Page 45 of The Alpha King's Curse: Part One

“Sorry, I didn’t think about getting you a new phone until now,” she said as she sat on the edge of the bed. “I’ve been busy settling in, and this place is huge. Have you been okay?”

The lie came so easily again. But she knew she would have to tell her sister everything when she was ready to escape.

“Don’t worry about me,” Britney said. “This is so surreal. They gave me a whole wardrobe full of expensive clothes, and I’m allowed to order anything I want.”

Her heart ached. Those were the things she’d always hoped to be able to provide for her sister, but now she had to take her future away. But they would survive. Brit would never want her to leave an innocent child with abusive people, and certainly not a cult.

“That’s great,” she said a little too brightly. “What about school? Did you go?”

“Yes. I was chauffeured. I came out of the back of a Bentley; you should have seen Gina’s face when they opened the door for me,” Britney laughed.

Gina was a name that was constantly on Britney’s lips. A typical mean girl whom she’d always advised her sister to try to ignore so that the bullying would stop. It never worked.

“All of a sudden, I was invited to the popular table. Can you believe that shit? Just a hint of money and suddenly, I’m worthy to be their friend. Gina hated that, though.”

Brit sounded nothing like the terrified girl she had left behind. She was enjoying her new life a little too much, but she would have done the same in her shoes. Who didn’t dream of having the world at their feet? Of not sleeping on empty stomachs or worrying about bills?

“What about those men that took us from the house? Did they follow you?”

“No,” Brit sighed, her earlier enthusiasm disappearing from her voice. “I think these guys stayed outside the school the whole time to protect me. But I did see someone.”

“Who?”

“Dad. He tried to see me at school but was told to leave. He’d looked terrible, Layla.”

“He sold us, Brit. Don’t feel sorry for him,” she said firmly.

If it weren’t for that sorry excuse of a father, they wouldn’t have been in this position.

“I know,” Brit said.

There was a knock on her door that startled her from her conversation. No one had knocked on it before; they tended to disregard her right to privacy and just walk in.

“Someone is at my door. I’ll call you a little later,” she said as she stood up. She picked the vase up and held it against her chest as she walked towards the door. “Keep your phone on you at all times, and tell me the second you think something isn’t right.”

“Why are you saying it like that?” Brit asked quickly. “Is something going on?”

She should have remembered that her sister picked up on things quickly.

“No, of course not. I’ve never been apart from you; I’m just a little anxious.”

“I’m okay. I’m not a baby anymore, Lay.”

“No, you’re not,” she sighed. “Love you, Brit.”

When she hung up, she prayed her sister would remain safe from Costas and their father until she could take her away. And she prayed Brit wouldn’t get too attached to her new life in the expensive hotel. They would never live in such luxury again.

The knock came again, but she stood in front of the door with her vase ready and didn’t open it. The knife she had taken from the tray of food Jackson had left was in her waistband, ready to take out as soon as she felt threatened.

“Who is it?” she called.

“My name is Faith. I’ve been asked to tell you to prepare for dinner downstairs. We will eat in an hour.”

“Just me and Jackson?” she asked.

“No, ma’am. He’s invited everyone for dinner. Please dress formally; there are suitable dresses in the wardrobe. The Alpha will come for you when it’s time.”

What? After what had happened earlier, she didn’t think it was a good idea for her to be among these people.

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