Page 107 of Ruled By The Alpha

The hall proves empty, except for the local betas too lame or drunk to move. I stalk down the narrow corridor, prepared for an ambush or rebuttal from the territory’s alpha, traversing the dirty maze with ease. The amount of light streaming through holes in the ceiling reminds me of how spoiled most topsidersare, but the brightness of the sun does not bother me. I use the illumination to my advantage, perusing every nook and cranny along the ugly halls with ease while stealing glances at the tiny female beside me.

When I reach the hatch to the narrow staircase, I force her to follow me down despite the growing panic in her eyes.

I don’t slow.

We stomp down two flights before we’re forced to find a new stairwell. I fling open the sealed door and pull her back to my side.

As I crack the seal on the next bulkhead, darkness looms below.

My female loses control.

As she struggles to be free of me, I release her hair, wrap my hands around her waist, and toss her over my shoulder. She strains and cries, pounding my back with her fists and wriggling in desperation.

The tantrum rubs her breasts against my back and highlights how close her pussy is to my face. Stepping into the darkness, I turn my head and fill my mouth with her thigh, biting down hard enough to warn her without breaking the skin. Her shriek satisfies my savage alpha instincts.

I lift my head and rumble a few words, her blossoming scent making my throat tight.

“Keep screaming. I like the way it sounds.”

One hand stops pummeling my back to cover her mouth, but my female continues to fight. Moving down the stairs, I fill my mouth with her thigh again. When I tighten my jaw, her muffled cry makes my cock throb. I bite harder, knowing she’ll have a bruise, yet she doesn’t stop trying to break free.

Pinning her knees to my pecs with my right arm, I free my left and caress the back of her leg. When I lift my head and catchher scent, my growl deepens. Under the filth of her previous company lies a thickening sweetness.

She’s so close to her first heat I imagine I can taste it on my tongue, but she’s not quite ripe enough to take yet.

Stalking to the next flight of stairs, I make my way deeper into the old oil carrier. Shifting my hand to the back of her thigh, I poise my thumb just below the triangle I plan to thoroughly enjoy as soon as it’s ready.

“Keep fighting. I like the way your tight little body moves against mine.”

She goes limp.

In the darkness, I allow a smirk to lift my lips.

The more metal looms above our heads, the harder she shakes. The deeper we descend into the belly of the tanker, the quieter she becomes.

My smirk widens.

Heavy with the same layers of grime and decay as the rest of the ship, I find the stairs leading down to the next level. My footfalls break the eerie silence, echoing across the empty deck. No one who wants to live hides this deep in the belly of the tanker. Those who have tried met the weapons of my guards. My people call this deck the buffer zone.

The five betas following us stay on my heels until we’re halfway down the hall. Then they branch out to ensure every room remains devoid of life.

Once certain we’re alone, I break the seal on the massive steel door and duck through. The pitch-black stairwell sends a fit of tremors through the tiny female draped over my shoulder, but I ignore her and descend with ease.

The beta sentry at the bottom of the stairs greets me with his normal warning, and when I give the expected answer, he relaxes, though he doesn’t move aside until he sees who I am. I send him a nod of approval and continue down the hall.

The hum of the electric lights and the rushing of water against the ship’s hull create a noisy background for the murmurs of my people as they glimpse the omega slung over my shoulder. No one approaches until I reach the front door of my chambers.

Janine—the beta woman who manages the harem used by the males I’ve deemed worthy—steps from the room next door and bows.

I stop and nod, giving her permission to speak.

“Two females are still in the bath suite, preparing for you.”

My omega stiffens, her muscles bunching before she buries her face into my back.

“Baal will make sure they return to you,” I reply.

Janine bows again, ignoring the sniffles from the female slung over my shoulder like a sack of supplies. Showing the wisdom of a woman who wishes to survive in my world, Janine backs through the doorway and sits in the chair most visible to me, eyes lowered the entire time. Keeping my senses tuned to the hall behind me, I turn to the door and open it.

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