Chapter 2. Meeting the Big Bad Alpha

It felt like a thousand bags of cement were tied around Olive’s body when she woke up. She couldn’t even move her neck to look around because it felt so heavy and painful. She, however, knew she wasn’t outside anymore. She was still on the bare floor, but under a roof. Olive didn’t stay awake for long before someone realized she was conscious. Maybe they had all been checking on her in shifts.

“She’s awake,” a man announced. Fear skittered through her heart. She was going to face torture again.

Two strong arms pulled her up, and she cried out in pain. Her injuries hadn’t healed at all despite the healing abilities of wolf shifters. Dry and fresh blood still covered her, though her hair and clothes were already dry.

She was dragged into a room and pushed roughly to the floor. She screamed and clung to the floor while crying. Oh, her life would have been roses if she had found her parents instead of running into the arms of a strange man who turned her life into a living hell. She hated him. She hated the Vrek Cult. She hated her life.

“I’m really disappointed in The Vrek Cult. They sent you? Seriously? You? Is that how badly they wanted you dead?” Olive heard the woman’s mocking voice.

She opened her swollen eyelids and peered at the blurry image of Cynthia. She was the daughter of the man who made her what she was, the man who forced her to join the cult at fourteen. She hated both Cynthia and her father. She, however, couldn’t believe Cynthia was with Alpha Knight. How was that possible? Cynthia was part of their cult… she must have pledged her allegiance. How did she free herself from the blood oath? Did she find her mate?

Wait—

Was Alpha Knight her mate? If so, then Olive was doomed. Cynthia hated her just as much as she hated Cynthia and her father. No wonder she had whipped her mercilessly. She wouldn’t let her mate, the BBA, spare her. God! Why did Olive have to run into Cynthia here?

“She’s so weak. When you said The Vrek Cult was coming after The BBA, I thought we were in for a bloody fight. Too bad they sent a clumsy she-wolf,” another man mocked, and they laughed. From the sound of the laughter, Olive could tell there were four or more people in the room.

“I’m not weak,” Olive managed to croak. Cynthia kicked her hard in the face, and her lips and nose bled. Of course, they laughed at her.

Cynthia bent down and pulled Olive by the hair as tightly as she could, so tightly that Olive felt strands ripping from her scalp. She closed her eyes in pain.

“You are a pathetic weakling, Olive. Just because you succeeded in all the other stupid missions you embarked on doesn’t make you a heroine. You just haven’t faced a mission too strong for you. Oh! You already have, and it’s going to be the end of you,” she spat directly into Olive’s face, then slammed her head against the floor with so much force that blood began to ooze out.

Olive prayed she’d die from the impact so she could avoid facing The Big Bad Alpha himself.

“Tell the Alpha she’s conscious enough to feel pain now,” Cynthia ordered like she was the lady boss. Well, she was most likely the Alpha’s mate and their Luna.

A man walked out of the room to call Alpha Knight, and Olive’s heartbeat increased drastically. This was it. Her death… without ever feeling the love and comfort of having a mate. She remembered her earlier prayer to the moon, and tears fell from her eyes.

She opened her eyes wider so she could see more clearly. The men’s faces were visible now, though her vision blurred every few moments. Her eyes stayed fixed on the door, ignoring all the wicked and mocking looks directed at her by the people in the room, especially Cynthia.

Finally, he walked in.

He was a tall man—really tall. He was well built and looked like a soldier. Aside from his terrifying stature, Wayne Knight was a very handsome man. His light brown hair was cut sharply, and long, curled strands fell slightly over his face. His eyebrows were thick and straight, giving him a terrifying yet sexy stare. Thick eyelashes framed his medium-sized eyes. His whole face was a masterpiece, and Olive wouldn’t have minded analyzing that work of art if it weren’t for the situation she was in.

Wayne’s scent filled the room like rain on a dusty forest floor, a scent Olive loved deeply. It filled her head, and for a second, she inhaled it deeply. Cynthia smirked at her and walked up to him.

“Hey, Wayne,” she called him by his first name, showing Olive that they were on familiar terms. Olive got the message clearly.

“Hey,” he replied in the coolest and sexiest voice Olive had ever heard. It was like smooth butter spreading over warm cake.

Cynthia wrapped her arms around his neck and turned his face toward her, giving Olive a clear view. She raised herself onto her tiptoes and planted a soft kiss on his lips. Then she nibbled on his lower lip until he took hold of her and kissed her back. She moaned softly before he pulled away.

Olive’s already fragile heart shattered. Sure, she had suspected they were mates. But seeing them kiss so passionately killed her inside.

Wayne’s eyes moved to Olive and settled on her face. Their gazes locked, and neither of them looked away for what seemed like an eternity. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to look away; she simply couldn’t. It was as if her eyes were permanently glued to his. She felt as if she were seeing through his glassy brown eyes, as if she were entering an entirely different world.

Suddenly, her wolf stood on all fours inside her, fur bristling. Olive felt agitated, like her wolf wanted to break free after finally finding a way out of prison. She could feel herself struggling to surface.

Cynthia brought out a gun and showed it to Wayne, even though he still hadn’t broken eye contact with Olive.

“I suggest you give her a quick death. Don’t waste your energy on her when you could use it on me in bed,” she whined as she brushed his messy hair away from his face. Olive’s wolf growled at the mention of Wayne being in bed with Cynthia. And why was Cynthia touching his hair? How dare she touch his hair!

A muscle flicked in Wayne’s face, and his jaw clenched tightly. Everyone in the room knew Olive was done for. Cynthia just wanted to flaunt the fact that she was sleeping with him by saying what she had said earlier. What she truly wanted was for him to give Olive a slow death.

Olive gulped and finally lowered her gaze from his. He exhaled and looked at his men.

“Out,” he ordered, and they immediately scrambled out of the room. Cynthia placed her hand on his shoulder and stood beside him like an equal. He slowly looked down at her fingers spread across his shoulder, then at her face… he looked annoyed.

“You too, Cynthia,” he said, and her eyes widened.

“What?” she mumbled.

“Out,” he ordered coldly, and she exhaled angrily. She glanced at Olive and gave her a murderous look before leaving the room.

Wayne stared at Olive again. His eyes traveled over her battered body, and his fists clenched involuntarily. Her face was a terrible mess. Blood flowed heavily from her nose down her chin, and her eyes were swollen. He could hear her heart beating too fast and too loudly. She was terrified.

He took a step closer to her, and she whimpered and shifted back in fear. His muscles tensed with anger. He turned around and walked out of the room, banging the door behind him.

Olive’s heart thudded, and she curled into a ball. Wayne Knight was terrifying… but why did her heart also wish he were still staring at her?

Olive tried to calm down, but her wolf was still alert, savoring Wayne’s scent. What was wrong with that furry creature inside her? Her wolf heard her thoughts and growled the answer to her question—

“Mate.”