Alora.
I smiled sadly, keeping my eyes closed as I played the piano, its melody leaving a sudden calmness in my heart, making me forget everything that has happened to me.
It removed every pain, hurt and every emotional scar within me, even while my physical ones couldn't be cured, music cured the ones within me.
But my little moment of bliss was suddenly interrupted as a loud bang sounded in my ears and I snapped my eyes in surprise.
Ares stood in front of me, his blue eyes dark and dangerous as they glared at me, he towered over me like the monster he was radiating power and darkness.
I immediately snatched my fingers away from the piano, rising from my feet so quickly that I stumbled against the chair, falling flat on my bum and leaving a dull ache.
"Get up, you're coming with me." Ares said in a deadly voice causing shivers to run down my arms as my heart sank, filling its void with fear.
"Why? Don't speak to her like that." The older man stood forward, a frown on his face. A pang of relief surged through me at the old man coming to my rescue, finally, someone who could speak to Ares not knowing he was the Alpha of the biggest wolf pack in the country. Someone who was not scared of him. I managed to draw closer to the old man's legs.
My heart skipped when Ares turned to him with a menacing glare before he pinned those blue eyes on me.
How did he find me here?
What would he do to me?
Did he see me playing the piano?
A thousand questions ran through my mind as I tried to make out the reason for his anger. Or was it because he saw my scars? He had seen them before so why was he suddenly angry at me?
"I said get up, Alora." Ares commanded again, but I couldn't move, my bones were frozen and my blood chilled against my skin and I started to shiver from fear.
Ares was suddenly different, he was angry, but there was a raw emotion radiating off him. And if I wasn't too sure, I'd have thought it was fear?
No! I almost shook my head.
It was impossible. Ares never got scared. He was the Blood Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack. He was powerful and he made others crumble before him.
There was no way that was fear buried in those cold blue eyes of his.
"Calm down, Mr..?" The store owner said, raising his hand gently as Ares never took his eyes off me.
"Delgado. Ares Delgado." He responded as the old man gasped and stepped backwards.
"Mr Delgado." He said, making Ares turn to him with a raised brow. "Your family bought my most expensive piano more than thirty years ago. It's a pleasure to meet you." He finished, bowing gently to Ares.
My eyes widened as my last hope crumbled before me. Just when I had found someone who didn't care that Ares was powerful and could stand up to him. It was obvious that Ares' family name was just as powerful and well known outside the werewolf community.
"Who's she to you?" The old man asked and Ares glared hatefully at me.
"My slave. And I'll be taking her back." He said before he closed the gap between us and grabbed my wrist, heaving me effortlessly from the ground and making me gasp at the pain under my feet.
"Stop.. please." I pleaded as Ares tightened his fingers around my wrist before he pulled me away from the store.
"I told you to never play the piano." He said as he walked past the man making me turn back to him with tear filled eyes.
"Please..help me." I begged as he said nothing, only bowing as Ares pulled me out of the store with so much force making me dizzy for a second.
"You're so stubborn. Storming out like that, I couldn't find you and you came here!" He yelled and I hiccuped, trying to wriggle my wrist away from his palm as it stung deep into my skin.
"I'm sorry.." I choked out, as I started to cry making Ares groan in annoyance.
And it was like something had sparked within me as I saw myself being pulled away from the piano. It was like a piece of me, the only joy in my life was being pulled further and further away from me.
Why did I have to live so close to the edge of what I wanted only to be pulled away from it. Just like when I had thought I was free from Jax, I managed to stumble into Ares pack. Jax enemy pack.
Everything I had always wanted was getting further and further away from me. And it was like I was losing it.
I couldn't bear not playing the piano anymore so I turned to Ares, a deep frown on my face as I glared hatefully at him.
"I just wanted to play it. It's been so long and everyone was looking at my scars making me appear miserable. They started with so much disgust, and I hate the outfit I'm wearing. Isn't it only fair you grant me one minute to play! You won't let me play at your home so why wouldn't you let me play here?" I yelled along Ares freeze for a second at my outburst.
His blue eyes widened at me, as he stepped backwards a little, surprised that I was ever going to speak to him like that. And a part of me felt the urge to submit and apologize but I just couldn't. I couldn't stop the next words that escaped my lips.
"I know you enjoy listening to it. I just know you do deep down inside of you. So why wouldn't you let me play it? I've done everything you've asked of me. You left me naked on your bedroom floor and you left me starving. I've done everything you've asked so why do you keep being so mean to me?
Why does everyone have to treat me this way? I've never done anything wrong to anyone. My whole existence has been from pleasing my parents to my master and now to you.
So why wouldn't you let me play? What's hurting you so badly that the piano reminds you of it?" I said, but I saw something flash in Ares' eyes and he snapped out his trance.
And with a swift movement of his hand he had me crashing to the wall behind us. My back slammed the hard wall, and my eyes filled with tears, all the air at the end of my hair stood erect as my blood ran cold.
But what made me fear the most was Ares' eyes.
They had turned into a deep shade of red, hateful red as they bore into me. I could feel the claws growing his finger and I swallowed, trying hard to pull away from me.
That was probably his wolf?
