Dangling limply over the right arm of the Beta, I continued to come-and-go out of consciousness as blood rushed to my head. In front of me, my wrists were bound by a pair of silver hand cuffs, and although I had never shifted, the precious metal still burned like hell.

I silently grimaced at the searing pain on my skin, but continued to play possum-- if there was any hope that I could still get out of here alive, then I needed to keep up my ruse as a human. Besides, if I was awake, I would probably be forced to trudge along with my captors back to their pack dungeon, and there was no way in hell I was going to do that-- at least, not willingly anyways.

I snuck a glance at Freddy, and was surprised to see he was still unconscious. What had these bastards done to him, I wondered. Now for sure, I felt no remorse in making them carry us. I only wish I had loaded my pockets with bricks first.

Suddenly, my body was dropped to the ground.

"Lord Aethelwulf will be here tomorrow to deal with the pair of you," the Alpha spat at me before turning on his heel.

"Aethelwulf--"

I cringed inwardly as I repeated the name quietly to myself. It left a bitter taste in my mouth, and even my wolf seemed to whine in nervous anticipation. Something told me the sooner we could get out of here, the better. I took one good look around the cold, musty cell before watching the Alpha and his Beta storm out of the cell. When I was sure they had left, I rushed over to Freddy's side.

"Freddy." I shook him, panicking slightly when he didn't answer right away. "Freddy!"

A pained groan escaped his lips as I struggled to flip him over. Brushing my knuckles against the stubble and bruises across his cheek, I could almost feel the look of worry etch across my face as I pulled my hand away.

"You're not healing properly," I frowned, the pale moonlight illuminating a light trace of blood on my finger tips.

Grabbing my hand, Freddy gently pressed a kiss against it before answering. "They injected me with wolfsbane, Love. I'm afraid we won't be getting out of here any time soon."

My heart sunk in disappointment, but I needed to be strong for Freddy. I gently caressed his brow and moments later he offered me a feeble smile before slipping back into unconsciousness. Wolfsbane was some nasty stuff, and I knew it would be at least a day or so before it would completely exit his system.

With a heavy sigh, I leaned back against the wall, wrapping my arms tightly around my legs as a few tears began to cascade down my cheeks. Freddy and I had found ourselves in more than our fair share of sticky situations before, but never anything like this. I wondered what the pack was really planning to do to us. Would we even make it out of here alive?

Son of a bitch, I thought to myself. I need a drink.

Standing up, I dusted my pants off and began moving about the dark cell. As my fingers trailed along the cold slabs of concrete, it became clear that Freddy and I would have to fight our way out of here.

With a feeling of defeat, I shuffled in the darkness back towards him. His shallow breathing the only indication that I was heading in the right direction. All of a sudden, I found myself falling to the ground.

"Judas Priest--" I cursed under my breath as I felt around for what had tripped me.

My fingers slowly curled around the small leather loop of a bag, and I dragged the item closer to myself. Could it be, I thought as I tore into the duffle bag. The corners of my lips twitched upwards as my hands grabbed hold of the familiar contents-- my last carton of cigs and a lighter.

Pulling one out, I placed the cigarette between my lips and flicked the lighter a few times.

"C'mon," I growled, giving the zippo a shake, but there wasn't even so much as a flicker of light. The oil was gone.

With a slew of curse words that would make even a trucker blush, I sat back against the cool, dewy concrete.

"Seriously, could this day get any worse?" I grumbled as I tossed both the cig and empty lighter to the ground.

No sooner had the words left my mouth, the sole light hanging above my head buzzed to life. As the metal door slammed open, I tried to shield my eyes from the sudden bright light, but nothing could spare me from the wicked grin plastered across the Beta's face.

He strode into the cell kicking aside Freddy's heavily sedated form before letting his malicious gaze settle on me. As the wolfish grin deepened, his eyes darkened with lust, and I knew all to well what it was he was here for. The Beta rushed me as I tried to scramble away, grasping my arms in his vice like grip, and hauling me up to my feet.

"The Alpha might not have a clue," he hissed before slamming me up against the wall. "But I know exactly what you are."

I could feel his hands sliding up my sides and around to my front as he spoke, pressing me flush against the bricks.

"You Moon Sluts are all the same. Hoppin' from one wolf to the next just praying you'll get marked," he snarled. "Well maybe today is your lucky day!"

Brushing my hair to the side, I shuddered as I felt his hot breath fan against the side of my face. His lips curled back over his yellowed teeth and my stomach churned as he pressed a kiss to the crook of my neck. He pulled back for a moment, allowing his sharp claws to extend before easily shredding through the fabric of my shirt. I gasped as I felt the sudden gust of cool air on my exposed breasts.

"Get the fuck off of me," I screamed as I frantically struggled against him, but he grabbed me by the hair and rammed my head forcefully into the wall.

