And just like that, every horrible second of the last two days slams into me, and my body tenses.
I ran away from home. Was kidnapped. Sold. And bought.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
“K,” a deep voice vibrates beneath my cheek.Am I laying on one of the alphas?“She’s awake.”
There’s movement not far from me, and my body instantly reacts. My eyes snap open as I push away from the massive alpha beneath me. I scramble backward, not stopping until my back hits something hard.
Rock.
“It’s okay, omega.” The blond alpha from yesterday walks toward me, his hands up as if trying to push away my panic. “We’re not going to hurt you.”
I snarl, then drill all my senses inward. I assess my body, trying to figure out what they did to me last night. But I don’t feel any different. While my bones hurt from the abuse Burke and Stone inflicted on me, nothing else seems different or wrong. I would expect between my legs to hurt if three alphas violated me while I was unconscious, but I feel…fine.
That can’t be right.
“You must be hungry.” Basil, the green-eyed alpha, turns his back to me, and walks off.
My eyes dart around the space, noticing the opening behind Killian. I’ll never get past him. He’d snatch me up without having to try.
“I’m sorry we can’t feed you a hot breakfast.” Basil kneels next to Tristan. The big alpha sits up, watching me with narrowed, curious eyes. “But it’s something.” Basil pushes a small plate toward me. There are a few pieces of what looks like beef jerky and half an orange. I’m so hungry, it looks like a feast.
I can’t remember the last time I ate.
Dinner. Two nights ago?I think.
“Let me get you a napkin.” Basil turns and I launch myself at the plate.
Snatching it up, I push myself back against the wall, shoving as much of the jerky into my mouth as I can. The meat is tough but bursting with a smokey, salty flavor. My mouth waters as I chew, wolfing down one whole piece, before grabbing the other.
“Get her some more,” Tristan says, his eyes glued to my face, and Basil quickly stands.
I watch the green-eyed alpha carefully as he moves around Killian to the other side of the cave. He rummages through a big backpack, taking out a clear bag filled with strips of meat. I stare at the shiny plastic, trying to read its colorful writing, but it’s too dark in here. Whatever the bag says, I assume they bought it at a shop. Linden once brought me a bag of sweets in a plastic bag with pink hearts on it. I had to hide it out of fear that one of my fathers would find it and grow suspicious of why Linden got it for me. My family never buys food…or really anything.
If we can’t grow it, kill it, or make it, we don’t have it.
“Here you go.” Basil holds out another fat piece of jerky.
I eye his long fingers, not sure if I can trust him not to snatch my wrist if I try to reach for it. But I guess it doesn’t really matter. If they want to attack me, there’s nothing I can do to stop it.
Reaching out one hand, I inch closer, finally gripping the other end of the jerky. A smile creeps across Basil’s face, making him look so young. Maybe even innocent. I stare into his pale eyes, trying to figure out what he’s scheming, but all I see is a deep sympathy, laced with a tired sadness.Just like yesterday.
Fuck them. I don’t need their pity. I just need to go home.
“Do you want some water?” Basil asks, releasing the strip of meat.
“I’ll get it.” Tristan stands, and the top of his head smacks against the ceiling. He curses loudly, rubbing his scalp.“Motherfucker,” he snarls at the rock above him, acting as if it attacked him.
It takes everything in me not to smile.
“What’s your name, sweetheart?” Killian asks as he moves a little closer. I take a big bite of the jerky, trying to eat as fast as I can. The last thing I need is for these alphas to get pissed and take my food away. “It’s okay.” He angles his head down, looking up at my face. “What’s your name?” His voice is soft and inviting. Not sharp, loud, or mean. He must be up to something.
“Are we sure she can talk?” Tristan turns with a bottle of water in his hand. He twists the lid off, then sets it down a few feet from me. I appreciate that he keeps his distance, not forcing me to take it from him.
“She spoke yesterday,” Killian says. “It was only a few words, but she did talk.”
“I know Angelica said she’s verbal, but maybe she only knows a few words?” Basil gives an unsure shrug.
