Enslaved by the Alpha

Chapter Fifteen: Threats Or Promises

The mirror reflected the discomfort gnawing at me and I frowned, loathing the insecure coward staring back. It was hard to believe the submissive, mistreated woman in the mirror once dominated a room with pure confidence and beauty. Beauty that went with every newly formed knot in her hair, every new scar on her body, every last bit of self-care that was lost until there was nothing left—nothing except the shell of what came of it after all these years.

"Scarlett?"

I looked past myself in the mirror to see Gia standing in the doorway with Onalee and Liane behind her, unsure expressions on their faces after catching me during a self-hate session.

Rather than reply, I lowered my head to stare at the wood of the dresser, clenching my jaw in total embarrassment.

"It's been a week since you asked for space and Draven's extremely worried. Is it what happened to your King? We hear you guys have some connection to each other that no other species has," Gia added softly, walking into the room with the others close behind.

"No, it has nothing to do with that bastard," I snarled. My thoughts circled around his death and a coldness washed over me. Although I'd never admit it, killing him did mess me up.

Ever since, I've felt like I've lost all purpose. I have this void in me that just won't go away. And as much as I hated him, he was still my maker and we shared something very similar to a father-daughter bond.

"I just need time," I added with a grimace, raising my eyes to my reflection only to turn away quickly in disgust. My heartbeat quickened in a blaze and I sneered, keeping my gaze low to avoid looking them in the eyes.

Was it shame? I'm not sure what's wrong with me. All I know is that being here is making me hate myself, it tears away any strength I had, and it has left me a disaster. I'm hoping I can find myself again. I just need to be alone.

"I know what's going on here," Onalee butted in. I looked over at her and she approached me with a gentle smile, leaving the other two standing side by side. She came to a stop next to me, tugging out the wrinkles in the men's t-shirt over my body and parting my hair to reveal my full face. "You've lost yourself, girl. It happens to the best of us. The question is, what done it?"

My jaw ticked and her smile grew. "We're not quite there yet, that's fine, so how about the four of us take a spa day? That's all you need to feel better, I promise you. Isolation is never the answer."

"No." I turned away, catching a glimpse in the mirror and halting in place. A low hiss left me and I spun around to face them. "Fine, only because you three will leave me alone after this."

"We never said—"

"Deal!" Gia interrupted Liane.

"Come. Let's start you off by getting rid of that crankiness. We know a place that'll take the tension right out of those muscles," Onalee said, signaling me to follow as she led the way.

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The man's hands pressed into my bare back, moving firmly up my spine and across my shoulders. Liane and I grunted and groaned feeling the relief and the other two girls stifled laughs at the noises emitting from us.

"I get why she's groaning, but you? You've gotten more massages than years I've been alive," Onalee announced with a small laugh.

Liane scoffed. "b***h, with the way my back gets blown out every night, it always feels like it's my first time in here. And damn, baby, does it feel good every time. Just not as good as when I go and f**k it up again."

"I can't wait to have that problem," she responded.

Embarrassed by their shameless conversation, I widened my eyes and remained silent. However, I realized my silence must've placed a beacon on me when Liane called out my name to grab my attention, then proceeded with her question without awaiting a response.

"So what's Draven got stored away? I got to know if he's anything like I pictured."

Onalee gasped. "Liane! Gosh, I can't believe you would ask her something like that! I can't even believe you think about him like that," she replied, thrown off guard by the words that flowed out of Liane's lips. I also was taken aback by her question.

"Uh, you don't? Literally every girl in that pack has. I mean, I don't anymore since I've met Quintin, but before? Girl, you best believe he was the reason I came at night."

I choked on my saliva, bewildered by her bluntness to say such things out loud at all let alone around me.

"Liane!" Onalee hissed.

"Gia, you've fantasized about him, haven't you?" Liane ignored her.

"I..." Gia's sheepish voice trailed off.

"So you two are trying to say you've never once thought about him like that? And as you neared eighteen, you never hoped, not even once, that he would be your mate? Come on, you two are so full of shit."

"Remember who you're talking to, Liane. She's our Luna. Watch it," Onalee warned in my defense, earning a scoff in reply.

"Psh, she can handle it. You have to have thick skin to be an Alpha's mate. The Luna's have to know so many women swoon over their mates just as much as they do, it's not news."

"Liane—"

"It's fine. She's right, I expected as much, especially considering his status," I butted in, putting an end to their bickering before it turned serious.

"See? She's aware and doesn't care. Why? Because she already has the prize," Liane answered smugly. "So, my curiosity has peaked, does he look good in grey sweats?"

"Goddess! Does Quintin know about this?" Onalee shouted in exasperation.

It was beyond me how the masseur's didn't even react and just continued doing their job without a singular comment or miss in their massage.

"Well, duh, what kind of mate do you think I am? He knows everything about me as I know everything about him. He was a little pissed at first, but it was before us, so ultimately he accepted there's nothing he could do about it. It's not like I still see him like that," she answered calmly.

"Does Draven know?"

"Now why in the hell would I tell him that?"

"Guys, please," Gia intervened in a soft voice. "Maybe we should go now. I think we've been cooped up in here with these chemicals long enough."

"Goddess, yes, I agree. I get this horrible spasm in my butt cheek when I'm—"

"Okay! We get it!" Onalee rushed out before she could finish her sentence.

