NARROW ESCAPE

Roxanne's Point Of View

“Don't make this hard for all of us, Alejandro. You know we're here for her introduction. Nothing else…”

“This meeting has been cancelled!” Alpha Alejandro growled. “Now all of you, get out and never show your face here.”

“Are you chasing us away, huh?” Alpha Theo hissed through gritted teeth. But Alpha Alejandro didn't bulge at all.

“You heard me right. I said, "Get out.” He growled again. And this time, without any hesitation, the men rose up from their seats and they began to leave one after the other. I could feel Alpha Theo's eyes on me as he walked away. But I didn't dare to stare at him. That man was up to no good. I can feel it in my bones.

I made a mental note to stay away from him as much as I can.

In no time, the room was empty and it was just I and Alpha Alejandro. I was suddenly filled with anger. And I wanted nothing more than to create a good amount of space between us. I wanted to be anywhere but here.

Therefore, I rose up from the ground to leave, but I felt a hand on my shoulders, pressing me down. The hand no doubt belonged to the beast.

“Did I ask you to leave?” Alpha Alejandro hissed and I exhaled sharply.

“I'm sorry, Alpha!” I muttered under my breath, but loud enough for him to hear. He didn't say anything after that. And of course, I waited patiently. Now that those monsters were out of the room, I felt really relieved.

“Don't think you mean anything to me, just because I didn't let you be introduced, got it? You mean nothing to me and you'll never. Is that clear?”

I rolled my eyes. “Then you should have let the Alphas do what they wanted with me. Trust me, it would have been better that way.” I scoffed before I could stop myself. But it was already too late. The words slipped away easily and now even though I tried to take it back, it was already late.

Gosh! I've always had a smart mouth. And it always gets me in trouble, even without trying. That was one reason why I always got into trouble with my step father.

Alpha Alejandro heard it clearly. I could feel his harsh glares on me, boring holes into my body. I didn't bother to look up, scared that I might just burn under his gaze.

Before I could say Jack, I felt his large hands around my neck, as if he wanted to strangle me. I didn't dare make any sound, afraid that it'll cause him to hurt me more.

“I saved your sorry ass, bitch!” He growled in anger. “And this is what I get, huh?”

“I'm… I'm sorry….”

“Do you know what those Alphas would have done to you, huh? Do you know the degrading things they do to innocent women?”

‘You're not any good, Alpha Alejandro.’ I thought to myself. I didn't dare say it out loud. Not when I was already in a big mess.

“Maybe I should have just let them do whatever they wanted with you.” He growled in annoyance. A sharp gasp escaped my lips when he called the guards into the room.

“Tell the Alphas to come back. Her introduction will start today.” He released me and I fell to the ground, kneeling before him, even though I knew deep down that he wouldn't bat an eye.

“No…. No…. No. Please, I'm sorry.” I pleaded, but it was already late because the guard walked away without another word, to carry out his instructions. Oh goodness! What have I done to myself?

“Please, Alpha. I'm sorry.” I pleaded, but he turned deaf ears to me.

“Go in there.” He pointed to one of the doors, but I couldn't move an inch. How could I, when I know what's about to happen to me?

“Don't keep me waiting, woman.” He snarled. “Go into that room. Lie on the bed, the Alphas will be here shortly.”

“Please.” I said as I rose up from the ground and walked into the room, the one that he had pointed at. The room was dimly lit, the only source of light was the candle.

Not long after, Alpha Alejandro walked into the room. Up till now, I have no idea why he hates me. It's not like I've done anything to warrant his anger or anything of sorts.

“The Alphas will be here soon, and your introduction will start.” He said as he strolled towards what I guessed was the couch.

I laid down on the bed like he had ordered as I waited patiently for the Alphas. I couldn't wait to get this over with. I shut my eyes tightly, to prevent myself from bursting into tears. No! I won't do it. At least not in front of him.

All of a sudden, the silence was shattered by a deafening slam. The grand double doors of the hall burst open, not with a push, but a powerful force.

A sharp voice cut through the tense air, making me freeze in place.

“Fucking hell, Alejandro. What is the meaning of this foolishness?”

