7

Vickerry’s POV

"I’m telling you, you lot should have seen the look on the proud Professor Samirah’s face!" I threw my head back, laughing so loud that someone across the courtyard of the university's elite lounge could hear me. I popped the collar of my designer jacket, leaning back into the leather sofa like a king on his throne. "She was absolutely terrified. Completely bamboozled in her own bloody kitchen, clutching that little white towel for dear life."

Marcus smirked, swirling the ice in his glass. "So the plumber disguise actually worked? I still can’t believe you dragged a bloody metal toolbox across town just to terrify an Omega."

"Worked? It was an absolute masterpiece," I sneered, the memory of her sweet, panicked scent sending a familiar flare through my veins. "She was shaking like a leaf. I gave her exactly twenty-four hours to give me an answer, and trust me, she’s going to say yes to that date. Just watch and you will see."

Desmond leaned forward, a cynical brow raised as he checked his phone. "Well, that explains it then. No wonder she didn't show up to class today. Looks like we might be having a new psychology professor altogether if you’ve scared her off completely."

My laughter caught in my throat. I sat up straight, my smirk slipping for a fraction of a second. "What do you mean she didn't come? She missed her lectures?"

"Aye," Marcus chimed in, tossing a stray textbook onto the table. "She never came to campus today. Missed the morning seminar completely. The department head had to send a substitute."

A sudden, uncomfortable knot tightened in my stomach. Did she really run away? Was she so frightened by my threat that she abandoned her job? The thought bothered me more than it should have. I wanted to break her pride, not chase her out of the pack territory.

But I couldn't let Marcus and Desmond see even a flicker of doubt. I quickly forced another harsh, arrogant laugh, waving my hand dismissively. "Good. Let her stay home and stew in her own anxiety. It just means she’s spending the day figuring out exactly how she’s going to please me on our date."

"That's the spirit, Vick," Desmond laughed. "Keep her on her knees and make sure she sucks that dick with the same vigor she dishes her disrespect."

Everything was going exactly to plan until the doors of the courtyard lounge were violently thrown open.

The loud, synchronized thud of combat boots shattered the relaxed atmosphere of the lounge. I turned my head, irritated by the disruption, but the irritation instantly morphed into confusion. A horde of Gammas—at least eight of them, built like concrete walls and clad in the black-and-grey military uniforms of the Admoon Pack’s elite forces—swept into the room.

The students in the lounge instantly scattered, scrambling over chairs to get out of the way.

"What the bloody hell is this?" I muttered, standing up.

The leading Gamma, a scarred warrior with cold, unblinking eyes, locked his gaze directly onto me. He raised a hand, pointing a finger at my chest. "Alpha Vickerry Adams. Secure him."

"Step back!" I roared, my Alpha aura flaring instinctively as I bared my fangs. The audacity of these soldiers entering my school, my territory, was maddening. "Do you have any idea who I am? My father is the Military General! He runs this pack! Touch me, and I’ll ensure every single one of you is stripped of your rank and thrown into the dungeons!"

I launched a fist at the first Gamma who dared to step into my space. The punch landed squarely against his jaw, sending a satisfying crack. But these weren't soft university students. These were battle-trained shifters.

The scarred Gamma didn't even flinch. Before I could pull my arm back, a heavy combat boot slammed violently into my midsection.

"Oof!" The air exploded from my lungs, and I stumbled backward, crashing into the glass coffee table.

"Vick!" Marcus shouted.

I looked up, coughing, expecting my mates to flank me. But Marcus and Desmond were already backing away toward the rear exit, their faces pale with terror. They took one look at the overwhelming force of the military uniforms and within seconds, they bolted through the back doors, completely escaping the scene.

"Cowards!" I wheezed, pushing myself up from the shattered glass.

But I didn't have time to dwell on their betrayal. Three Gammas lunged at me simultaneously. I fought like a feral wolf, swinging blindly, kicking, and snarling as my inner beast raged against the confinement. I managed to throw one over my shoulder, but the numbers were entirely against me.

An iron-like forearm wrapped around my throat from behind, cutting off my air supply. Another Gamma drove a brutal knee directly into my ribs.

Crack.

The pain erupting inside me was sharp, and blinding as the agony shot through my chest. I let out a muffled scream as another punch caught me squarely across the cheek, splitting my lip and sending the taste of blood pooling in my mouth. They were beating the absolute shit out of me, showing no mercy, completely ignoring my Alpha status.

"Who sent you?!" I choked out, spraying blood onto the floor as they dragged me to my feet, pinning my arms ruthlessly behind my back. "Who the fuck sent you?! Name them!"

The soldiers remained dead silent, their expressions completely vacant of emotion.

They dragged me out of the lounge and into the main university quadrangle. By now, a massive crowd of hundreds of students and faculty members had gathered, forming a wide, whispering circle. The entire school watched in absolute shock as the untouchable Vickerry Adams was dragged through the dirt like a common criminal, his face battered, bleeding, and defeated.

"Let me go!" I thrashed against the iron grips, my boots scraping uselessly against the concrete. The humiliation was a thousand times worse than the physical pain. "You'll pay for this! My father will kill you all!"

The scarred Gamma finally spoke, his voice entirely devoid of pity as he opened the rear doors of a heavily armored military transport vehicle.

"You will find out in due time, Alpha Vickerry."

My breath completely hitched.

Before I could process the devastating betrayal, I was roughly thrown into the dark and cold interior of the transport. The steel doors slammed shut, plunging me into absolute darkness as the engine roared to life, dragging me away.