\[Denali’s POV\]
I’m not sure how much time passes while I’m being held captive; a day, maybe two, could even be three. The only sense of time I had was from the meals that were delivered—well, if you could call it a meal. Stale bread and moldy cheese with water. Just enough to keep those being held alive, but not enough for them to be strong enough to fight back.
During my time, I got to know my neighbor. Her name was Maria, and her son was Tristan. They had been captured and brought here a year prior. So far, no one has managed to buy them, but that could change in a few days when the next auctions happen.
Before coming to this place, Maria was able to see, but when she decided to be defiant against the ring leader of this whole thing, he ruined her eyes, taking her sight in the process.
Most of the others had similar stories to Maria’s. They were captured from their homes and brought here, then used as the ring leader pleased, and when he was finished with them, they were sent to be sold to high-ranking officials in the government or alphas of not-so-strong packs.
Each one of them, from what I learned, came from strong bloodlines, and I couldn’t help but wonder if their abductions were deliberate. Even if they could never be leaders when they were sold unless they managed to escape, they could create strong heirs.
My heart broke for each and every one of them, and because of that, my need to help them grew stronger, but I was still unable to tap into the powers I used to escape Nadia’s scheme. Well, tried to escape her scheme.
Maybe it was the fourth or fifth day when a guard came for me, hoisting me from the floor since I was no longer able to use my legs due to my injuries.
“The boss wishes to see you,” he grins, fixing his disgusting gaze on me. “Let’s go.”
Gritting my teeth, I try to ignore the pain that shoots through me as my useless legs as they drag across the hard concrete floor, leaving a trail of blood behind.
When we reach the dungeon exit, we are greeted by two more guards who chain my hands behind my back and place an odd collar around my neck before the one carrying me can continue on his way.
“Are you really that afraid I’m going to do something?” I ask as the collar tightens against my skin and begins to beep.
“You can never be too careful,” the guard snaps, stopping in front of a large door and then knocking.
Stepping back, he waits until the sound of locks clicking open sounds, and then the door moves so that I can see the office inside.
Giving me a yank, the guard begins to move so that I can get a good look around me.
“I’ve brought her, sir,” he announces.
“Good, just sit her down and leave.”
Frowning, I feel something in me begin to shift due to the voice I just heard. If I wasn’t mistaken, I knew that voice and knew it well.
“Yes, sir,” the guard responds, placing me on a wooden chair that sits in front of the desk so that I can take in the back of a large chair.
Once I’m in place, the guard turns and makes his way out of the room. Only when the door is closed and the locks click back in place does the chair in front of me begin to swivel, and when I finally see him, the one running all of this, my eyes widen with shock and anger roll through me.
“You,” I hiss in disbelief. “But how? You were…”
“Killed?” Alexander offers, smirking. “And you didn’t even attempt to help me. After everything we went through, you couldn’t even spare me that."
“But why?” I growl, snapping out of shock. “What the hell are you even up to?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” He asks, leaning back in his seat. “Did you really think that it was a coincidence that I found you that day?”
That day… He had to be referring to the day I tried to kill myself and he saved me. After all these years, I truly thought it was fate that brought him there, but was it all planned from the start?
“That’s right,” he chuckles, as I’m sure my expression slowly shifts to rage. “I was keeping track of you that whole time.”
“Keeping track of me,” I repeat, narrowing my gaze. “And why exactly would you do that?”
“Because you’re special.”
“Special?” I bark in disbelief. “I’m about as special as a human. Why would you…”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” Alexander counters, leaning forward once more and placing his hand on a file. “Do you really think that you’re nothing?”
At his words, my mind begins to reel. What in the hell was he even getting at, and why was he doing all of this? Was he intentionally trying to tie me to him? If that was the case, why did he cheat on me with Anastasia? If he just stayed with me, then he wouldn’t have to go through all of this.
“Then why cheat on me with Anastasia?” I ask, wanting answers. “You’ve gone through all this just to get me, but you had me, so why…”
“Because of your fucking father,” Alexander growls. “He caught onto my plot and threatened to reveal this whole operation.”
“You mean your slave market?” I hiss in disgust. “Even though he is working alongside you. Why would he be stupid enough to reveal this when he would go down with you?"
“No solid proof,” Alexander chuckles. “Anyway, I was curious about how your stepsister tasted. It was so easy to get her to sleep with me, and then it took a simple video to catch her. Who knew she would turn something fun into a lifetime commitment? I had no choice but to get rid of that bastard in her stomach so that I wouldn’t be stuck with her.”
“You…” I repeat, shock rolling through me again. “Does that mean that you..."
“That’s right,” Alexander confirms, snapping his fingers. “Not only me, though. I had a little help.”
As he speaks, a door to the side of the room opens, and Elise comes strolling out. When her eyes come to rest on me, a look of satisfaction crosses her face.
“Surprised?” She asks, taking a seat on Alexander's lap and pressing her lips against his.
“Not really,” I admit. “I knew that you were behind this, but Alexander was a bit of a surprise.”
Did this mean that Alexander, Nadia, and Elise were all working together from the very start? If that was the case, then how long did they actually know each other?
“Why are you doing all of this?” I ask slowly, not wanting to waste energy on trying to come up with my own answers. “All these plots and all these murders, for what? What are you trying to achieve?”
“Supreme domination,” Alexander responds. “And I can’t achieve that without you.”
As the words leave his lips, a look of anger flashes in Elise’s eyes, but as quickly as it appears, it is gone, and her look of satisfaction is back.
“And why do you need me for that?” I push.
“Because you are the sole possessor of the ultimate alpha command,” Alexander responds. “And once I’ve gotten what I want, you will die just like all the other chess pieces.”