Chapter 6 : He Wanted to Break Me

I stepped back, my heart pounding when the man who just entered my room shut the door behind him, locking it firmly.

I didn’t recognize him. His eyes were so dark, they looked black in the dim lighting of my room. His sandy brown hair was choppy and messy around his angular face. He grinned when he saw me and it wasn’t a kind smile.

“Get out,” I snapped, having a bad feeling that he wasn’t going to obey.

I was right. His dark eyes just danced with amusement as he sauntered toward me. 

“My apologies,” he said, though he didn’t sound sorry in the slightest. “I just figured I would offer you a greeting of sorts. That was quite the show you put on in the throne room earlier.”

I hugged the towel tighter around my body and raised my voice, making it firmer and hopefully more threatening. “Get the hell out, now!”

He just chuckled, rolling his eyes as if I was a silly child. “Don’t think so. I was sent over with strict orders from the alpha to make sure that the filthy little rogue stays out of trouble.”

Jared sent him?! A fire of anger coursed through my body. 

He continued toward me, crouching slightly as if he planned to give chase. I stiffened. Normally, I would have already lunged at the creep but I couldn’t risk my towel falling.

I took a few more steps back, keeping as much distance as I could between us. “I’m warning you to stay away from me.”

He ignored me, grinning, his sharp canines glinting. “Were you trying to wash off the filth, little rogue? You can try all you want. You’ll still be a worthless outcast no matter how many showers you take.”

I cursed inwardly when I found myself pressed into the far corner of the room. I glared at the guy, my teeth clenched together, my hands tight on the towel.

He chuckled darkly when my back hit the wall. “Play nice now,” he cautioned as he reached a hand out toward me. “Your body is the only thing about you with any kind of worth. Surrender it nicely to me and I promise not to hurt you.”

He reached for my towel but I turned to the side, shielding the opening of the fabric. “Don’t you dare touch me!” I shrieked and kicked him in the shin. 

However, he didn’t seem fazed at all when my bare foot made contact. I had no wolf. It probably felt like a feather bouncing off him.

Suddenly, his hand shot out and gripped my chin, his other arm wrapping around my bare shoulders. His rough hands were slick, causing my stomach to churn as he rubbed my skin. Nausea rolled through me at his slimy touch. I whimpered, struggling against him.

“Oh, you’ll be making plenty of those noises in a little bit, you nasty thing,” he cooed, brushing my lips with his thumb. I nearly gagged at the sensation. He chuckled again. “Maybe having me inside of you will cleanse you of some of that rogue filth.”

No.

I’d looked death in the face several times during my lifetime, but nothing compared to this. This vile creature touching me filled me with more fear than I’d ever experienced. I felt paralyzed, the only movement I could manage was the intense hammering of my heart against my ribcage.

It was getting difficult to breathe as I willed my body to move. I had to escape. I would rather die than endure this man’s touch. His fingers caused my skin to prickle uncomfortably and my stomach to twist painfully.

I did the only thing my body would allow me to do at that moment.

I screamed, as loudly and as shrill as my voice would allow.

“Quiet!” my attacker barked, slapping his hand over my mouth to muffle my cries.

Another wave of nausea passed over me as I attempted to struggle once again, but he was much larger and much stronger than I was. All I could do was tighten my hands over my towel, my only piece of protection. The scumbag seemed to realize this as well and smirked before placing a hand on my waist, over the thick fabric.

“Afraid to show me what you got under there?” he asked, his voice filled with disgusting amusement. He scoffed and tugged lightly at the hem, right around my upper thighs. “You might as well show me. Don’t worry, I’m already prepared to be sorely disappointed, but that doesn’t mean I won’t play with what you do have.”

My breath hitched when the unmistakable sound of ripping fabric met my ears. I looked down to find rather than pulling the towel away from me, he was shredding it easily with his free hand. With his large hand still over my mouth, he forced my head up so that I had to look him in the eye while he slowly stripped me of my protective layer.

I tried to scream again, but he just grabbed my mouth even tighter and shook me roughly. “Shut up or I’ll have to gag you, and trust me, you won’t like it, especially when you learn what I’ll use to do it.”

Tears rolled down my cheeks at his words. I couldn’t let him violate me this way, but there was nothing I could do. I felt my body slumping with defeat. I shut my eyes tightly, screaming in my mind for someone, anyone to help me.

Please, anyone! I didn’t want this. I would rather die!

HELP, PLEASE!

“AH-OOOO!”

The guy’s hands froze over me when the room rumbled with a penetrating howl. The sound pierced through the air, likely carrying for miles around.

My attacker cursed under his breath. “Who the hell calls for dinner so fucking early?” 

He looked down at me. “It’s a pity that I have to leave soon. That means you’ll only get a few minutes of me, but you’d best make the most of it!”

He shoved me against the wall, pressing up against me and snaking his hand down between my legs.

Tears rolled down my cheeks and I closed my eyes in despair.

