My Alpha's Wolfless Daughter
My Alpha’s Wolfless Daughter – Chapter 58

Ayla

Xander moved me off of him to collect the food and water for us. I didn’t feel like eating. I should have been worried about meeting this boss of Jordan’s, but I couldn’t force myself to feel anything but emptiness. The saying ‘you never knew what you had until it’s gone,’ rang true.

I felt weak and pathetic sitting here, wallowing over someone who I know cheated. The pain wasn’t the same as before. Before, it was quick and took my breath away. This pain was deep and everlasting as it twisted my soul until it broke. I don’t understand why he would do that to me. Why would he want me to feel such pain?

And here I was, crying over a bond that broke me but I craved it. I craved everything about Nate. I never wanted anyone as much as I wanted Nate, and now I may never have him again. I’m not sure why I thought I had Xander or even Kaden. Maybe I needed a backup plan for when Nate truly saw me. The moment he realized he could never love me.

I’m so broken, I couldn’t even trust the people I loved more than anything. I was so afraid of loving him, just to have him leave me. I don’t think I could handle another heartbreak. Why the goddesses thought I was perfect for this, I’ll never know. I’m no princess or black pearl.

How can I inspire others? Save an entire race, when I can’t even inspire or save myself? I was nothing, and one day soon, the goddesses will come back and take it all back. The dark thoughts just kept coming as I thought about what might happen.

“Ayla, please eat.” Xander pushed against my shoulder with his, pulling me from my thoughts.

“I’m okay,” I whispered, wrapping my arms around my knees.

“Please, just drink some water?” He pleaded, holding out a bottle of water.

I took the bottle and took a long drink. I was thirsting but I didn’t care to drink more. I always had to be this strong, independent woman, even when I was still a teen and I just didn’t have the strength anymore. If the world fell apart, does it really matter? Is there anything to live for anymore?

I heard heavy footsteps, and I didn’t even bother to look up when they stopped. I knew everything was about to change.

“Xander, stand down,” Jordan commanded. I heard Xander growl as he stood up beside me.

“Ayla, come to me.” He demanded. I sighed before standing up, stumbling as I tried to get my footing. This was the first time I was standing after the breaking of the bond.

“Don’t,” Xander warned me, as he steadied me on my feet.

“I made a deal,” I told him before I walked over to Jordan. My stomach twisted as I watched him, watching me.

Jordan twisted the lock on the cell door, opening it. He pulled me against him before slamming the door shut. My skin crawled from his touch and I had to remind myself I was doing this to keep Xander alive. He was trained in this. If anyone could escape, it’s him.

“Good girl,” he purred against my ear.

“Stop, take me instead!” Xander yelled, grabbing me through the bars. He pulled me away from Jordan, gripping me tightly. I brought a hand to his cheek and he leaned into my touch.

“Don’t do this, Ayla,” he begged.

“It’s okay, Xander. When you get out of here, promise me, you’ll live the life you always wanted.” I told him with tears in my eyes. His grip tightened, as tears built in his eyes.

“Ayla, please?” he whispered.

“I love you, Xander. Please tell everyone how much I love them.” I cried, unable to hold myself together. This felt like a final goodbye as Jordan pulled me out of Xander’s grip.

“Be good. I won’t hesitate to kill him.” Jordan hissed in my ear as he gripped my arm painfully. He dragged me up the steps leading away from the cells. I could hear Xander yelling behind us.

Moments later, he pushed me into a room and closed the door behind us. Looking around the room, there was a bed, a table, and two chairs. It wasn’t anything special. Jordan came up behind me, grabbing my throat with one hand while the other gripped one of my breasts, painfully. Scales cover my body as I let out a gasp.

“You owe me, Ayla. Now, get rid of the scales.” Jordan growled in my ear. Tears pricked my ears, as his grip tightened like a vice. If I didn’t do this, he would kill Xander.

I took a deep breath and willed the scales to disappear. It took a few more breaths but the scales finally vanished, leaving me naked.

“Such a good girl,” he purred against my neck.

“Please, don’t do this, Jordan,” I pleaded.

“If you go back on your part of the deal, I will as well. And I know you don’t want poor Xander to die.” He taunted me and I gulped. I shook my head and he cupped my core.

