls on me and I cry out staring up into the same chocolate brown eyes as before. It’s Alpha Cain. Apparently, he’s decided to join the party.
“What are you doing, Little Dove?” He asks and I shake my head. It’s like I don’t have a voice around them, like I’m too scared to even speak.
He picks me up, holding me to his body and I gasp as my skin erupts in waves of heat.
Aeron growls whipping his head around in our direction. His Wolf is so black. It’s darker than anything I’ve ever seen but his eyes, they’re the same piercing blue as always.
I flinch under his gaze and he tilts his head before suddenly he’s no longer a wolf, he’s a man again. Standing right in front of us. Completely, unashamedly naked. My eyes widen in alarm and my face flushes to bright red. He’s so muscular, his body looks like he spends every minute of every day in the gym, working out. His left arm is heavily tattooed and it continues the whole way up across his shoulder and chest. I don’t dare look down below his chest. I keep my eyes deliberately away from what I’ve no doubt is his impressively sized appendage.
He’s smirking. He must think I’m checking him out the way I’m running my eyes over him and I blush even more and look away. I have too. This man is too much.
Eustace runs up between us.
“What the hell was this?” Aeron snarls.
“I’m so sorry, Alpha Aeron. The guards they must have…”
“I don’t give a shit what they must have done. I said no one was to touch her. I meant no one.” Aeron barks.
Eustace bows low, submitting his head to him.
Aeron looks at his brother and it feels like they’re communicating, like they’re saying something without speaking out loud.
Cain lets out a small growl and Aeron growls back louder in return.
Cain bows his head as if he too is submitting and then he turns, carrying me back inside.
He carries me to my cell and puts me down delicately on the mattress. I watch as he disappears half shocked that they’re going to leave me like this. I’m not wearing anything but my knickers, the only thing giving me any sort of dignity right now is my torn top.
But then what did I expect? That they would treat me with respect? With care? I’m a human. I’m worthless in all their eyes. I turn my face away trying not to cry but the tears still escape me.
It feels even colder in the cell now and I’m shivering despite my best efforts not too. I wonder how could it would need to be for hypothermia to kick in. I guess that would be as good a way to go as any, curled up, in the darkness. A neat fuck you to all of them by dying before they could hand me back.
I hear more footsteps as my body freezes. Cain opens the door and walks back in. He’s carrying what looks like clothes in one hand, a knife in the other.
My eyes widen in fear and I whimper trying to get away but he shushes me.
“I’m not going to hurt you.” He murmurs pulling my wrists away from my body with such strength I can’t fight him and thank god the remnants of my top stay up.
He cuts the rope and puts the knife aside. I can’t meet his eyes. I don’t dare too. He grabs the clothes he’s brought, it’s a jumper by the looks of it and he pulls it over my head before letting me put my arms in the sleeves. It feels so soft, I think it might be cashmere and I want to let out a moan at the feel of it against my skin but I bite it back. I still feel so vulnerable. I don’t have a bra on and I know without looking that my nipples are poking right through.
Cain can see them too and he stares at them for longer than is reasonable. I want to kick him. To hit him. To make him look away but there’s nothing I can do but sit here and endure it.
He picks up what looks like sweatpants. They’re far too long but I’m not complaining. He holds them for me to put on as if I’m some sort of invalid that can’t dress myself.
I glare at him then remember exactly who it is I’m glaring at and I look away fearful that he’s going to hurt me, that he’s going to punish me but he doesn’t seem to react beyond a chuckle. Apparently, my fear is amusing to him.
“Are you trying to be fierce now?” He asks softly and I shake my head. I don’t want him to think that I’m fighting him. That I’m fighting them. I want them to think I’m being obedient or else they’re going to hurt me more.
When I’m covered, he grabs my wrists examining where the rope has cut them and then he looks at my right hand. The bandage is still covering the bruising from where I’d punched that Wolf all those days ago though my skin has turned a purply black now.
“What happened here Little Dove?” He asks. I narrow my eyes pulling my hand away and start trembling again.
This whole thing feels so intimate, so personal. I don’t understand why he’s treating me like this, why he is here and why he keeps calling me that name.
His eyes glaze over, just for a second, and then he sighs looking at me.
“Get some rest.” He says standing up and walking out the door.
I watch him leave. Watch the door shut behind him and the cell fills once more with darkness.
I listen to every miniscule sound. I can’t even help it. It’s like my senses are all tuned into it. I keep seeing that moment playing out in my mind. Aeron attacking the other Wolves, attacking members of his own pack for me.
You see I’ve figured this out now. I’ve figured it all out. I’m a bargaining chip to these two Alphas. They’re going to hand me over to Silas, hand me right back and in exchange, they’ll get a princely sum. A million bucks, that’s what one of the Wolves had said. Apparently, that was the price Silas was willing to pay to get me back.
My new clothes are warmer, more covering and I guess in that I should be happy. I tuck my hands into the sleeves and as I curl up I breathe in the most incredible smell. It’s intoxicating, alluring. It makes my head spin and my body feel drunk. I shut my eyes wondering if I’m going mad and slowly, I drift off to sleep.
