Owned By The Monster Alpha

Chapter 5

An hour later, Lilith was dragged from the slave quarters by two guards. She had barely had time to drink a sip of water. Her body still ached from Ryder's brutal claiming, and her head spun with fever.

They threw her into the center of the stone courtyard.

Bella was waiting for her, standing by a wooden post. She looked flawless in her silk gown, her dark hair perfectly styled.

"Leave us," Bella ordered the guards.

Once they were gone, Bella walked a slow circle around Lilith, looking her up and down like a piece of trash.

"The fallen Princess," Bella mused. "I must admit, I expected more. You're just a pathetic, crying little mess, aren't you?"

"What do you want?" Lilith whispered, her voice hoarse.

"I want to teach you a lesson," Bella said. She stopped in front of Lilith and smiled. "You see, you might have caught the Alpha's attention for a night, but do not mistake that for importance. To him, you are nothing but a warm body to punish. To me? You are a rat that needs to learn its place."

"I didn't ask for any of this," Lilith said, lifting her chin. "I didn't ask to be here."

"Wrong answer."

Bella’s hand shot out, slapping Lilith hard across the face. The sound echoed off the stone walls. Lilith stumbled, her cheek stinging, but she didn't fall.

"Rule one," Bella said, shaking out her hand. "You do not speak back to your superiors. And I am your superior in every way."

Lilith glared at her, her eyes filling with angry tears. "You're just as much a monster as he is."

Bella’s eyes flashed with fury. She grabbed Lilith by the hair, yanking her head back.

"Oh, darling," Bella whispered, her breath hot against Lilith’s ear. "You have no idea."

She dragged Lilith toward the wooden post in the center of the courtyard.

"You see this?" Bella asked, pointing to a heavy iron whip hanging on a hook nearby. "Alpha Ryder said I couldn't leave any scars on you. He wants to be the one to break you. But he didn't say I couldn't make you wish you were dead."

Bella released Lilith's hair and grabbed the whip.

"Please," Lilith gasped, backing away until her back hit the stone wall. "Please, don't."

"Begging is good," Bella smiled, unraveling the whip. "But it won't save you."

Bella raised the whip, ready to strike.

Lilith squeezed her eyes shut.

But the strike never came.

Instead, a low, deadly growl rolled through the courtyard.

"I said," a voice boomed, "no scars."

Lilith opened her eyes.

Alpha Ryder was standing at the entrance of the courtyard, his eyes glowing a terrifying red. His hands were clenched into fists at his sides, his entire body vibrating with lethal anger.

Bella froze, the whip falling from her hand. "Alpha... I was just..."

"Get away from her," Ryder snarled.

Bella scrambled back. Ryder stalked across the courtyard, his boots heavy against the stone. He didn't even look at Bella as he walked past her.

He stopped in front of Lilith. She was trembling, her face pale, a red mark blooming on her cheek.

Ryder reached out and grabbed her chin, tilting her face up to the light.

"I told you not to mark her," Ryder said, his voice dangerously quiet.

"I didn't," Bella stammered from behind him. "It's just a slap. It won't bruise for long. I was only trying to help."

Ryder let go of Lilith's chin. He turned around slowly.

"Bella," he said, his voice almost pleasant. "Come here."

Bella’s face is drained of color. She knew that tone. She had heard him use it right before he executed the guards who failed him.

"Ryder, please, I was just doing what you asked..."

"Did I ask you to hit her?"

"No, but!"

"Did I ask you to touch her face?"

Bella shook her head, tears welling in her eyes.

Ryder moved so fast Lilith barely saw it. His hand wrapped around Bella’s throat, lifting her off the ground. Bella choked, her hands clawing at his wrist.

"Remember this," Ryder growled, his face inches from hers. "You belong to me. She belongs to me. Everything in this pack belongs to me. If I want her broken, I will break her. Not you. Never you. Do you understand?"

Bella nodded frantically, her face turning purple.

Ryder dropped her. Bella fell to the ground in a heap, gasping for air.

"Get out of my sight," Ryder said. "And if you go near her again without my permission, I will banish you from this pack and leave you to the rogues."

Bella scrambled to her feet and fled, crying.

Ryder turned back to Lilith. She was still pressed against the wall, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

He walked toward her. Lilith flinched, expecting him to hit her, but he just stared at her.

"You're a fool," he said quietly. "You're in a den of wolves. If you want to survive, you don't fight back. You bow."

Lilith looked up at him, her eyes flashing with defiance despite her fear. "I am not a dog."

Ryder stared at her for a long moment. The corner of his mouth twitched upward, not quite a smile, but close.

"No," he murmured. "You're not."

He turned around and walked away, leaving Lilith alone in the courtyard, her heart pounding.

She didn't understand him. He had brought her here to destroy her. So why had he just saved her?