Enslaved by the Alpha

Chapter Four: Scars

I curled into the chair, hopelessly watching him crush it in his half-shifted hand with a small, audible crunch, then raise it to his mouth and lick the remains off.

"I knew you smelt different." He narrowed his eyes as his hand shifted back, still coated in blood. I trembled in the chair, shaking it with my sobs. They worsened when he grabbed me by the hair and pulled me up, slamming me onto his desk. My cries replaced with heaves after he knocked the wind clear out of my lungs.

My body was weak and shaken as I laid there, gasping for air. He had me by the waistband of my shorts in a haste, carelessly ripping them down to my knees to reveal the red-lace cheeky panties he had gotten me.

"Now it's time for your punishment, disobedient w***e," He spat, pinning me down by the back of my neck.

"I'm sorry!" I sobbed. He pressed harder and I winced, feeling a sharp, piercing pain shoot through my throat.

"You think you can use my own son against me? That you can corrupt him? Did you think you were going to use that baby to get out of a life with me? Were you going to use it to expose me?" He snapped, gripping the silver necklace and pulling until he had me clawing at his desk and the chain-links. The necklace was so tight against my skin it was starting to embed and I couldn't breathe.

"For a creature who can live to see everything, you are nothing but stupid! Do you really think my son is on your side? He's playing you. He'll never be your ally! This pack will never live peacefully beside your cowardly King. You've gone through the same thing with three Alpha's so far, one would think you were smart enough by now to realize you're never getting free."

He scoffed and dropped the necklace, releasing the pressure around my throat. I gasped, sliding down onto the black and white rug in front of his desk, heaving for air.

The back of his hand hit the side of my face and I fell onto my side, holding my stinging cheek. I didn't get to look up before he gripped my hair and smashed my head into the corner of his desk. The loose objects sitting on top rattled and I let my face hit the floor, whimpering helplessly.

He grabbed my t-shirt, tearing it off my torso with one hard rip. Then he grabbed the shorts already halfway down my legs, slipping them effortlessly off. All that remained was my underwear.

I tried to crawl away, but his hand wrapped around my ankle and he picked up my lower body. Everything from my ribs up stayed on the floor as I desperately threw my arms around, trying to grab onto anything that'll stop him from taking me.

"I'll give it back! I'll tell him I changed my mind!" I cried, my body rushing with adrenaline and fear.

He gave my ankle a painful yank and my body slid between his legs. I rolled onto my back to better defend myself and he dropped to his knees which planted just below my hips, restricting my legs. His pelvis hovered over my thighs, trapping me under him to undo his belt.

I aimlessly clawed at him, realizing he was too low for me to reach, so I sat up, making immediate contact with his left cheek.

He slammed my back into the floor with a thud, pinning me down with his belt. His hands wrapped around my wrists, pressing the end of the thick leather strap into my skin. The belt crossed my cheeks and covered my mouth, digging into my face and pushing into my teeth.

He leaned down, holding his upper bodyweight on my wrists. My tears never slowed and my body continued to quake underneath him. His bleeding face hovered inches above mine, leering down at me with his honey eyes.

"Oh, sweetheart," he cooed, a crooked smile lifting his lips. "I'm going to leave you wishing you didn't just do that."

Pushing off my wrists, he snapped the belt and dared me to make another move with his eyes. I refused to inch from the position he left me, breathing shakily.

He moved to his feet, stepping over me before reaching down and grabbing me by the throat. I immediately thrashed my arms and legs, feeling the back of my calves slide across the rug when he lifted me up and pulled me. He raised me higher and suddenly pushed me up against the wall to be eye level, leaving my bare feet dangling several inches above the cold floor.

"I'm sorry!" I wailed. He glared in response, lifting his free hand to ensure I saw as it began to sprout dark hairs through every pore and his nails extend into long, curved black claws. My eyes closed tightly and grabbed onto his forearm in a weak attempt to pry him off. The anticipation of what he planned to do started to drive me mad.

