Chapter 2. Broken

I stay with Alpha Ethan but can feel Alpha Draven’s eyes on me the entire time. I also notice Beta Luca watching me closely. They are expecting me to refuse, to fight. I can’t; it’s not like I have a wolf or the power to escape them. It’s also not like I have a wolf to protect me and help me battle the weather if I am forced to kneel outside naked again.

“For you.” I watch Alpha Ethan hold out a glass.

“Thank you, Sir. However, I am not allowed to drink without Alpha Draven’s approval first.”

He smiles, seemingly pleased by my words. I watch as he looks at Alpha Draven, raising the glass and pointing towards me. Alpha Draven gives an approving nod.

“Now you can.” He holds out the glass, waiting for me to take it. I never drink. I would rather not drink. Refusing it, however, is defying the order that Alpha Draven gave me. So my hand wraps around the glass, lifting it. I take a sip. Coughing as it burns the back of my throat.

“How old are you, Elara?” He walks forward, and I follow next to him.

“Nineteen, Sir.” Twenty tomorrow, not that I can say that out loud.

“Still young then.” His smile widens. “I’m on the edge with this deal. I want to agree but also disagree. What do you think is the best choice?” He looks at me, waiting.

“I can not say, Sir, it isn’t my place. However, Alpha Draven is an honest and trustworthy Alpha.” He’s not, but I know that is what Alpha Draven would like me to say.

“Hmmm.” He turns and continues to walk, and I follow; he leaves the room and sits in a quieter one. I stay a short distance away from him and kneel, my head lowering. It’s the standard protocol that Alpha Draven expects when any Alpha, Beta or similar is in the room until I am told to do otherwise.

“You don’t need to do that, Elara.” I raise my head at his words. “Please, come sit and get comfy.” He pats the sofa next to him.

“I apologise, Alpha Ethan; I am forbidden from sitting on that sofa. It isn’t for me.” Most of the furniture isn’t for me. Even if he insists I sit on it, I can’t. Alpha Draven would punish me for not getting his permission first.

“Where can you sit?” I point at the wooden chair. “That won’t do. At all.” I watch him stand. “Stay there.” I nod and don’t move as I hear him leaving. After about five minutes, I begin to wonder if he is even returning. I can’t just go and find him. Sure, Alpha Draven insisted I spend all my time with him. Still, if I moved, I would defy Alpha Ethan’s order, and well, I’m sure Alpha Draven would have a reaction to finding out that I did that.

“Come.” I stand hearing his order. Turning, I see Beta Luca standing beside him. I step towards them and watch as they turn and walk out. I fall into step behind them, keeping my head down as I follow them through the house. We stop at a guest room, and Alpha Ethan opens the door. He holds it for me and gestures that I enter. Stepping forward, I go through the door. “Remove your clothes.” I watch as he stands before me and loosens his tie before removing it entirely.

Taking a deep breath, I lift the dress from my body and place it on the side. Alpha Ethan stands with his eyes on me. I watch as he slowly walks around me, circling me until I feel like prey under his movements. He pauses behind me, and my body shakes. I hate not being able to see what they are doing and thinking.

“I have some orders that I am hoping you will follow without hesitation.”

“Of course, Sir.” I feel sick. I hear him moving and watch as he walks past me to a suitcase. He flips it open, and I panic when I hear metal. I watch him take out the long chain with cuffs attached.

“You see, even if you planned to refuse, you won’t get a chance to.” I watch as he hooks the chain into the ceiling, my body getting pushed to him. I stumble, and his hand reaches out. Grabbing my wrist, the cuff locks around them. I scream as the spikes dig into my skin. He ignores my reaction, grabbing my other wrist and snapping the restraint around it. My teeth bite against my lip to stop the scream that builds.

“Now you have no choice but to follow orders. You refuse...” I scream as he pulls the chain, and the spikes dig deeper into my wrists. “I ensure you listen.”

His calm and friendly attitude from before has gone, replaced with pure darkness and evil. I should have known all Alpha’s were the same. None I have met yet care, and why would they? I’m nothing.

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~

When I am placed back in my cell, I crawl to the small bathroom I have. My body hurts so much it feels like it’s on fire. Nowhere is pain-free; I ran out of tears hours ago, and guttural cries escape my throat as I struggle to make it into the tiny shower. Hitting the button, I collapse under the spray of the water. My eyes finally look down at my body, the angry brown marks showing; each new bruise I see seems more prominent than the last one. The large bite marks across my body are bleeding so badly that I know for sure they will scar without the use of magic.

I watch the water rush around me, the blood from their marks mixing within it and turning the water pink as it runs down the drain. Cries continue to erupt from within me as I struggle to find any position that eases the pain.

“Mutt.” I go to move, hearing him, but my body is too tired and hurt to obey. I simply fall back down again. “I will get someone to fix the worst bites and cuts.” I heard him leave and breathed a sigh of relief; I was sure he would request that I join him in bed. I don’t think I could agree or even refuse. My body right now can’t do anything. It’s useless without my wolf to help me heal.

I hear movement and watch Alex walk in. His eyes widen when he sees me; he glances towards the door quickly, then back to me. “Are you okay?” He turns off the water, lifts me from the shower, and carries me through, placing me on the mat; he wraps my sheet around my body. I watch him kneel before me, unscrewing the lid. His fingers run through the ointment, and he rubs it across the bites and cuts. It helps. The burning sensation stops.

“I’m sorry I can not do more, Elara; I’m very sorry.” He looks at me as he continues to cover the bites.

“It’s fine, thank you, Alex.” He nods and smiles, and I watch it begin to work. The bite marks slowly start to close up and heal.

“Alpha Draven must have realised your wounds were serious and requested that we use magic to heal them. Good night, Elara.” He stands and leaves. Lying down, I realise this has to be the worst beginning of my birthday ever. My eyes flutter close, and I fall asleep, unable to stay awake any longer.