Page 51 of Sweetheart: Part One

And that wasn’t possible.

Every instinct she lit in me, she might drag from Ebony, too.

And there was nothing more frightening in the world than imagining what Ebony would do if he decided a woman like Vex was his.

FIFTEEN

Day Five

VEX

Two Months Ago

My captor drew us to a stop at last, and I heard a smart rap on a door.

“Word of warning for you, my dear,” Wheatgrass breathed in my ear. “Unlike me, I promise they have the patience to break you. Do yourself a favour, and behave.”

I’d been led in my blindfold up the elevator and down a number of hallways until the faintest sound of music could be heard. My breath was trapped in lungs of stone as I heard a door click open. I was met by the sound of music playing—it was live, I thought—and a tangle of scents. I hated them all, my fear made sure of that.

There was the sound of a door clicking, and then the music beyond became louder.

"Ah. Wonderful." The voice was smooth and low and sent a chill down my spine.

This was it.

We were at a performance, I thought. There was a show on, the music sounded… alive… real.I was being brought to this pack in the middle of a dance or show.

A hand took my arm, drawing me inside, and then the door clicked shut behind me. Somehow, the scent of wheatgrass vanishing was a discomfort.

I swallowed, trying to hold on to anything of my surroundings. I couldfeelgazes on me from behind the blindfold.

How many were there?

I tried desperately to detangle the scents, but one was dominant.

Stale cigarettes.

Strong enough it had to be an alpha, not a beta.

I jumped as a hand touched my waist, nudging me forward. When I stepped away, hitting the door behind me, his grip became more insistent, and I had to hold his arm to keep from falling.

“Not used to heels, my dear?” he whispered in my ear, supporting me as I was tugged a few more steps, surrounded by his horrible scent and the crescendo of music that seemed to come from far below.

I said nothing. A million furious retorts drowned by terror.

I heard a chuckle to my right as the alpha drew me to a halt. I felt his hand brush my hair and another on my waist. I grabbed his wrist, halting him, but he peeled my grip away with ease.

“What do you think?” he asked, hands dropping to my hips. The music went on, now an orchestra of strings.

It was beautiful… I’d never been to a live show.

I’d always wanted to.

The alpha forced me to turn as if I were a doll on display, and I caught a sob in my chest. I wanted to reach for the blindfold to get my bearings, but I knew my blindness might well be for my own safety if they were determined to keep anonymity.

I fought every instinct to flee. I’d felt enough pain in my life to know it wasn’t worth it.Become small and unnoticeable, that’s what I’d learned growing up. But that strategy wouldn’t work here, either.

“This is illegal,” I whispered, knowing how stupid those words sounded.

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