Chapter 10 Attacked
TARA:
“Good morning, Tara. It’s almost time to leave.”
I felt a tap on my shoulder. I groaned lowly, not feeling ready to wake up. That was the first time I was sleeping comfortably in my entire life.
“Good morning, Sir. Okay,” I reluctantly sat up and rubbed my eyes. I took my bath again and was ready to head out when Mason reminded me that I hadn’t had breakfast yet.
“Breakfast?” The word sounded foreign to me because at the pack house, nobody spoke of breakfast. For me, it was always dinner and a tiny portion at that. It was Ellie who usually sneaked in enough food later at night.
I always wondered how she does that without being caught. I never knew she was the head maid’s daughter, not until after the murder.
That scene wouldn’t leave my head. Who would want to kill her and why? I knew she was an evil woman with a heart of stone but other than that, there was no reason why anyone would want her dead.
Or did she do something grievous?
“Yes, breakfast. You know, food in the morning.” I knew he was teasing me but I didn’t find it funny.
“Or don’t you eat in the morning? I can understand if you don’t.”
“No, I don’t.” There were lots of things I couldn’t say to them. My life had been nothing but shadows and thorns. Something that should remain in the dark.
“But come have this at least. We still have a long way to go and you’ll need the energy.” He waved at me to go over and I did, dragging my feet. I sat on an empty chair opposite him as he pushed my portion to me.
The food was layered, a beautiful golden brown coloured food with liquid flowing down to the bottom. I had no idea what it was or how to eat it.
I would have copied Mason but he was just having a cup of tea while reading a paper.
“Why aren’t you eating?” He asked when he looked up to see me staring blankly at the food.
“What is this?” I pointed.
“Pancakes. And here’s how you cut it,” He picked up the knife, sliced through it into little boxes, and picked out some with the fork. He gave it to me and I ate it.
It was so soft and milky. He was nice enough to cut everything into little bits for me.
Mason was too kind to me. I always wondered if he didn’t see me as a slave. Even at the eatery, he held my hand as we walked in.
Many people saw me as a plague that should never be neared. Maybe once he finds out about my existence, he will stop being nice to me.
While I was eating, the Alpha walked in.
“Good morning, Alpha.” I bowed my head low as I greeted but he walked past me like I wasn’t even there. Normally, that would have hurt me but I was already used to it.
A few minutes later and we checked out of the motel and we were now on our way to the North pack. This time, I sat with Mason in front. The Alpha permitted me after I requested.
“So, Tara, do you want to tell us what happened? Why were you treated so harshly?”
That was it. The one thing I never wanted to speak about. But I would be ungrateful if I kept it hidden because they had saved me and showed me kindness that I had never received from anybody apart from Ellie.
My eyes fell to my thighs, my fingers intertwining with each other. I was scared of saying the truth. They might not believe me and accuse me too.
“I—” I opened my mouth to speak but the car stopped abruptly, making me hit my head on a hard surface.
“Are you okay?” Mason held both my shoulders, steadying me. I held my forehead, immediately feeling a strong ache overwhelming me.
What had happened?
“What’s going on, Mason?” The Alpha growled.
“Someone stepped into the road and I had to stop. I’m sorry, Alpha.” He explained.
“It’s fine. Is it settled now? Let’s move.” He was impatient. Maybe he had some important business to run at his pack.
“Actually, I think we’re being attacked.” As he spoke, I heard a screech at my side of the door. I gasped, feeling scared. Was it a bear? Were we going to die?
“Get down or you’ll be forced to!” I heard a male voice from outside. Because the windows were closed, the voice sounded muffled.
Another bang came from the back of the car.
“Sir, what is it?” I impulsively asked.
“Don’t worry, dear. I’ll take care of it.” He said and was about to open the door but the Alpha beat him to it.
“You two, stay in here and don’t come out, no matter what.” He warned and shut the door as soon as his feet touched the ground.
It was dangerous to go out. Wasn’t he scared?
Seconds flew by and the Alpha was surrounded by several men who held planks and other dangerous weapons.
My heart began to pound. How was the Alpha going to escape? Those men looked like they wanted to kill him.
Mason must have seen through the worry on my face because he told me not to worry and that the Alpha was a strong man.
“We have to help him.”
I understood the feeling of helplessness more than anyone in this world. I knew what it felt like for the people who are supposed to be your family and friends to turn against you.
Right now, it was the Alpha versus the thugs.
“We don’t disobey the Alpha's command, Tara. Do exactly as he says and don’t overstep your boundaries, okay? That way, you won’t get into trouble with him.” He educated me. As much as I didn’t like it, I had to accept it. It’s not like there was something I could do. I would only get in his way.
“What do you want?” The Alpha's hands were seated in his pockets and although I couldn’t see his face, I could tell her was glaring daggers at them.
“Give us your car willingly and maybe we’ll let you live.”
My fingers clamped together, forming a fist. They were there to steal and to kill. Whatever happened to honest work? Didn't they have jobs to feed them? Why steal from other people?
“I'm going to say this once. Leave now while you still can and don’t ever think of bothering me again.” He warned them and turned his back but someone threw a stone at him while grinning widely.
“He shouldn’t have done that.” Mason clicked his tongue.
“Fuck this Alpha command.” He gritted his teeth.
The Alpha command…. The same thing Nolan had used on me to make me watch him and his lover being intimate. That was how powerful it was.
“Alpha…” I muttered. The glass beside me shattered. Mason moved to cover me but it was already too late. My body was already covered in blood and before I knew it, someone opened the door and pulled me out.
I was pushed to the ground and I ended up twisting my unhealed ankle again. I winced in pain. Each cut hurt like silver on my flesh, the pain searing into my bones.
“You didn’t tell her you had such a beauty. Fine, we’ll take the car and her. Any objections?”
Mason, too, was dragged out and flung to the ground.
One of them crouched to my level and grabbed my chin, forcing me to look at him.
I glared at him, wishing there was something close by to hit him with.
“I like the fire in your eyes, girl.” He licked off the blood on my chin slowly. I felt disgusted and almost threw up.
“I wonder if there’s water to quench this fire down there.”
Immediately, fear struck my heart. He wasn’t referring to intimacy, was he?
“Yes, little girl, you should be scared. I have a weapon that could tear you to pieces. A weapon of—” He hadn’t finished talking when the Alpha grabbed his hair and pulled harshly, causing the man to grimace.
The cold in his eyes gnawed at my bones.
“Before you take what belongs to me, you have to go through me.”