ARABELLA

It was my wolf, Beatrice.

“Betty, where were you? Did you see what they did to me? How could they be so cruel?” I whispered with a blurred vision. I could feel her already working inside to mend the wounds.

Then she spoke in a hoarse voice, “ All this happening because of you Bella. I told you so many times not to marry your sister's mate but you still did. You've no spine. How could you be so pathetic?”

The air left my lungs listening to her. Even my own wolf thought I was pathetic. “ Bet… Betty, you know it was to save my pack from humiliation. And I tried to take a stand for myself yesterday. What more could I do?” I said urgently.

“No, Bella, no. You only stood up when he degraded your mom, never for yourself. Do you even realize what you were doing? You were about to let him claim you. What would we say to our mate when we meet him in the future? I’m sorry, Bella. I healed you as best I could, but I can’t anymore.”

“Wh.. what do you mean?” Fear crept inside me.

“After today… the disrespect, the pain… I can’t do this. I’m leaving, Bella. I can't share a mind and body with you anymore.”

“Wha…? No. I'm sorry. Please! ”

“Goodbye, Bella. The day you learn to respect yourself or find our mate, I’ll return.” Her voice vanished.

“Betty? Betty! I’m so lonely! You can't leave me too. Please…” I screamed into the void, clawing at my chest. But all I got back was silence. She was gone leaving me with a numb, soulless body.

***************

FEW HOURS LATER,

“Do you know she’ll be sent in the morning?”

A hushed female voice came from outside.

“What? Where?” another woman whispered back.

“She’s being sold to the Blackfang pack. Alpha Kade’s interested in buying that slut. Probably wants her as one of his sex slaves. I heard Alpha Kian telling Lady Mira.”

“But Alpha Kade’s a player! Do you know what they say about him? That he…”

“Shh! Not our business. That slut deserves it anyway. Let’s go. Tomorrow again we’ll see some real drama.” The girls giggled while walking away.

My heartbeat almost stopped listening to them. Sell me? To Kade? That bloody creep? No. No, no. I wouldn’t be one of his bed warmers.

I called for Betty with everything in me but received no reply. I couldn't even feel her anymore. With my wolf gone, tomorrow I’d be nothing but a puppet for them to do as they please.

“Run, Bella. Escape.” my mind screamed.

I ran towards the door and found it locked. Desperate, I ran here and there in the dark, cold room but there wasn't a single exit. I was about to give up when my eyes fell on a tiny thread of light. I followed it and suddenly tripped onto something.

Picking it up, I found a small rock and then looked up. A small window!

I stood, pushed against the window with all my might. I slammed the rock down hard on a broken bar again and again. The metal made an ugly noise and finally snapped.

Gathering every ounce of courage, I climbed out and dropped outside. Pain shot through my knees, but it wasn’t going to stop me.

I looked around, feeling scared. It was probably midnight. My eyes fell on the wide open gate. Without looking back I bolted towards the gate. My heart thudded so hard I thought it would burst.

Just as I was crossing the gate, I heard loud voices from behind, “She’s escaped! Catch her!”

“ Shit! They saw me!” I pushed my legs harder. The sharp pebbles and nails stabbed into my feet but I didn’t stop. Blood oozed out but I kept running like a madwoman.

Minutes felt like hours. I could feel my lungs burning and my head felt light. And just then I stumbled into something rock solid and my knees buckled. I was preparing myself to fall hard when a pair of strong arms wrapped around my waist. I panicked and looked up to find… a man!

Tall, broad-shouldered, dressed in a black leather jacket that was hugging his huge muscled frame. His dark, tousled hair was adding a dangerous vibe to his extremely handsome look.

The man looked like he’d stepped straight out of a dream… or a nightmare? I couldn’t tell. His gray eyes fixed on me with a piercing, sharp gaze. I tried to move away, but he pulled me harder into his chest.

“Are you okay?” he asked in a deep, low voice, making me tremble.

I somehow looked up at him, tilting my head up.

“Please, sa..ve me.” I somehow managed to say the words before the darkness finally pulled me under.

**************

My head throbbed fiercely as I heard some distant, vague voices.

“She’s awake! Finally!”

“Call the Boss.”

Suddenly my eyes snapped open. It took me a few seconds to realize I was alive! Looking around I found four to five new faces, standing near my bed.

What was this place? Why was I here? Then within a moment the memories rushed in… Betty, my escape, the stranger. My breath hitched. Was I sold?

Panic gripped my chest and I hurriedly tried to sit up but dizziness hit me.

“Wait, don’t move! Lay down,” a woman said, in a surprisingly gentle voice.

“I... I need to go,” I managed to utter in a shaky voice.

“You can’t even stand properly,” a girl around my age snapped as she tried to hold me.

“ Don’t! Don’t touch me!” I backed away. My feet wobbled as I reached the corner of the room.

Where the hell was I? My eyes fell on the open door and my heart jumped. I barely took a step toward it when a deep, commanding voice filled the room.

“ What’s going on here? ”

As the man stepped inside towering over everyone I felt the energy in the room shift suddenly. His eyes swept across the room before settling on me. It was him! The stranger. I stood frozen. There was something mysterious, unreadable about him. I felt uncomfortable under his predatory gaze and soon lowered my eyes.

“ Who are you? Why am I here?” I asked, trying to sound strong.

Without answering he looked at one of the women and gestured something.

A few seconds later, someone walked in with a tray piled with food and the delicious scent hit me.

“ Sit down and eat,” he said, still in that blank, authoritative tone.

My jaw clenched, “I’m not hungry.”

“ Eat,” he said again, ignoring my words.

This wasn’t a request. I wanted to protest. To demand answers first. But I couldn’t ignore the ache in my stomach. I hadn't eaten since yesterday morning. Gulping down my pride I sat and picked at the food.

“ Everyone, back to work,” the man ordered. The others bowed and followed his commands immediately.

His gaze lingered on me for a minute before he turned and disappeared through the doorway.

I swallowed the bite in my mouth and stared at the door. Who the hell was he?

“ Sebastian,” came a voice from behind.

I looked back, startled. A tall, well built man was leaning casually against the wall. I didn't even notice him the whole time.

“ His name’s Sebastian,” he said. “Our Boss. The one who brought you here.”

“And who are you?” I asked cautiously.

“Alex.”

Without responding, I watched him carefully. He didn’t seem very intimidating unlike Sebastian.

“How long have I been here? Where am I?” I asked again.

Alex glanced at the door before speaking. “Finish your food. I’ll send someone to help you. But make sure,” He gave me a look that was gentle, but firm. “...not to leave this room.”

He left before I could ask anything else. So no one was going to answer me. A deep sigh left my mouth.

I started devouring the food as my eyes scanned the lavish room. Every corner was screaming money. They hadn’t hurt me yet, but I couldn’t afford to let my guard down.

My hands suddenly froze at the sound of a sharp, gut wrenching scream. It was a girl. My body shivered.

I stared at the door. They had told me not to leave. But that scream, it wasn’t something to be ignored. My heart raced as I crept toward the door. I turned the knob slowly, half expecting it to be locked but thankfully, it wasn’t.

Peeking outside I found the corridor empty. The scream came again from somewhere down the hall. Without waiting anymore I followed the sound.

The voice led me to a door slightly ajar at the end of the hall. My curiosity got the best of me, and I peeked inside the room.

Suddenly my eyes widened in horror and blood ran cold. I could hardly breathe. I shouldn’t have left that room. Taking a few hurried steps back, I prepared to run away but just then, a hand clamped down on my shoulders.

“What are you doing here?”

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