Chapter 2

Rilla’s POV

"Rita, take her to the exit hall, the Alphas are waiting to collect their prize," Robbin said.

His voice cut through the fog in my head like a cold blade. I watched him and River walk away without a backward glance. They moved fast, probably eager to count the small fortune they made by selling me off to the highest bidders.

Rita didn't move. She stayed glued to the screen, staring at the photos of the five Alphas who had won the auction. Her eyes were wide with a mix of awe and greed.

"You really hit the jackpot," Rita muttered, her voice trailing off as she fantasized. "Five of them. Rich, powerful, and gorgeous. If I were a wolf, I would be crawling to them on my hands and knees. Instead, I am stuck here as a human, chasing pennies and living this pathetic life."

She was so lost in her own head that she didn't notice my hand moving. On the tray next to my wheelchair, a small syringe sat forgotten. It was filled with a clear liquid meant to keep me compliant. I snatched it and tucked it under the hem of my gown, pressing it tight against my thigh.

Rita finally gripped the handles of the chair and started pushing. The wheels squeaked against the sterile floor of the hallway. The lights overhead flickered with a sickly yellow glow, making the long passage look like a throat waiting to swallow me. I could feel the temperature drop as we got closer to the heavy iron door at the end. That door was the only thing standing between me and the dark.

I squeezed the syringe until my knuckles turned white.

"Ah! Stop, please," I gasped, letting out a sharp cry of pain.

The wheelchair jerked to a halt. Rita stepped around to the front, her face tight with irritation rather than pity. She wasn't worried about my health. She was worried about her paycheck. If I arrived damaged, the buyers might demand a refund.

"What is it now?" she snapped.

"It hurts so much," I whispered. I leaned forward, clutching my stomach and making my breath come in ragged hitches. I had spent six years learning how to fake a breakdown to avoid a beating. This was easy.

"Where? Move your hands," she ordered, kneeling down so she was eye-level with me.

She reached out to inspect my midsection. The second her guard dropped, I moved. I lunged forward and drove the needle deep into the side of her neck.

Rita let out a choked sound. Her eyes went wide as she stared at me, her hand flying up to touch the plastic casing sticking out of her skin. The strength in my arm surprised me. Even through the haze of the drugs they had already given me, my aim was perfect.

"You bitch," she hissed. Her voice was thick and slurred as the chemicals hit her bloodstream. "What did you... what did you do?"

I leaned in, a cold smile tugging at my lips. "I am just sharing. I hope it hits you twice as hard as it hits me."

"You—"

She tried to grab my throat, but her muscles failed her. I shoved her chest, and she tumbled back like a rag doll. Her head hit the tile with a heavy thud. She stayed down, her limbs twitching as the sedation took hold.

I forced myself out of the chair. My legs felt like lead weights, and the floor seemed to tilt beneath me. I didn't care. I stumbled toward the iron door and shoved it open.

The night air hit me like a physical blow. It was freezing, but it felt better than the recycled air of the basement. I looked around. Beyond the paved driveway was a tall fence topped with coils of razor wire, and past that, the thick shadows of the woods.

I didn't have a plan. I just had a direction.

I scrambled toward the fence, my breath coming in painful gulps. When I reached the wire, I didn't look for a gate. I threw myself into the metal. The sharp barbs caught my skin, slicing through my thin gown and carving deep lines into my arms and legs. I felt the warm slip of blood running down my ankles, but I didn't stop. I pulled and twisted until the wire let me through.

I fell onto the grass on the other side, my chest heaving. My vision swam with dark spots. I wanted to stay there and let the shadows take me, but I knew Robbin wouldn't be far behind.

"Move," I whispered to myself. "Freedom or a grave."

I stood up on shaking legs and dove into the trees. The woods were a nightmare of thorns and hidden roots. Every step was a battle. Branches whipped across my face, and sharp stones cut into my bare feet. I tripped over a fallen log and went down hard, skinning my palms. I crawled back up and kept going.

I wasn't praying for a savior. I knew better than that. I was praying for a cliff I could jump off or a wolf that was hungry enough to end this quickly. Anything was better than being a toy for five Alphas.

I don't know how long I ran. The drugs in my system made time feel like a stretched rubber band. Eventually, the sound of crashing brush behind me signaled the end of my head start.

"I see blood on the leaves," a man shouted from somewhere behind me. "She is bleeding out. She can't be far."

My heart hammered against my ribs like a trapped bird. They were close. I tried to put on a burst of speed, but my foot caught on a heavy root. I pitched forward and slammed into the dirt. This time, my body refused to obey. I reached out, clawing at the dead leaves, but my strength was gone.

"There she is!"

Footsteps thundered toward me. I rolled onto my side, staring up at the canopy of trees, waiting for the end.

"Did you honestly think you could run after we spent that much on you?"

The voice hit me like a bucket of ice water. I knew that voice. It was a ghost from a life I thought I had buried six years ago. I stayed still, hoping that if I didn't move, my heart would just stop beating on its own.

"Let's see what kind of prize we just bought for ourselves," another man said. He sounded amused, his voice dripping with a cruelty that made my skin crawl.

Heavy hands grabbed my shoulders and flipped me over. I was pinned against the cold earth. The rough movement caused my torn gown to shift, exposing the bloody gashes on my legs. Someone reached down, their fingers brushing my hair away from my face so they could get a clear look.

I opened my eyes, expecting to see monsters. Instead, I saw the faces of the men who had once meant everything to me. Their expressions shifted from triumph to absolute shock.

"Rilla?" one of them breathed, his grip tightening on my arm.