Chapter three

Serafine's POV 

The man who paid for me was tall and broad, just like the man who bought me. His sapphire blue eyes had a kind look, but were framed by a stern square face. Light brown locks fell on his forehead. There were two more men with him who looked equally fierce and imposing. 

The moment he paid for me, he took his jacket out and gave it to me to wear it. "I am Beta Aric," he said in a startlingly soft voice. In fact, too softly for his personality. And what was with their unusual names of Alpha and Beta. Were there any Gammas too? He introduced his men, "And these two are our warriors, Gamma Lupin and Gamma Bane." I think I flipped, mentally.

I didn't know where they were taking me. Perhaps it was some kind of an organization where people were named by hierarchies. 

The notion of having hierarchies was dreadful, as if they belonged to some kind of mafia. 

Were these people like Lucky Luciano? Will I be jolted into another series of events of being a slut? 

Terror gripped me all over again. I think I was going out of the frying pan into the fire. I needed to flee at the first chance I got and go back to my mother, if I needed a shot with my life.

"The Jacket?" he pointed with his chin as I stared at him blankly. "Wear it. It is cold."

This was the first kind act anyone had shown me in a long time. "Thank you," I replied, gathering my wits. 

I wore the leather jacket, cozying up in its fresh warmth. I limped after them out of the casino and stopped at the door for a moment. I tipped my head up to fill my lungs with fresh air.

When we reached the parking lot, I saw Alpha Jace coming towards us. Scared, I hid myself behind Beta Aric as Jace stared at me with those black eyes with an expression I couldn't point. When we neared him, two other men came to my side as if to protect me from him.

"Wait for me, Serafine," Alpha Jace said to me ominously. "I will come after you in a month's time. And if in that month I find that you are harmed in any way, I will make things ugly! So better stay virgin." 

I trembled as I looked fixedly at him. Why was he after me? In this world of virgins, he could have thousand others. Then why did he want me? I scurried away from him as Beta Aric let out a low growl and walked past him.

We went to a jeep next to which a black SUV was standing. I was made to sit in the rear seat with Gamma Bane while Aric and Gamma Lupin sat in the front with Aric on the wheels. The moment the black SUV pulled out Aric started following it. 

"Where are we going?" I asked with a tremor in my voice.

"The Dark Mountain Pack," came Aric's harsh reply. 

Pack? 

The only packs that I had ever heard of were that of werewolves. Things were turning weirder by the minute and I was getting anxious. I needed to run away as soon as possible. 

Within an hour we were on the outskirts of the town and towards a highway that led into deep woods. We passed dark silhouettes of oaks and aspens as we traversed beneath their canopies. The woods were so dense that even moonlight wasn't permitted to enter. 

I wondered who was there in the black SUV and what they were doing, but suddenly my heart started aching again and I had this terrible pain in my stomach. I whimpered and doubled up. My face scrunched with so much pain that tears ran out. Did I catch the flu or was my stomach upset after staying hungry for so long?

Gamma Lupin threw a water canteen to Gamma Bane and he gave it to me. 

"Have this," he offered. When I looked at him, I saw a worried expression etched on his face. 

I managed to have water and then fell back on the seat, gasping for air. I didn't know that tears ran out of my eyes until they fell on my

upper lip.

"How are you?" Gamma Bane asked me gently after some time of studying me. I found Aric staring at me through the rear view mirror.

"Better..." I exhaled roughly and wiped my tears. The pain subsided after some time.

"He shouldn't be doing this to her," Gamma Lupin muttered. "He is so... damaged..."

Gamma Bane shushed him. "It is not our place to comment, Lupin. He is our Alpha." He opened a ziplock and offered me a cheese sandwich. I didn't understand what they said, but I ravaged the sandwich... quietly.

I wanted to sleep but constant worry kept me awake. Jace's threat boomed in my head. I was in for serious trouble in The Dark Mountain Pack and also from Alpha Jace. I nibbled my lips and looked out of the window. Only my gaunt reflection stared back at me. All at once, the jeep stopped.

"I need to relieve my bladder," Aric grunted.

"Me too," I muttered, as a plan formed instantly.

Gamma Bane looked at me with pity. He nodded. "Don't go deep into the woods," he said as he helped me get down and pointed to a small bush on the left with his phone's light.

"Okay. Please cut the light," I murmured as I walked to the bush. 

As soon as he extinguished the light, I darted to the bush and then a little beyond it. This was my only chance to escape and I had to take it despite the wild beasts in the forest. So, I escaped. 

For a few minutes, I padded on the forest floor. The mud was soft after yesterday's rains. When I thought I was very far away from my captors, I darted in the opposite direction.

I wasn't the kind who could be kept like a slut or a mistress. The need to get away as far as possible, drove me hard despite the wounds on my feet. Branches and thorns snapped on my skin angrily as if angry that I was disturbing their peace. It was not long when I heard a dangerous feral growl. 

"Shit!" I deadpanned. 

I picked up my speed and started running away from the direction where the growl emanated. However, it wasn't too long when I heard another growl followed by a grunt coming in front of me. 

A bear or a wolf. If the beast scented me, it would maul me in no time. Dead twigs broke as clops of paws neared. I knew it was impossible to outsmart a beast. I was already breathless. There was blood on my legs and feet. Maybe, the beast had smelled it.

In my last minutes of life, I came up with thousands of regrets. The foremost was that I should have loved my mother more. Next was that I should have been allowed to have a family and raise kids. I should have allowed one of those eager boys to take my virginity. But I was so unbending. Always waiting for someone special...

The growl was so near that I screamed. I jumped over a log in front of me to save myself and ran some more until an agonized yell sounded in the distance followed by blood curdling growls and gurgling sounds. 

Realization took hold as my stomach knotted and heart pounded against my ribcage.

I was surrounded…

By wolves.

Who the hell was I trying to outsmart? My shoulders dropped in defeat. Frustration mounted because I could not see properly in darkness, nor could I defend myself. I whipped my head frantically wondering what to do next.