Chapter 391
Three hundred and ninety three
Enma POV
I stared at Anita as she picked at the food on the tray, took a bite, and hummed in approval.
“Hm. It’s actually good p>
I gave her a narrowed look. “You’re eating food brought to you by the people who kidnapped you. They could have poisoned it p>
Anita chewed slowly, and I was almost sure she’d spit it out, but she didn’t. “Then at least I die with a full stomach p>
I glared at her.
“Emma, we were dragged into those vans while we were still dealing with last night’s drinks. I have a headache, my mouth tastes horrible, and I feel like someone kicked me in the skull. Let me eat p>
She reached for my portion. I pushed it toward her without arguing.
My mind returned to the same question that had been eating at me since I woke up.
Why hadn’t the Rogue Alpha come?
If he really wanted to make a mockery of me, surely he’d have shown up by now.
The memory of last night slipped through my mind before I could stop it. Pleasure moved through me, followed by a wave of shame so sharp I squeezed my eyes shut.
This was probably a warning that love wasn’t meant for me, that I’d grow old alone, surrounded by money, work, and people who admired what I could offer them.
At least loneliness came with dignity. I could live with that.
Being wanted for a night and discarded afterward felt worse.
I tried to tell Anita about last night. The thought came, but the words refused to follow. How could I look at her and say, *By the way, the man who took your people is my mate p>
That revelation would have to wait.
Anita eventually finished eating and began testing the window, rattling the bars, examining the lock, before moving toward the bathroom. She rushed back out, covering her nose.
She tried the window again, then studied the wall as though she might somehow climb through it.
“That’s not going to work, baby p>
I looked over my shoulder at her date, who’d gotten up and was heading toward her.
“And why not?” Anita asked.
“Because we’re surrounded. Did you see how many people were outside when they brought us here p>
Anita muttered something under her breath and returned to the room.
“Are you related to an Alpha as well?” I asked her.
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She nodded.
shadowcrest p>
Anita looked between us. “Emma, you don’t remember Haley from secondary school p>
I looked at her and shook my head.
Anita laughed. “She used to be the quiet nerd with braces p>
Haley groaned. “Thank you for reminding me p>
“But it’s true. Look at you now, hotter than fire p>
Haley gave her a dry look, but I caught the smile beneath it. This was the wrong place for a reunion.
I had a faint memory of Haley, one of those quiet girls who rarely spoke above a whisper. I’d left that school after I couldn’t stand watching Charlie with other girls.
Anita sat beside me.
“Those bastards have my phone. They probably have access to my bank account by now p>
Haley disagreed.
“I think they want something else. Something beyond money p>
“What could rogues want p>
Anita began listing possibilities, her irritation building.
“Money. Weapons. Ammunition. Cigarettes. Whatever else these people use to make their miserable lives slightly more enjoyable p>
Anita’s harsh words against rogues were a slice of what my reality would become if my family ever found out about my bond with the Rogue Alpha. Even without Anita’s abduction, I had no business getting involved with a rogue. His reputation, the people surrounding him, all of it should have been enough to make me run.
I stood and began pacing. The room seemed to shrink with every step. The walls pressed closer, the locked door grew more obvious, and the single barred window offered no escape.
My breathing grew shallow.
“Emma p>
I kept walking.
“I can’t breathe p>
Anita rushed toward me and caught my hands.
“Look at me p>
She guided me toward the mat, loosened the top of my blouse, pulled my hair away from my neck.
“Slow breaths p>
I tried.
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“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “This is all my fault p>
hook my head, but tears filled my eyes anyway.
“I feel like such a fool p>
Anita knew how I handled pressure. I was usually the one keeping everyone else from falling apart. Seeing me cry. seemed to frighten her more than the locked room did.
“Emma p>
“Why did I let him touch me p>
Her arms went around me. I buried my face against her shoulder.
“I didn’t even know him p>
“It’s okay p>
“It isn’t p>
“I’m sorry p>
Her hand moved over my back as I cried harder, and I hated myself for letting her see me like this.
The door opened. I lifted my head. The bastard beta stood there.
“Ugly piece of shit,” Anita mumbled, loud enough for him to hear. She leaned toward me and whispered, “I hate him. He’s the one who kidnapped us. When they brought three more men in, we tried to shift. He threatened us with silver p>
Lucas smiled.
“Nice to see you too. Good memory p>
Anita glared at him.
He stepped inside and shut the door behind him.
A cigarette appeared between his fingers.
I stared at it. “Seriously? We’re trapped in a room with no ventilation p>
He took a puff and leaned against the wall as though he’d come to visit friends instead of prisoners.
The alpha’s son spoke up.
“So what happens now? Are you going to kill us p>
Lucas smiled without warmth.
“If you give me a reason p>
He inhaled from his cigarette. “You can make this difficult, or your parents can cooperate p>
“Cooperate with what p>
“Signatures. Financial agreements. Compensation. Authorization p>
My mind began connecting the pieces. They weren’t simply kidnapping wealthy wolves for money. They wanted
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influence.
With fourteen packs under the regional authority, certain decisions required the support of enough Alphas before the regional Alpha could approve them. If these people were gathering signatures from prominent families, they could force something through without openly challenging the existing hierarchy.
Anita folded her arms.
“If you want something from our fathers, why don’t you ask them directly p>
Lucas gave her a bored look.
“Because people say no when you ask p>
“So you kidnap their children p>
“People say yes when they have something to lose p>
Anita scoffed. “You’re fucking cowards. I hope you all get caught and thrown into a dungeon where mad wolves rip you apart p>
One of the men beside Lucas crossed the room and struck her across the face. She staggered. I rushed toward her.
“Take your hands off her p>
The man’s breath was foul enough to turn my stomach.
Anita spat in his face.
“Touch me again p>
I threw myself between them, bracing for whatever blow he’d give her next. He laughed, an ugly sound, and stepped back instead.
“Where’s your boss?” I said once the commotion died down. “If he’s so powerful, why hasn’t he come here himself? Why does he keep sending people to speak for him p>
Lucas’s smile disappeared. “Watch your mouth. Don’t forget you came here on your own. Do you think you could stand in front of him p>
I rolled my eyes. My anger had burned through the fear by now.
“He’s a coward who hides behind his boys, kidnaps strangers, and steals whatever he wants. I’m supposed to tremble because he has a title p>
The men exchanged looks. The one with the foul breath laughed and pointed at me.
“You’re the girl from last night. You warmed the Lord’s bed p>
The others laughed.
Heat rushed into my face. The man kept going, savoring every second of my humiliation.
“Don’t think you’re special because he chose you for a night. He doesn’t take the same woman twice unless she gives him a reason p>
My fingers curled into fists.
For one reckless instant, I wanted to tell them their “lord” was my mate. The words almost reached my tongue,
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but I swallowed them.
at information would spread beyond this room before I could blink. Their people would know. My pack would know. Every Alpha who knew my family would know I had slept with the Rogue Alpha and claimed him as my
mate.
I wasn’t giving them that weapon.
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Lucia Morh
Lucia Morh is a passionate storyteller who brings emotions to life through her words. When she’s not writing, she finds peace nurturing her garden.