03 Trapped

Scarlett 

The woman took me to a small room and freed me from my shackles. She told me I would remain there until the alphas were ready to see me. Her words didn't sit well with me because they were Valkin alphas. The south had no leader. They could easily take it while I was here, and so could the east or west Valkin alphas. 

"While you wait for them to attend to you, try and find employment so you can feed. They haven't made any plans for your upkeep yet," The woman said, and I became worried. I was yet to understand what was going on. The men behaved as if they had it in for me. Their questions were strange, and I had never seen them before. Still, they claimed that my father introduced me to them and had insinuated that I was sleeping around. 

The woman gave me a kaftan to wear and left.

I was too hungry to sleep, so I stepped out to see if I could find something to eat. I was thirsty, so I broke an icicle that had formed at the roof's edge and licked it to hydrate my mouth. I knew I would die if I didn't eat something. I began to search around. No one was outside. Not a soul. I had no wristwatch, so I couldn't tell the time, but I knew it was the early morning hours. I saw cranberries, ran to them, looked around and began to pluck the berries. As tiny as they were, I ate my fill which was a lot and ran back to my room. I hoped no one would know it was me. My footprint in the snow would have disappeared by morning before the bush owner found something had happened. 

I was still yet to cry, and I couldn't. I just couldn't. As bad as my situation was, I found crying difficult. I wondered whether the assholes had left for my territory and gone to take everything. Valkin Alphas are notorious for that, and I knew others wanted the south badly because of the vegetation of the land, its richness and the fantastic weather.

Once it was the morning, I headed out to study the environment. I noticed many eyes were on me, and no one was talking to me. I guess the Alphas had told them to keep an eye on me. As things were, it was apparent I was being watched. I went to the first shop I saw, and the owner drove me away before I could step in. I tried three more places, and I got the same reaction. How was I going to survive when no one would associate with me? I was getting hungry. If I had a wolf, I would have gone hunting even though I knew they wouldn't allow me. I returned to my room to conserve energy. Hopefully, I could hold out till late at night and get some berries again. 

When I entered my room, I found documents on the single bed. I went to read them.

Among the documents was a copy of my marriage certificate to the alphas; the rest were copies of documents handing over my inheritance to them. Looking at the documents, they were photocopied and suddenly, it dawned on me. I had been joined to the alphas, and they had taken everything that was rightfully mine. I began to cry, still wondering what was going on. Why would they do this to me?

Someone knocked on my door. I wiped away my tears, and I went to check. It was the old woman that had given me clothes and brought me to the room. She had a box and a basket with her. 

I let her in, and she entered. 

"How are you, Scarlett?" she asked me, and I was confused as to why she would ask me that question, so I didn't respond. It was apparent I wasn't fine. How could I be? Things were happening so fast, and I did not know why.

"Here are some clothes." She handed me a box, "they belonged to my daughter. She is dead now, so you can have them." She said. I tried to reject it, but she insisted. 

"Personally, I think it is unfair to have a young girl like you pay for her father's crimes. Please let me help you." She pleaded with me, and I nodded. She had given me a clue as to why all this was happening. I remained silent and did not say a word. 

"Bread and soup. There is tea in the flask and clean water in the bottle." She said, giving me the things in the basket. "You can resume work in my herbal shop tomorrow when you are settled. I do not have money, but I will feed and clothe you," she offered, and I nodded. I knew nothing else would come my way, and it was not like I had options. 

She left me, and I ate the food she had brought me. The tea was refreshing, and I was grateful for the woman's kindness. I didn't ask her name, but as things were, I didn't care. I ate and decided to sleep. If these alphas had cheated me and taken everything from me, I had nowhere to run to. I had to try and survive in that place. 

The woman came to get me in the morning to show me her shop, While she took me to her shop, I saw the Alphas return, and I did not look in their direction. I looked ahead as if I did not see them. 

The shop was tiny, and it had many plants in it. She was still showing me around when someone came to call me. 

I looked at her, and she smiled at me to go. I saw in that shop that the woman did not need my help. I believe she wanted to help me, and she was looking for a reason to do so, so she offered me the job. The guy that came to call me was dark-skinned and very young with woolly hair. He had striking blue eyes, and I knew he was barely thirteen. 

He led me to a mansion different from the building they took me to when they brought me. The room had three doors, a parlour and dining. It seemed as if the three shared an apartment, each with a room explaining the three doors. Why was I taken there? 

I hoped they were not trying to consummate the fake marriage. They would have to kill me before I would let them touch me. The boy smiled at me and left.

The dark-haired man entered the room and looked at me with so much scorn. I did not hold his gaze because I did not want to look for trouble. 

"I see you have made yourself comfortable already," he said, and I did not answer, 

"Who gave you clothes?" he asked me, and I felt deep down I would get the old woman in trouble if I told them who, so I lied. 

"I stole them," I said, and they began to laugh. 

"You are indeed your father's child," the dirty blonde-haired man said, entering the room, and I got angry. 

"My father is many things, but he isn't a thief," I replied. I wasn't going to allow anyone to insult my father. 

"Let this be the last time you will talk back," the dark-haired man warned me. I had so much to say but held my peace.

They went to sit on a three-seater that was in the parlour.

"I think this woman needs some discipline. All the screwing around has given her guts. We aren't like the regular bums you have been with, Scarlett," the blonde said. 

"Henceforth, you sleep here on the couch!" The silver-haired man said, and I widened my eyes. I did not want to sleep in their room. I did not want to be around them. I hated them. 

I froze and did not say a word, hoping they would change their minds. Then I finally spoke. 

"You do not need to keep me here. You have taken everything from me; let me go in peace., I won't go south, I promise." I said because I felt it was only logical that they let me go since they had taken everything from me. 

"I am afraid we cannot do that even if we want to," the dirty blonde-haired man said and moved close to me until I could feel his breath. 

"You see, fate has made that impossible for us. You belong to us, Scarlett. Even though you have chosen to defile yourself and live recklessly," the man said, and I had no clue what he was talking about. 

"Life is so fucked up that fate gave you to us," he said, and I felt his rage. "We are fated," he said, and I looked at him with wide eyes. "You are our fated mate. We can't reject you for obvious reasons, so we have to keep you around," he said, and I was in disbelief. 

Tears began to roll down my eyes before I even knew it. If these men were telling the truth, then I was doomed. Valkin Alphas never reject their fated mates because it would affect their capacity and strength. If what they were saying was true, they would never let me go.