The Alpha novel Chapter 48

*****Warning: This chapter contains sexual assault*****

Scarlet's POV

When I come to the first thing I notice is my wrists. My arms are stretched above my head and out to the sides, tied to bedposts. I yank on the leather straps that hold me as I test the strength of my bonds. I should be able to break them normally, but when I inspect the cuffs on my wrists I see that silver is clasped around the outside. This ensures that I'm not being burned but that I'm also unable to free myself. I try to turn my body, unfortunately I notice that I can't move my legs either. My gaze travels down and I see that my ankles are restrained in the same fashion as my wrists.

I can feel my heartbeat as it starts to race in my chest. My eyes continue to take in my surroundings and with each detail I become more anxious. First, I notice that not only am I bound, but I am done so in a manner that as me sprawled out on a large four-post bed on top of the deep red duvet. Then I see that I have been changed into a sheer white gown that leaves nothing to the imagination. I can easily see my body through the barely-there material and a shiver runs up my spine as my stomach begins to churn. I feel as though I'm set up like a virgin sacrifice and I can feel my fear and anxiety as my chest tightens. My breaths turn uneven as I begin to hyperventilate and I hastily force myself to inhale deeply to avoid having the panic attack that I feel coming on.

The next thing I notice is the most chilling of all. My jaw drops open and my eyes widen in shock as they scan the area around me. The entire room is covered in painted canvases, all of them displaying pictures of me in varying stages of undress and in a multitude of sexual positions. In one I am lounging on the chaise like when I had posed for him. However, in this portrait there are half naked men all around who seem to be worshipping me in some way. One is holding a golden platter of fruit, while two others fan me with fronds. Lastly, there is one standing behind me with his hand groping my breast while another has his head between my thighs. I feel utterly sick to my stomach. I thought Lucien might have just wanted me because he was bitter about Ethan no longer wanting his daughter, but I was terribly wrong. The man is clearly obsessed, scarily so.

Panic grips me again as my chest begins to rise and fall at a rapid pace. I quickly close my eyes as I try to focus on my breathing. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. Once I've regained control of my fear, I try to reach out to Ethan with my mind-link, but it isn't working. I can barely feel my wolf and I think it is because of the chloroform. I wonder if they laced it with wolfsbane.... Every time they drug me with it, I struggle to connect with my wolf once I've awoken.