**TRIGGER WARNING This chapter contains sexual assault and/or violence, and suicidal thoughts that may be triggering to survivors.**
Dream
Adea
Two large chains slid up and around my ankles. I was pushed back until I was laying flat and my legs dangled over the edge of the table. Cold heavy chains slid up the metallic legs of the table and wrapped around my wrists. I didn’t cry out as they seared the skin around my wrist.
I couldn’t move as I was chained down to the table. The door we’d walked through flew open and all of the air was expelled from my lungs. I couldn’t breathe. Alpha stood in the doorway like the deliverer of death.
This couldn’t happen like this. Not in front of my mate. As soon as his gaze locked on me, his eyes darkened as he made his way down the stairs. His chest rose and fell as he tried to catch his breath and I knew he’d been running.
His brown hair fell over his green eyes. His pink lips were pulled down in a scowl and I knew I was going to be punished tonight. I wouldn’t be surprised if I found myself at the mercy of his wolf.
I shuttered at the thought. I’ve made Alpha angry a few times before and it ended with me being beaten bloody and blue. Tonight, I would be getting it. Normally, I could play dead and look at the ceiling but I don’t think I could do it today.
Not with my mate here, not with him watching. Tears pricked the corners of my eyes. Today, I would give him what he wanted, a fight. I didn’t want my mate to see, I didn’t want him to watch.
As Alpha’s feet touched the ground, the witch closed her eyes and bowed her head. I closed my eyes as his footsteps grew closer. When someone grunted, my eyes flew open and I turned my head to find the noise.
Alpha stood above my mate. His foot came back and he kicked my mate and a bone snapped. He had broken a rib and plea after plea fell from my lips as I begged Alpha to spare him, to leave him alone, to not hurt him.
My mate stares at me, a mixture of anger and panic. The anger is directed toward Alpha and the panic is directed towards me at the thought of Alpha coming to me. Despite what he wants, I would rather hold his attention than have him focused on my mate.
Alpha doesn’t look at me, he doesn’t blink or hesitate at the sound of my pleads. If anything it only angers him more and he kicks my mate again. He doubles over and groans, the chains hold his hands above his head.
His head sags forward. Thankfully he’s being held up and he won’t collapse against the cold hard floor. He spits up blood as another kick lands against his torso. I look to the witch for help.
I know it’s pointless but I can’t help it. She’s the only other person here who could help. When I find her watching them with disinterest, I know it’s useless.
“Please,” I beg.
The witch turns and heads towards a table by the stairwell. I didn’t see it when we first walked in. I watched as she made her rounds down the line, picking up things she needed. When she was done, she headed back my way.
She started chanting an incantation as she painted something onto the floor. As she made her way around the table, I knew it had to be a circle. I don’t know what she’s doing. I’ve never seen a witch before today but I know that something is going on.
I’m not sure what it is but I know it isn’t good. I flinch as blow after blow lands on my mate. She throws something into the air and it falls and lands on my bare chest and belly. She disappears out of view and I lift my chin, so I could look behind me.
She’s standing at the top of the table. Her eyes are closed, her hands are folded, and she’s chanting. It’s in a different language, one I can’t recognize and I doubt many would. The sound of footsteps has me lowering my chin and turning to look toward who I know is coming.
I lock eyes with Alpha. He stops by my right arm and I look up at him. The fear I feel sliding up my body is cold and the look in his eyes causes shivers to run down my spine. His hands press down on the table as he leans over.
He doesn’t say a word as he glares down at me. My breath catches in my throat and my eyes widen as I wait for what is going to happen next. He’s contemplating what to do with me.
All I can hope for is that he will focus on me and leave my mate alone. I’m afraid, but as long as he doesn’t touch him, I can do this. I can do anything. My mate curses him out from the wall out of view.
I swallow the bile that threatens to spill from my mouth if I open it. The witch moves then, and she holds my full attention. She strides around the table and I sigh in relief as she stops in front of Alpha.
She reaches for him, her fingers are painted red, and I wait for him to move back. Alpha doesn’t like to be touched without permission. When he doesn’t dodge away from her touch, he stands still as she paints a symbol on him.
This is planned and I fear for what it means. Next, she turns to me, she dips her chin as she stares at my chest. I flinch when her fingers reach out to me. This doesn’t make her hesitate, I know it’s inevitable but I still try to get away. When her cold fingers touch my chest, I look down and watch as she draws the same symbol over my heart.