Chapter 3: Let. Her. Go.

DORA

The silence was palpable.

I could hear hearts beat faster, see jaws tighten and backs stiffen. A random omega walked into the room, glanced at us all with big fearful eyes before rushing out, and yet no one else noticed her. My father looked between the man and my brother, who was still holding the belt over me. “Alpha Reed,” he swallowed, and all the hairs behind my neck stood up.

Alpha Reed? Wasn’t he the most powerful Alpha ruling over the biggest, wealthiest pack in the country?

I remembered stories about him and how he had saved people from tyrant Alphas who invaded packs and took them as slaves. Alpha Reed had faced them all at a young age, and he had been ruthless and bloodthirsty about it to the point that he earned the nickname, “The BloodHound.”

The people he saved came together to form the Liberty Pack, and ever since, Alpha Reed had maintained his reputation as the most feared Alpha.

A deadly shiver ran through me.

“I assure you I treat my pack with lenience and respect,” My father said in a shaky voice, and I have never heard him nervous before. “But she’s different. She’s just a stupid girl who deserves to be punished for a fair reason.”

He then turned to my brother and signalled for him to take me away.

Scott nodded and stormed towards me. He grabbed my hair again, making me cry out in pain and forcing me to my feet.

“STOP! PLEASE! YOU’RE TEARING MY HAIR!” I cried.

“Stop.” Alpha Reed ordered, and my brother paused. “Let her go.”

“But-’ Scott protested.

“I said, Let. Her. Go.” Alpha Reed ordered, taking a step forward, his dark eyes turning red.

My father nodded to him, and Scott released his death grip on my head. I instantly sank to my knees.

Due to my dress being torn, it slipped off one shoulder, revealing my breast, and I had to pull my long dark hair forward to cover my chest in shame.

“You.” Alpha Reed pointed to me, and I jerked in fear.

“Alpha,” I slightly bowed my head.

‘You better watch what you say, you little skank!’ My father mindlinked me. ‘Don’t ruin this treaty for me, or I’ll kill you myself!’

‘Behave, bitch!’ My brother mindlinked as well and my body began to shake. I suddenly felt the urge to run as their icy cold aura enveloped me.

“What’s your name?” Alpha Reed asked, bringing me out of my fearful thoughts.

I peered at my father from the corner of my eye.

“Go on.” He smiled nervously. “Tell him.”

‘You better tell him the wrong name, you evil bitch.’ His voice sounded in my head again.

“Martha.” I whispered.

In the blink of an eye, Alpha Reed was right in front of me, lowered on his haunches and gripping my chin so that we were at eye level.

Raw fear seeped into my bones at the anger in his eyes. I could see his black irises turn into small embers of red but yet his hold on my jaw wasn’t hurtful, just firm.

His stern face softened. “Tell me the truth girl, and nothing but the truth. What is your name?”

And maybe it was the kindness in his voice or maybe it was the fact that I was so exhausted and barely hanging on that made me feel like I could tell the truth. “Dora.” I choked out, “Isadora Campbell.”

Alpha Reed’s brows furrowed. “Campbell?” He rose to his feet and brought out his handkerchief to wipe the blood and snot from his hand. He looked at me before looking at my father. “Related to you by any chance, Alpha Campbell?”

“Well,” My father stuttered and gave a nervous smile.

“Well, what?!”

My father frowned. “She’s my daughter.”

Alpha Reed blinked in what I could call surprise. “Well, I’ll be damned.” He said with his hands on his waist. “If you can treat your daughter like this, how would you treat a stranger?”

“I assure you Alpha, I could never treat you wrong! What she did is deserving of death but I spared her out of mercy!.” My father replied but Alpha Reed ignored him and turned to me.

Alpha Reed helped me to my feet and led me to the couch to sit.

At first, I hesitated because I hadn’t sat there in a long time but something about being around Alpha Reed made me feel at ease.

“Now I’m curious. Tell me,” He asked, sitting on the same couch, while facing me like we were long term friends. “Why would your family treat you like this?”