One of his claws dug into the skin over the dip in my collar, piercing through my flesh and slicing a slow path toward the other side. I grit my teeth and clenched my hands around his arm. His hand moved at such a slow pace to make me feel every fiber in my skin split, followed by a burning, stinging sensation and blood.

I released a strained breath I didn't realize I was holding when he withdrew his hand, grabbing my waist roughly. The force made my skin audibly pop as all five claws entered my body.

He smiled in enjoyment and slashed across my stomach in one swift movement. I choked on my scream. As hard as I tried to repress it, it still succeeded on finding its way out as a throaty rumble and gave him satisfaction.

He leaned closer, releasing his hold on my throat with full confidence he has me under complete control-that I will simply stand here and let him rip me apart.

His hand raised to my jaw and he forced me to look into his eyes. "I can tear you to shreds, bleed you out, rip your limbs off, but you will heal. You will live. And your skin will heal to be flawless, beautiful, soft..." he trailed off, his eyes migrating to my lips and a singular claw ran down the center of my throat. "Unless I were to take out your jugular-or better," he paused, slowly sliding his hand down my chest and over my rapidly beating heart.

He squeezed my jaw and softly connected our lips. I shuddered, pressing my lips together firmly to keep my mouth sealed off from him. My eyes shifted to look out the window, watching the playing children begin to disperse and return to their parents. Some gave hugs, some ruffled their hair, and some took their hands to lead them inside.

Before I could get lost in my head, Alpha Aston leaned back and I quickly closed my eyes, opening them slowly to make him believe he had my attention.

As soon as our eyes met, his hand plunged through my abdomen and up to my heart. I gasped, my mouth still agape as my body suddenly tightened and stilled. The fear that just paralyzed me masked all the pain.

"How can you creatures live forever when you die so easy?" He snarled, narrowing his eyes and pressing the tips of his claws into my heart. Every beat pumped it against them and tears filled my eyes. The sharpness in my chest from it was agonizing, like I was seconds from death. I was.

"Do it," I breathed, my voice hardly exceeding a whisper. More tears streamed down my face as I stared up at him, pleading him with my eyes to put an end to my suffering. His cold expression never lightened and I reached for his bicep to nudge him along, but I was far too weak to move his arm.

"You're weak," he whispered derisively, clenching his jaw. I felt the pressure around my heart disappear and he pulled back his hand, choosing to leave me alive to keep suffering for eternity.

"Get out of my sight," he scoffed.

I stumbled over to my shorts and dropped to the floor, frantically slipping them on just as something hit me on the back. Looking down, I saw his black t-shirt lying next to me.

"Cover up. If anyone sees those wounds, next time I won't take pity," he threatened, snatching the necklace around my neck then lifting it up to shove in my face. "And get rid of this!"

The silver sizzled on his skin until he dropped it, turning to walk back behind his desk. My lip quivered and I quickly pulled his shirt on, the scent of him engulfing me.

"Why are you still here?" He growled. I jumped to my feet and scrambled out of the room, wiping my tears away.

The door closed behind me and I struggled to walk. All of my injuries weren't healing because of how weak I was from my toxin extraction and the blood all over soaked through the shirt at a rapid pace.

I just need to make it to my room.

"Red?"

I froze upon hearing Draven's voice behind me, closing my eyes to prepare myself as I wrapped my hand around the pendant on the necklace.

With one deep breath, I turned on my heel and pulled off the necklace. He came to a halt in his steps a few feet away, his eyebrows furrowing, and I threw it at him in uncontrollable anger. He caught it the moment it hit his chest, too stunned to care about it burning his hands.

"I changed my mind, take the f*****g thing back," I seethed.

"What? What happened?" He asked in clear concern, confusion written over his features. I didn't have the energy to answer, turning away and continuing my walk.

"Wait!"

