Enslaved by the Alpha

Chapter 8

My heart beat loudly in my ears and my head throbbed, synchronized with every pound. The muscles in my body refused to cooperate with my movements. Or maybe they did, I just can't feel anything from the neck down.

I opened my eyes languidly, squinting at the darkening sky. The colors of sherbet partially lit the clouds and I forced my head to the side using every last ounce of what little strength I had. My gaze landed on the black lines in the grey rock swerving into the yellow lines, fading into nothing. In the distance was the machine pulled into the grass, two flashing yellow lights emitting from the sides.

Closing my eyes, I rolled onto my stomach, a loud cry of pain echoing in the air. Vile came shooting up my throat and I retched, throwing up strictly blood. Most of it came out as liquid, only a few clots.

Bright white lights in the distance caught my attention and I cursed, watching them speed my direction. Before they could land on me, I pulled myself to my feet and wobbled into the woods on the other side.

The machine passed with a whoosh a moment later and I averted my eyes from it to the trees across the way, a deep frown overtaking my lips.

"No shit! Scarlett Callidora?"

I spun around, my line of sight landing on Magnus, the man engaged to my eldest sister eighty years ago. Relief flushed my veins seeing his face and I choked on tears, the mental walls I built over the decades crumbling down in mere seconds.

"Babe! Wait up! Goddess, you're so competitive!"

At the sound of my sister's voice, I froze.

"There you are. Good Goddess," she huffed, coming into view from behind a tree.

I lost my balance, crashing to the grass in a fit of sobs. Her eyes darted from him to me in panic after the sound hit her ears, her face turning much paler.

"Scarlett?" She gasped in disbelief, rushing over and collapsing to her knees to embrace me in a hug. I clung onto her, the both of us sobbing hysterically. Then she leaned back, a huge smile on her face. "You're alive! I can't believe it. I thought you were dead, we all thought you were—" her eyes took in my battered appearance, stopping on my neck.

I felt ashamed, looking between them. Magnus walked over, kneeling next to my sister with a frown. "By the looks, I got a feeling being dead would've been the better outcome."

"What did Alpha Zeek do?" She asked meekly. Their eyes lingered patiently on me, awaiting my answer.

"If that man was anything like the rumors... he found a way to torment her even after his passing," Magnus grimaced. My sister shot him a pained look, her teary eyes returning to mine filled with sorrow and guilt.

"We need to get you to Doctor Elkins to make sure you're really okay," she said, sharing another look with her lover.

A long, loud howl unexpectedly erupt into the evening air and others soon followed, coming from all different directions. I widened my eyes, scrambling to my feet and attempting to run in the direction I was headed. A horrible limp slowed me down and they were quick to my side.

"Stop, Scar. It's okay! King Valentino and Alpha Aston negotiated a territory arrangement awhile back. The colored rock line separates our borders. The humans own it. We stay on our side, the wolves stay on theirs," he reassured.

I slowed to a stop, furrowing my brows and frowning at them as their words swarmed my head, struggling to find a place to click in between all the things rummaging through my brain.

"How did you get away?" My sister interrupted my train of thought suddenly, her voice hesitant and fearful.

"I ran," I finally spoke, monotone, staring off into the trees with gentle tears running down my cheeks, mixing into the blood covering my face.