Chapter 8

• ALIYAH
• I blinked as I tried to process Ashton’s words. What did he mean by keeping me? Did the Connors sell me to him? I stared at Brayden, wondering if he had any involvement, but he seemed just as baffled as I did.
• My panic grew as I shifted my gaze to Ashton. “W-what do you mean?”
• “I require a caretaker for my mother. She’s getting older and needs constant care.”
• A caretaker for his mother? Why would he choose me, instead of simply hiring someone? I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I thought he wanted to keep me as a slave, but I was relieved that he had no intention of imprisoning me. Anyway, he didn’t look dangerous. In fact, despite his towering height, he had a gentle demeanor that put me at ease.
• Would I consider his offer? Could I trust him enough because he seemed like a caring person? My only concern was his association with Brayden. Wait, was he a werewolf too? More so, a high-ranking one?
• “Y-you mean keeping me as a caregiver for your mother?” I confirmed.
• “Yes, that’s correct.” Ashton nodded with a genuine smile that stopped me from breathing for a moment.
• “You know the rules, Ashton. No one keeps slaves without permission from the Council.” Brayden protested as he put his hand on Ashton’s shoulder as if to remind him of the consequences. “And I highly doubt they would grant permission for an Alpha to have a human caregiver, especially one as powerful as your mother.”
• Alpha? So Ashton isn’t just a high-ranking werewolf, but an Alpha of their pack?
• I stared at my feet, feeling instantly mousy and insignificant in the presence of such powerful beings. No wonder he always looked so confident and in control. And surely he would insist on taking me with him, which I preferred instead of staying with the Connors.
• However, my heart sank as Ashton said, “Okay.”
• “If you want a slave, you can choose among the omegas. I’ll give as many as you want, but Aliyah is exclusive to me.”
• My body tensed at Brayden’s possessive tone. How dare he talk about me like I’m a piece of property to be owned? The smug expression on his face as he glared at me made my heart race faster and faster.
• “Aliyah wouldn’t make a perfect companion for your mother. But she’s good at something else,” Brayden said and turned to me, grinning that made me clench my fists at my sides. “What are you waiting for, Aliyah? Go back to the Omega house. Your expulsion is ineffective since I’m here, you know that?” He winked and that made my blood boil.
• “You have no right to claim me like I was just some object!” I took a step forward, standing tall and meeting Brayden’s gaze head-on. “You have to kill me first before you make me your slave, murderer!”
• Brayden‘s face twisted into a snarl, and I knew I had gotten to him. But I don’t care if he wasn’t used to being defied like this. He was a killer, and he didn’t deserve my respect.
• “Watch your tongue, woman!”
• “It seems that there’s an ongoing lover’s quarrel between the two of you.” Ashton’s inspecting gaze shifted between me and Brayden until it fixed on me. “But I must say, I admire your boldness, even if it means fighting someone like Brayden.”
• “I’m telling you, Ashton. You’re going to lose patience if you deal with a woman as feisty as Aliyah.” Brayden gritted his teeth, his eyes narrowing at me.
• “Well, then I must leave and give you privacy,” Ashton said with a smirk, clearly enjoying the tension between us. “But remember, sometimes it’s the feisty ones who bring the most excitement to our lives.” With that, he turned and walked away.
• I followed Ashton’s receding figure until he vanished around the corner. I wanted to stop him and tell him he couldn’t leave me with this man.
• But before I could utter a word, Brayden grabbed my arm and pulled me close to him. I struggled against him, trying to break free, but his strength was too great. I looked up into his eyes, seeing nothing but malice and hunger. The stale scent of sweat on his skin and animal blood on his jacket made my stomach churn.
• “Don’t worry, babe. You’ll soon learn to love being mine. Don’t you want to resume our little secret affair?”
• “No! Not with a lunatic murderer like you!”
• Brayden drew me closer, and I winced as I felt his firm grip on my bruising wrist. “You’re going to come with me now!”
• He dragged me into the forest, ignoring my desperate pleas for help. The trees zipped past us in a blur of green and brown, and I stumbled along with my legs tangled in roots and branches. The fear coursing through my veins only intensified as Brayden’s grip tightened, leaving me no choice but to comply with his demands. I was unsure of where we were going or why, and I had no way to tell if this was real or some twisted nightmare. I could only bite my lip as the branches scratched my skin and the mud squished between my toes. Regardless, my senses were dulled. I saw nothing, heard nothing, and smelled nothing.
• We kept walking and walking until the trees started to thin out. That’s when I realized that we were heading towards a small cabin hidden deep in the woods. It was a crude thing, barely standing, but it looked like home to him. He opened the door and threw me inside. I couldn’t help but sob when the pain shot through my body as I hit the hard wooden floor. The dusty air made me cough as I stood up, but it didn’t mean I would allow myself to be defeated. “I would never lower myself to that level. I am not your plaything!”
• Brayden laughed as he pulled me up. “Oh, babe. You have no idea what pleasures await you.”
• “I have no interest in your filthy pleasure. Keep it hidden in your pants!” I screamed, struggling to break free from his grip. “You are diametrically opposed to your family. Alpha Theon must be insane if he still chooses you to replace him!”
• Brayden gave me a cold, uninterested expression as if my words had no effect on him. “My father has no other choice, babe. He’ll introduce me as the next alpha whether he likes it or not,” he bellowed, banging the wall that made me startled. And then he placed his face near my ear. “Doesn’t it seem like you have no choice but to submit to me now? So, if you don’t obey my commands, I’ll make your life a living hell. You’re now in my den, and you must obey me because no bitch fights an alpha!” He hauled me to the bed, tossing me into the rough covers that felt like nails.
• “We still have lots of bases to cover, babe. I’m not letting you go until we’ve gone the whole nine yards. I don’t care what you do, but you better give me what I want.”
• I resisted him as hard as I could, but it was futile. He was far too powerful for me to overcome. My tears were stinging my eyes like acid as I pleaded with him to stop, but he refused. I desperately attempted to close my eyes, drowning out the overwhelming anxiety. But even in the darkness, I could see his wicked face, which made my entire body shake, including my soul. I lay there, helpless and afraid, wondering how I was going to get out of this nightmare. I’d been running around the forest for three days only to end up in his hands. No matter how much I tried to stay strong, I could feel that my energy was degrading until blackness crept across my eyes.
• I struggled to stay conscious, but it was a losing battle. The last sound I heard before passing from this world to the next was the thunderous growl of a wolf. However, it appeared that the sound was not coming from a single wolf. There were two wolves!
• But then I felt a sharp pain sink into my neck, and I knew no more.