Page 12 of Stolen By the Alpha Hunter
“…even some winsome and willing betas, if you want them to get you through your rut. Full moon’s tomorrow night, after all.”
My stomach turns violently—not because of the rut, because of what he’s actually saying. I know for a fact that there are no free women on the Rig. Not betas. Not omegas. No one. Any woman in my father’s pack is there because she was born into it or taken like property—claimed, trapped, traded like livestock or war spoils. There is no such thing as winsome and willing.
Boyd either doesn’t know or doesn’t care.
“I might take you up on that,” Boyd snickers. “Now—the pay?”
My father jerks his head at Abel and the smaller alpha huffs out a breath before turning to riffle through a small crate. He hands the whole thing to Boyd, who places it down on the waterlogged dock to open it up.
There’s old human currency in there.
A ton of it.
“Holy shit,” Boyd mutters. “I’m inclined to think it’s all here, huh Javi?”
Javi glares at him. “Count it.”
Boyd gets to work, the rest of us in a standoff. Once again, the thought crosses my mind that I should just run to the edge of the dock and throw myself off—it might be my last chance. But then again, I know at least one of these men would catch me, and to give them the thrill of the chase would be asking for trouble, given that the full moon is right around the corner.
Who would catch me?
Abel?
Ephraim?
…Javi?
“It’s all here,” Boyd says after a painfully long silence. “Fifty-thousand—just like you promised.”
I guess Colt wasn’t lying when he said they were willing to pay to get me back; even now that Earth money is practically useless except in certain cities, that’s a lot. I guess they must be taking it back to Florida…not that it matters.
I’m never stepping foot off the Rig again.
“Anything to bring my baby girl home…at least at first,” my father says, his voice thick with mocking affection. “Now, though? Now I know what she did.”
My stomach drops.
I try to swallow, but the gag keeps my jaw stiff, my breath shuddering against the fabric. Even if I wasn’t too terrified to speak, I wouldn’t be able to say a damn thing. He’s talking about the fifteen women I smuggled off this rig…the omegas and betas I helped escape while I was still young and foolish enough to believe I could make a difference. Some were breeders, some were just toys for the alphas to pass around, but all of them were prisoners—just like I am now.
Just like I was before I ran.
The realization slams through me like a fresh wave of ice water.
He’s not just going to punish me for running.
He’s going to make an example of me.
“Ephraim, Abel—take her.”
I sob despite myself, the gag muffling it, twisting against the hands reaching for me. Not them. Anyone but them. Abel grabs my arm first, fingers like steel, but before he can yank me forward—Javi pulls me back.
The movement is fast, a sudden jerk that sends me stumbling into his chest, his grip locking tight around my bicep. Abel snarls, taking a step forward, but Javi’s growl cuts through the space between them—low, dangerous, enough to make him pause. Abel’s big…but Javi’s bigger. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was the biggest man here.
“I’ll bring her wherever you want her,” Javi says smoothly. “It’s my job to ensure the safe delivery of your package.”
I glance up at him, my breath coming too fast.
What is this about?
