Chapter Three

Ayla’s POV

“Come out now” He growled.

My breath stutters as I try to come up with something, a lie or anything— but my mind blanks.

I push the door open slowly, and come out of the closet, the air feels heavy and charged with his scent and rage.

I glance at the exit, then back at him before a tiny smile tugs at my lips.

“Don’t” He tilts his head at me.

But I run – and in the next second, I’m airborne, his speed is unreal as he catches me easily and throws me over his shoulder as if I weigh nothing.

“Put me down!” I scream, kicking my feet against him as my fist pounds on his back. but his hold only tightens around my waist.

We arrived at a secluded clearing, surrounded by stone pillars and a few people who were gathered around. I spot Kiara among them, she looks different this time, draped in a flowing white robe trimmed with gold.

Alpha Kael, as I’ve picked from other wolves, sets me down on a flat stone… the hard surface burns cold against my skin. I try to rise, but Kiara steps forward, holding a round object wrapped in dark cloth. She lifts a hand and murmured something under her breath.

I freeze. Not just freeze, my body refuses to move and my limbs are glued to the stone.

“What’s going on?” My voice cracks. No one answers, not even a glance.

“I’m sorry, alright? I’m sorry— so please, just release me!” I shout, my voice breaking.

Alpha Kael doesn’t look at me, his jaw only tightens as he glides the blade along a smooth stone.

“Please don’t kill me, I’m not the one you’re looking for, I swear.”

My vision blurs as hot tears sting my eyes – my chest feels like it’s collapsing, but I bite my tongue and lift my gaze to the sky.

goddess please don’t let them do this to me. I beg you.

Alpha Kael stalks towards me, like a predator to prey.

“No—no—“ I shake my head rigorously, breath trembling.

“I’m sorry” he only says as he brings the blade to my neck.

The moment I feel the cold blade touch my skin, Alpha Kael stumbles back, his eyes shut and he falls to his knees, the blade slipping from his hand and clattering to the ground.

He holds his chest as his mouth curls, Kiara runs to him.

“Alpha, is all well?”

He mouths something to her and her eyes widen in shock.

A man runs to our midst and speaks to Kael. I try to listen to what he’s saying but the the only word I can make out is “rejected”

Kael turns to me, his eyes darkens and he mutters to the betas by his side.

“Take her to my room”

He doesn’t take his eyes off me as he commands.

They both look at each other for a second till he snaps again,

“Take —her —to —my—room. Now!”

Two of the muscular men walk towards me and both grab my arm. My legs scrap the dirt as they drag me along the pathway.

By the time I’m back to Kael’s room, my whole body is on fire and my head throbbed.

My body is flat against the floor and I want to move but not an ounce of strength is in my limbs.

The door creaks open and Alpha Kael steps in, he turns towards me and crouches to my position. My jaw clenches as he brings up an arm to trace my cheek. My head tilted away from his burning touch.

“What are you?” He whispers.

My eyes widens and my muscles twitch and I know If I wasn’t so weak right now, I would have head butted him so hard he would want to kill me this time.

“What do you mean what am I?” My words sliced through the air.

“You stole me from school, to use me for your stupid sacrifice and now you’re asking me questions?” The words spill out of me before I can process it.

“Fuck you!”

Kael’s brows are now knitted together as he rubs his chin. After a minute of staring at me, he gets to his feet.

“Hungry?”

My stomach decided to betray me at that moment by growling loud.

“No, I don’t want your poison!” He shakes his head and leaves the room. After some minutes, he returns with a tray of food and drops it on the table.

“Kiara would bring you clothes, eat and take a shower” he says, with a low and smooth voice.

The moment he leaves the room, my stomach rumbles at the sight of the steak on the table. After much hesitation, I began eating the food.

“There’s more than enough if you want.” She chuckles as she glides into the room with some folded clothes.

I don’t say a word, I just remain where I am, stroking my mother’s ring on my fingers.

“What do you know about that ring?” Kiara questions. She had dropped the clothes and now her hands are on her hips.

I turn to face her, my eyes narrowed as I reply to her “What do you mean? It’s just a ring” I shrug.

“No darling” She moves closer to me and picks my hand up. I wanted to stop her but I was curious about what she had to say. I still haven’t mentioned the fact that she had been terrorizing me in my sleep.

She slips her shirt off a bit and shows me a mark on her shoulder, the same mark inscribed in my ring.

“I bet you’ve started seeing the signs already” She releases my arm and covers the mark on her shoulder.

“I hope you’re prepared,” Kiara says before stepping out.