Challenge the Alpha

Chapter two - All The Time You Need

Indie;

The pain reverberating throughout my body was not of easy depiction. Each muscle ached right down till it became bone, both from being held down for so long and for now being able to move. The cold, stone floor caressed my tender skin over my frail legs, I could feel every dust lump and piece of grit. Matty had only taken me and Benjamin four days ago, but the ‘fun’ he had subjected me to was more than just a toll on my physique. I felt my heart thump in my chest, burning pain in my lungs at the thought of my Benjamin. A fresh wail escaping me. I couldn’t imagine a world without my best friend, we had grown together from kids and had just decided to try dating. Years of not wanting to ruin the friendship we both cherished more than anything, and now we finally thought why the hell not, he was ripped from me by a jealous ex. This might not have happened to him. It was all my fault. My shoulders shook as I released all the hurt I had been forcing deep down to my core.

“ hey .. “ a gentle voice broke through my suicidal thoughts, “ listen, you take all the time you need but there’s a top here for you and one to wipe off some of the ….we want to get you out of here.. “

I peeked over my palms at a beast of a man, he had lowered himself to the floor with me and crept closer while I had been consumed by my pain and small screams. Even hunched, he was still gigantic next to my small frame. My gaze drifted down to his extended arm holding two black t-shirts out toward me. A shuffle to the left startled me and I jumped back towards the hard wall behind. I made eye contact with the other stranger who had slid down to sit by the door and, for a second, I forgot how to breathe. He was the most attractive man I’d ever seen, built like an Adonis and rugged to the max. Is this the victim-fancying-their-savior syndrome? I’d seen it on some cheesy daytime TV, when a girl is so completely screwed up she clings to the one who ‘saved’ her. I blinked away the feeling and realized both the men who came to my rescue were topless. I averted my stare and felt a heat rise to my cheeks. I looked down and came face to face with my own naked mortality. My arms instinctively wrapped around my torso, desperately trying to conceal myself. I quickly lent forward and snatched the garments being offered.

“ thank you, “ I muttered as I tried to find the holes with only one free hand, my patience had completely worn after my ordeal and I became frustrated within seconds,

“ Would you both mind just, not looking or something please? “ I snapped, “ I appreciate how I look right now, but I’m not how you think.”

“ Of course, sorry, “ the kind one who had passed me the top quickly responded and turned his back to me. I looked over to the handsome one and, once again, found myself caught in his dark, hickory-tinted eyes. He held my gaze long enough for me to notice a subtle trace of hurt concealed within his brooding features before he drooped his head and twisted away. Now with both hands, I was able to scour my face, my arms, my exposed bosom. Even dead Matty consumed my every inch. I pulled the top over myself and down to cover as much of my legs as possible, I was drowned in the material and yet still felt on show. I noticed how the crimson stained my hands and slowly turned to study the lifeless body on the floor to my right. His eyes were still open, his one hand resting towards where his throat used to sit within his worthless being. Even with nothing but this empty shell, I wanted to hurt him more. I squeezed my eyes shut tight, I couldn’t control the emotion in my body, it felt like my veins were swelling and threatening to burst all at once.

“ He killed, “ attention from the room back on me, I tried to choke out the words, “ he ..he, “ my voice breaking, “ my friend. “

The pair exchanged a look, a moment of silence between them.

“ He killed my best friend. “ So many feelings bubbling within me, all my words came out in a rush but barely at a whisper.

“ We found a man's body, a little way behind the house. “ They had him, I could take him home, to his Mum.

“ Ben… ” his name on my tongue felt like chewing hot coal. I had never cared so entirely for someone as I did him. The room became too small, my chest seemed to tighten and my lungs couldn’t take in enough air. I was hot, I was disoriented and I needed more space that these same dank walls to breathe. Mr Handsome made a move towards me and I was flooded by more panic.

“ No, please! NO!” I instinctively held my hands in front of me, fear had gripped my whole being as I cowered towards the wall.

