Chapter 3

Sophia's POV

"What are you going to do to me?" I coughed, feeling sick again.

The man sneered. "You'll see soon enough," he replied cryptically. "The Alpha is on his way and when he comes we'll know whether to kill you or torture you," he laughed with the others, flaunting their weapons in my eyes.

I looked around, trying to look for a way to leave or outsmart the men but there was nothing.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked, trying to stall for time. "Who is the Alpha who asked you to take me?"

The man's expression darkened, and he grabbed my cheek roughly, making me wince in pain. "It's not our place to question the Alpha's orders," he growled. "We're just doing a job, and you've been marked for punishment."

Marked for punishment? The words sent shivers down my spine. Who could be behind this? 

"Let's go. I'm starving! We can come back once the Alpha is ready to deal with her," one of the masked men said, rubbing his stomach.

The rest of the men cheered and one of them spoke up again. "What are we going to do about her?"

"Gag her or choke her,” another answered and they decided to go with the latter. 

"No," I screamed at the top of my lungs, hoping someone would hear me and save me but all I could hear was the echo of my own screams. "Don't do this, please," I begged but they were deaf to my pleas.

The men ignored my desperate pleas and swiftly grabbed the cloth that had been used to gag me earlier. 

With a sinister grin, one of them approached me, his hands trembling with excitement. They balled up the cloth, and before I could react, they used the handkerchief from earlier and forced it against my nose and mouth.

"Take a deep breath, little she-wolf," the man sneered, his voice sending shivers down my spine. "You won't be causing any more trouble soon."

I struggled against their hold, trying to fight the suffocating feeling that engulfed me. Panic set in as I realized they were trying to make me pass out again. Memories of my earlier ordeal flooded my mind, and I couldn't bear the thought of losing consciousness again.

"No... Please... Stop," I managed to gasp, my vision already starting to blur. But the men showed no mercy, holding the cloth firmly in place, depriving me of precious air till I was gone. 

I don't know how much time had passed, but the next thing I knew, I was waking up to a sharp stinging sensation on my face. I felt ice-cold water on my face and it jolted me back to consciousness. I gasped for breath, disoriented and drenched, trying to understand what was happening. Was the Alpha back?

"Well, well, look who decided to wake up," one of them taunted.

"What do you want from me? Please just let me go," I begged, my voice hoarse from too much screaming.

"But we're just getting started," another man sneered. "We were told to teach you a lesson before the Alpha comes, and we're going to make sure it sticks."

Tears welled up in my eyes. "Let me go please," I begged. "I won't cause problems again," I said through chattering teeth. With my underlying health, inhaling the sedative twice, staying outside in the wilderness, coupled with the cold water, I wasn't sure I'd make it out of there alive but I still continued to beg, maybe a miracle would happen.

"Well, well, well," Alpha Victor's voice dripped with malicious satisfaction. "Look at what we have here. My stepdaughter, the disobedient little she-wolf. Alpha Caleb's rejected mate."

I mustered all the courage I had left and glared at him, "Father? You're behind all this, aren't you? It was a mistake, I swear! I didn't bump into him on purpose 

Alpha Victor's lips curled into a sinister smile. "But you bumped into him, dear. You stained him and brought this upon yourself, child. You embarrassed me in front of Alpha Caleb, and you will pay for it just as we agreed."

"Father please,” I begged. "For Mother's sake, forgive me, please. Give me another chance. I'll redeem myself."

"No, Sophia. You already thumbprint on the papers. There's nothing here for you now!” he said, smiling triumphantly.

"The document? What was in it? What did you make me sign?” I asked, crying more than before.

"You see," he started. "The document contains your consent to you giving up your title as heir to the throne of Crescent Moon Pack and if you cause any trouble for me or the pack in general, I have the right to do whatever I want with you. And that includes banishment or whatever punishment I see fit!” he said, laughing together with the men.

"You tricked me?" I asked, unable to believe him.

"I didn't trick you, Sophia. You came to me on your own accord this morning and asked me to help. You agreed to do anything I wanted so you signed the papers. Tell me, how did I trick you?” he asked, showing off a photocopy of the document in my face and the men. "Does it look like I tricked her?"

"I can't believe my Mother loved and trusted you! You're a monster!” I yelled, staring at him with hatred.

He walked to me and crouched to my level then grabbed my jaw roughly. "I'm not the monster here, Sophia. You are the cause of your misery and my happiness. If you hadn't caused any ruckus tonight, the agreement would have been null and void. But you just couldn't resist the pull to your mate, could you?” he asked, letting me go and then facing the men.

"You did a good job getting her out of there unnoticed. This is for you," he said, handing each of them a wad of cash while I watched them, in pain and regret.

They jubilated and fell to their feet. "Thank you, Alpha Victor. You'll forever be our leader and savior." Their leader said and they stood up, cracking their necks and ready to do whatever my stepfather paid them for.

The masked men looked to Alpha Victor for instructions, their faces eager to carry out his orders. "What should we do with her, Alpha?" one of them asked. "Should we kill her or…"

"Yes! Kill her!" Alpha Victor said, circling me, his eyes filled with malevolence. "Goodbye, Sophia!" He laughed and walked out, leaving me with the masked men.

As Alpha Victor left, the masked men circled me like vultures, ready to do unspeakable things to me. I was trapped, vulnerable, and at their mercy. 

"Looks like it's time to say goodbye."

"No, please!" I pleaded, my voice trembling. "I'll do anything, just spare me. I won't tell anyone what happened here. Just let me go!"

But they only laughed in response, savoring the fear in my eyes. "Sorry, sweetheart, but Alpha Victor has made it clear what he wants," another one said, raising a bat.

My instincts kicked in, and I mustered the strength to fight. I kicked and thrashed, trying to land a blow on any of them, but they easily overpowered me. My struggles only seemed to amuse them further.

"Put up all you want, little she-wolf," one of them sneered. "It won't change your fate."

Time seemed to slow down, as the men were talking about the best way to end my life.

"Enough!” the leader yelled, and I turned to face him standing a few meters away from me, holding a gun with his hand on the trigger. "Let's get this done right here, right now! We have other tasks to do.”

My heart pounded like a drum in my chest as I sat there frozen, unable to talk or move. Due to the fear, I even peed myself on the spot as my life flashed right in front of me.

A second later, the deafening sound of a gunshot ripped through the air and I shut my eyes, saying my last prayers, ready to let go of this miserable life and find peace.