The Alpha's Prisoner

Mole

GEMMA

I ran as fast as I could, to the stranger’s room. There had to be something he left behind. A clue, a scent, just anything that would help me find him. I forcefully pushed the door open and froze.

He stood by the window, water dripping from his hair, his lower body draped in a towel. My breath caught and I spun around, heat flooding my face.

“I promise, he wasn’t here.” Dontrell whispered, confusion spreading across his features.

“Is everything okay?” The stranger’s voice pierced the silence and my wolf stirred at the sound of his voice.

“Yes, i... we’re sorry for intruding. We’ll leave now.” I pulled Dontrell away but he yanked his hands off mine immediately, his brows furrowing.

“Where were you?” He clenched his fist.

“I was tired of staying in here all day so I decided to take a stroll.” The stranger responded casually.

“Through the window? Past the guards at your door?” His voice was beginning to get harsh that I feared it would scare the stranger.

“I wasn’t sure they’d let me leave.”

“That is...”

“Dontrell.” I caught his wrists and looked him dead in the eyes. “Let’s go.”

He hesitated, his fingers twitching towards the dagger but I pulled him away.

“Don’t tell me you are rethinking this because of his abs?” He paced my room.

“How dare you? I am not...” I paused, trying to be careful with my words. “Something tells me he might be different.”

“Because of his abs?” He reached for his shirt buttons. “I can walk around shirtless all day if that keeps you thinking clearly.”

“The fact that we are speaking about this is inappropriate.” I turned away from him “I am not taking any decisions based on emotions.”

“Then, don’t stand in my way.” He pulled out his dagger and headed for the door.

“A scratch on my mate and I’ll shred you into pieces.” I growled. The words left my mouth before I could stop them. My hand flew up to cover my lips but the damage was done. Dontrell stopped and turned to look at me slowly.

“Dontrell, I...”

“You are threading a dangerous path.” His brows furrowed. “And I will do everything within my power to make sure this pack does not go down with you when you fall, cause my loyalty is to Frostfang.”

Before I could respond, he stormed out of my room. I crumbled to the floor immediately. I wished I could end all of this but his eyes.... those innocent eyes, I could not harm a total stranger for my own sake.

The next two days weren’t so easy. Dontrell stayed away, spending every waking hour at the training grounds, pushing young warriors through drills, just like he used to do with me when I was little. He didn’t stop performing his Beta duties, in making sure the pack was safe and everything was fine but he had kept everything official. No friendship, no warmth.

I’d destroyed years of trust with those words. I couldn’t even ask the stranger to leave. Whoever tortured him would finish the job if they found him alive.

I stood outside his door and raised my hand to knock but lowered it. This was stupid. I turned to leave but the door pushed open. I couldn’t turn to leave as he was already there, staring at me with confusion.

“Please, come in.”

“No, I...” I swallowed the saliva in my throat. “I just came to...”

“Please.” He urged and stepped aside. “I insist.”

Every instinct screamed at me to run but I hearkened to his words.

“Do you remember anything?” I sat on the edge of his bed, maintaining distance.

“Not yet.” He answered. Our eyes met for a minute and I was... beginning to come unglued. “I have to leave.” I stood up abruptly, heading for the door.

“You don’t have to run.” His voice stopped me cold. “An Alpha doesn’t run.”

My hands leaned on the handle.

“I know you want me.”

I turned and tried to speak but he was already coming close to me. Way too close and my wolf whimpered.

“That’s not...”

“Look at me.” He ordered. An Alpha wasn’t supposed to be ordered yet I found myself frozen. I refused. I couldn’t. if I looked, I’d be lost.

“Afraid?” The challenge in that single world made my teeth clench yet I couldn’t do anything. “An Alpha afraid of a man with no memory?”

My back hit the door as he moved even closer and his hands braced on either side of my head, caging me in.

My breath caught as his scent overwhelmed me. The undiluted scent of a male.