I didn’t make a sound, and I willed the tears to stop falling. He will never know how much this will affect me. It’s just a body, he will never have my soul. I can get through this, like everything else.

He pushed me towards the bed and I stumbled, falling half off the bed. He undid his belt before stalking over to me and throwing me on the bed, onto my stomach. Jordan grabbed me by my ankles and pulled me down the bed closer to him, before smacking my a*s hard. I could feel the marking forming as he leaned over me.

“If Dante asks, you came onto me. Got it?” He growled, nipping my neck. I nodded. He readjusted himself behind me and I closed my eyes waiting for this all to be over.

“I’m here, Ayla. Breathe.” A voice whispered in my head. I thought I was going to burst into sobs. I wasn’t alone.

“Relax and let me take control.” The voice said. I whimpered as Jordan entered me harshly.

“Please, help,” I begged the voice. It felt like my mind was pushed further into my skull, as the pain from what was being done to me, faded until I felt nothing.

Jordan’s grunts pulled me back to my reality, and I gasped when he smacked my a*s again. I held in my tears as I heard him doing up his belt behind me. I wasn’t going to break yet.

“Now, go shower and get dressed.” He demanded before he left the room, slamming the door behind him. I heard him lock the door.

I slid off the bed, crumbling into myself, as I tried to control my sobs. How did I ever care for such a monster?

“Ayla, go wash his scent off.” The voice said.

Getting up was difficult as my core throbbed. Once I was standing, b***d rushed down my thighs. I stumbled to the bathroom to get myself cleaned up. Once the shower was hot, I climbed in and let the sobs out. I scrubbed my skin raw with my nails, trying to rid myself of the feeling of his body against mine.

“Ayla, I’m Kaia, your wolf. I wish I could help more, but with the bond breaking, I’m very weak.” My wolf whispered, and my heart broke for her.

“I’m just glad you are here. You have no idea how much I need a friend right now.” I cried.

“We will get through this together. And you were never alone, Ayla. You will always have Nate and Duke.” She mumbled before I could no longer feel her.

I sat under the hot water and sobbed until the water ran cold. I didn’t want to move. I didn’t want to have to do this alone. I know my poor wolf is heartbroken, but I needed her.

“I’m still with you, Ayla. I’m just resting. I will need my strength when we face Dante. I’ll always be with you. Now get dressed and show these fuckers why you are the black pearl.”

“Okay,” I whispered. Hearing her words was just what I needed to get out of the shower and get dressed. I needed to face them. I had to be strong for my family and my people.

As I was drying off, the bleeding between my legs had stopped. I was still sore but it was more manageable now. My poor wolf was working overtime, even in her own pain. If my wolf can do all this for me, then I will get her back to her mate. To our mate.

I wrapped the towel around myself before entering the room again. The witch from earlier was sitting on the bed with clothes folded on her lap. She stood up from the bed and walked towards me.

“Did he hurt you?” She asked, handing me the clothes. I stared at her for a moment before shaking my head. She didn’t need to know what he did to me.

I took the clothes she offered as she watched me. I knew she didn’t believe me. I could see the b***d on the sheet of the bed.

“Get dressed and knock on the door when you’re done. I’ll be waiting. The boss is almost here.” She said before she left me alone.

I let out a sigh as I placed the clothes on the table. I say clothes, but it was a medium-length maxi dress and a pair of flats. They didn’t even give me underwear or a bra. I rolled my eyes as I pulled on the dress. It was tight and I felt like my breasts were going to spill over the neckline. With all these men here and they couldn’t replace anything bigger and not a dress.

I went into the bathroom to look at myself in the mirror as I dried my hair the best I could. I had dark circles around my eyes and it looked like I hadn’t slept in days. But I don’t think my looks matter, I’m wanted because I’m the black pearl, not because I’m Ayla.

After fixing my breasts in this black dress, I put the flats on before I knocked at the door. My stomach twisted painfully as I waited for the witch to answer. In minutes I was about to be face-to-face with this Dante character. The boss of the hunters.

“You got this, Ayla. You are stronger than you know.” Kaia whispered. I took a few deep breaths before the door opened and the witch was staring at me.

