FATED ENEMIES - THE ALPHA’S CAPTIVE

CHAPTER 3

ALYSSA

The guards answer her like they hadn't heard her, "You can't talk to her."

The order feels reversed. Like I was the one ordered not to talk to anyone except the Alpha and I've been surprisingly obedient.

She turns back to me with that same concerned look in her dark brown eyes, "I'm sorry, Alyssa."

Fuck you! I want to scream that so loud that her eardrums ring but I can't. I can't make my lips move. If they do, she'd know she has won. She had gotten into my household knowing how soft and kind hearted I was and now I was broken by her betrayal.

The memory of how I'd found her lying on the damp forest soil six months ago comes rushing in. Her clothes were torn, her hair was a mess but the one thing that had me immediately crouching by her side was the blood all over her body. I couldn't tell if it was hers or not.

I calmed down a little when I felt her pulse. She was still alive. I moved my hands to her face and held it in them. They felt cold to the touch. She must have been out in the cold for a long time.

Taking her home, I had her treated by our pack's Theta - the lead medic. I wanted to make sure she had the best treatment. She had a few cuts and bruises and within a day, she was better.

She'd told me she had been attacked by rogue wolves who'd found her alone after losing her parents. She'd claimed she didn't know what pack she belonged to as she had been living with her parents in the forest all her life before they died.

Now that I think about, it was a bullshit story. Her whole family could have been killed the moment the rogues found out they were outcasts.

After convincing my father to let her stay, we bonded right after like sisters that had been separated from birth. Everything I got, I made sure she got as well. Everything was going well until now. Now, I was sitting as a prisoner betrayed by that same person.

I blinked back to the present and found the space she been standing on was currently empty. She was gone but the hurt and agony in my chest wasn't.

I don't know how long I stayed in that same position but by the time I felt a chill run down my spine, I lifted my eyes again and he was standing there. Right where she stood.

His icy blue eyes held mine for a moment before they slightly moved downwards. I had no idea how long he had been standing there or if he was just taking notice of the mess on my face because his expression was a complete mask. A mask of nonchalance.

I wonder if he's aware of who had done it. Does he know it was his alleged mate? Is that why he's here? To see how miserable I look?

For some reason, it annoyed me. Everything about him annoys me and I find myself rising to my feet and stomping my way over to him. He slowly blinks like he doesn't give a single f**k about anything and that infuriates me even more.

I lift my chin as I glare hard at him, "What? Why are you here? To see what your so called mate did to me?"

His brows slightly scrunch, making him look a bit confused but it's gone within a blink. "I'll have my servants..." He pauses, giving me a quick once over, "Clean you up. Can't let your visitor see you like this or they'll think I'm not taking good care of you." He's turning as soon as the last words leave his lips and soon he's out of sight while I stare into space.

What... what did he mean by that? Visitor? Who?

I wasn't even allowed to process my thoughts before the iron door opens and one of the guards yank me out, quickly covering my eyes with a blindfold and pulls me along with him. I could hear the other following behind us.

Multiple emotions overwhelm me. I'm happy that I'm finally out of that dim cell but I was also worried and scared. Who is this visitor and why is he letting them see me?

I almost trip as the only logical answer comes to mind. My father. It had to be him. That was what they wanted. What my captor wants. Asher, if I can remember his name correctly. It was all politics. He must want something that my father refused to give and then he took the most important person to him. Me.

We soon come to a stop and the blindfold is pulled off. I wince and shut my eyes as the bright light hits them hard. I haven't been in such a bright space in two days.

By the time my eyes finally adjust to the light, I was staring at a lady with honey brown eyes. She smiles lightly at me. Why is she smiling?

"I'll be washing you up." She says in the most soothing voice and takes a step forward. I immediately take two back.

"Who... are you?" I ask in a low voice.

She smiles gently and answers, "I'm the servant sent to wash and freshen you up."

I shake my head and look around but we were alone. The guards had gone and left me with her. Wasn't that stupid? They left me with a lady I could take down within seconds.

Or maybe they knew I was too kind to do something like that. Was I? Even if there was a way to escape afterwards, would I do that?

I take another step back, shaking my head again, "I... I'll wash up by myself. I don't need help. I've never needed help in the past." I tell her and she nods in understanding.

