Born For The Alpha novel Chapter 15

Karina whimpered with pain. She was tied to a post in a different prison cell. Her arms and legs were secured to the post and she was in the middle of the room, her back, covered in welts clearly formed by a whip.

The penance guard who was standing behind her with a whip was looking at Gillow for further instruction.

“Mercy…Mercy…” she kept muttering weakly.

“Let her go.” Gillow ordered the man. He was reclining against the bars of the penance cell. And now he walked over to Karina and circled over to face her. She had her eyes on the ground, her skin, sweaty, her breathing, unsteady.

Gillow was still mad at her. He had trusted her to guide his mate and report to him any danger that might affect her. In fact, she was supposed to report everything to him right from what she ate to her school results.

So far, she had done that but he wasn’t built to tolerate laxity. It wasn’t in him to be gentle. It was those kind of traits in a leader that weakened a pack and he was glad he possessed none of it.

“Karina.”

She quickly raised her weary eyes to meet his gray ones.

“Now, I’m all ears and you better talk fast.”

“There’s this competition that was…was advertised for people with unique birthmarks and she…she participated.”

Gillow was shocked. “What? And you didn’t think for a moment that it was fishy?”

The penance guard glowered at her and it seemed like he would have increased her torture if he had this information earlier.

“I...I thought it was harmless.” She sputtered.

Gillow grunted, his teeth gritted together in anger.

“Where is the venue of this show?” he demanded.

“It is online. She already sent pictures of her mark to them. I believe that the result is supposed to be out today.”

“So, you didn’t think that the enemy pack could have been behind this?” he thundered. “That even Jacob could be in on this?’

“I swear, I didn’t.”

“Since when did Jacob know about her mark?

“Two years ago.”

“Damn it!” He swore.

“I’m sorry but…he is nice.”

“I’m sure he is when he’s inside you.”

“Please, he…he has a good heart. He has always kept her safe too.”

“Or perhaps he is just bidding his time.”

The words came out as a statement of fact.

“I’m sorry.”

“If her safety is compromised, you will be.”

Gillow retrieved his phone from his pocket and dialed Arda’s line as he stormed off the cell. At the same time, he left instructions to the penance guard. “Release her and send her to the healer briefly. She will fix her error right about now and Karina!” He paused in his strides and turned in her direction.

“Alpha.” She answered wearily.

“Do not return without her.”

***

Arda was still standing in the living room. The fear of leaving the house was overwhelming. She could not reach Jacob and Karina. Should she call her parents? She didn’t want them to be worried.

Maybe she was overreacting. Was she? She really didn’t want to raise a false alarm by calling the police. Somehow, she was inclined to listen to Jacob’s words about that.

Her phone rang and she almost jumped out of her skin. In her fright, the phone slipped off her hand and fell down on the rug. Thankfully, no damage came to the phone.

The number that flashed across her screen was not familiar but she was drawn to pick the call and she rescued the phone from the ground and answered the call. If the caller was fishy, she would call the police, false alarm be dammed.

“Hello.” She said, her heart beat pumping faster than it already was.

“I trust you’re home?”

Arda recognized his voice. Always so authoritative, she thought. At this point, she didn’t understand it but she was not too scared. Any familiar voice will do, even one from a somewhat familiar stalker.

“Do you know who’s on the line?”

“How can I forget?” she did not bother to hide her sarcasm.

“I’m flattered.” He said and Arda couldn’t hear a trace of humor in his voice. “Now, what is the result of that birthmark show of yours?”