The door burst open at that moment with a loud bang. The guy dropped his hands and we both turned just in time to see Avery curl her claws back into her hands.

Avery was tiny, but so frightening when her wide green eyes swept over my attacker, and then to me. She bared her teeth, canines glinting when she took in the sight of my shredded towel.

“Damien,” she spat, taking a threatening step forward. “Step away from her!”

Damien straightened and rolled his eyes, not the least bit intimidated despite the fact that Avery looked ready to rip his head off. “Calm your tits, Avery. I’m under the alpha’s orders.”

I felt my blood boil at his words. I growled low. “If he wants to just kill me, he’s welcome to do so without making me someone else’s fuck toy!”

Avery glanced at me briefly, and her gaze softened slightly before she glared heatedly at Damien. She stepped between us, hiding me from the man’s disgusting eyes. “Damien’s a liar, Claire. Trust me, Alpha would never give that kind of order.”

Damien laughed loudly, throwing his head back. “If you’re so sure, why don’t you go ask him yourself? I’m sure he’d be more than willing to prove you wrong.”

Avery clenched her fists at her sides but otherwise ignored the taunt and waved a dismissive hand at him. “You heard the call. Get out of here now so that we can get ready for dinner. You’re wasting our time. You know the consequences if any of us are late.”

Damien snarled, knowing that Avery was right and he should leave, but not wanting to look as if he was taking orders from her either. He turned to go, but not before giving Avery a dirty look over his shoulder. “You’d best watch yourself, Avery. Associating yourself with the rogue is bound to make you a few enemies.”

He took off while Avery glared after him. As soon as he left and slammed the door shut behind him, she turned to face me, her expression filled with concern. “Are you alright? He didn’t hurt you, did he?”

Before I could respond, she gently grabbed one of my hands and lifted it away from my body so she could look me over. Her touch was soft and I found myself loosening the death grip I had on my towel.

“I’m okay,” I assured her. I let out a huge breath, feeling a bit lightheaded. “You came just in time. Thank you.”

Avery shook her head, dropping my hand carefully. “Don’t thank me. I shouldn’t have left you vulnerable like that. You were here alone showering for goodness' sake!” She seemed to collect herself and pulled something out from her robe. “Here, you should get dressed.”

I stepped out of the bathroom a few minutes later, dressed in the pretty knee-length dress that Avery lent to me. It was made of some kind of expensive fabric and was just a shade lighter than the midnight blue skirt she wore. She helped me pull my hair back and fastened it with some simple metal hairpins.

“If you want to stay here, I can tell Alpha that you’re sick.”

“No, no need,” I gritted my teeth. If what Damien said was true, I wanted to stare right into the Jerkface’s eyes and tell him to fuck himself. He wanted to break me, so I’d make sure he would never get that pleasure. “I’m ready. We can go.”

Avery nodded again with worry in her eyes, but she didn’t argue with me.

We hurried to the throne room, where the dinner was taking place. It looked like it was just minutes from starting judging from the dozens of pack members filing in, all dressed in collared shirts or simple dresses.

The large throne room had been completely transformed from earlier. Six chandeliers hung from the ceiling, brightening the room, and the plain wooden tables had been adjourned with delicate red tablecloths and gold-colored dishes and cutlery.

It might have been my imagination, but it felt as if the friendly idle chatter died down considerably when Avery and I walked in. We got several curious stares as we looked for a table. 

Avery pulled me along beside her, leading me to a long table closer to the throne. I kept my head high, refusing to appear meek in front of the other pack members.

I gazed at the grand, empty throne for a moment, what Damien said haunted me, even though Avery called him a liar. 

But what if Jared did really order him to harass me? I shuddered, remembering the sick twisting of my stomach when Damien touched me. Maybe trying to stay with Moonstone was a mistake after all. Maybe I was meant to be a rogue for the rest of my life.

The doors opened again after a while with a loud creaking sound. Everyone stood up. I quickly did the same, facing the door.

Jared strode in and my jaw dropped when I saw the woman hanging on his arm.

I heard Avery’s breath hitch when she saw it was the redheaded who had fought her in front of the entire pack.

“What does Amanda think she’s doing?” Avery hissed quietly to me.

She wasn’t really expecting me to answer, so I kept my silence as I watched the two cross the room. 

Jared led Amanda to the table next to ours, the one right in front of the throne. She glanced briefly at me and her eyes narrowed, seeming displeased to see me.

I glared right back.

Jared took his place in front of the throne before gesturing for us all to sit.

 “I have two announcements before tonight’s dinner.” The stern alpha got right to the point. “First, as many of you know, the number of rogues has been increasing at an alarming rate.”

A murmur of acknowledgment rose.

“We’re doing what we can to eradicate the issue,” he went on, silencing the crowd. “We must be more cautious going forward. Any information regarding rogues should be reported to a member of the council.” He let that sink in as he gazed around the room. “And secondly…”

I straightened, my heart leaping into my throat when his eyes found mine.