I shook my head so hard, I thought I might hurt my neck.
“Untie him,” the tall man said. Thank the goddess someone came to save me.
The alphas who had done this chuckled. “What are you going to do about it? Like we said, he’s enjoying himself.”
“He’s not having a good time. That much is obvious. One more chance.”
More laughter.
Fuck, would he leave me here? Beat them up? Take me away? Or turn his back on me.
The bigger one took a step toward me. He was a giant of a guy but slow.
With one strike, the alpha jutted his fist into the right spot of his chin, and my captor’s eyes rolled back in his head. The building almost shook when his body hit the ground.
Damn, that must’ve hurt.
I thought the other might retreat but instead, he came at the new alpha with a guttural yell. Red faced and angry, he went down faster as the other bigger one moaned and got up, but he was unsteady.
Good thing this alpha was swift. In a blur of time and motions, they both ended up on the floor, eyes turning shades of purple as they cursed me and their injuries.
This man knew how to fight. Maybe I would get out of this in one piece. All thanks to him.
He grabbed a knife from the big guy’s sheath on his belt. I was grateful he didn’t think to use it when confronting him. The alpha cut the ropes and tucked the knife into my pocket.
“Come on. Can you walk?”
I tried. I moved with even more slowness than the unconscious ogre on the floor. Every muscle groaned in resistance, but I moved…a little.
They’d drugged me, I thought, but with my shifter metabolism, it was already wearing off.
“I’m gonna carry you. Let’s go.”
He picked me up, honeymoon-style, and took us out of that room as fast as legs could go, practically a sprint. Outside, he paused. “Not back to the main lobby.” I realized he was talking to himself. “To my room. Until I know you’re safe.”
Inside his villa, he placed me on the bed, moved to the hotel phone, and picked it up.
“No. Please,” I managed.
“No?” He held up the receiver but pushed the switchhook down so no one was on the other line. “We have to report this. They were going to do goddess knows what to you. We can call your manager. I’m sure they will be here shortly. To take care of you.”
“Please. I’m begging you. No.” It sounded like I had cotton in my mouth.
“Why?” He put down the phone for the time being and dragged a chair over to the bed where I sat. I cradled my head in my hands. Maybe it was because of the chaos or the sheer determination of getting out of that room with those jerks, but this alpha smelled like home.
I closed my eyes, letting the moment sink in. His scent filled the room, and my wolf howled with the shared knowledge. This was not the time to hit on him, but the humiliation I felt at being in this position when I met my mate, twisted my gut.
Goddess, I felt dirty even though they hadn’t done anything sexual to me. I was violated. My safety here. My peace was gone.
“I don’t want to lose my job. I can’t lose my job. This is all I have.” I sobbed at the last word but didn’t look up at him. I couldn’t stand to see pity on his face.
“They would fire you over this? Over something that was completely out of your control? You were attacked.”
I looked up. “No, I wouldn’t be fired, probably, but I’d be marked as someone who is a magnet for drama by the others. I can’t risk anything with this job. I can’t go back to the streets. I won’t.”
I hadn’t told very many people about my past and how, not long before this place, I was homeless and wandering with no hope in sight.
“What’s your name?” he asked.
