“This is Arnold.”
Nodding at him, Victoria smiled. He offered a hand, which she shook. Before she could ask anything else he headed outside.
“He’s talkative, isn’t he?” Mandy asked.
“What’s wrong with him?”
“Nothing. He just doesn’t like to talk.” Mandy walked out of the door. “Are you coming?”
Victoria followed them out. She wasn’t looking at the scenery. Her thoughts were consumed by Scorch, his touch, and what he was doing.
“You’re still worried?” Mandy asked.
“I can’t help it. I know how dangerous Chain is. He won’t give up until he gets what he wants.”
“Scorch won’t let anything happen to you.” Mandy squeezed her arm.
“I’m not worried about me. I’m more worried about another alpha. If Chain can’t have Scorch, he’ll find someone else to take his place.” Victoria was so scared of what it all meant.
“The alphas know what to do. Some of them are so old. They all have books they consult that talk about an alpha before them. Scorch keeps diaries in his office about his time. His father before him and so on all kept them. I promise you, the alphas will know what to do.” Mandy looked out of the window. “I want you to know that I’m thankful you came forward and didn’t go through with it.”
“What do you mean?”
“David and Scorch were the best of friends growing up. They’ve been through it all. Scorch was best man at my and David’s wedding. He was there at our mating.” Mandy stopped, rubbing her hands down her thighs. “If something happened to Scorch, David will follow him. There is no way my man would allow Scorch to walk to his death. Thank you for telling the truth. I couldn’t live without my David.”
“Scorch is the nicest man I know. I’m not the kind of person who can do that.” Tears filled her eyes, remembering the pain. “When Chain was hurting me, I knew I’d rather die than be forced to do something I didn’t want to do.”
“Do you love him?” Arnold asked.
Jerking to the front, she saw the man glaring at her.
“Yes, I love him.” The words were out before she got chance to stop them. “I love Scorch.” She smiled as the words didn’t make her feel alarmed but happy, really happy. They arrived at the store thirty minutes later. Arnold hadn’t spoken a word after his question. Climbing out, she followed Mandy around the supermarket. As they were nearing the meat section, she spotted the toilet. “I’m just going to go and freshen up.”
“Okay, what’s your favorite, lamb or beef?” Mandy asked.
“Whatever everyone else likes.” She opened the door to the toilet, walking to the sink. Staring at her reflection she wondered if she could see any real sign of her lost virginity. Her neck was covered in marks from his lips. She shivered remembering what it felt like to have his lips on her body.
You’re in love with him.
“Who would have thought?” She looked at the water in the sink with her hands inside. “Everything is going to be all right.”
The light overhead flickered. Looking up she frowned before returning her attention to her reflection. Behind her stood Chain with his arms folded, glaring at her. He didn’t move but looked her up and down. She couldn’t believe she was looking at him. Her heart raced as he tugged out the silver chain he kept around his belt.
She made a mad dash for the door, but he caught her. The chain touched her skin, and he did not.
“What the f**k are you doing here? Where is the f**king alpha I asked you to bring me?” He snarled the words close to her face. Victoria wished he would just touch her and get it over with. Once he touched her, the forced change would occur. As she clawed at the chain around her neck, he tugged, spinning her back to face him.
Victoria couldn’t speak. He leaned in close inhaling her scent. “You’ve f**ked him then.” His nostrils flared with his anger.
Tears were bright in her eyes as she looked at him.
Mandy, someone, help me.
No one was coming to her rescue. She was all alone with a mad alpha. Victoria wasn’t an idiot. There was no way she was stronger than he was.
Whimpering, she looked in his eyes seeing the real evil lurking there. While she’d been with Scorch Victoria had forgotten about the evil in the other man.
“Scorch’s c**k is good enough for your tight cunt but I’m not?” he asked, growling at her.
She remained silent, terrified of saying the wrong thing.
“Get me Scorch and I’ll let you live. You’ve got a week, and then I’m coming for you. He can’t keep you protected, Victoria. Don’t think for a second he knows what he’s doing because he doesn’t. You’re my bitch, and you’ll learn your f**king place once and for all.”
He let go of the chain, turned and jumped out of the bathroom window. Looking up at the window she saw where he’d come from. There was no getting away from him at all. She wasn’t safe so long as he was alive.
Crying, tears spilled over her cheeks. With Chain alive, no one was safe, not even her.
****
“What are you trying to say, son?” the eldest alpha, Edward, who looked in his late fifties but had to be close to a hundred and fifty asked. Scorch looked at all the alphas wishing he knew what else to say.
“Chain, the leader of The Clan, is planning to separate the bond between wolf and man.” Scorch looked at David, who simply nodded at him. “He’s going to kill me so he is the one in control.”
Another alpha that looked to be a few years younger, leaned in close whispering, “I know, Alfred. This is all disturbing to say the least.” Edward held his hand up. “We know who you’re talking about, and we were planning an intervention of some sort, but we didn’t have any proof.”
“What proof do you have?” Alfred asked.
“My mate. I found her bound to a tree waiting with multiple wounds over her skin. She’d been washed of all scent. I took her in and nursed her back to health with the help of my pack. We’re a destined mated pair, and once this is over I will be taking her as my own. Her family has died at the hands of this monster along with many others.”
“This is not proof,” Alfred said.
“I’m speaking clearly for you all to get the picture of the risk her life is in. She was sent to gain my affection, lead me out to make me vulnerable, so Chain could kill me. If she hadn’t fallen for me, I fear it could have happened. Any male who feels the need to mate is vulnerable. Without knowing about Chain’s true intentions, I would have been defenseless. We all know that an alpha killing a fellow alpha is not what our laws allow. We’re bound by our wolf to be good to our pack. Chain has found a way to hurt his pack without forcing on the change.”