Ayden's pov
Another bead of sweat dripped from my face as the fire that had been building up in me blazed into an inferno and I let out a weak cry for help, even though I knew noone would come. It had been days since I had even heard the sound of voices or footsteps above me . . . days since I've had anything to eat or drink and I was starting to wonder if Derrick had left me here to die. My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of angry stomping approaching me. I jumped when I felt a hand brushing across my bare chest (wait, where was my shirt?) Before moving lower. My body started to cool down at the touch and I shivered slightly when the hand ghosted across my right thigh, before taking hold of my member, gently rubbing and stroking me until I couldn't hold in a moan of pleasure.
"This is all your fault."
"W-What?"
Ignoring my confusion, he continued stroking me gently as he spoke angrily.
"If you hadn't left, they wouldn't have come here and I wouldn't have been forced to take a life."
"They?"
Derrick tightened his grip on me and I let out a cry of desperation and pain.
"Rogues! You led rogues here because you tried to escape me!"
"No, I didn't . . . I couldn't have, I was alone in the woods!"
"Rogues know how to hide Ayden! They followed your scent back here, threatened our pack, because of you!"
Ignoring my own discomfort, I forced myself to concentrate on the conversation.
"Was . . . Was anyone hurt?"
"Noone from the pack died if that's what you mean. After I killed their leader, the others surrendered."
"You . . . You killed someone?!"
"That's right, thanks to you there's blood on my hands now."
"I didn't mean for any of this to happen."
"Of course you didn't . . . you never mean for these things to happen, but they still do, don't they?!"
"I don't_______________________."
"That's right, you don't understand anything."
"Alpha_____________."
"Don't call me that! I am no longer your Alpha and this is no longer your pack. As of now you are nothing more than a slave, even lower than the Omegas. You will do what you're told without complaint or you will be beaten in front of everyone."
"Alpha, please______________!"
I let out a cry when the Alpha struck me across the face, black spots floating in my vision.
"Shut up! I never want to hear your voice again."
The Alpha glared at me for several more seconds before a smirk crossed his face and he once again tightened his hold until I started squealing and struggling against the chains.
Do. You. Understand?"
I nodded frantically until he released his hold, tears pouring from my eyes as I turned away from him, no longer wanting him near me. I heard footsteps heading away from me and what sounded like I'm sorry whispered back to me on the breeze, but I didn't respond and the footsteps soon faded into silence.
"Why didn't you let them take me?"
"I couldn't."
Not expected him to be there to answer me, I jumped when he whispered in my ear. The yearning in his voice broke something in me and tears started pouring down my cheeks as gasping sobs escaped my lips.
He's right I don't understand any of this, but even if I did, would I know how to stop myself from believing that his refusal to let me go means he sees me as a mate instead of a possession?