Without a word, I followed behind her as she led me to the boss. I can do this, I said to myself over and over again, hoping I’d finally believe those words.

We walked up to a double door with two burly men in suits watching the doors. They were both wearing sunglasses so I couldn’t see their eyes. After a moment, one of them opened a door and the witch pushed me through the doorway. I stumbled but composed myself quickly. I needed to show I was brave even if I didn’t feel it.

A man was sitting behind a large oak desk, and Jordan was sitting in one of the chairs in front of it. The man had black hair, shaved short on the sides and longer on top. He was pale and had the most intense ice-blue eyes I’d ever seen. When his eyes met mine, it was like he was looking into my soul. He felt familiar, even though I don’t remember ever meeting him before. And I would have remembered those eyes.

“Finally,” he breathed out and goosebumps covered my body.

“Before we get to the thing at hand, Jordan has informed me of the debt you paid to him for keeping the other mermaid alive. Is this true?” He commanded. I looked at Jordan before looking back at the boss.

“Yes, sir. Xander has nothing to do with this.” I answered, sounding braver than I felt. I clasped my hands in front of me to stop them from shaking.

“And do you love this Xander?” He asked, nonchalantly.

“He’s my best friend. And if you let him go unharmed. I’ll do anything that you ask of me.” I said, and that seemed to pique his interest.

“Anything can be many things. Are you sure this mermaid is worth that?” His voice demanded.

“Xander’s life is worth that and so much more to me. Please, let him go?” I pleaded. The boss leaned back in his chair and watched me intently. My stomach twisted painfully and I broke out in a cold sweat as I waited for him to answer. I was just about ready to fight when he finally answered.

“Very well. Jordan will release the prisoner, unharmed. She paid her debt to you, so I believe she is trustworthy.”

“Sir, he will come back for her,” Jordan exclaimed, but he brushed him off.

“And we will deal with it when the time comes. Now both of you leave.” He commanded. Jordan and the witch bowed their heads. Jordan gave me one last look before he followed the witch out, closing the door behind them.

“Ayla, I’ve been waiting for you for a very long time,” he said, as he stood up from his chair. I gulped as he stalked toward me.

“Sir,” I stammered.

With every step he took towards me, I took a step back until my back hit the wall and he was now standing over me. His eyes locked with mine, as my chest heaved. He took a step closer, pinning my body against the wall with his. There was no more room between us.

“You will call me Dante, and you will claim me.” He purred, running a finger down my cheek. I bit down on my lower l*p to hold the gasp about to escape from his touch.

“Dante, why do you want me to claim you?” I whispered, looking up at him. His hands gripped my h**s as he leaned his head down, his lips against my ear.

“I love the way you say my name,” he purred, pushing his crutch against me.

“I don’t understand, why do you want me?” I asked, my hands on his chest, trying to push him. He didn’t budge, which I’m not surprised. He was at least a foot taller than me and he was bulky with hard muscles.

He let out a sigh against my neck, and I whimpered as his fingertips dug into my h**s, harder. I shouldn’t have opened my big mouth but I wanted to know who Dante was and why he was looking for me. I needed answers before my death. He pulled away and looked down at me.

“How much do you know about the black pearl legend?” He asked.

“I know, the first was a witch/mermaid and the second was a vampire/mermaid but he was killed because he couldn’t prove himself worthy,” I answered. He growled and I froze. He glared down at me with murder in his eyes, and my entire body trembled under his stare. I pushed myself as close to the wall as possible, trying to create some distance between us.

I flinched when he rested his forehand against mine. He let out a sigh and his grip softened. My heart was racing and I thought it was going to beat out of my chest. I’ve never felt fear like this before.

“I’m sorry, baby. I didn’t mean to scare you.” He mumbled, kissing my forehead.

“I didn’t mean to upset you,” I whispered. He took ahold of my cheeks and forced me to look up at him.

“I was worthy of being the black pearl. It was the goddess who took everything away from me.” He said and I gasped.

“That’s not possible.”

“I’m a vampire. The goddess may have taken the mermaid half of me, but I survived because of the vampire b***d running through my veins. And now, I will finally rule over the seas with you, the black pearl by my side.”