Chapter 3: The Ruthless Alpha in Shining Armor

Scarlett’s POV

“He left,” I said, bending down to continue cleaning. 

“He must have been disgusted by your presence,” she scoffed, approaching me. “Listen carefully, Enzo needs Jackson. He is the most respected, the most powerful and the most influential Alpha in this region. That man has a lot to offer, and if it’s ruined because of your pathetic presence, you’ll pay dearly for it.”

I wiped the sweat from my face. 

“Did you speak with him?” she questioned, reaching for my hair. 

“No, I didn’t,” I quickly said. 

I couldn’t afford to let her know I did. Not because I was scared but because I had to be careful.

“Isthere a problem, love?” Enzo asked as he entered the dining room. 

“Alpha Jackson is supposed to be here but he’s not,” she let go of my hair and approached him. Leaning against him, she kissed his lips. “I was just letting the maid know how important our relationship with Alpha Jackson is.”

“I spoke to him on his way out. He said something urgent came up,” Enzo said, taking a seat at the head of the table. “I just need to convince him to sign the documents before tonight. So, we can carry out the plan tonight.”

What plan?

“Why now?” Ember asked, disappointment laced in her voice. “Having breakfast with us would have been great and the perfect way to convince him to sign those contracts.” 

Then she turned to me. “It’s all because of her.”

“Did she speak with him?” Enzo asked, locking gaze with me. 

I swallowed hard, my heartbeat racing. 

“She said she didn’t but I don’t buy it,” Ember scoffed. “Guards.”

Three men rushed in and bowed. 

“Take this thrash and beat her up until she confesses what she did that made Alpha Jackson cancel our breakfast plans with him,” she ordered. 

The guards started approaching me, their boots thudding against the marble floor like thunder crashing against my eardrums. 

My legs weakened, and I fell to my knees.

“Please!” I said, lifting my hands in front of me. “Please, Luna Ember, I swear I wasn’t the reason Alpha Jackson refused breakfast. I swear on my life!”

Ember smirked, her crimson-painted lips curving in pure satisfaction. “Do you think your life holds any value here, Scarlett? A weakling Omega, an orphan, nothing more than dirt under my shoe? Don’t insult me with your pathetic cries.”

“Luna please, I—”

“Be quiet, Scarlett!” she snapped, her eyes flashing. “Take her away.”

The guards seized me by the arms, their grips like iron shackles. I thrashed, but I was too weak. 

My body had been running on scraps for days, and my strength was barely enough to stand, much less fight. They dragged me across the cold, polished floor, my knees scraping painfully against the rough edges of the hall’s steps as they hauled me outside.

“No! Please! I didn’t do anything!” my voice broke.

The guards didn’t stop. 

One of the guards shoved me forward, and I stumbled hard against the stone floor.

“Time to confess, Omega,” one of them sneered. His knuckles cracked menacingly.

“I told you. I didn’t do anything!” I whispered, my voice hoarse.

My throat had become raw from screaming.

“Then you’ll bleed until you remember,” another guard spat. 

He swung his fist, slamming into my ribs. Pain exploded in my chest, and I coughed, gasping for air.

The beating began.

Fists, boots, merciless strikes rained down on me. My vision blurred as tears mingled with the blood dripping from the corner of my lip. I tried to curl into myself, shielding my stomach, my face, anything, but they tore me apart like wolves tearing into prey.

“Confess!” one barked, yanking my hair back.

Enzo crouched before me, his dark eyes gleaming with wicked amusement. “Stubborn, aren’t you?”

I turned my face away, refusing to meet his gaze. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

He grabbed my chin, forcing my head up. “Answer me, Scarlett.”

Silence.

“So be it.” 

He snatched the whip from one of the guards. The leather cracked through the air before it lashed across my back. 

I screamed, the sound ripped from the depths of my soul.

“You’ll learn to speak when spoken to,” he hissed, striking me again.

The pain was unbearable. 