For what feels like days, I lie beside him, beside Aeron. He doesn’t move except to use the bathroom and to make me eat. He holds me, curling his massive body around mine and I sleep so contentedly, as if I really am safe and not in the lion’s lair.When I finally wake fully, the room is brighter, the sun is coming in through a gap in the curtain and I stare at Aeron asleep beside me. The covers are wrapped around me, but his torso is not under them. I look at the tattoos, the way they etch along his arm and across his chest.Without thinking, I touch them, tracing them with my finger. His eyes open and he looks at me. But he doesn’t speak. He just lies there, letting me touch him.His skin is so smooth, so soft. I didn’t expect that. I don’t know why, but with all his muscles I expected his skin to feel tougher. I trace further along his ink, circling his pec as the ink circles it.He lets out a low groan and I bite my lip at the sound.“Rosalie.” He murmurs.“When did you get these?
I wake in almost complete darkness. My pain is not gone but it feels muted, more like a dull ache. I roll over and realise the bed I’m in is far too big, far too soft, to be the infirmary one.And the smell, I know that smell, it’s one of fear and delight, ecstasy and trepidation. My eyes snap open as Aeron brushes a strand of hair from my face. I’m in his bed. I’m in Aeron’s bed.I gasp in shock and fear too.He’s marked me, is he looking to finish it off, to complete the mating ritual?“You’re still weak.” He murmurs. “You’ll need at least a few more day’s rest to fully heal.”I nod. I’m not sure what else to say because clearly, he wants me to spend the next few days resting in his bed.He pulls me carefully so I’m leaning onto him. I can feel his skin against mine. He’s not wearing anything except a pair of boxers and the t-shirt I’m in has ridden up so that most of my torso is exposed.He takes a deep breath, burying his face in my hair. “You smell so good.” He mutters.I want to
I can feel something’s happened. It feels like something is tearing into me. I’m in the middle of sorting out a dammed rogue attack and I’m shaking, sweating, my body crumbling beneath me.I need to get out. I need to get fresh air. I rush out of the room and the wind whips at my face.I snatch my phone from my pocket and dial Aeron’s number, only he doesn’t pick up. I call Dylan next, and still nothing.My heart is pounding now. Something has happened. Something serious. And Rosalie is injured.I can feel her pain.I can feel her fear.I can feel everything.It’s rising, as if whatever is happening is getting worse. As if no one is coming to her aid. I snarl. How can that be? We had her guarded, and Aeron is there, there’s no way he’ll leave her unprotected. What is going on?And then I feel it. My body washes with an entirely different feeling. One of elation. One of euphoria. She’s still in pain, but it’s rapidly decreasing.Aeron has marked her. I know it. I can feel it in my bone
I fall back on the grass, one of my hands is on my stomach and the other is laid beside me, covered in blood. My blood. It’s sticky, congealing between my fingers already. My breaths are coming short and fast. It hurts so much, and I can feel the tears streaming silently down my face, but I can’t make any sound.Suddenly, voices are all around me. I see Axel, the Pack Doctor. He’s rushing to me but he doesn’t get to me first. Aeron does.He grabs my hand, and I stare up at him. I can feel the tingle, the rush of emotion even now as his skin touches mine. It’s the mate-bond, I think vaguely.There are so many guards around us now. So many Wolves.“She’s lost a lot of blood.” Axel says.“We need to get her to the infirmary.” Aeron growls. His eyes are flashing in anger. I can see the rage literally boiling inside him.I’m carried in his arms. I feel so weak. Pathetic. I don’t know how my guards are, if they’re injured, if Layla is even okay.“They’re fine.” Aeron murmurs to me. He’s hol
It’s a day later. Layla is walking with me in gardens with Dylan and the other guards around us. They’re close but not right next to us and for that alone I’m grateful.The Doc has ordered that I have fresh air, exercise. Sunshine too, because apparently my vitamin D levels are really low. We wouldn’t want to risk those Lycan pups with my health being as it is.My period is thankfully over though so I guess I should be grateful for small miracles.I glare at the flowers around me. A week ago, I would have given anything to be out here, to feel the wind on my face but now it feels tainted. Aeron has tainted it.“It’s not that bad.” Layla says quietly.“Speak for yourself.” I mutter“Why do you think they hate you?” She asks.“I can see it in his eyes. When he looks at me.” I reply, blinking, getting a full flashback to the look he gave me before he walked out of the infirmary.“Who?”“Aeron.” I reply.“He doesn’t hate you. He’s just not good with his words.” She tries to reason.I sco
I can’t stand there. I can’t hear her thoughts, because all it’s doing is making me want to lash out. Making me want to smash half the room to pieces and I know that will make her even more scared. I don’t understand how she can even think the things she does. How the mate-bond even allows it. She should trust me, she should trust her mate.And yet here it is, more evidence that she doesn’t. More evidence that once again she despises me. Despises Wolves.I have to leave. I have to get out of here before I lose control and do something I’ll regret.I storm through the Residence and into our office. A few wolves try to stop me, try to ask about inconsequential things, and I brush them off. I can deal with them later, I can deal with Pack issues later, once my mind clears, once that anger and betrayal inside me fades.Almost immediately my phone rings and I pick it up knowing exactly who is on the other end.“Cain.” I sigh, running my hand over my face. I know he had to leave, I know log