“ Hey, it’s okay,” said the gentle voice of Mr Kind again. I sniffed and tried to open my eyes but I couldn’t bring myself to face the room, “ I told you, you take all the time you need. Just breathe okay, we’ll get you through this, you just need to really dig deep and find a part of you that’ll trust us okay? But you take your time, we can stay here all night.”

I took several steading breaths. I felt the cool air whoosh down the back of my throat and fill my chest, I listened to the exhale. I don’t know how long I kept them waiting but the smell of rot and death in the room was making me nauseous. Eventually, I built my bravery back up and took a cautious glance towards my saviors. Their eyes were fixed on each other, it seemed as though silent words were passing between them. I lowered my hands, this barrier I had briefly placed in front of myself coming away. I rubbed my fingers together, and on the spare top, trying to remove the last of Matty that would ever be on me.

“ I’d like to leave please.” I was embarrassed. I was vulnerable. I couldn’t find any strength left buried within to lift myself.

“ Will you let me carry you?” The god that had been casually leaning by the door was offering to carry me, his husky voice made my stomach clench. I was lost for words and could only nod with a quivering lip like a toddler longing for comfort from their mother. He wasted no time, crossing the room and kneeling before me. He tucked his right arm around the small of my back and his other arm hooked under my knees. I was staring at his bulging arm muscles as he flexed and pulled me towards his firm - and still very bare - chest. I felt his warm breath on my face and some stray strands of my hair tickling my ear. He smelt like being wrapped up inside on a rainy day, a warm breeze in the summer and a frost of a winter morning all at once. He reminded me of everything I enjoyed in the world and I was dazed by the closeness between us.

“ Ready?” He asked. I finally brought my eyes up to his, it was like looking in the stars. I was lost in them and again, managed nothing more than a small nod.

“ I’ll be gentle but this might hurt,” and my hero hoisted me from the ground. He held me tight to his chest, and my arms instinctively snaked to his neck. The smell was even more astonishing here. Without thinking, I rested my nose on the part of his neck that meets his broad shoulders and sniffed, my eyes mostly shutting as I relished in his aura. Embarrassment washed through me yet again as I registered what I had just done. I reluctantly pulled my face away and realized he’d briefly stopped and I would have sworn I heard him mutter something like ‘f**k’ under his breath as he took another step forward.

As we neared the front door to the house, I felt a sharp gust of wind and shivered involuntarily. The man carrying me adjusted his hold so his right arm came right around my torso and more of my body was pushed flush to his, the warmth emanating from him protecting me from the harsh winter climate. I was acutely aware of my reaction to him, my n*****s hardening as they rubbed on his rigid pecks. I looked around us, trying desperately to avoid his breathtaking face and melting onto the floor right then and there. I could see there were three others here with us, had they been in the room earlier ? I had been so devoured by my trauma, my hate for he who stole me, I had not registered much of my surroundings initially upon my rescue.

“ We brought the cars down, Alpha.” One called to us, I looked up to see the handsome man nod his approval but he didn’t utter a word.

As we reached the rundown kitchenette, I took one last look at the hell hole I had been captive in. I could feel the cold in the air as we stepped out and down the few steps that brought what could have been a beautiful cabin off the ground, I took in the freedom and the still night around me. I watched the leaves intently as the branches on the trees swayed in the kiss of the wind. As we neared a black vehicle, I became overwhelmed with gratitude for the fellowship who had stormed the villain and saved me. The kind one with the gentle voice, opened the back door and gave me a small smile. My bearer ducked into the car, so we both were on the backseat, me still grasped to his chest. The door was closed softly and we were entirely alone, nothing but our breathing and some odd tension I could sense. He cautiously moved a hand to my chin, tilting up.

“ Thank you.” The words escaped me the moment our eyes locked. He gave a lopsided smirk.

“ What’s your name ?” He asked, his hand moving from under my chin to lightly rest on the side of my neck.

“Indie.”

“I’m just sorry we took so long to get here, Indie.”