His hand wrapped around my bicep and yanked me to a stop. Everywhere his skin made contact with mine formed a powerful hot shock that traveled to the marking in my neck within the same second. The sensation caused him to rip away and I shrieked in pain, twisting around to hold my arm and look at him fearfully through my tears.

He appeared visibly sick with guilt. His face was pale, he kept his gaze on my arm and refused to meet my eyes, he clenched the necklace in his hand while the other hovered in the air inches away from his body, motionless.

After I felt certain he wasn't going to move, I looked down at my arm and saw an imprint of his hand with dark purple swelling surrounding it, becoming patchy where it faded into my unharmed pale skin. The flesh of his hand imprint looked sunken and gooey like his touch somehow melted it. The entire area was numb, which I was thankful for considering the way it looked.

"Scarlett, I-"

Turning away, I took off running down the hall. My eyes fixated on the door to my room as I approached it, grabbing the handle and slamming it behind me.

I fell to the tattered stuffed cot I used in place of a real bed, curling up in the fetal position to cry in the silent, black closet. It's a tight fit, but it's where I felt the safest in spite of the fact the door didn't even lock.

My adrenaline began to wear off with every passing minute once my body started to relax and I shivered, feeling extremely overheated and fatigued. My numbness replaced with sickness, however, I knew it was due to my injuries. It's taking everything in me, plus some, to heal.

My eyelids fluttered and I fought the exhaustion that threatened to take me. Every night for the past eighty years of my life my body would fight itself to avoid sleeping just to stay in defense out of fear and discomfort. I've went multiple nights without sleep, so I suppose the toxin extraction isn't too bad. It helps me catch up on all the sleep that I've missed. It never mattered how hard I tried, most nights the exhaustion won.

I pulled the thin, stained and torn sheet onto my body as chills ran through me. My eyes finally closed and my mind slowly drifted off, taking my consciousness with it.

𓃥

Muffled talking awoke me and I gazed at the only ray of light coming from the c***k beneath the door, watching shadows pass followed by thudding little feet and giggles.

Sitting up and stretching, I felt my stiff body pop and c***k. The wounds I had prior to falling asleep were now non-existent which told me I've been asleep several days at the very least.

When my eyes adjusted to the dark, I noticed fresh clothes lying next to me and quickly stripped nude. I grabbed the blue thong and slid it on, pulling the blue lace bralette on after. Once those were on, I slipped into the white jean shorts and reached for the top, yet my hand stopped mid-air. There was no shirt to put on.

That's when I realized the bralette was the top. The entire thing was see through except for the silk lining that covered my breasts and it didn't even extend past my bottom ribs. It exposed tons of cleavage and I still felt nude in the weightless material. The shorts were also low-rise, totally contradicting the waistband strings of the thong.

Alpha Axton has dressed me in revealing things before, but only as punishment. Why am I being punished again? Did he not prove his point to his satisfaction?

Hesitantly, I stood up and exited the closet, squinting at the bright hall lights as I took in my surroundings. The hall was empty and there was nothing except blackness outside the windows. Everyone's either sleeping or heading to sleep. Nobody will see me in this shameful outfit.

Although, I should go wait in the Alpha's office until he comes back. He always got very angry when I didn't go to him first thing after waking up. I'd rather not risk trying to hide from him now.

The sound of nearing footsteps made me whip around. I didn't see anyone, and the thudding grew louder, panic consuming me thinking it was Alpha Aston. Without thought, I snapped my gaze on the first door I saw and bolted toward it, entering the room and silently shutting the door.

I held the doorknob and listened for the person, my heart racing. Their footsteps strolled past the room and my body slouched, a tiny, shaken breath of relief leaving me. Though my relief was short lived when it dawned on me that I was in someone's room.

I wiggled my toes in the soft, beige carpet and reluctantly moved my line of sight deeper into the large moonlit room. My eyes landed on the bed frame and I followed the wooden stand up to the corner of the mattress, trailing over the lump in the blankets up to a bare, toned back leading me straight to the man's messy head of black hair.

This is Draven's room.

Just my luck.

