RAFE
Corvin didn't even have the decency to let Jaxon see me off at the pack's border. He was probably afraid he would do something or anything to get me out of there. And you know what? I know he would have.
Jaxon, my only friend. Since I met him at thirteen, we were inseparable and everyone assumed there was something more between us, but there wasn't. Not like that. He rarely smiled, and I wish he had more because those smiles are the kind of things you want to carry with you when you might never see someone again. The thought is terrifying, but the truth is clear: I might not see him again.
Tears pool in my eyes, and I tilt my head back so they don't fall. I refuse to give them that.
"I will find you."
Jaxon's words loop in my head, the last thing he said before I was dragged away and bound like cargo. He promised he'd find me and I want to believe him. Goddess, I do.
But where I'm going? That kind of hope is useless.
When Corvin said I was being banished, I expected Rasted prison. But apparently, he's been running that place in secret for a year and no one knew. He freed every prisoner, killed every guard, and then waited patiently for an opportunity to present itself and it did.
Now, we're four hours deep in the territory of the most dangerous pack in the world, ruled by a beast unlike any I've ever seen—crazy, frenzied, and feared by all.
I'm being sent as a gift to Alpha Zaire Black, a man whose hands are washed in more blood than anyone could ever count.
At fifteen, he overthrew his father and claimed the Alpha seat. Since then, he's ruled mercilessly, conquering pack after pack, and when word of him spread, every pack in his territory was forced to pay tax.
I'm on my way to that man, to let him do whatever he wants with me. How Corvin knows him, I have no idea but he spoke like he owed him a head, and apparently, I'm the perfect debt to collect.
"We're almost there," one of the guards says to the other, wiping sweat from his brow. "We need to get back before tomorrow."
My throat is dry since hours have passed without water, and my wolf won't stop whimpering.
We're doomed, he mutters. By nightfall, we'll cease to exist.
"Shut up," I snap under my breath. "Instead of whining, help me shift."
Maybe, just maybe, that'll help me break these damn chains.
If you weren't so weak, I would have surfaced, he snaps back. Wolves don't have control over human shifting strength.
I roll my eyes and groan.
"What's happening back there?" one of the guards snaps, glancing at me.
"Nothing. Can I have water?" I ask.
"Water?" He repeats, then shoots a sly look at his companion. "You need water, omega?"
The title is fresh, but it stings anyway. My fall from grace is just as pathetic as my life, and I'm sure it's comical to them. From robes and fine clothes to… this. Rags, barely worth calling clothes at all, a cruel, unnecessary part of Corvin's wickedness, if you ask me.
The guard steps forward, a bottle in hand, and squats in front of me. I open my mouth, thinking he's offering water but instead, he hacks and sprays spit down the bottle.
"Open your mouth, omega," he sneers.
I clamp my jaw shut and turn my face away. No way I'm drinking that water.
But his hand slams down on my head, his fingers prying at my mouth, and forcing it open. Water pours in, and he makes me swallow, laughing the entire time. His cohorts join in, all of them jeering at me.
"Does it taste nice, omega?" he mocks.
I'm painfully aware of his repeated use of the title omega, meant to degrade me but worse than that is his saliva now sitting inside me. Anger rushes through me and I curl my fist.
With cold eyes directed at him, I drag saliva from the back of my throat and spit it straight into his face.
He grunts, his eyes flashing, before his hand slams into my cheek. Then again and again, he keeps slapping me. My face goes numb, my vision spins, but he doesn't stop, grabbing me each time to land another blow.
**********************
Darkblood pack is exactly as people whisper about and those stories probably don't do justice to how terrifyingly beautiful this place is. Even with my jaw aching, my head spinning from eight hours of travel with nothing but hunger and unwanted spit in my stomach, I can't help but stare. Especially when we reach Alpha Zaire's estate.
It's at least three times the size of the estate back home, crawling with five times the guards and staff. The gardens alone could swallow ours with statues of pure gold displayed at nearly every important corner.
The grandeur almost makes me forget my fate. Almost makes me forget that in a matter of minutes, I might cease to exist.
The thought sends a shiver down my spine. What kind of twisted plan did Corvin have to send me here? And how will Zaire react when he sees me? What kind of man is he, if he's even a man at all.
We reach the meeting room, and the guard leading us stops.
My heart is pounding and fingers trembling with fear as we wait. I say a few prayers to the moon goddess to keep me alive and that's when a tall man steps in. Tattoos crawl across his arms and neck, his steps slow and eyes lingering on me like he's trying to read every line of me.
His pheromones are faint and weak, almost like an omega, or maybe an omega who's been elevated to something higher. But he doesn't look it. Still… I know this isn't Zaire.
"Who are you?" he asks, standing just inches from me. "Who sent you?"
"Alpha Corvin sends this gift to Alpha Zaire," the guard holding me declares, thrusting a small letter forward. "Deliver this from our Alpha."
The man stares at the outstretched hand for some seconds before finally taking it.
"Leave," he orders. "Tell your Alpha his message was received."
The guards bow and slither out without another word, leaving me alone in the vast room. I'm sold, aren't I? This is where my new life begins or ends.
My heart hammers as the tattooed man starts circling me, his eyes filled with irritation and displeasure.
"Corvin owed our Alpha a debt five years ago," he spits. "Why repay it now?"
He stops in front of me again, shaking his head. The chains bite into my wrists, but it's not that he's looking at me like a bound prisoner, he's looking at me like I'm worse than a criminal. I can feel jealousy and fear radiating from him. Jealousy? Does he have a bondage kink or something? And why the hell is he scared of me in chains?
"Guard!" he yells, and I flinch. His lips curl with disgust. "Tell Alpha Corvin his gift is a weak wolf, useless, with no reason to stay alive."
Panic slams into me.
"Wait! You can't do that," I cut in. "Let me see Alpha Zaire. Please."
He scoffs. "He doesn't see people like you. I speak for him when it involves omegas."
The guard disappears, and my nose flares in anger, even though inside, I feel completely helpless.
"I'm useful," I choke out. "Please… I can serve. Please don't kill me."
He stares at me as if I've just said nonsense and even as minutes pass, he doesn't change his mind or look at me with any less irritation. And then, the guard returns.
"Alpha Zaire commands you to get rid of him immediately."