Escape

 I woke up the following day in a strange bed, suddenly jolting upright as the memories flooded back. My hand flew to my neck. Alpha Kennis had chosen and marked me! The realization hit me, oh, fuck, I was done for. 

Glancing around the room, I saw that I was alone, dressed in a shirt three sizes too big for me. I sniffed it, it smelled like pine, vanilla, and leather. It was Alpha Kennis's shirt. That bastard even undressed me!

Just then, I felt Mark trying to mind-link with me. 'Diara, you’ve regained consciousness!'

'Yes. He marked me! I need to leave this place! This guy is crazy!'

'Oh shit. Don’t worry, we’ll leave. All you have to do is escape and meet me on the back road,' he instructed, and a wave of relief washed over me. I could have kissed him right then. Mark explained that escaping would be difficult since Alpha Kennis had marked me and we now shared a mental connection, but I would rather risk it than be forced to be his luna.

''Thank you so much, Mark. I’ll meet you tonight at eight.' 

I left the room but encountered one of Alpha Kennis’s men, the one who had winked at me. “Hello, chosen Luna,” he said teasingly. 

“Hi,” I said, my voice hoarse and void of all emotion. Alpha Kennis probably sent him to keep an eye on me in case I tried to escape again. Mark had warned me not to let anyone catch on to my plan.

“I’m Louis, Alpha Kennis’s beta,” he extended his hand. I shook it reluctantly.

“Diara,” 

“Oh, I know," he smirked, eyes twinkling with mischief.

“Um, okay. See you,” I said, side-stepping him to leave, but he blocked my path, preventing me from moving any further. “Alpha doesn’t want you to leave this room. He doesn’t want you to run again.”

I laughed awkwardly. “I was just startled. I’m marked, and I’ve accepted my fate.” 

“That was fast,” he eyed me with suspicion. “You don’t seem like the type to accept anything so quickly, considering you were fighting your sister for the man who humiliated you.” 

I glared at him for a moment, then took a deep breath, pushing back all the insults that were at the tip of my tongue. Stay calm, Diara. Don't go making enemies. 

“I want to shower and wear my own clothes,” I said.

“I’ll escort you,” he shrugged, leaving no room for refusal. I resigned myself as he led me through the packhouse. As we walked, pack members bowed to him and gave me pitying looks. They all knew I was doomed. My mother’s gaze met mine, but she looked away, no smile, no reassurance.

“Where’s Alpha Kennis?” I asked, trembling at the very mention of his name.

“He’s in a meeting with your Alpha, no, not your Alpha. Kennis is your Alpha now. He’s in a meeting with your former Alphas,” Louis answered. I spent the day in my room, pacing and panicking.  My escape couldn’t go wrong, that’s why when it was dinner time, I took a long shower, got dressed, and put on a pleasant expression before going down.

During dinner, we all sat at the same table. Alpha Kennis was at the head, his face completely emotionless, while I sat on his right, facing Louis, who seemed to be the only one enjoying his roast duck. Whenever our eyes met, he would wink at me or flash that cunning, devilish smile of his. He knew what awaited me with the lycan Alpha, and he was excited; he was probably a sadist. Daphne was angry, glaring at me. Matt held her hand, but her man's eyes were mostly on me more than I could count.

My parents tried to make small talk with Alpha Kennis, but he didn’t bother to respond, so they stopped. I was eager to leave after the lycan Alpha got up from the table and left, followed by his two men. He stopped suddenly and glanced at me with a warning look that seemed to say Don't try me, little girl.

Later that night, when I was alone, I grabbed the backpack with my essentials I had packed earlier, and climbed out through my window since one of Alpha Kennis' men was guarding my door. I dashed into the woods. I ran until my lungs burned, but I pushed myself to run faster. Mark was waiting for me with a truck. As I neared our meeting spot, I started hearing low growls.

‘Foolish little wolf,’ My blood went cold, that voice. I heard it when I hugged Mark last night. I almost ran into a tree. Shaking off the fear, I resumed my sprint.

When I arrived at the meeting spot, I saw Mark standing by his black truck, looking around anxiously. He spotted me and opened his arms, ready to embrace me. Just as I prepared to jump into his arms, a shadow loomed in front of me. I looked up to see Louis frowning down at me. Suddenly, Mark screamed in pain. I quickly turned to see Alpha Kennis gripping him by the throat, his hand stained with blood where it had pierced Mark's chest. My heart raced, and I pushed past Louis, dropping to my knees at the feet of the ancient lycan, begging.

"Please don’t kill him!" I wrapped my arms around Alpha Kennis’s leg. Mark was making guttural sounds of pain as the ruthless Alpha squeezed the life out of him.

"You are beginning to annoy me, little wolf," his voice low and menacing.

"Please forgive me and let Mark go! I forced him to help me!" I pleaded, taking all the blame. Alpha Kennis was a deadly man who would not hesitate to kill my friend or anyone else who got in his way, and right now, he wanted me. I would rather go without a fight than see Mark harmed.

He threw Mark against a tree, and I attempted to run to him to check on him, but Alpha Kennis grabbed my hair and slammed my back against the truck. I felt a bone or two break somewhere in my body and winced in pain. He gripped my cheeks, his claws digging into my skin.

"If you try to run away again, I will kill this pup and everyone in this pack. Am I clear?" His voice terrified me. I nodded, tears streaming down my face.

"Good," he then leaned closer to me, and before I could register his intention, he licked my tears away. I was stunned for a moment.

Alpha Kennis let me go like a piece of dirt, and I fell to the ground. He glanced back at Louis, communicating something through their mind-link, and Louis walked toward Mark, who was still groaning in pain. I screamed as Louis began to stomp on him mercilessly.

“Follow me,” Alpha Kennis demanded. Without waiting for a response, he started walking away.

“No, please stop hitting him! Please!” I begged the Alpha's beta, but Louis didn't relent. 

‘Follow him!’ my wolf, Dove, ordered, but I refused. I couldn't leave Mark to suffer because of me. ‘He will stop when we’re out of sight. The more you beg, the harder he hits him,’ Dove added.

Calming my sobs, I stood and walked away, though I kept my eyes on them. Louis looked back at me, his eyes gleaming with delight, but he had finally stopped. I walked behind Alpha Kennis, ignoring my own injuries. I glared at his back, vowing to kill him for what he had done to me and to Mark.