Page 38 of Alpha Chained

I press my lips together, trying not to flinch when he sits close beside me. He brushes my wet hair aside before lowering his lips to my ear yet again.

I really wish he’d stop doing that. My earlobes have just reached the top of my erogenous zone chart.

“We’ll be out of here by this time tomorrow, Raura. I promise.” The words are barely louder than a breath. But he seems so certain that I don’t question him. So I nod. My body is humming. Partly with the anticipation of getting away from this nightmare. But also because being so close to this man seems to set me on fire.

He straightens abruptly. “Bed,” he says firmly. “It’s time to get some rest.” He’s not whispering anymore, so I’m guessing that we can drop the act for the cameras now. I’m kind of disappointed.

You’re nuts, Raura.

He stands and unwraps the towel from his waist, folding it and hanging it over the back of the chair beside the dresser. I watch him hungrily, even though I’m trying not to. Any sign of his previous erection has subsided, although his cock is still a thing of beauty as he strolls to the side of the bed. He sits down and pats the mattress beside him, just as he has for the past two nights.

And I have to strip off and lie next to him…as if my body isn’t still screaming for fulfillment. Still aching at being close to him. But right now, that’s the least of my concerns.

In just a few hours, we’ll be out of this place.

We’ll be free.

Or we’ll be dead.

Chapter 14

Riot

I lie awake, staring at the ceiling, my body tense with anticipation. The weight of Raura’s soft form beside me is both comforting and unsettling. I can’t stop replaying what happened between us earlier – the feeling of her skin against mine, the taste of her lips, the urgency of our movements. A shiver runs through me at the memory.

You’re such a fucking asshole!

I berate myself for the lack of control. I’ve spent years mastering my impulses, keeping my desires leashed. Yet with Raura, everything feels different, primal. The wolf inside me stirs in her presence, drawn to her in a way I can’t fully comprehend.

But I can’t afford such distractions, not now. Our escape plan consumes my every thought. We have to get out of this place before Parker forces me into that fight – the idea of battling a child, no matter how formidable, turns my stomach. I won’t do it. I can’t do it. There are limits to how far I can go before I lose my soul in this place. This is the line in the sand.

But there’s more to it. The threat to Raura’s safety is what finally broke me. For too long, I’ve allowed Parker to manipulate me through my sister, dangling her life like a bone before a starving dog. But putting Raura in the crosshairs was a step too far. I won’t let her suffer the same fate.

I won’t let him touch her!

My jaw tightens as I think of the risks we’re taking. If we fail, there’s no telling what horrors await us. Yet staying means certain torment for Raura…and for me, a fight that would splinter what little remains of my humanity. And who knows what would come after that?

We need to leave.

There’s no doubt in my mind.

The sound of footsteps fades outside our door, signaling the changing of the guard. This is our window. I gently shake Raura awake, pressing a finger to her lips to silence any words. Her eyes widen as she remembers, and she nods, slipping from the bed to retrieve her clothes.

It’s time.

I take a steadying breath and move to the door, every sense alert for any sign of trouble. This is our one chance at freedom. Failure is not an option.

Testing the door handle, I feel a flood of relief as it opens smoothly. The cells remain locked during these transitions, but I’ve suspected that all the doors in the facility unlock. At least, I’ve been praying they all do. Being in this suite has been a blessing in disguise. Parker’s plan to manipulate me has worked in my favor.

I step out into the hallway, my senses heightened as I scan our surroundings for threats. Raura emerges behind me, her presence a comforting warmth at my back.

Despite her outward calm, I can sense the fear simmering beneath the surface. The way her nostrils flare ever so slightly, the subtle tightening of her muscles – these are the tells only another wolf would recognize. But she follows my lead without hesitation, her trust in me humbling.

We move swiftly yet silently, my ears straining for the slightest sound that could betray us. The path ahead is clear for now, but I know the cameras are recording our every move. It doesn’t matter – by the time anyone notices, we’ll be long gone.

Moving quickly down the main hall, I feel Raura pull back as I take a side door and veer away from the route out. She’s probably been through here enough times to have a vague lay of the land, too. But I know more.

“What are you doing?” she whispers, confusion furrowing her brow.

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