Bonded to the Exiled Alpha

"Lottie, it's just us here. The tent's zipped up, totally safe." Russell Odom's voice was smooth and suggestive as he wrapped his arms around me, his fingers brushing at my clothes.

I shivered, spinning to face him. The memory of my death burned in my mind, fueling a hatred stronger than my fear.

In my past life, those same words had lured me into trusting him, believing the wilderness hid us from prying eyes. I gave in, only for two thugs to stumble upon us.

Their knives gleamed with malicious intent as my half-open shirt caught their attention.

Out of options, I played along with their demands to protect Russell, buying him time to slip away. To cover his escape, I leaned into their cruelty, enduring horrors that left me broken.

By the time he returned with the police, I was barely alive.

Someone spread the news, and it blew up online. Russell was hailed as a courageous hero who risked everything to save me. I, however, was branded a reckless, immoral woman, spat on by strangers who called me vile names.

Worse, a video of that night surfaced, fueling a storm of lies. My social media was doxxed, flooded with hateful messages.

[Disgusting whore, go sell yourself!]

[How much for a night? Free? I'm local.]

[So wild! Did you lure those kidnappers? I'm sorry for her boyfriend.]

I deleted my accounts and ditched my phone, but nightmares of their leering faces and the online vitriol haunted me.

I confronted Russell, desperate to know how that night was recorded. I expected him to deny it or point fingers at the kidnappers, but he only avoided my gaze.

I pressed, "You know where the video came from, don't you?"

"We're done, Lottie," he said coldly. "I'm about to join a top company. I can't have a girlfriend with a ruined reputation. You're too dirty for me."

His words shattered me. "What did you say? I went through hell to save you, and you call me dirty?"

He didn't respond. Before I could go on, someone shoved me off the rooftop.

In that final moment, I saw Frida Dudley, her hand still outstretched. A smirk adorned her face, and Russell silently stood by.

Frida was the CEO's daughter who often hung around us. It hit me that Russell had already moved on to her, but I was given a second chance to change my fate.

This time, I'd protect myself and make them pay for what they did to me.