The black clock on his nightstand read five thirteen in the morning in dim red numbers. In front of it sat the necklace he gave me and I frowned, walking over to pick it up. Part of the jewel reflected the moonlight coming through the sliding glass door. My frown deepened, a cold feeling suddenly forming in my stomach.

I shifted my gaze down to Draven, analyzing his unconscious figure. He slept on his stomach, hooking one arm beneath the pillow the right side of his face laid on while his other arm extended above his head, lying propped against the solid wooden headboard. Despite being the only one in bed, he wasn't in the center. He laid on the side closest to his nightstand facing this direction.

Rounding his bed to get a better look around, I admired the room in amazement. Through the opened white curtains and glass door was a balcony with a railing, swirls between each pole for design.

I returned my attention to Draven after of a moment of admiring and quietly made my way back to his bed on the opposite side of him, placing my palm on the sheets and blankets draping the queen mattress in curiosity. The cushioning sank beneath my hand and I closed my eyes with an inhale as a wave of nostalgia washed through me. It's been forever since I felt a proper bed.

Opening my eyes, I had the blankets pulled back before I could comprehend my own actions and slowly climbed in. The mattress molded around my curves and I laid my head on the cool, fluffy pillow, watching Draven's back move with every breath. Our bodies had mere inches between them and I couldn't help but scoot closer to feel more of the heat radiating from his naturally hot skin.

I reached out and lightly touched his back, feeling the same pain from before except in a smaller portion, causing me to retract my hand with haste and scrunch my face in pain and confusion.

He turned his head to face me and readjusted his arms in the same places as before, only opposite sides. I froze in fear he was about to wake up, gradually relaxing with every second that passed he didn't open his emerald eyes.

I scanned his face now that I was at a closer standpoint and felt the cold pit in my stomach churn in uneasiness. He so similar to Alpha Zeek, it almost had me questioning if that lunatic sought out a witch to be reincarnated or made young again. Then I remembered the necklace and all Draven said.

"I suppose you couldn't be too perfect," I muttered softly, lifting my hand to the hair shielding his face and gently brushing the silky strands to the side.

Many minutes passed before I quietly slipped out of his bed, walking over to his door to sneak out. The door creaked ever so lightly then clicked closed behind me.

"And what are you doing in my son's room?"

At the woman's voice, I jumped and turned to face her. She's someone I've yet to meet or even see. But when her words clicked,

I stiffened, realizing it was the Alpha's mate.

"I know why you're here," she glared, her eyes full of rage and pain. "He tried to reject me last night and came clean about everything," she paused, her voice trembling with her next words. "I love him."

Guilt filled me staring into her hurt eyes and a frown weighed down on my lips. This is the first time I'm seeing firsthand what my presence here is doing.

"Then help me go," I replied, my frown deepening watching her start to smile through her pain.

"I brought you those clothes," she said, "all those clothes you wore, I got them not knowing."

An idea suddenly popped in my mind and I extended my hand to brush her hair behind her ear, drastically reducing the distance between us. "I can help you get back at him... if I may."

She eyed me over with a wicked grin in acceptance. I was thrown off when she abruptly grabbed me by the hair and pulled me down the hall. I held my roots to ease the pain and winced, more confused than anything by her response.

We turned into a room that I quickly recognized as Alpha Aston's office just as she shoved me onto the sofa and kicked the door closed. I stared, utterly stunned by her ability to throw me around.

She strutted over while pulling off her purple fitted tank-top, revealing her small, perky breasts and toned physique. The muscles in her abdomen tightened with every step she swayed her hips. Her low-rise, baggy black drawstring sweatpants appeared as if they were going to fall off her any second. They must've belonged to Alpha Axton.

She plopped down on my lap without a word, grabbing me by the face and pulling me in for an aggressive kiss. Her hand moved down and groped me through the bralette.

This isn't exactly what I had in mind...

"You may," she exhaled, making me shiver from the heat of her breath fanning my lips.

But it works.