The full moon was just a few days away and it was only natural that his wolf clawed at him to be free. I had seen Jax's monster a lot of times. And while I hadn't seen Ares' I knew it was going to be just as bad and it sent fear traveling through me as my heart thumped loudly in my chest.
"Don't utter things you have no knowledge about. I've been lenient with you, giving you a bedroom and even thinking of getting you new clothes. And this is how you repay me? By challenging me? Don't you forget I'm your Alpha now, I'm your superior and I'm your master. You do my bidding, you little slave or I promise I'll pull your heart from your chest and feed it to the dogs " Ares treathened in a low voice that sent chills down my spine.
Thankfully, the corridors were empty and I was sure the old man hadn't heard us or else he would have stepped out at the ruckus.
I felt every word die in my throat as I nodded fearfully, tears streaming down my face as I started to sob. Fear filled me and I didn't want to die.
I didn't want to live either. Especially when I was with Ares. He scared me and everything about him reminded me of Jax.
Pain.
Torture.
I didn't want to bear it anymore but I had no choice. I was a mere slave, tossed to and fro. I let my head fall forward as Ares stepped backwards.
"We're heading home. And you've lost every privilege to your room, this is going to be the first and last time I'll let you leave the estate so make sure you see everything because you'll remain locked in my home. You've lost the little act of kindness from me and I'll treat you like the slave you are." He said before he let go of my arm and stepped away from me.
My heart sank, bleeding from the pain of losing that tiny privilege that I had gotten from Ares. The room, the outfits, everything was going to be done and I'll be back to being a slave.
"I..I'm sorry.." I pleaded, looking at my feet, unable to meet Ares' hateful eyes glaring at me.
But Ares said nothing before he started walking down the hall. "You mean nothing to me Alora, you are my slave and nothing more. Let's go back to the estate where you'll face your fate." He said coldly.
I looked up, tears streaming down my face as I started at his back. His claws had retreated and he seemed to have reigned his beast, leaning the cold ruthless Alpha in front of me.
I sighed, wiping my eyes as I took a step after Ares.
No!
I couldn't go back there! It was going to hell again! I couldn't go back to the shackles and to the cold floor. I couldn't bear it, not after I had tasted a little of what freedom looked like.
I stopped in my tracks as Ares continued walking forward, his phone ringing in his pocket. As he groaned and picked it, placing it against his ear.
This was my chance!
I had to run away!
The mall was huge and it would take a while for him to find me. I had to trace my footsteps back to the entrance and the run from there.
My eyes welled with tears as I started at Ares.
I couldn't stay with him. Ares was a monster, no different from Jax and while I was going to miss Lana and the girls, that privilege of seeing them was gone too so it was no use going back.
I stepped backwards, there was an exit to my left just after the store,I had seen people pass there. I just need to stay away from Ares line of sight and mask my scent that way he wouldn't find me.
I'm sorry.
I almost whispered as Ares spoke loudly to his phone and I took that opportunity as I turned in the opposite direction, sprinting as fast as my legs could carry me.
My heart thumped loudly in my chest as I ran down the hallway, scared that Ares was going to find me immediately and drag me back to his pack. My head filled with various bad thoughts and I shook it, running past a group of people as I got further into the mall.
People appeared in various places and I looked up at the sign boards but I could hardly read any, and I didn't see outside from any of the doors. It was like a maze, each door leading to a store.
I gasped loudly as I took a sharp turn and slammed into someone, my heart jerked in fear that it was Ares and I tried to pull away.
"Hey. It's me. Cameron. What's going on?" A familiar voice said and I looked up to see the familiar brown hair and brown eyes that I had met earlier.
"Cameron." I whispered in relief as I rushed into his arms, wrapping my arms around him and tears ran down my eyes. "Please, take me away. Please." I pleaded as Cameron wrapped his hand around me softly.
"I don't understand. What's going on?" He asked and I heard a loud noise behind me making me jerk and look around in fear, eyes darting through everyone to see Ares was anywhere in sight.
"Alora? What's going on?" Cameron asked, looking around in confusion and I shook my head.
"You have to get me out of here. Are...Ares… He- He.." I started to say, my heart thumping loudly in my chest for fear that Ares was going to find me and take me back.
"It's ok." Cameron said, raising his hand to my hair and stroking my shoulders gently. "I'll take you to my house so you can rest and tell me what's going on. Ok?" He said gently, making my eyes well in appreciation.
"Ok. Thank you." I whispered, sighing in relief as Cameron took me through the back stairs and soon we got outside. I almost smiled as he led me to his car, opening a door for me and that was when I saw it.
On Cameron's wrist was the familiar wolf head tattoo with a bloody rose at its bottom.
My heart skipped a bit as I took a step backwards. My blood ran cold in my veins and the hair stood at the back of my neck.
That mark, no that tattoo.
Was the famous pack tattoo of White Moon Pack.
Jax's pack.
My eyes widened as I looked up at Cameron who was holding the door open for me,
Cameron was from Jax pack.
I'm eager to hear your thoughts, let me know in the comments section. Please leave a review. see you tomorrow, as this book is updated everyday. Follow my instagram @chimdi_jane_samuel and I might just drop another chapter today 😏. Jane ♥️