Page 71 of Sold to the Alphas

Elisabed

The journey felt endless, the days slipping by like a never-ending blur of motion, cold winds, and aching limbs. My hands were bound behind me, the ropes biting into my skin with every movement, a constant reminder of how powerless I was.

Every time I was asleep, I dreamed of August.

That was one of the hardest parts. He was always so sweet and tender and apologetic in my dreams. I woke up every time feeling simultaneously painfully turned on and desperate for the same intimacy we shared in my subconscious. I could feel the weight of his regret like a living thing, and I just wanted to tell him that I understood, that I didn’t blame him, and that we were going to get out of this together and alive.

I didn’t know if I believed it, but I wanted to tell him that. I couldn’t stand the idea of him being so afraid and so sad formy sake. The connection between us—the one that had been building since the very first day I saw them—was tense and strained, and god, I just wanted to fix it.

There was nothing I could do, though.

Raol’s betas took us to a house in neutral territory. I recognized it from the time of my trial. I could feel the weight of my sister’s presence beside me, her soft sobs muffled. Raol’s betas had their eyes on us, ensuring we were kept under their watchful gaze while he led the way with that insufferable smirk on his face.

Once inside, the betas led us to a dimly lit room, shackled like prisoners. Mily was beside me, her face pale and tear-streaked, her eyes wide with fear. I could feel her trembling, but I kept my voice steady, trying to reassure her. The bindings on my wrists were tight, but I didn’t let it show—no, I wasn’t going to give Raol the satisfaction of seeing me weak.

“What will he do to us?” Milly whispered, her voice cracking with despair.

I couldn’t think of anything comforting to say. Raol was a monster, and we were at his mercy...and he was here now.

I always felt his presence before I saw him.

I heard footsteps, which stopped directly behind me. I froze, every muscle in my body locking up, my breath shallow and quick. His fingers brushed against the back of my neck, just the faintest touch, but it sent a jolt of revulsion through me. I clenched my teeth, determined not to let him see how his touch affected me.

“You’re both still so young,” he said, his voice dripping with malice. “But you’re learning quickly. Perhaps not quickly enough, though.”

I bit back the retort that rose in my throat. I knew better than to provoke him, but the words were always on the tip of my tongue.

He turned away, pacing for a moment before stopping just out of reach, his eyes settling on me like a predator sizing up its prey.

“You think you can fight me? That you can escape?” he asked, his voice low and mocking.

Without warning, his hand shot out, grabbing a fistful of my hair and yanking me roughly to my feet. My body collided with his chest, and the pain in my scalp made my vision blur. He chuckled darkly, savoring my discomfort.

I glared at him, even as the pain radiated through me.

“You should’ve known better than to cross me, you stupid cunt,” he sneered, and I felt his hands begin to work on the laces of my bodice, tugging them loose.

I jerked back, trying to break free from his grasp, but he was relentless, overpowering me with ease. My breath caught in my throat as he began to strip the layers of my clothing from me. I struggled, but it was futile. I fought with every ounce of strength left in me. I wasn’t going to let him break me—not completely.

“You won’t get away with this,” I said, the words bitter on my tongue.

Raol only laughed, a cruel, hollow sound. “Get away with it? You don’t understand. This is all part of the plan. You’re mine now. And so is your precious little sister.”

The idea of him touching Mily, of what he might do to her, was enough to make my stomach turn. But I couldn’t show it—not yet.

His eyes narrowed as he ran his hands along my skin without mercy or hesitation. His fingers trailed over the exposed skin of my arms and chest, lingering in places they shouldn’t. Raol’s grip tightened on my arm, and I flinched as he dug his fingers into the flesh, drawing a sharp gasp from me. He seemed to enjoy the power he held over me, the way I trembled beneath his touch.

Then, suddenly, his fingers brushed against something hidden beneath the fabric of my skirt.

“What’s this?” he muttered, tugging at it.

My heart skipped in my chest as his hand revealed the holster I wore to keep Marshall’s dagger on me. But, as Raol quickly noticed with a satisfied sneer, it was empty.

“Well, what do we have here?” he taunted, pinching the freed skin around the holster. “This is where you hid that little dagger you used on my men. You really thought you could fight back. How...quaint.”

I didn’t answer. I kept my gaze steady and my expression hard.

Raol scoffed, mocking me with his laughter. “What, you think you could stop me?”

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