My heart leaped into my throat as I heard the voice. It belonged to Alpha Alejandro's grandmother, the revered Luna Kaitlyn. She was a woman who had commanded respect from Alphas across the Packs for decades.

Alpha Alejandro, who had been staring at me with a cold triumphant smirk, spun around. My eyes darted behind me to see the other Alphas. They didn't even waste any time to come back. The only Alpha who wasn't present were Alpha Holland and the other Alpha, whose name I couldn't tell.

And of course, Alpha Theo and Logan were there. Indeed they'll be. They're the two idiots that couldn't wait to take me to their beds.

Fucking assholes! I cursed under my breath as I stared at their faces.

Luna Kaitlyn stood in the doorway with her hands folded across her chest. Her silver hair was pulled back in a severe bun. She ignored the other Alphas who strode directly towards her grandson.

“Do you think so little of your mate's honour that you would stoop to this level?” She said, her voice dropping to a low, dangerous growl. “Your mother and I fucking raised you to be a leader, you idiot, not a common brute. We talked about getting rid of this stupid tradition, Jan.”

Alpha Alejandro's face was now contorted into a mix of fury and embarrassment. He opened his mouth to protest, but she cut him off with a raised hand.

"Don't you dare speak. Not when your actions have already screamed your low character to the entire hall." Her sharp gaze finally found me, lying on the bed.

For a terrifying moment, I expected to see the same disgust in her eyes that I had seen in his. But there was something else there….. A flash of anger, but not at me. She looked at me with a knowing, almost sympathetic expression. And almost immediately, a flicker of hope ignited in my chest.

At least someone saw me as one who isn't supposed to be introduced to the beast Alphas. That thought alone filled me with an unexplainable joy.

"Come, child," she said, her voice now softer, but no less commanding. "You are not a pawn to be traded for honor."

Boy, I didn't need to be told twice. I stumbled out of the room, my legs shaking as I moved towards her. I felt safe, unlike when I was with my supposed mate, who was supposed to protect me from those beasts.

She took my arm, and turned to face her grandson and the other Alphas.

"This meeting is concluded," she announced, her voice ringing with finality. "And this introduction is canceled. Not just for today, but for good. I won't allow anyone to go through the same hell that I went through!” She said in a stern voice.

Oh goodness! I couldn't tell why, but it hurts to know that she went through this too. I can't begin to imagine how she must have felt. If she had gone through it, that means Alejandro's mother must have gone through the same. Oh goodness! What kind of sick tradition was that?

Alpha Theo was livid. "Luna Kaitlyn, I'm afraid, but you can't!" he snarled, but she simply raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, but I can, and I have," she said, a chilling calm in her voice. "The honor of this pack is not a plaything for your childish temper tantrums. It is the legacy of generations. And this girl's fate will not be decided by your wounded pride."

She didn't wait for his response. She led me past the stunned Alphas, their hunger-filled eyes now filled with confusion and frustration, especially Alpha Theo.

Alpha Theo stood frozen in the center of the room, his fists clenched at his sides, his face a mask of utter humiliation.

As we walked away, I risked a glance over my shoulder. The other Alphas were whispering amongst themselves, a dark cloud of defeat hanging over them. But Alejandro's gaze was fixed on me, not with the cold indifference from before, but with a raw, burning rage.

I needed no soothsayer to tell me that Luna Kaitlyn just caused another problem for me, but at this point, I didn't mind, because all that matters is that the stupid introduction didn't hold. That's all that fucking matters.

Luna Kaitlyn led me through a series of dimly lit corridors I didn't recognize, away from the main hall and those beasts.

She didn't let go of my arm until we arrived at a large wooden door hidden in a secluded part of the compound.

"This is my private wing," she said, her voice now weary, "and trust me, he is not permitted to enter here. You are safe now, child." She pushed the door open, revealing a warm, beautifully decorated room lit by a crackling fireplace. "Rest. We will talk in the morning, okay?”

As the door closed behind me, I finally let out the breath I had been holding for what felt like an eternity. The fire filled the room with a gentle warmth, and for the first time in a very long time, I felt a strange and unfamiliar sense of peace. I was still in the lion's den, but for now, I was under the protection of the one person the lion truly feared.