"I suggest you quit strugglin' girlie." He chuckled as he roughly thrust his growing arousal against the bottom of my rump. "You're only making this more exciting for me."

At the sound of him unzipping his pants, a lone tear slipped down my cheek.

"What the hell is going on here?"

The deep voice resonated about the entire room, daring anyone to defy it. It held such power, such authority, that even the Beta trembled against me. Whoever the voice belonged to, it certainly wasn't the prick Alpha who had brought us here.

"I said, what is the meaning of this!" The voice challenged again.

With one powerful shove, the Beta was torn from me, and my all mighty savior strode forwards.

"Turn around."

It was a simple command, but I cowered against the brick wall-- not in fear, but for the possibility of the unknown.

"My Lord, we we're not expecting you until tomorrow--"

Speaking of the prick Alpha, he slowly shuffled into the cell but was silenced by a vicious growl from the man behind me. I flinched slightly as the man focused his attentions back on me.

"I said-- Turn. Around."

My rebellious attitude threatened to waver at the edge in his tone, my pathetic wolf going nearly belly up in submission, but after so many years of being Rouge, I would not be so easily swayed. I jumped at the sudden jolt of electricity as his thick fingers curled around the back of my neck. They were incredibly strong, yet at the same time incredibly gentle as he forced me to face him. I could sense the impatience in his glowing blue eyes as they slowly trailed down to my own milk chocolate ones. Suddenly he stumbled back slightly in shock.

"My queen." He gasped, dropping to his knees before bowing his head slightly. "I thought I would never find you."

My own knees threatened to collapse at the sight of him, my traitorous wolf howling in glee. He was a mountain of a man-- tall, broad and powerful. Surely even Adonis would be jealous of his intimidating physique. Dark hair that curled slightly at the ends framed his handsome face. While the crisp, white dress shirt he wore clung to his large frame like a second skin. With a defined jaw and high set cheekbones, it was easy to see that this man was the physical manifestation of beauty and strength.

As my eyes casually travelled back up to his heavy gaze, I felt a warmth creep into my cheeks. I had been caught, admiring this beautiful specimen of a man, but he didn't seem to mind. In fact, the smirk he was sporting would suggest that he almost enjoyed it-- that is until his eyes swept over my own disheveled appearance.

At the sight of me, his chest exploded with a powerful roar. "Who did this?" he demanded.

My eyes flicked over to the Beta as I hesitantly took a step back.

Reaching for my hands, he let out a snarl as the silver around my wrists burnt his fingers. But holy fuck-- that sure didn't seem to hinder his ability to shred through the cuffs like paper. Who the hell was this guy?

With direct, calculated steps, the large blue eyed man turned his attentions towards the Beta next, forcing the coward to stand on his feet.

"I can smell your arousal," he spat, his claws slowly extending as he spoke.

"P-- please!" The Beta begged as he whimpered against the man's powerful grasp.

"Assaulting my mate is high treason to the Crown," the man hissed, lifting the Beta further off the ground.

"But I-- I didn't--"

A puddle of blood slowly pooled under the lifeless corpse, his head rolling to a stop just a few inches away.

"Next time, choose a more honorable man worthy of a Beta's title," the man said as he angrily turned towards the Alpha who had kidnapped me.

I backed away as the man spun back around, cupping nearly my whole face in just one of his large hands.

"I am truly sorry you had to see that,"
he spoke softly to me, and although a storm silently brewed behind his eyes, I could tell he was trying his best to subdue it. "But I will kill anyone who so much as looks at you the wrong way," he explained.

Stretching out his hand, he turned towards the door. "Come now, it's time for us to leave."

"Leave?" I frowned. "I'm not going anywhere with you."

My eyes were met with an angry glare as the Adonis-like man stalked forward.

"But you're my mate," he snapped, tightly grabbing hold of my arm. "Surely you can feel the bond between our souls?"

I glanced down at my arm caught in his grasp. Even now, the tingling sensation spreading through out my entire body was undeniable, but there was no way in hell I was going anywhere with this psycho.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I huffed, my wolf snarling as I rejected what was hers. "Besides, I've already found my soul mate."

Wrenching my arm free, I gestured down at Freddy who was slowly regaining consciousness on the floor. I was so relieved when he called out for me, that I temporarily forgot about the large man standing to my right.

"Alexis?"

I could feel the intense, cold stare of those dazzling sapphires follow my every move as I collapsed next to Freddy. Throwing my arms around him, I hugged him as tightly as I could while he continued to gasp and struggle for air. Suddenly, I felt Freddy stiffen as a deathly growl ripped through the cell.

"How dare you show affection to another male while in my presence!"

The man roared, before grabbing my arm and pulling me behind him. "And you!" he turned back towards Freddy, a ferocious scowl settling across his face.

"My-- my Alpha," Freddy suddenly stuttered, his eyes widening before he slowly bowed his head in submission.

