Page 7 of Alpha Fate

“Tired.” I study him, taking in his features. He’s muscular. I can see broad shoulders that strain against his shirt. Even in the low light, I can make out thick golden hair cropped close. When he glances up, his eyes shine a brilliant green. It’s a strong face. A good face. I keep my eyes locked on it.

“I’m not surprised. If they gave you what they hit me with, I’m amazed you woke up at all.”

“It’s been like that a lot.” Since I got here, if I think about it. The only brief breaks were when the big male came to me. He’d move in close, sniffing me, seeking something. I don’t think he found it because he’d do the same thing each time he came. And I think he was pissed at not getting what he wanted. Suited me fine. I get the feeling that if he had, I’d have been in a whole lot more trouble.

I breathe in slowly. Underneath the dankness and mold of this place, I catch his scent. Fresh and warm with a sense of the sun. It soothes me, makes me want to move closer. To reach out and touch him.

“What do you remember? You were pretty out of it when I got here.” When he speaks, his voice is a low rumble. I close my eyes, letting the sound roll over me. It’s deep and resonant. A rich baritone that’s pleasing to my ears in a way I can’t quite explain. I want him to keep speaking, if only so I can continue listening to the timbre of his voice. It chases away the lingering disorientation, grounds me in this moment.

I open my eyes to find him watching me curiously. “Sorry,” I say hoarsely. “I get confused sometimes.”

“That’s understandable. When did they bring you here, Sierra?”

There’s that name again. I ignore it.

“I don’t remember. A while.”

“Can’t have been too long. I only left the team a day ago. I’d have gotten word if you’d been taken before then.”

“A day?” I’m confused. That doesn’t seem right.

“Yeah. Though what I’m really worried about is how they got hold of you. Was there an attack on the compound?”

“Men. There were men. On motorcycles.” I raise a hand to my head, rubbing it as the image crashes back on me. The shouts. The engines roaring. The surge of fear.

Pops! Mama!

“Motorcycles?” That seems to confound him. “The fuckers. They must have moved quick.” He pauses and I hear him take in a deep breath. “I just hope it isn’t too late for the others.”

“The others! Oh, God!” I get flashes of familiar faces, people I know I care about. I just wish I could remember more.

Gage raises his hands. They’re bound. I remember that now. “It’s okay. We’re going to figure a way out of this. Trust me.”

“There’s no way out.” I’m sure of it. I’ve looked everywhere. This tiny cell seems like it’s set in concrete. The bars are heavy steel. “He’ll find me.”

“Who’ll find you?”

“Him. The one who…who…” I swallow hard. “The one who owns me.”

“What?” He barks out the word. “What bullshit is this?”

“It’s true,” I whisper. “I can’t get away from him. He’ll always get me. He told me that I’m bound to him.”

“What the fuck?” He shakes his head. “They really did a number on you, huh?”

I shrug, not knowing what to say. It’s as if my whole life has boiled down to just this small cell and the moments of fear that consume me when that monster comes near.

“He’s lying, Sierra. You belong with our pack, and I’m going to get you back there. Do you understand?”

I stare at him wide-eyed. “Okay,” I husk out. I want it more than anything. And meeting his steadfast emerald eyes, for the first time since I woke up in this hellish place, I feel something within me reach out toward hope.

“Just give me a bit of time to figure a way out of here and…” He trails off, grimacing. “Time. We don’t have fucking time.” He rubs his eyes. I see his chest expand as he inhales. So broad. Powerful. Gage could fight off the other big male if the monster came back. That’s if he isn’t still chained to the wall. I feel deflated all of a sudden. The feeling grows worse as a key rattles down the hallway.

The heavy door at the end of the hall swings open with an ominous creak. I freeze, clenching my fists.

No, not again. Please, not again.

Two hulking shapes enter, their boots thudding against the stone floor. I shrink back against the wall, trying to make myself small. Bright light almost blinds me as one of them reaches for a switch and flicks it on.