“This is inappropriate. I came to ask...”

“Lie to yourself if you need to.” I felt his breath on my chin. “But your body has already told me the truth.” I couldn’t breathe neither could, I think. “Waking up with nothing, no past, no name, no purpose yet you look at me like I matter, like I’m real, like I’m yours.”

“Stop.” My fingers curled into his shirt.

“Tell me you don’t want this.” His grip tightened on me. “Tell me your heart isn’t trying to break through your ribs right now. Tell me you don’t feel this.”

My wolf howled as my body arched towards him.

“Stop fighting.”

I was drowning and burning and coming apart.

“I’ll give you everything.” His teeth grazed my throat. “Let go. Stop being Alpha for one moment and just feel...”

Suddenly, a broken sob echoed in my memory.

Mom.

I shoved him pretty hard and he stumbled back; confusion etched to his face.

“Don’t touch me.” My voice cracked as I struggled to catch my breath. “Don’t ever do that.”

I ran out of the room before he could make sense of what happened. I ran so fast that I almost bumped into Dontrell as he suddenly showed up at the corridor. He took in my expression from head to toe, my crumpled shirt and the direction I had run out from.

“Nothing happened.” I whispered. He didn’t utter a word and instead, continued to walk away, against my plea.

I barely made it to my room before the rage hit, at myself for being weak, for wanting, for nearly throwing away everything. I slammed my fist into the wall so hard.

This had to end. No more back and forth. I couldn’t let this madness and weakness take over me.

Dontrell had to kill him. Then, I would be Alpha. Only Alpha. I collapsed onto my bed and drifted off to sleep.

**

The door exploded inward and I rose to my feet immediately before my eyes could widely open.

“We’re under attack.” Dontrell stood in the doorway, battle ready. I grabbed my jacket and ran. The scene outside broke my heart and froze my blood. My pack was surrounded; warriors held at sword point, women and children herded into a tight circle by soldiers I couldn’t identify. A gasp escaped my lips as I sighted her.

Gina. Her lips thinned into a smile as she sighted me. She stood at the center of it all, command radiating from every corner.

“We meet again!” Her voice dripped with mockery. “The powerful strong female Alpha. First of her kind.” She mocked. Just then, the stranger approached behind me.

“Stay back.” I muttered but instead, he kept moving forward with a smile.

“Oh, my love.” Gina opened her arms and he walked straight into it. “I can’t believe your plan worked so quickly.”

My heart shattered into pieces as I took a step backward. I literally felt my heart tear as he stood right beside her, his arms folded behind him. Now, it made sense how she was able to attack. Insider information.

“We have unfinished business, Gemma,” Gina took a step closer towards me, her arms folded. “These people did nothing to offend me.” She continued, gesturing to my pack. “But their lives are in your hands. Come with us peacefully or watch them die. Your choice, my lady.”

I looked at my wolves. They were terrified and trusting me to save them. I couldn’t betray them.

“I’ll come with you.”

“No.” Dontrell grabbed my arm. “Gemma, you cannot...”

“Don’t stop me.” I pulled free, meeting his eyes one last time. “I caused this.”

The stranger stared at me with a grin etched to his lips and the innocence was gone.

“Smart choice. Bind her.”

Rough hands grabbed my wrists and cold iron bit into my skin; wolfsbane laced chains that burned the minute it contacted my skin. My wolf whimpered. Dontrell lunged forward but was stopped by three soldiers, their swords on his throat.

“Let them go.” I spoke through gritted teeth. “You have what you want.”

“Of course, Alpha Gemma.” She grabbed my chin, forcing me to meet her eyes. “You are coming home, Gemma Orson, where you’ve always belonged.” She grinned.

“Move out!” She commanded, her soldiers fell into formation, dragging me with them. Suddenly, the wolfsbane began to have its effect on me. I tried to hold back on the pain but I felt life seep out of me as I fell... into a pair of hands I didn’t know.