"I know. I could tell but I cannot leave this room as I'm assigned to wash you up. I can let you do it yourself but I'll have to stay here." She explains to me. Why is she talking to me like I was a guest and not a prisoner?

I decided not to think too much about it and just turned and headed for the door I felt would be the bathroom.

As soon as I was walked in, I sighed, grateful that I wasn't wrong and then quickly locked the door. After a few seconds of just leaning on the door, my eyes couldn't help but scan the bathroom. It was big and spacious. It was also neat and sparkling.

I rushed over to the sink where a mirror was fixed above it so one could see their reflection while using the sink.

I stare at my messy face for a moment, my hazel eyes being the only thing I could see as I looked like a piece of s**t! My white hair was down and messy with remnant of food particles in it. I quickly turned on the tap and washed my face.

Looking at my reflection again, I looked better. Not as much as I was before all of this, but I could finally feel my face again.

After I was done washing up my whole body, I stood staring at the still locked door completely wet and naked, my hair dripping with water. There was nothing I could use to wrap myself with and I'd soaked myself in the tub with my clothes.

There was a knock and the lady's voice came after, "I figured you'd have no clothes to change into so I'd brought one for you." I just had to open the door.

Without much thought, I unlocked it and slightly opened it, sticking out an arm and as soon as I had the clothes in my hand, I closed it back and locked it again. Why? I had no idea.

It was a dress. A short black simple dress that would complement my hair but that was none of my concern at the moment.

As soon as I was done, the guards came back and wrapped my eyes with the blindfold again, taking me along with them. My heart is in my mouth as I prepare myself for what's coming next, but I didn't quite prepare enough.

The next time the blindfold comes off, I'm standing in front of Asher who sits nonchalantly in a huge chair placed on a platform. But he isn't the one that has me stiffening in shock. It's not even the men - who were probably his council members - standing in a line on both sides. It was the bound and blindfolded man in between Asher and I who was on his knees, writhing in pain. His body, a bloody mess with severe cuts and bruises.

It was none other than Shane. My mate.

I could feel my body tremble as I watched him wince. He had no idea where he was and that I was even right here with him.

No! I try to scream but it only comes out as a heartbreaking whisper. I try to speak again but Shane beats me to it.

"Please! Please don't kill me." He was begging for his life. He had every right to. It made me even more furious. Why were they doing this? What exactly did they want from us?

My eyes moved behind Shane and I could only tighten my fist and bite down on my lower lip. They had killed Shane's men and placed their bodies behind him. They must have come to rescue me and now... now, they were dead.

But the next words that leaves Shane's mouth has me stiffening again.

"I don't even love her. I only came because she'd promised to make me the Alpha when we mate. It wouldn't happen if she was dead. I swear I don't care about her, I only want to rule. You can keep her. Do whatever you want to do with her, just don't kill me please! I could work for you if you want. I could kill her father if that's what you want. I'll do anything, just let me live, please!"

He kept talking and I couldn't breathe. I tried but I just couldn't. Every emotion came crashing right into me and overwhelmed me whole. It wasn't a wave this time, it was a storm. I didn't even know when tears starting rolling down my face. I was a mess but I was still standing. Standing on hope. I was actually slipping but I was still hanging on. Maybe this was all a plan, a lie or something. Deep down, I somehow knew it wasn't but I was still hoping it was.

Asher appears behind him and without a word, he pulls down his blindfold. He gasps in surprise, blinks around and then notices me. I wait without a single breath. Waiting for something. Anything.

His eyes held no remorse or a sign that it might be a plan. Instead, it was filled with greed and hate. He looked at me with disdain, "I'm sorry, Alyssa but you're not worth my life. I can't die for anybody talk more of dying for you. You and your father are selfish and-"

He was cut off --literally-- by Asher's blade. His neck opened as blood gushed out while he writhe even more.

"No!" I felt like I was the one struck as I screamed and rushed forward but was held back by the guards behind me. And like that wasn't enough, Asher jabbed the whole blade of his sword down the center of his head until only the hilt was visible and pulled it out with a ruthless ease.

I fell to my knees as Shane's body fell with a thud. It was over. If I thought I was broken before, I just found out I was shattered now.