2| Not Again!

ELARA

Not again. That man is never going to leave me alone, is he?

“Get up now and follow us quietly, or we’ll force you to,” one of the soldiers barks.

I glance at the door that has been ripped out of its frame before looking back at the soldiers. “You’ve made this room unsafe for my kids. I can’t leave them here alone, unprotected.”

“That’s your fucking business!” one of them snaps. “Now get up before the Alpha gets angry.”

“Have you no heart at all? I said—” I start, but Isla suddenly appears in the doorway, a look of worry and confusion dancing across her features.

Sighing, I turn my attention to my children and kiss them each on the forehead. “Mommy will be back soon, okay?”

“Please don’t leave us,” they cry, their voices cutting through my heart.

I inhale sharply, then look at my babies, stroking my fingers through their hair. “Mommy will be back soon, okay? Aunt Isla will look after you for now.”

I turn to look at Isla, and she gives me a reassuring nod.

Before I can even say anything else, the soldiers grab me on each arm, forcefully pulling me up and dragging me along with them. They take me to Alpha Jaxon’s office and fling me on the floor as though I am a rag.

“Here she is, Alpha,” one of the soldiers tells him as they stand aside.

Alpha Jaxon dismisses them with a lazy wave as he drops a bottle of liquor on the desk. Turning his attention to me, a wide grin appears on his face.

“Oh, my Elara!” He stands up from his seat and opens his arms wide as he approaches me.

He’s only in deep blue shorts, wearing a black robe, his chest bare. He is clearly drunk and reeks of alcohol. I panic, knowing immediately that this might be worse than I expected. Alpha Jaxon acts recklessly whenever he is drunk.

He comes to a stop in front of me, and I hold my breath.

“As beautiful as ever,” he says as he leans in and places two fingers beneath my chin, lifting my face up.

“Why did you want to see me?” I seethe.

“Isn’t it obvious? The reason I want you?” He licks his bottom lip, looking at me with lust in his eyes.

Not again!

“You asked me to choose between warming your bed and working as a maid. I chose to be a maid, and I have been doing all that you asked. Please let me go,” I plead.

“The last time, I gave you options,” he trails his finger delicately across my neck. “But you see, Elara, I can’t seem to get my mind off you.”

I suck in a breath, trying so hard not to push him off me, because his hands on me, his stinking breath—everything about him disgusts me.

“Oh, Elara.” He straightens up, his eyes scanning every inch of me. Then suddenly, his gaze goes dark as he growls lowly. “Strip.”

“What?” My eyes widen in perplexity.

“Don’t make me repeat myself. Strip!” he groans authoritatively.

“Alpha, please.” My lips begin to quiver, fear consuming me as I think of what he wants to do to me.

“Or should I help you?” Before I can even process anything, he grips the neckline of my dress and rips it open, exposing my chest.

I instinctively wrap my arms around my chest to cover my nudity as I begin to jerk backward in a desperate attempt to run away from him.

“Come here!” he growls as he grabs my arm, pulls me up with ease, and flings me on the sofa in one corner of the office.

“Alpha, please,” I plead desperately, tears pouring down my face. “You promised not to take it from me forcefully. Please. I beg you.”

“I changed my mind.” He grins, licking his lips disgustingly.

“Alpha...” I whisper, my breath hitching.

A dark and lustful look flickers across his eyes as he climbs on top of me and hangs my legs up in the air. I try to wiggle out of his hold, but he is bigger and way stronger than me that I stand no chance.

Suddenly, the door shoots open and his wife, Morgana, appears in the doorway, her eyes burning with fury as they settle on the scene before her.

Alpha Jaxon doesn’t notice her at first. He’s too focused on forcing himself on me. But when he does realize she’s there, he leaps off me like he’s been burned.

“Elara!” Morgana snarls, baring her canines, her claws emerging as rage explodes in her eyes. “I’ll kill you!”

“I swear it wasn’t me,” I cry bitterly, shaking my head desperately. “He tried to rape me.”

“You seduced him!” she screeches. She charges at me and tries to cut through my flesh with her claws, but I am quick enough to roll over, dodging the attack.

She tries to attack me again, but Alpha Jaxon quickly grabs her hands, holding her back. “Morgana, dear, you don’t want to waste your sweat on a lowlife like her.”

“I will fucking kill her!” she snarls, fire flickering in the depths of her eyes.

It is clear that the Alpha is the one trying to rape me. She knows that, but chooses to face me instead, accusing me of seducing him. Why would I ever seduce someone I despise so much?

“It’s okay, baby.” He pulls her closer to him, stroking her hair with his fingers. But she is still red with rage, her determination to kill me thick in her eyes.

“You will suffer for this. You are not getting away with it,” she growls. “Guards!”

Immediately, two guards rush inside the office, their gazes roaming between the three of us as they await orders.

“Throw this filth into the dungeon,” she growls, the look on her face dark and dangerous.

My insides twist, chills running down my spine.

“Tomorrow, she’ll be eliminated. Along with her stinking children. No one gets near my husband and lives to tell the tale,” Morgana adds.