2. A debt to pay

     “Duhh, Audrey loves Christmas. Besides, don’t you have any bitch around your neck? What are you doing eavesdropping at us?” Britney asked after defending me. It had come from Damon, who was my crush and Britney’s brother. Sometimes, I wondered why he always picked on me. He definitely hated me.

“Hey, chill. I came to meet my guy, Cole.” He defended raising his muscular hands with some guy. He was dressed today in a black outfit. I couldn’t help but drool even though he had just thrown a shade at me. Your pride locks away when you have a crush, I guess.

“Yo, that’s my man up there, Brit. See you guys later.” Cole said, kissing Genesis and going to meet him. They did their normal manly greeting and walked away from us. Everyone stared at the two of them.

“Your brother is a dick head.” Genesis directed to Britney. Damon had just insulted me and also taken her mate from her. I couldn’t blame her. Tyler just watched the whole scenario. I had to admit that had always fit in our clique because of his gayly tendencies.

“Hope that didn’t hurt you, Aud?” Tyler directed. “No, I’m fine.”

“Sometimes I wish I could find a nice guy and rip that cherry.” Britney suggested. No one had ever guessed I was a virgin. It was all because of one stupid truth and dare game that we did at a bonfire. Genesis had jokingly asked me the question and I said the truth with amazement written all over their faces. They could have sworn I was not from the clique I moved with. “Really, Brit?”

“Yeah, Aud.”

“I’m in total support of that.” Genesis admitted.

It was at that time the bell rung. In an Art based school like Wales, everyone respected the bell. It was like a call to duty. This made us spring up as we dispersed to our respective classes.

          **

     “Just do this for me, Audrey.” Chris, my brother pleaded. He had a crush on my best friend, Britney and he wanted me to work it out for them. “What do you expect me to do, Chris? She already has a boyfriend. Besides, she’s way older than you,”

“With just some months. I would turn 18 on Christmas eve. And, only a fool would not see that she’s not into Tyler. I see the faces she makes at him in school.” Chris defended. He was a fresh man at my college. Next year would be his sophomore year. “This doesn’t mean she would be into you either. She really hates rude people, jerk,” I called him off. I wasn’t going to match-make my best friend with my brother for any reason or so.

“Then I’d change. I’m willing to do anything to make her like me.” He said shooing my dog away from his body. When my dog didn’t respond, he threw it down, forcefully. “Yeah, like you’re doing now.” I replied sarcastically. “You know I hate dogs, Aud. I am a soon-to-be Alpha.” He proudly retorted, with his hands on his chest. My brother was somewhat fat but not obese. His type of stature was a fatness that made sense. “Honestly, I don’t think you’ll be this pack’s Alpha. I mean, with all what dad’s doing, it doesn’t seem so.” I admitted.

I think I just killed his joy.

His hands clenched his chest with distress.

Something interrupted our conversation.

We heard a loud thud sound and an erupted growl from downstairs. I looked at Chris and so did he. For some reason, goosebumps made out on my skin. I made a move to go out to check what was it. Chris held my hand with some reluctance. He wanted us to stay in the room.

“Stay here.” I whispered fiercely to him. If anything were to happen, somebody had to call for help. He begged me not to go but I untangled my hands from his with some force. I quietly opened my room door. With my wolf senses, I tried to make out where the noise was coming from. It was from the sitting room. I tip-toed down stairs to find out what exactly it was.

I saw dad. He was lying on a pool of blood on the floor. From his nose and mouth, oozed blood. His eyes were teary; almost like they were trying to stay sane.

“Dad?” I called out surprisingly, wondering what had happened. I quickly rushed to where he was lying down. My hands reached out to touch him.

“What happened, dad?” I asked.

“No, Audrey.” He said weakly. That man that laid there was the exact opposite of who he had made me believe he was.

I didn’t get what he was saying until someone gagged my throat from behind. I began struggling to get freed away from it because I was choking. It was so painful. I couldn’t breathe.

A bit.

“Ah, little one. You’re the debt your dad has to pay. Just be still cause we have a long way to go.” It was that hoarse voice from that day. I kicked the person gagging me. Just as I thought I was getting away, something hit my head.

I slowly gave in to darkness as it engulfed me.

                     **

Waking up, I heard movements that sounded like roaring of engines. My head hurt so much. I began to wonder where I was. I looked around. I was in an enclosed space. I sat up immediately. It wasn’t an enclosed space? It was a car. And, I was been driven by someone.

“Where am I?” I asked the person driving me.

“I see you’re awake, little one.” He replied.

“Where are you taking me? This is kidnapping!” I exclaimed.

“Shut the fuck up.” He seethed. I tried to move to open the door. It was then I realized my hands were tied at both places. Like what the fuck?

I didn’t say anything again. Instead, I derived a plan to go away from here. I had to make an escape. Escape back home to my family and friends. Talking of family, I wondered if dad was ok. Even though he was a bad parent, that didn’t mean I wanted him dead. And, Chris?