My nails dug into the stone floor as I bit down on my lip, trying not to give him the pleasure of another scream.

“You think you’re strong?” Enzo mocked, his voice dripping with venom. 

He struck me again and again, until the whip dripped with my blood.

When he finally dropped it, I was trembling violently, my body nothing more than a canvas of wounds.

Then his hand slid down my arm, lingering too long. 

My stomach churned in dread. 

“I may just order the guards to satisfy themselves with your body.”

“No,” I whispered weakly. “Don’t, please.”

He smirked, bending over me, his breath hot and foul against my ear. “You should be grateful, Scarlett. Not many Omegas get this kind of attention.”

“Stop,” I cried, pushing at his chest with what little strength I had left. “Don’t do this to me.”

But Enzo didn’t listen. 

He never did. His hunger for control, for dominance, blinded him to everything else. His hand roamed lower, and terror clawed at my chest. 

“Once I’m through with you, I’ll let the guards continue from there.”

“That’s enough!” A growl thundered through the doorway, deep and feral, shaking the very walls of the cell.

The sound made Enzo freeze. 

His eyes widened, and his hand jerked away from me as if burned. 

Slowly, he turned, his face pale, his body tense.

In the doorway stood Alpha Jackson Thorn.

His tall, commanding frame filled the entrance, his blue eyes blazing with fury. The power radiating from him was suffocating.

“Alpha… Jackson,” Enzo stammered, straightening quickly, trying to mask his guilt. “This isn’t what it looks like—”

“It looks exactly like what it is,” Jackson cut him off, his voice cold and sharp as steel. “You were about to violate her.”

I gasped for breath, my chest heaving, tears spilling down my bruised cheeks. 

Jackson’s gaze softened briefly when it landed on me, then hardened again as he fixed Enzo with a murderous glare.

“Do you have no shame? No honor as an Alpha?” Jackson snarled, stepping into the room. 

The guards flinched and bow their heads in submission. 

“She’s bruised and clearly hurt. She’s unable to even move and yet she kept pleading with you to stop and you refused.”

Enzo’s jaw clenched, but he forced a laugh. “You misunderstand. She’s just a maid. Nothing more than that.”

“Be quiet!” Jackson growled, his eyes darkening. “You dare justify this? An Alpha abusing his own pack member? You disgust me, Enzo.”

Enzo opened his mouth to argue, but Jackson moved faster than lightning. His hand shot out, seizing Enzo by the throat and slamming him against the wall. 

The stone cracked under the force.

Enzo choked, clawing at Jackson’s grip. “S-She provoked me—”

Jackson’s eyes flashed with lethal rage. “Thank the Moon Goddess I haven’t signed the contract. I can’t partner with an inconsiderate Alpha like you.”

I blinked rapidly, hardly able to believe what I was seeing. For once in the past three years, someone was standing between me and my tormentors.

The guards remained frozen, uncertain, glancing at one another nervously.

“You can’t cancel the business deal because of her. This business deal is meant to solidify our Packs’ relationship. Your Pack needs us, just as much as our Pack needs yours.”

“My Pack doesn’t need your Pack. It’s your Pack hat needs my Pack and I,” Jackson snapped, releasing Enzo. 

Enzo crumpled to the floor, gasping for air. 

Then Jackson turned toward me. His eyes softened, and he crouched beside me. 

“You,” he murmured, his voice gentler now, though still carrying the weight of authority. “Are you alright?”

I should have accepted his help some minutes ago. Then I wouldn’t have been in this situation.

I tried to answer, but my voice caught in my throat. “No.”

He reached out, but stopped just short of touching me, as though afraid his touch would break me further. 

“You’re safe now,” he said firmly. 

A sob burst from me, my body shaking uncontrollably. 

Enzo staggered to his feet, clutching his throat. “You have no right to interfere in my Pack’s matters,” he rasped angrily.

Jackson stood, his eyes dark and dangerous. “I'd like to see you stop me.”