Banished by the Alpha

Kidnappers Cabin

Cory POV

            As I began digging a small hole with the trowel mom had left for me, I heard rustling from the woods. I turned to search for whatever had made the noise but saw nothing; it had to be one of the patrols walking past right? Nobody would be crossing the border with guards walking around. Or maybe it was just a harmless animal, the patrols would let them pass without bothering them.

            I turned back to gardening, telling myself it was nothing to worry about, I’m on pack grounds protected by patrols. Suddenly I can’t see and I felt someone grabbing my arms. There’s a sack over my head and someone is trying to tie my hand together. I s***h at them with the trowel and I feel it connect followed by a small cry from my assailant. The trowel is yanked away from me and whoever is grabbing me succeeds in tying my hands. I feel something connect with my head, hard, and then I fade out.

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            I start to stir and can feel my head throbbing where I had been hit. I feel my hands are tied behind my back and my feet are tied to something. I guess it’s the legs of the chair I’m sitting in. I blink my eyes open in the dim lit room to see if there’s anything or anyone I might recognize. I’m alone in a small building that seems to be close to the size of mom’s new garden shed but looks less like storage and more like a place far too many people call home. There are blankets and bedding strewn all over the space and I’m sitting at one of four chairs around a table in the center of the room.

There’s nobody inside with me at the moment, so I start testing the ropes that hold me in place. I know I won’t be able to shift because Opal could not contort to this position and it would just cause us excruciating pain. The chains don’t have a lot of give to them but I might be able to get loose if I can dislocate my thumbs. It will hurt a bit but dad had taught us all how, just in case. We always thought his scenarios were crazy but I’m so glad for his preparedness and training right now.

            Suddenly the door swings open and I’m temporarily blinded by sunlight outlining a figure standing in the opening. “Looks like she’s awake!” The figure yells over his shoulder.

            As the man steps inside and shuts the door my vision starts to return to normal and I don’t recognize him. Is it someone from the Great Lakes pack stealing me from my family? Were they unhappy with me as their future Luna? Maybe it was someone who was mad at Lucas but not strong enough to challenge him. He’s around 30, tall like most wolves but a little too lean. He doesn’t look very well kept and I’m guessing he’s one of the rogues that meets the stereotype of “mangy mutt.” My family at least made a real life for ourselves instead of living in some shack, underfed, and unwashed for the last few years.

            “So, you’re supposed to be the new Luna of the Great Lakes pack, huh? Not much to you and you didn’t even put up a real fight.” He says to me with a sneer.

            Since I don’t know what he’s up to or really what’s going on, I just stare at him for a while, waiting for him to say more. Hopefully I’ll at least learn why I was kidnapped, maybe even where I am or any useful information for me to escape.

“Your Alpha will stop at nothing to get you back, you know. After all, he’s been looking for you for four years. I’ll wager he would even risk losing his pack to get you back. We plan to use that to our advantage. You see, he controls the largest pack in the Midwest and refuses to let our little band of rogues join it. So now, we’re going to take it from him and you are going to help, doll.” He runs his hand down my face and through my hair as he explains their plan to me. I’m disgusted by his touch and can’t help but cringe making him chuckle.

All I can think about is getting out of here, going home, and being with my new pack and mate. I have to figure out an escape. If he would leave, maybe I could get loose of these ropes and figure something out. Opal isn’t as strong or skilled a fighter as I’d prefer so we could fight our way out of a group but she might have to do in a pinch. I just need him to leave.

Instead, another man walks in. He’s a bit older than the first. I guess, maybe my dads age or a little older. The first man gives him a slight nod of respect and exits the room.

“Corinthia McCallister. I knew your father Corbin back when we were kids. You see, my father challenged his dad back then and failed. My father died at the hands of your grandfather and my mother took me and my siblings and ran from the pack.” He stares at me for a moment, his expression unreadable. “I liked your dad back then but I haven’t seen him in decades. I heard he lost a challenge to some young punk and was kicked out, turned rogue along with the rest of his family. Now you find out that very challenger is your mate. How cruel fate can be, huh?

I continue to stare at the man. He seems to not spew hatred at me like the younger man did. The first guy seemed to enjoy making me cringe and hated me for something I didn’t even do. This man seemed to respect me, or at least my father but simply needed me for his plans. It wasn’t personal to him, at least not the part about kidnapping and using me wasn’t. I could work with that; he might become an ally if I could maybe strike a deal with him. I just needed to figure out what he really wanted.