Poor Chris!

Who knows what would come of him once he found out that I had been taken by the person who attacked dad?

I needed a plan of attack to leave this car.

     “Jesus, I’m so pressed! I might as well have to pee inside this gorgeous car.” I let out sarcastically. “Did you say something?” He asked sinisterly. I looked at him through the driver’s glass. His eyes seemed very brutal; like they could eliminate anyone on sight.

    “I want to pee.” I said under my breath, hoping he would believe me. “And, how do I know you’re not lying and only want to escape?”

“I’m not, Beta.” I said. “Besides, I can’t outrun you, can I? So, what’s the use?” I asked. If only he knew that was wrong.

The car came to a halt.

He got down, opened the passenger door and loosed my hand.

“No funny business.” I nodded my head in response to him. I walked to a nearby tree going at the back of it. He followed me down there.

“I would appreciate it if you look away.” I asked. He growled and looked the other direction. Here came my chance. I moved back a little, taking five steps back. I immediately started running with my werewolf speed. I headed North, since that was where we were coming from.

I could hear the Beta, advancing himself towards my direction in haste. This made me kick my legs faster. A large brown wolf, suddenly came in front of me. The impact hit my head and left me falling on the floor. I groaned out in pain as I tried to stand up. I was suddenly dragged up through the neck of my clothes by the wolf. He dropped me down with so much force. From that alone, I could swear I had broken some bones. My wolf, Shirley whimpered inwardly.

     He quickly shifted and put on his trousers and shirt while I recovered. “Wrong choice, bitch.” He let out. Advancing towards me, he gave me a painful slap which sent my petite body elevating. He was powerful from the way I flew. My head came in contact with a stone which injured me. “Now listen good. Your father owes my pack a large sum of money. He paid it up with you. You are to remain my property, you cunt! And be grateful. I should have tasked you by now.” His words sunk in. I was here because of my dad.

How could I have forgotten last week’s incidence?

My ass hole father was the cause of all my fatal problems.

Goddamit!

I had been so careless to even remember.

     He dragged me up like a bag of grocery. He tied my hands. This time, it was with silver chains. I had grunted in total agony at the pain that he caused me. It burned down my skin. “Please…” I trailed out weakly. My wolf had begun to grow frail from the trauma of the chains. Unable to bear any more pain, I passed out.

     **

I woke up only to hear cackling of children. The car came to an abrupt stop. I felt the breeze hit my skin as the car door opened. The Beta unchained me. My skin had grown numb to the pain.

“Get out.” He seethed with so much hatred. I couldn’t help but wonder what type of life I would face here. I was to live here, serving this man because of my father’s debt.

Oh, Moon goddess. Why is this happening to me?

First you take my mother. And, now you take me away from my family and friends.

     Just as I tried to walk, my legs fell weakly on the ground. The silver chains had drained every ounce of energy I had left. He looked at me and noticed what had just happened. “Don’t take this as anything.” He seethed. He lifted me into his arms and took me into a basement.

He threw me on the floor effortlessly.

I was going to get so much bruises from how he treated me.

“You will remain here till December. You will serve best if I present you to the Alpha as his Christmas gift.” A sinister smile curves his lips. One that could tear anything from its part. “You can’t leave me here? I have a family…” I trailed out. “…. And friends who would be so worried.” I said. “You better forget about them. This is your new home. The sooner you realize, the better.”

With that, he walked out of the basement.

I’m filled with darkness that all I could do was recite poems I knew off hand.

      **

When the morning light hit my face, I had expected to see my pile of books and the walls of my room. I expected to be on my comfy bed but it was the total opposite. I slept on a cold bare floor, the walls were so old and there were certainly no books around.

I wondered what the Beta was up to.

Had he forgotten he had brought me here?

     I stood up, moving to open the door. With pessimism, I knew the door would be locked because I was kept captive here. Yet, I tried to open it. It surprisingly opened. I ducked one head out the basement. It still led to a narrow hallway which definitely led out.

I moved swiftly until I came outside. It was at that moment my eyes began to water. They had become so accustomed to the darkness that light was now foreign.

     I covered my eyes and still tried to move. My legs hit a stone. I gave in, knowing I would fall down hopelessly. It was then a strong hand wrapped around my waist, firmly to keep me from falling. I sniffled the air.

The stranger smelt so pleasant that I begun to wonder why his smell was so delicious. I could feel electricity ripple through my hand as my eyes came to look directly at whoever had caught me. The first thing that captivated me was the alluring green eyes of the stranger. My lips reflexly parted. I felt my wolf, Shirley jump with excitement from the stranger’s touch. She was making me really nervous.

Then the two words which ruined my life came.

“Mine.”

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A/n If you liked this chapter, I don’t mind a five-star review. I’m sorry for the late updates. I just have a really tight schedule because I’m presently writing three stories. You could check them out if you want to:]