Page 180 of Ruled By The Alpha

“I need supplies for the kids. We’re running low on food, so I’ll hit the market as soon as it opens.”

His grin widens. “Do you want company?”

I offer him a sympathetic look that he immediately reads because his face falls, making my heart clench as I hasten to explain. “Low zone is under heavy watch because of what happened last night. It’s already a risk going out myself, and I’d rather you stay here with Avery and Leah until I get back. I’m sorry.”

“I get it, it’s okay.” His smile is back, his forgiving nature ensuring he doesn’t stay upset for long. “No worries, the twins and I can find something to do inside.”

I smile too. “Thank you, Wes. I mean it; I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

He leans in and presses our foreheads together, whispering, “And I don’t know what I’d do without you, Evie.”

The two of us sit like that for some time, simply breathing in each other’s scents like it’s the last time we’ll be able to. For all we know, it could be.

Chapter 2

Evelyn

I’m haggling with the old woman from east low zone for a bruised apple when a creeping sensation skates down my back, telling me I’m being watched. I discreetly glance around, trying to spot whoever has their eyes on me, but I can’t see a thing from my position.

We’re at the end of the alley, the end of the market, and she’s my last stop for the day before I head home. But this means there are less people down this way, and that puts a bigger target on my back if someone decides to try to rob me.

Something tells me this person—or persons—isn’t looking to rob me, though.

I look back at the old hag, curl my lip in a snarl, and bark, “Keep the apple, then.”

The damned beta wanted everything I had already haggled for today, all for a rotten apple that frankly, for health reasons, shouldn’t be touched. I was hoping to salvage the seeds and try my hand at hydroponics to cultivate my own apple tree for Wes and the twins. It doesn’t matter that I know shit about hydroponics or farming; I’m desperate enough to try.

But there’s no way I’m coughing up a slice of bread and two expired cans of beef for the damned thing, not when they can feed my sisters and Wes for two days. I didn’t even bother telling the hag about the blade I own, ‘cause no doubt she’d try and pry that from my hands too.

I peel away from the snarking beta bitch and head for home at a calm pace, ever-aware of the tingling that still haunts my spine. Turning right through another alley, I draw to a stop and curse. A bulky male stands at the other end with his arms crossed and wicked grin on his face. Judging by his size alone, he’s an alpha. And the clunky footsteps behind me tell me at least two more have now cut off my exit.

It’s not often you hear of alphas from the high zone cornering female betas and raping them, but it’s not like it’s never happened. It’s a risk we all take in low zone. At least I have a higher chance of surviving this than a male would. Most alphas just go for a male beta’s throat instantly, whereas they prefer to toy with the females and leave them damaged, but breathing.

I carefully drop my sack of food to the ground while never talking my eyes off the brown-haired, brown-eyed alpha in front of me. He bares his teeth at me and stalks closer with an ominous chuckle. The breath on my nape isn’t all that surprising, but I thought I’d at least hear the bastards creeping up behind me. Instead they’ve moved too silently for me to track, and now it’s too late.

One pair of large hands clamp down on my upper arms and I jerk forward, trying to break his grip. He holds firm, so I raise my foot and slam my booted heel against his toes. He hisses out a breath, but his grip doesn’t falter.

The alpha stalking me from the front is suddenly standing before me and gripping my throat. My air cuts off and I try to flail.

But I’d forgotten about the third.

My hands are yanked behind me and tied so tightly I wince. Spots dance across my vision and my body goes lax.

Then, just as suddenly as I was grabbed, I’m released, dropping to the trash-strewn ground like a marionette whose strings have been cut. My attackers’ grating laughter sends chillsdown my spine, and it only grows worse when one opens his mouth.

“We finally caught ourselves the little rebel bitch, boys,” he gloats. “Time to play.”

I feel the blood drain from my face, but I refuse to scream or loosen my control over my steadily growing horror, because no way in hell will I give these bastards the satisfaction of knowing I’m terrified.

Instead I focus on the realization that someone sold me out. There’s no way these alphas would’ve known who I was to the rebellion otherwise. Some fucking alpha chaser ratted me out, a chaser who has to be part of the rebellion themselves. I keep my work with the rebels on the downlow specifically so this very thing doesn’t happen. No one aside from Wes knows of my involvement, not even my sisters, and even then, Wes doesn’t even know how deeply imbedded I am in the organization.

The odds of me getting free are slim to none, and that realization settles like a heavy brick in my gut as I’m dragged down the alley, undoubtedly headed for the center plaza where all rebels are sent to die.

A public execution would be a mercy from these alphas. They have other ways to torture rebels, ensuring they live as long as possible to teach everyone in low zone what it means to cross them. And I have a sinking suspicion that these alphas plan to make me an example.

I’m hauled to the square, wrists tightly bound behind my back. My face slams into the stone plaza with a crack, and I can’t bite back a whimper as pain radiates through my skull. It hurts like hell, but I know these bastards are far from done. Sure enough, a boot slams into my stomach, making me choke and gasp. Another kick sends spittle flying and tears rolling.

I don’t know how long I lay there, helpless against the violence, listening to the clamor of the growing crowd, beforethis torture finally ends. My voice is hoarse from my ragged screams, and I’m nothing more than a lump of painful flesh. Eventually I’m dragged down some stairs, and I instantly know what’s about to happen. My tender stomach churns, but I refuse to beg for freedom. I refuse to beg these alphas for anything.

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