The Alpha's Soul

16

Luke woke up, his body aching and head pounding. His throat was tight and when he grabbed at it, Luke realized there was a thin metal collar, and he knew it was limiting his ability to shift and mind link.

He opened his eyes and allowed them to focus before realizing he was in a familiar room. A room that made him frantic and he felt his leg cut open as he tried to escape, finding a cuff on his ankle.

The room was as musty and scary as it had been when Luke was a teenager. It was the place that Leon would drag him to abuse him and allow the other higher ranks to have their way with him.

"Tan?" Luke cried out, his voice quiet and hesitant. "Help..."

Creaking sounds filled the room and made Luke crawl to the wall where the cuff on his leg was attached and lean against it. He pulled at the collar on his neck, trying to free himself, but he couldn't do anything.

"It's been awhile, pup," the dark voice of Luke's enemy growled as he entered the room. "I'm grateful that Leon left you to me when he passed."

Luke growled. "I'm an individual," he grumbled, his voice weak. "Not some toy that our ex-Alpha gets to pass one when he gets his ass murdered."

Corban chuckled. "You're here, aren't you?" he asked, kneeling down beside Luke and cupping his chin in his palm. "I'll go get you some food, little one."

"I don't want anything you have," Luke snarled. "Let me go, I want to go home."

"You grew up in here, didn't you?"

Luke lunged at Corban, but the chain on his ankle left him tripping and slamming his face into the ground. He tried to shift to force his way out of the chains, but he was left unsuccessful and still locked up, only he was in aching pain.

"Foolish pup," Corban said, leaving the room. "And I know you'll be needing something to eat, little one."

Luke watched him walk through the door. "What do you gain from having me here?! I didn't do anything to you, and you can be sure the most powerful pack in this country will be after you!"

Corban scoffed. "You think they actually care about you?" he asked, leaning against the doorpost. "I bet your so-called mate never even told you he loved you. That's why he didn't push you to a mating ceremony, I guarantee. He probably has some whore in his bed-"

"Shut up!" Luke screamed, the thought of Tan touching and caring about someone else physically making his heart ache. "You're wrong! He loves me and I love him!"

"You're yelling because you don't believe yourself." Corban closed the door. "I'll be back later. Might as well enjoy the attention while you can, because I'll be the only one giving it to you from now on."

Luke leaned against the wall and sobbed. He needed his mate, but part of him was convinced his mate didn't need him.

•••

"Kai? Kai?" Astra shrieked, climbing on the bed when her mate finally opened her heavy eyes. "Alpha?!"

Kai groaned as Astra shook her shoulders. "Darling, I love you, but please, just let me sleep," she begged, turning away from Astra.

"Kai, you can sleep in a few minutes," Astra cooed, leaning over and kissing Kai's lips. "You need to get up and tell us what you know about Luke's disappearance."

"Ugh," Kai groaned. "What do you mean? Luke's gone?"

Calix and Astra shared a look.

"Yeah, and Tan decided to take on the role of local idiot and go after him even though he has no idea where he could be," Calix said, sounding more and more irritated by the second. "You didn't see anything?!"