Chapter 31
Chapter
Thirty-One
Aries
"Don’t fucking touch her!” The animalistic roar and gravel-fueled voice had a shiver running through me as it woke me out of a dead sleep. My head was pulsing painfully and my entire body ached sharply.
Something shifted closer, then a hand brushed down my collarbone, then between my breasts.
The snarl that echoed out had my eyes snapping open.
The face in front of me was unfamiliar and I moved on instinct, kicking out and sending the man sprawling onto his ass.
HIs face flashed with pure hatred and I struck again despite being shackled at my hands.
Years of using the punching bag and building my strength meant I was quick and steady with my blows, hitting him once in the side where I could crack a rib, then right in the dick.
“You fucking whore!” he bit out, lunging for me. Despite another blow he managed a hit right in my stomach. I doubled over and he gripped my ponytail, holding me while he rained more hits on me. He didn’t stop until I was wheezing out my breaths.
The asshole was breathing heavily now, his hands covered in my blood. Each breath hurt him from the scowl on his face every time he tried to inhale.
Unfortunately for him, I was angry now and he was within reach. He thought he’d taken me out but I struck again, my foot connecting with his nose, blood spurting out as it crunched under my shoe.
“Don’t. Fucking. Touch. Me.”
“I’m coming,” Nikolai snarled out, his voice had my gaze snapping to the other side of the room, peering through the darkness to see my mate tied to a chair.
No. Chained to a chair.
He fought against it, slamming his body back and sending the chair flying backward. I couldn’t watch any longer, my focus scanning the room while keeping an eye out on the man heaped on the floor, trying to stop the flow of blood.
It wasn’t a big space, more like a basement in a standard house. The stairs nearby cast enough light down that I could make out two other forms.
Leon and Luca.
So, where was Ronan?!
The one mate I hadn’t bit yet was the one I couldn’t feel but needed to. Fuck.
“Where is Ronan? If you hurt him I swear I’ll kill you myself,” I growled.
“He’s going to watch his entire world fall apart.
My dear brother can wake up to find himself alone like he deserves,” the man bit out, his tone nasally thanks to the broken nose.
He stood, squaring his shoulders in front of me in what I’m sure would be a really intimidating stance to some. To me he looked pathetic.
“Why would you treat your brother like this?” I asked, the disgust in my tone making him narrow his eyes. “Ronan is a good alpha.”
“Of course, he looks like one, everything has been handed to him!” he thundered.
“Looks to me like he earned it. He has the respect of the Crows, his pack, and his omega,” I said.
The obvious dismissal in my tone had the asshole lunging for me again, his hands wrapping around my throat.
He squeezed hard enough I had to force myself not to react or panic, waiting for him to give out.
My vision was spotty but my lack of reaction had him releasing me.
That and the guttural roar sounding off behind him.
“Don’t touch her!” Nikolai screamed again. Alessio snarled and stalked closer to Nik, punching him in an attempt to quiet my alpha down.
Despite Alessio’s efforts, my mate was eerily calm. He was locked in and I knew the moment he could, he’d snap this asshole’s neck.
I knew I should be freaking out. That part of my brain seemed to be shut off. Maybe because I wasn’t alone, or the fact that I knew how to fight my way out.
While he was distracted I looked up at the hook I was shackled to. My hands suspended slightly in the air. I wound the chain around my hands before lifting my feet, hanging there and listening to the old wood of the rafters groan.
With enough time, I would be able to get myself free. My pack needed me and he was the only asshole I saw down here. Just one of us needed to take him down and we’d be able to release the others.
The formation of a plan, even a lackluster one, was enough to hold on tight to the calm I’d been using like armor. I knew what was at stake and how badly we were hurt, but I couldn't let it stop me from fighting back.
No one was going to take my power away like that. It went against everything I’d worked hard to ingrain into myself and my students.
Something creaked above us, making me pause and listen. Maybe a footstep but it cut off too quickly to pinpoint exactly what it was.
Nikolai was keeping his half-brother occupied, giving me the time to try and free myself. I wasn’t bound like an alpha and that was Alessio’s biggest mistake so far.
That or double crossing Ronan. In the end, he would pay the price for his greed and jealousy. Ronan was playful with me and his pack, the rest of the world would get the unhinged side of him.
I also knew I’d be getting that tracker after this.
“Leon,” I hissed, stretching out and trying to nudge his foot. We were just far enough apart that I couldn’t reach him. “Luca.”
I didn’t want to raise my voice higher and gain the attention of the asshole across the room. I’d already been in pain before he lost his mind beating my ass.
Which I knew he’d pay for dearly. Hopefully with a knife to the knot. Fucking asshole alpha.
Nik’s attention fell on me and I rose up, showing him I was trying to weaken the chains. He quickly looked away, biting out fresh words to his half-brother while I focused on getting myself free.
I lifted my legs as I clung to the chains the shackles were attached to. They were rusted and old and I prayed to whatever gods were listening they’d loosen.
Using my bodyweight I bounced in the air, lifting myself up and dropping. Each time the groan wasn’t as loud as Nik’s booming voice or the whiny alpha’s argument.
After far too many attempts the metal finally let out a groan, then snapped. Despite the chains falling I kept my hands in the air like I was, hoping to fool him.
The alpha glanced back but quickly dismissed me.
Good. That was exactly the reaction I wanted. Nik sent encouragement through our bond as I slowly crept forward. Long pieces of the chain were still in my hands and I held them together, ready to wrap it around the alpha’s throat the moment I was close enough.
“Why are you so fucking angry? Ronan never put you down, you dug enough graves to handle that yourself. Your father just saw what a fuckup you were and cast you aside,” Nik snarled. HIs voice was dripping with venom and I knew he meant every word.
They hit his brother, the man letting out a warning growl as he launched forward, slamming a fist into Nik’s face. He was already weak and it barely made my alpha flinch. I might have laughed in any other situation.
I was only a few feet away now, my steps quiet and methodical, making sure he couldn’t hear.
He started to turn and I froze, ready to lunge regardless but Nik made a noise that had him turning back, giving me time to strike.
I jumped at the alpha, chain wrapping around his throat before I fell to my ass, feet braced on the cement floor so my full weight was holding him tight. He fought, trying to stay upright, but I crossed my arms, tightening the chain even further.
At this point, he could live or die, I didn’t care. As long as I could get to Nikolai and get us the fuck out of here.
I’d never be a victim again. That started now.