"Your Alpha?" My eyebrows knit together in confusion, but the two men completely ignored me. Freddy had never bowed to anyone before, let alone recognize them as Alpha.

"What pack do you hail from?"

"None, Sire," Freddy answered, keeping his head bowed. "My entire pack was slaughtered before my eyes as a young pup," he explained, licking his lips nervously. "I barely escaped with my life. And Alexis, well. She's a--"

"A human."

I glanced back to see a vicious smirk on Alpha Prick's lips. So what if I was, I thought. What the hell was he playing at and what in the world did it matter?

"She was found traveling alone with this Rogue, Your Majesty," the Alpha spat. "He may not have marked her, but I doubt that she's innocent."

As he brushed the hair back from my neck, I caught the look of disappointment in his eyes. I wasn't marked, but the tattoos that crawled up my arms and neck were betrayal enough. My face deadpanned as I gazed into the pools of his soul, and in that moment, I knew he could tell I was far from innocent.

"A human?"

I nodded before looking down at my feet. Any minute now, I was sure he would reject me. At least then I could go back to figuring out how to get Freddy and I out of here.

"I assume you have another shirt in there," the man said, jabbing a large finger towards my duffle bag. "Make yourself decent," he instructed. "And when I return, we will go."

My eyes widened as I looked back up at him.

"What do you mean?"

The man chuckled, flashing a dazzling smile that could of made any girl swoon. "I've been waiting a life time to find you," he replied. "Where I go, my mate goes also."

I tried to take a step back but ended up trapped against the wall. "But didn't you hear me the first time?" I challenged. "Freddy is my mate," I insisted. "I'm sorry, but I'm not going anywhere with you!"

As two large hands slammed against the wall on either side of my head, I was suddenly aware that this man was not only crazy, but he seemed slightly erratic and unstable as well.

"Make absolutely no mistake," he hissed. "You are mine."

His nostrils flared as a low rumble emanated from his chest before going on.

"Human or not, you've been living with this Rogue-- thus making me your King. You will do exactly as I say, or you will find out exactly what I'm capable of. Now get dressed!" He yelled before storming out the door.

As he retreated out the door, I rushed over to my bag and pulled on a clean shirt.

"Come on, Freddy," I said, wrapping an arm around him. "The door's open. Now's our chance."

He hissed in pain as we attempted to lift him to his feet.

"C'mon Freddy! You can do it," I cried as he finally stood, but just the effort of that already had him huffing and puffing.

He staggered forward, and before we could even make it out the door, he slumped back against the wall.

"I can't--"

"Yes you can!" I argued. "I'll help you."

"Alexis!"

I paused, tears filling my eyes as sweat brimmed his pale brow. He was right-- there was no way he could make it out in time.

"No matter what happens, Alexis, I will always--"

"Don't say that!" I fell against his chest. "I won't leave you," I sobbed. "I won't!"

"Yes you will," he insisted. "You have to. You and I always knew that one day this might happen."

"I won't go with him!" I screamed. "I won't. I don't care if he's an Alpha!"

"Alexis, Lord Aethelwulf isn't just any Alpha," Freddy informed me, my own brow scrunching up in confusion. "Love, I hate to tell you this, but your mate is the Alpha King."

At Freddy's words, my disloyal wolf slammed against the bars of my mental cage, howling in delight at having such a powerful mate. I, however, couldn't think about anything else than how I was royally screwed.

"Well fuck me." I muttered, roughly running my hands through my hair. "Fuck me double."

As I looked at Freddy, my resilience began to falter and a new flood of tears began cascading down my face.

"Oh Alexis. Alexis, my Love," Freddy gently caressed my cheek with his thumb. "I will find you," he whispered. "I promise."

My wolf suddenly began pacing impatiently, and I sat up just as the King reentered the room.

"I trust you're ready to go?" he snapped, glaring down at where I crouched on the floor.

I clutched my chest as I stood up, my lungs tightening to the point of pain. I needed to get out of here--

"I don't think you understand." I levelled my gaze at him as I stood to my full height. "I'm not going anywhere with you!"

The King stalked towards me, letting out an animalistic growl as he roughly grabbed hold of my arm. "You're mine," he roared.

"Like hell I am!" I spat back.

I tried to yank my arm free as the King's eyes suddenly darkened to an unnatural black. With his free hand, he wiped the spittle off of his cheek.

"You either come with me, or I will kill this precious Rogue you love so much," he sneered.

I looked down at Freddy, and my heart broke as he nodded in understanding.

"Freddy--" my voice cracked.

With one impossibly muscled arm, the King easily swept me off my feet and tossed me up over his shoulder.

"No, no, no!" I yelled, my fists pounding against the thick, corded muscles of his back. "Please!" I begged. "I'm not ready yet! I'm not ready!"

But as he continued to storm out of the pack dungeon, I realized it was no use-- he was just too strong and too damn determined to take me with him.