Enslaved by the Alpha

Chapter 18

I ripped open my eyes just in time to see his mother standing behind him with the stake aimed at his neck. She brought it down and I used my speed to reverse our positions, a harsh gasp escaping my lips feeling the wood plunge into my back.

Draven caught me before I hit the ground and widened his eyes, taking a moment to realize what had just happened. He whipped to face his mother, a murderous look Alpha Zeek always wore etched on his face and his eyes hazed over, no more humanity left behind them. His wolf now controlled him, and I felt zero remorse for her.

"I'm sorry." She began sobbing harder, backing away slowly. He didn't avert his glare, staring holes into her with eyes that would make even the bravest men quiver in fear.

"Draven, please," I winced, unbearable pains shooting through my chest.

The wood from the stake brushed against my spine with every slight movement and it created a dull, sharp ache, sinking deeper into my back. I felt the tip push against my rib bone and graze over my heart, nearing the surface of my skin. I wheezed, unable to breathe, then tensing immediately from the pain. One wrong move and it's over for me.

His eyes faded to normal as he mother took off and he looked down at me, heartbreak and despair written across his features. "You're okay. You're still here. I'm not leaving you. You're going to be fine, Red," he smiled sadly, trying to reassure me.

I clutched onto him and he lowered his forehead down to mine, worry glossing his eyes yet he smiled to keep me from freaking out and possibly staking my own heart in the process.

"I won't let anything happen to you, remember? Everything's going to be alright," he breathed shakily, forcing me to maintain eye contact. "I'm going to take care of you, Scarlett." He brushed the hair behind my ear and I lifted my chin, pressing my lips softly onto his.

I pulled back and scrunched my face in pain, my breaths shaken and wheezy. "I love you," I exhaled, his expression scrunching as if he was in pain too.

"I know," he replied gently. Tears pooled in my eyes and I smiled through the hurt, lifting my hand to hold his cheek and pull our faces closer. The side of our noses connected and I felt the worry creased in the skin on his forehead.

"I lived long enough," I whispered.

He grew tense at my words and released a shuddered breath. "No. No, no. Don't say that to me. Don't. Not you. I can't take those words from you, Red."

"I always loved that name," I grinned weakly, wincing when I laid my head down and inflamed the wound with movement.

"And you will continue to," he answered.

Skepticism filled my face and his assuring smile strained to stay up. He moved his hand to caress my temple with his thumb, holding my cheek in his palm.

"Can you trust me?" He asked. My pained expression softened with recollection and I met his desperate gaze.

"As long as you don't let go."

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Draven's POV

I fixated my eyes on her, leaning against the wall with folded arms. My jaw clenched on and off as time progressed and she still hasn't shown signs of life. It went from minutes to hours and I've been right here the entire time, questioning if my girl was even coming back to me.

Her body lay elevated on the hospital bed, eyes closed, lips sealed, and all the muscles in her were relaxed. Her nude figure was draped in the blanket from the waist down and she had a white bandage wrapped around her breasts. The cotton went over her left shoulder to cover the nasty wound left on her back from the surgery.