Page 17 of Alpha's Revenge Luna
My hand instinctively goes to my neck.I don’t feel any puncture marks, but I remember his bite clearly.The touch sends a shiver through me.
I take a deep breath, forcing my racing thoughts to calm.I don’t know what the future holds, but for now, I need to adapt to my new surroundings, my new reality, the prisoner of Alpha Dion.
And, maybe, I can find a way to turn this nightmare into something bearable.
I’m locked in the room for hours when someone finally brings me fresh clothes and my jewelry box.“The Alpha said to tell you to be in the dining room for dinner in an hour,” the man tells me.
I nod, and he turns to leave when I speak again.“Wait, how can I tell when the time is to leave?”
He stops and sighs before turning to face me again.He then lifts the sleeve of his shirt, passing me his watch.
“Don’t be late,” he warns, and I take the watch.He nods once, then slips out of the room, only this time, I don’t hear the lock.I move to the clothes piled on the end of the bed to find it’s another dress.Memories of the one I had on flit through my mind, and looking at this one, I suddenly feel very exposed; however, as I rummage through the items, I start to panic when I notice one thing.There is no underwear.
The thought makes me swallow hard when my gaze darts to the jewelry box.The belladonna!I quickly rifle through it, pulling my necklace off and pulling the fabric back at the bottom, I press the locket in and it makes a pop sound.I quickly close the locket, placing it back on and opening the sealed false bottom compartment to find a velvet bag.
Opening the little compartment, I tip the pills in my hand.Worried of being caught with them, I hastily put them back, all but one.I reseal the jewelry box and make sure they’re hidden.Heart racing, I rush to the bathroom and pop the pill in my mouth before swallowing some water from the small sink.
Lifting my head, I spot my reflection in the mirror.Blood is smeared on my face, my hair a haystack piled on top of my head, and I’m covered in scratches, bruises, dirt, and muck, so I decide to shower.
Taking a deep breath, I step into the massive shower.The hot water feels soothing, washing away the tension in my muscles and the remnants of my former life.I towel off and dress in a thin dress.It feels alien against my skin, but not as alien as not wearing underwear.
I glance at the watch, realizing I don’t have much time left.
I leave the room, stepping into the labyrinth that is Dion’s packhouse.Corridors intertwine like a knot of serpents.Long hallways stretch out like endless tunnels, and grand staircases spiral upward appearing to never end.
After a bit of wandering, I eventually find my way to the dining room.It’s a massive space with a carved table taking center stage and two more lining either side of it.A massive chandelier hangs overhead, its crystal teardrops shimmering under the glow of the lights.
Dion sits at the head of the table, engrossed in a newspaper.
As I enter, he folds the paper, setting it down before gesturing to the empty chair next to him.I make my way to the seat, my anxiety forming a tight knot in my stomach.Dion and I sit in silence for a few moments.I can feel his eyes on me, analyzing every movement I make.I try to avoid moving, lest I draw more attention to myself.
“I believe it is time we discuss your situation here.”His voice is deep and powerful, though it has a touch of kindness to it.Something I’ve yet to hear from him.He takes a sip from his glass of whiskey before continuing.
“The circumstances surrounding your arrival were… less than ideal, but that doesn’t mean you will be miserable here.I am also shocked to learn I have a mate.Mates are rare, Emery.Not something anyone should pass up, but mark my words, if you force my hand, it will end badly for you.I have got on just fine for the past seventy years without a mate, I don’t require one.”
I’m taken aback by his age, he’s older than my father but doesn’t even look to be forty.I blink, dumbfounded, trying to work out how long Hybrid’s live.
He goes to speak again when my brain malfunctions and word vomit spills to my horror from my lips.“You’re seventy.”He doesn’t seem amused by my question.
“Is that an issue?”
I shake my head, but my eyes are wide as they trail over him.
“Shouldn’t you have gray hair, a walking cane, and maybe arthritis?”I blurt, and he sighs loudly, rolling his eyes and folding his arms across his chest.“Did you hear anything I just said?”
I nod.“You’re seventy, like an old man seventy.”I cover my mouth, suddenly finding the situation hilarious.I snicker..The magazines were right, you marry your father, in my case, I’m mates with my grandfather.A giggle bubbles out of my lips, and he clearly does not find my thoughts funny.
“And you are showing every bit of your eighteen years of age, little girl.I’m a Hybrid, we stop aging and have immortal life spans,” he clarifies.
“Well then, at your merry old age, shouldn’t you know better than to try to win your mate over by killing her parents and kidnapping her!”I retort.He ignores my remark.
“As I was saying, your time here doesn’t have to be miserable, behave and do as asked.You might find you like it here.”Because that’ll happen,I muse.Does he expect me to fall in love with my parents’ killer, to worship at his feet, roll over, and give him my tummy?I think not.
He glances toward the door, and I hear footsteps.“We’ll finish this conversation later, but you’ll meet a few of my pack members tonight, my Beta, and a few others, but first, I want to speak with you.”
I chew my lip nervously.
“You haven’t shifted yet.I could taste it in your blood, so you don’t recognize me as your mate?”he states.I shake my head, and he sighs heavily.“You will, but I can’t mate you until you shift, or I risk killing you when I knot you.”Just the thought of his words makes my stomach sink.
