Page 12 of Alpha Chained

“Back off!” one of the guards snarls. He raises his hand, and something crackles as he aims a heavy baton her way. “You know what this is, don’t you?”

I back down a little. He’s right. I know exactly what that is. I’ve felt the bite of that fucking cattle prod more times than I care to remember. If she was in her wolf form, it would hurt. On human skin? I don’t want to think about it.

He smirks at me, and I bare my teeth, but that’s all I do. I can’t do more.

It wouldn’t do any good anyway. The bars between us are unbreakable. I learned that during the early years.

The woman stares at me for a moment. There’s no recrimination there. She doesn’t blame me for the situation she’s in. Although I feel it like a weight on my chest.

I feel so fucking powerless. Which is ironic since the very reason that I am here is because of the power I wield.

Except I only wield it for him.

I hate Franklin Parker with a level of venom that sometimes surprises me. And now, more than ever, as I watch another of his victims fighting for her life.

The woman hisses and snaps her teeth at the guard closest to her.

“We have our orders, girl,” he growls. “Stop being a goddamn idiot!” He turns to me. “And you!” The baton crackles again. “Back the fuck away!”

Reluctantly, I release the bars, ignoring the now-familiar burn of silver on my palms. I step back until I sense the shape of my bunk behind me. I sit and then turn my back on them.

Forcing my gaze away, I stare resolutely at the wall, fists clenched against the onslaught of confusing emotions. There’s nothing I can do that won’t get her hurt. Besides, this is how it has to be. Attachments only lead to weakness, and weakness is deadly in a place like this.

Still, I can’t fight down the growing rage as the sounds of her struggles intensify.

“No! I said let me go!” Her voice is strident. And even so, I like the sound of it. It’s warm and sweet. Too fucking sweet for this place.

Stop it. Stop fucking thinking!

The commotion dies down as they finally subdue her, dragging her away with her curses echoing off the walls. I don’t watch, keeping my eyes trained on that same spot until the last sounds of her struggle fade into silence. I clench my jaw hard enough to crack bone.

It’s better this way.

Better that I never learned her name or got tangled up in whatever brought her here. I can’t afford to care. Caring only leads to pain – a harsh lesson I’ve learned more times than I can count.

It’s better that she’s gone.

Chapter 6

Raura

I’m breathless and sweating by the time the guards stop in front of a plain white door at the end of a long hallway.

“Here you go, bitch. End of the line,” the taller of the two guards growls. There’s no mercy in his expression, although I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. I bit him a couple of minutes ago, and he’s still favoring his right arm. He’ll carry the scars of my teeth for a long while after this.

The door swings open, and he shoves me through it. I stumble forward, taking in the sight in front of me. The room is bare, aside from a simple table and two chairs. With the exception of one side, which is mirrored, there are no windows on the bare walls. Probably because we’re buried in the mountain. And that’s another reminder of how screwed I am. There’s only one way out of this subterranean fortress, and it’s heavily guarded. But I can’t think about that now – my immediate situation is more pressing.

One of the seats at the table is occupied.

Fucking Franklin Parker.

“Raura. Come in. Take a seat.” He indicates to the chair across the table from him.

I glare daggers at the man as he sits there, perfectly composed in his tailored suit. The bastard looks like he’s about to attend a fundraiser, not interrogate a prisoner.

“I’m not saying anything,” I snap, planting my feet and ignoring the chair he’s pointing at. “I don’t care what you threaten me with. You’d better let me go because when my people find you—”

Parker holds up a hand, cutting me off with an infuriatingly calm expression. “My dear Raura, if your…people attempt a rescue, I’ll consider it a gift.” His eyes glint with something predatory. “The more of your kind I can get my hands on, the better for my organization.”