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"I think this would look amazing on you!" Onalee held up a green dress in front of me and I blinked, my gaze moving over to analyze the girls standing next to her.

Gia smiled to express her approval, but Liane's face was scrunched in shameless disgust. Then, as anticipated, she looked at Onalee like she had just got done saying something utterly ridiculous.

"That's the equivalent of coating a Barbie doll in shit."

Onalee met her disapproving gaze and lowered the dress, her eyes narrowing in agitation. "Gia likes it."

Liane crossed her arms. "Gia likes anything green. Hell, she'd spend hours admiring a toddler's wall of boogers."

Gia's smile disappeared. "I would not!"

"Okay, okay! If it's so bad, then what would you suggest?" Onalee put her hand on Gia to stop her from flipping out while I stood in my spot, unfazed and entertained by the three of them.

Liane smiled, turning toward me as their attention followed. "I think maroon would look stunning on her. It's far from basic, and it would still complement her tone like any other cool color would."

They looked in thought and I stood silently, almost afraid to say something because of their history of arguments. "Am I just here to be your dress up doll?" The words flew from my mouth.

Agh! I've never had a filter, and it's always came around to bite me in the ass!

"No, we're just trying to make you feel good again," Onalee answered.

My eyebrow raised. "Wouldn't you think if that were the case I'd have a say in what we did and, I don't know, anything?"

"We're helping you get ready for the ceremony. This is the one time the Luna has no say over us and has to prove she trusts the pack. Obviously the whole pack can't help, so there's three Alpha chosen pack mates to have the honor," Gia explained.

I narrowed my eyes at Onalee in annoyance at the withheld information spewing from Gia. "This isn't a find myself outlet, is it?"

She smiled nervously. "Technically, no, but the process is incredibly helpful to do just that!"

"What ceremony are you prepping me for?" I asked harshly. Deep down, I knew exactly what they were readying me for and my stomach twisted with ice. I know very well how it's done, I've seen it four times.

"Ceremony's such a fancy word, more like a party. That makes it less nerve-racking," Liane added and I hissed, my agitation quickly raising from their avoidance to my question.

Onalee widened her eyes. "To create a bond between you and the pack, that's all."

After confirming my fear, my heart dropped to my stomach and I felt my veins swell with ice.

"You bad, bad girl... I bite back."

He flashed wicked grin then dipped his face in the crook of my neck, driving his canines into me.

I released an agonized scream. The pain was worse than anything I've ever felt.

He then leaned back.

"What... What the hell did you do to me?"

"I made you mine."

"Scarlett?"

"Are you okay?"

Inhaling sharply, I snapped back to reality and averted my eyes from the dress rack, placing my gaze on three concerned faces.

"I can't do that," I said coldly. "I-I'm not going. I'm leaving."

Before they could speak, I turned away and left the store. They called out to me, even tried to run to catch up, but I made sure to weave through the human crowd and slip out of their sight.

My muscles were tense and shaky, my stomach hurt, tears burned my throat and eyes, and I was feeling lightheaded. The memory instilled panic within me at the mere thought of being tied to anything ever again and it made me want to run, run and never look back. I can't go through it again. I just can't.

Suddenly, my body collided with another and the older woman lost her balance. I, being a vampire, used my reflexes and caught her before she and her drink hit the ground.

"Woah! My goodness, I'm so clumsy! Thank you, darling. You got some reflexes." She laughed warmly as she took back her drink. I smiled in return and turned to continue onward, yet she stopped me in my step by putting her hand on my shoulder.

My eyes locked on her hand and my eyebrows furrowed when I didn't feel a trace of warmth that all human's naturally have.

I twisted around to face her. "You're no human."

She smiled in a way that made me uneasy. "Neither are you, Scarlett."

I widened my eyes, then she took her cup and threw the liquid at me. My skin burned and I covered my face, hissing in pain. The liquid burned through me like I just shoved my face in a deep fryer, only worsening the longer it sat.

Her hand wrapped around my back and she stood closely, knowing she was safe to do so after immobilizing me.

"Garlic juice and vervain. Tanya wants you to leave her son by tonight, otherwise she'll be there to kill you herself." The woman muttered, releasing me to evacuate quickly.

"Scarlett!" Onalee's voice yelled out from afar.

When I opened my eyes, everything was blurred, and small winces left me. My breaths harshened and I dropped to my knees, curling up and clenching fistfuls of my hair to shield my face with my forearms. The pain seemed to go numb after the longest, agonizing minute, and I whimpered quietly to stop myself from crying.

"Ma'am, are you okay?" A man asked. I felt two warm hands find my back and grab onto each of my biceps. "Is she okay? This crazy lady threw steaming liquid in her face and just ran! Do you want me to call an ambulance?"

"No, sir, thank you, it's fine. We can get her there a lot faster," Liane's calm, polite voice would've surprised me if it weren't for the way I currently felt.

"Okay, be safe. All of you. There's some crazy people out there," he answered, then footsteps departed.

"Scarlett?" Gia's soothing voice filled the air around me and I looked up at them, gradually feeling like myself again.

"You know what? I'll go," I forced through clenched teeth, struggling to suppress the rage bubbling inside me. Their faces lit up hearing my change of heart.

I'll be there waiting.