Captive Of The Alpha
Chapter 38

The smell of sandalwood, honey and something else. The overly sweet mixture cloyed Nebraska’s conscience as she struggled to wake up or come out of unconsciousness.

-How long do you intend to keep sleeping,” the deep voice of the alpha she didn’t really feel like it, made her feet drop to the ground and she opened her eyes with a start to replace herself in a room even more luxurious than the one she was currently sleeping in. Unlike this place he didn’t know, nor did it seem to have Hades’ elegant style.

She sat up on the cold floor and the usual unpleasant noise, plus the weight of the shackles around one of her ankles made her shudder so much that she had to use all her willpower not to vomit.

-You look like a puppy on the verge of collapse,” she heard him laugh at her and looked up at him with her claws out ready to defend herself.

Unfortunately for her, the shackle that imprisoned her was heavier than those that had restrained her in the past and painfully tighter. The very sensation of the metal against her skin made her remember every single moment she had spent in that cave, the days alone on the verge of madness, the continuous rapes, the pains throughout her body as each of her pups in her belly was consumed little by little by not being fed by conventional means. Every moment was engraved in her and that had made her what she was today, but to make her remember it was playing dirty.

-Where am I?” she tried to be reasonable, she needed to know her location first before any movement, if she was still in Hades’ mansion sooner or later she would be found.

-In my castle,” her hopes shattered like thin glass.

His castle? Where the hell was his castle?

He had details that it was to the north, near the border of Hades’ grounds, but still, far enough away.

-How, how did you get me out,” she looked terrified at the mere fact that she wasn’t safe and without her pups.

Layan got up from the overly decorated velvet couch and sat on the edge of the bed less than a metre away from her who remained kneeling on the floor without much chance of moving.

-I have my ways to achieve my ends beautiful,” he grabbed her chin. She wanted to let go but the grip was firm and made her face blur, “But I don’t have much time with you, so, what we were coming to.

Nebraska hid the trembling that threatened to shake every part of her. She might be afraid but she wouldn’t show it.

The wolf brought his face within inches of hers.

-I told you, I need a favour. After you do it, you can go and do whatever you want.

-And if I refuse,” he tested his strength, he wanted to know what he was fighting against.

Layan’s hand ran along the edge of her cheek and moved to her neck, caressing the nape of her neck.

-Are you sure you want to refuse? Your body is at my complete disposal and you’re an unmarked omega, what if by accident my teeth get buried inside you,” he had taken advantage of her reaction and said the last words in her ear.

Nebraska didn’t move, but turned her eyes to meet his out of the corner of her eye.

-Would you start a feud with Hades over this? He declared me to be his future wife,” she said.

Layan returned to his position on the bed though he kept stroking the ends of his dark hair.

-My pack is by far stronger than Hades’, do you think I would lose, besides, no one in the Council dares to challenge me?

Nebraska was about to retort but thought it wiser to remain silent. This wolf is far above other alphas in power. She shouldn’t provoke him or else her life would be in danger, and the last thing she wanted was to bring more people into her problems, she was tired of others depending on her decisions, that weight would kill her before she knew it.

-All right, if I do what you want, you’ll let me off the hook and not make this any bigger?

-You have my word, at least on the part if I keep the deal, the other part is up to Hades.

Layan had seen the way she was looking at the omega and he was sure she wouldn’t stand idly by. Up until this point he himself hadn’t realised how dangerous he could be when he was bored.

Reaching into one of his trouser pockets he pulled out a key and unlocked the shackle freeing her leg with an already purple bruise around the ankle. He grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet.

-Follow me and don’t try to escape, I have wolves everywhere and they won’t hesitate to rip the head off anyone who isn’t one of the pack,” his words were calm but the hint of menace didn’t leave them.

Nebraska followed him down a long corridor to an iron door at the end that had several locks. The atmosphere felt heavy and stuffy and he found it hard to breathe. His heart was pounding nervously, telling him that there was nothing good behind that door.

Layan touched a few mechanisms and the door slowly opened, letting out a musty smell as well as the sound of a roar. Nebraska stepped back but was stopped by the hand of the alpha who stopped her and dragged her inside against her will.

The darkness inside was only broken by the light of small candles about to melt. The room was all disheveled, the curtains torn, what should have been a beautiful carved wooden bed was, throughout the room, in pieces. Both the shelves and the objects that once stood on them could be found everywhere.

In the gloom of the corner a thin, hairy body moved slowly, rising to its full height. Ribs were marked where the fur of what looked like brown had been shed, paws swollen and those characteristic crimson eyes that chilled to the soul.

Madness. That wolf had lost control, and from the state Nebraska saw him in, she could tell this case wasn’t so simple.

-Nebraska,” Layan called to her, pulling her hand to his side, “The favor is that you use your power and bring this wolf back to his senses.

She opened her eyes in shock.

-I think this is out of my hands,” she felt the wolf move to alertness and let out another growl. The scent it gave off was strong, almost dizzying.

For the first time Nebraska thought, not of her children, not of her pack, but of the protection she had felt at Hades’ side every time he protected her, even when he wasn’t aware of himself.

Layan squeezed her hand tighter and pulled her to him.

-Don’t you want to do it? You know what’s at stake.

He saw her swallow hard and frown.

-At least tell me who I’m dealing with.

-Oh, her,” he raised a hand towards the wolf that seemed about to pounce on them, “Nebraska introduced you to Leila, my sister.