Ravished By The Alphas

Chapter 6

Valerie

The Alpha said nothing as we continued our walk out of the market square, where a vehicle awaited us.

Wolves themselves didn’t require cars. They were much stronger and much larger than humans—and in their shifted form, they had enough endurance to travel at quick speeds all day long.

But then again, Alphas probably preferred to be driven around on business.

The car that awaited us was like nothing I had ever seen before. It was sleek and low—the kind of car that probably used to air on television ads decades ago. Vehicles were hard to come by since the factories all closed—but of course, the Alpha had his connections. It was more than likely that he had the thing personally designed and built just for him. It was a wonder what the wealthy did with their money while others starved.

I found my reflection in the dark windows. I was such a ragged, unkempt thing.

Why me?

Why would he want me?

Chad took the driver’s seat and the engine roared to life like a wild beast, woken from its nap. Then the doors opened on their own. They rotated and raised above the hood like the wings of a cicada.

Four seats, I realized. It wouldn’t fit all of the guards and myself.

The Alpha seemed to notice as well. “Rasso, lead the way for us,” he said.

One of the wolves complied, quickly shifting into form. I had never seen a wolf shift in person before. The process was so fast, I could hardly comprehend what I’d witnessed before he was suddenly a beast, on all fours—larger than a common mare, with eyes like the yellow stone earrings Aunt Louis wore during busy season.

It was his eyes that made me recall the moment my parents were raided. The large beasts that smashed their way into my home and slaughtered my family right in front of my eyes. Their yellow moon-eyes, and their mouths dripping with blood and saliva.

Nausea crawled up into my throat and I turned my gaze from him to crawl into the back seat of the car.

These were the kind that killed my family, and yet they were the very people who had taken my fate into their hands.

I had not realized I’d been so distracted until the Alpha was standing in front of me, gesturing to the back seat.

I startled and quickly climbed inside, the interior cool and the leather seats like ice against my skin. Was that an AC? No one had ACs anymore.

I had expected the Alpha to take the passenger seat, but instead, he climbed in beside me.

I tried my best to avoid his presence, watching through the window instead. Rasso took to his feet, racing out onto a larger road. As he ran, the car bowled forward to follow. I stared out at our surroundings as the car picked up speed, the engine a dull hum beneath my feet. Everything was bright and foreign and so different than I last recalled. It felt like I was witnessing another planet for the first time.

There were other vehicles on the road, but they were likely used for business—vans and trucks that carried materials from one place to another. Only the rich owned vehicles for personal travel. The vampires preferred horses and carriages, but most everyone else walked by foot until they reached a train with cheap fare that could take them to their destination.

Eventually, Rasso led us off of the main road and onto a small stretch of pavement, sprayed almost entirely by sand. It was strange to think that there was once a forest here. Rivers and lakes and fertile soil. There was none of that, now.

The Demilitarization Zone was—as Ava had said—a vast and empty desert.

She was right. I would have never made it on my own out there.

I peered around, curious at the surroundings. We were headed North—I could tell because the mountains were just in view. The ridge was the barrier between the sea and the continent, and just beyond it should have been the islands. I always imagined one day I would escape. That I would climb the mountains and make it to sea, and swim my way to the North Archipelago where I would finally be free.

But now that I think back to it, Ava was probably right. I was an i***t with a death wish. I’d never make it there. Not to mention, escaping to the islands would mean facing the most terrifying creatures of all—the dragons.

I feared them far more than I feared the wolves or the thought of being trapped a slave forever. None of it mattered now. A runaway slave was one thing. A runaway slave with a master was as good as dead.

The ride was quiet, but I was on edge. I tried my best to steady my breaths, but the silence was making every panicked inhale too loud. I almost wished these damn wolves would speak up—chat about the weather or politics, so I could breathe easily for once.

My wrists ached from the weight of the cuffs, and even with my hands resting in my lap, I was not relieved of the weight. Red marks were blooming over my skin from the heavy metal materials, and my fingers were beginning to stiffen from the pressure. I glanced over, noticing a small cushion in the back of the cab. I wanted to ask for it, but I could feel eyes on my skin. I caught his reflection in the rear-view mirror. The Alpha’s right-hand who had been glaring at me earlier…he was still watching with knives for eyes. I got the sense that if I made any sudden movements or uttered a sound, he was going to eat me alive.

Suddenly, the cushion was being slid into my lap.

I startled, jerking back at first, before I realized it had been the Alpha. That he had noticed my discomfort—probably from the loud jangling of the metal binds. How long had he been watching me?

I allowed myself to find his eyes, noticing the slight smile across his lips. That was not the smile of a man with bad intentions. But why? Why was he being so nice to me?

I had been so struck by the gesture that I’d forgotten to lower my hands. The Alpha reached over and laid my wrists down on the cushion. It was a different gesture than when he’d touched my face. I could feel his entire palm as it wrapped my arm—the heat blazing off of it, like fire against my skin.

It frightened me and I jerked back, regretting my reaction when I saw the look on the Alpha’s face. An expression of patience and curiosity. He did not seem to take offense to my reaction, but he very well could have.

“I-I’m sorry…Master.” It was difficult to force the word out. It brought too much to the situation. I had a master now.

I was no longer just a slave for purchase, but a slave. A slave with a master. I was no longer my own.

The Alpha turned his gaze to his window and let out a deep sigh. “It’s okay,” he muttered. “Just…don’t call me that.”