Chapter 0005

Christina’s POV

When you're in the dark for a very long time, no matter how anxious you are, or the amount of fear running through your veins, you can't escape your body trying to get some rest.

I have to blink multiple times to kick the drowsiness out of my eyes when the bag over my head gets pulled off so roughly that it almost rips my lobe earring off. I kiss my teeth at first and then remember my current situation, which is enough to wake me up completely.

Dad, or Peter? I'm not sure what to even refer to him as anymore is by my side, chained up to a wooden chair that looks too weak and brittle. He looks at me and sends a smile he likely hopes is comforting, but it only makes my insides twist around even more.

The strange, man-wolf person who had claimed Becca was his ‘mate’ stands before us, eyes narrowed.

We're in a cell with actual bars, but he stands on the outside of it, watching us like we're mere criminals. If anyone had told me that this was how this week would go for me, I would have called them insane, but now that my life has become a scary story to tell in the dark, full of beasts and other strange things, I don't even know what to believe.

“I'll ask again before my Alpha makes it here,” the man says calmly, like he isn't keeping people in a cell against their will, “who are you, and why are you here in River Bay?”

“I already told you, we're rogues just passing by. We weren't looking for any trouble,” said Peter. “If you just let us go, we'll be on our way.”

“That story doesn't sound . . . very honest. Why would you be traveling with Gammas from another pack if you're just Rogues?” he turns to look at Becca, who looks away from him, pressing her eyes shut in what looks to be frustration. But we're merely doing what she and her sister asked, so why is she acting like this?

Melissa steps to the cell bars and grasps one of the metal rods. “They don't belong to a pack, but they're family to us, okay? Life throws us unexpected things, and you can't always expect the world to be a certain way. Please, we're begging you, let them go, and we'll be out of your hair. ”

The man seems to consider her words for a moment, and a conflicted look crosses his chiseled face. But unfortunately, before he can say anything, his eyes go wide, and he turns as footsteps approach.

“Alpha Xavier,” he greets the first person to come into view at the other side of the cell, “thank you for acknowledging my request.”

Alpha Xavier, as they call him, is flanked by two other men in shirts that do little to hide their muscles. Their faces are expressionless as they stare straight ahead in that strange way bodyguards do. As for the Alpha himself, some of his face is obscured by shadows because of where he stands, but the structure of his face is something most people would consider attractive. He's taller than the man who captured us, although not by a lot, and carries himself with an air that seems a little forced—desperate for attention.

“My number one Beta, Isaac,” Alpha Xavier says, patting his subordinate on the shoulder like he's a young boy even though they don't look at all different in age or countenance. “What kind of person would I be if I didn't accept your request for an audience?” He walks closer to the cells, giving me a better look at his face. “What do we have here?”

I don't like the way his eyes fall on me like an eagle stalking prey, but I try to swallow the rising trepidation within.

Isaac chips in, “These are wolves I found crossing our territory. They don't belong here, but these two in the cells don't belong to any pack.”

Xavier turns to look at Becca and Melissa. “And who are these two women?”

“They are Gammas from Cross Moon Pack,” he pauses thoughtfully, “one of them happens to be my mate.”

“Which, I believe, is why they aren't in the cells as well, hmm?”

Isaac lowers his head a little. He seems a little embarrassed. “Yes.”

“I understand. I wouldn't want any harm to come to my mate either. But, next time, I need you to think about where your true allegiance lies, Isaac. What if they are spies sent to infiltrate this pack and obtain secrets that could potentially . . . ruin us?” He keeps looking at me as he speaks, with his eyes falling on my breasts every so often. At one point he even licks his bottom lips, looking every bit like a hungry dog.

Alarm bells start to go off in my head. I can't be left anywhere near this man—or beast.

“I'm sorry, Alpha. It won't happen again,” says Isaac, looking genuinely contrite.

I had been hoping that Becca or Melissa would have been able to convince him to let us go, but from the way he communicates with this ‘Alpha’ of his, he doesn't have a say in our situation, which makes things a whole lot more difficult.

Finally, Xavier pulls away from the cell bars and turns away from me at last. “That doesn't matter now. Have you been able to get anything out of the Rogues yet?”

“Nothing yet, but—”

Xavier lifts a finger, effectively silencing Isaac. “That's enough.” He nods to the two men that came with him. “Take the female to my room. I'll conduct an interrogation myself.”

Isaac's eyes go a little wide, and something like worry flashes through his expression, “But Alpha, I genuinely don't think—”

“We're not taking any chances with them. You of all people should know that.” He turns to the men approaching, “How much longer is it going to take you to get here and do what I asked?” he says impatiently.

“No, no, no . . .” I start to say, trying to free myself from my binds, but of course, it's of no use. I can't break chains, and I can't fend off two men with merely my legs. They open the cell and step in, their shadows falling over Peter and me like curtains of doom. “Please no . . . I don't know anything, I swear!”

They undo the chains around me, but I don't even get breathing space, or an opportunity to try and escape before I am grabbed by both arms and practically lifted out of the cell.

I kick out my feet, struggle against my captors, and beg for mercy, but they solve nothing.

“She knows nothing!” Dad shouts from behind me. “She's innocent.”

“I'll try to confirm that on my end,” says Xavier, with a mocking look on his face. “Don't worry, I just need a few answers.”

Becca and Melissa join in on the begging, but nothing changes. The Alpha's mind is already made up.

I don't know what to expect from him, but I have a feeling that it can't be anything good.