Inaaya's heart was thudding. She didn't know whether it was because she was being abducted or because of the alluring man sitting right next to her. Her second plan of escape was put into action the moment it was devised. However, things had gone south too fast, too easily.

She squirmed in the uncomfortable middle seat of the third row of the Escalade. Had she not tried to jump out the moving vehicle, she would still be seated in the comfortable window seat and Axel would still be driving it. And she sure as hell wouldn't have been sporting several tears and bruises on her arms and legs.

Her impulse of jumping out the moving car could be seen as stupid by some but for her, it was her last opportunity. Now, a fruitless one. She had hardly gathered her bearings and ran a few meters when Axel was already chasing after her. Some of his companions had exited their vehicles, only to watch though. Apparently, they knew Axel could handle it all by himself. And he did. Axel had her pinned down in no time.

So, instead of gaining her freedom, she got thrown in the back row to be stuck sitting between a fuming Axel and an apathetic Vanessa. Inaaya sighed, feeling Axel's eyes on her still as she fiddled with a thread on her now ripped white jeans. She could see smears of red around the tears where some of her wounds were still bleeding.

Axel's first reaction upon catching her was to rant and rave, immediately followed by fussing over her battered state. No matter how much he'd pressed, she had stubbornly not allowed him or anyone else to tend to her wounds. At last, Axel had resorted to staring at her for the rest of the drive as if she might click her fingers and poof into the air at her own will. If only.

"What?" Inaaya snapped eventually, giving Axel a withering glare. She had tried to ignore his staring, to divert her attention hoping he would stop. But the man just couldn't take a hint. And god, was it disconcerting.

Axel cocked a brow at her, meeting her infuriated chestnut eyes with his determined grey ones. Inaaya couldn't help but let her eyes wander. It was the first time she was seeing him. Really seeing him.

Her eyes chose a route from his narrow forehead to his stubbled chin, making pit stops at his thick eyebrows, high cheekbones, angled nose and thin lips. They then went back to his piercing light grey eyes. His naturally tanned skin was flawless though she guessed it would feel more rugged than it looked. His shiny black hair sat atop his head in an effortlessly messy manner and was long enough that they grazed at his nape. The dark grey suit jacket he wore over his white shirt paired with his fitted dark wash jeans complimented his looks to no end. They promised of an even more fetching present under all the wrappings.

Inaaya's cheeks hued pink at the realisation that she was blatantly checking him out, knowing well his eyes were on her the entire time. But it was a strange pull she couldn't fight. Axel seemed to be enjoying the attention she gave him immensely. He reciprocated by letting his own eyes meander the length of her body.

Along with embarrassment, Inaaya now felt her insecurities rushing to the surface as she too followed his eyes. Her curvy figure was covered with soiled pastel green shirt and white tattered jeans, and of course, those damning injuries. Patches of dirt and stains of blood were scattered along her outfit. Her brown hair, naturally wavy, must have looked nothing short of a bird's nest. Though, when she looked back into Axel's eyes, it felt as if he was looking at none other than Helen of Troy herself.

Axel met her stare with a softness in his eyes and a half smile on his lips. The moment seemed to stretch on and on but neither could break the eye contact.

"Beta."

Inaaya bit her lower lip as Axel leaned closer, entwining his fingers around hers.

"Beta!"

Both of them sprung apart with a start. Inaaya turned away while Axel cleared his throat, turning to Vanessa, who looked as awkward and out of place as a person ever could.

"We've reached, Beta," Vanessa addressed Axel and he responded with a curt nod. The woman then proceeded to climb out the vehicle, leaving them alone in the car. Inaaya licked her lips nervously, looking around the otherwise vacant car before clearing her throat and hurrying out the vehicle.

Axel was quick to exit and reach her outside the car. He attempted to take her hand in his again but she retracted, sending a pointed glare his way. Axel only smiled coyly in response and dropped his hand.

Shaking her head at the perplexing man, Inaaya turned towards the destination he had brought her to. Her eyes widened and her mouth hung open. She blinked. When nothing changed still, her brows furrowed. She turned to Axel, eyes narrowing in befuddlement. "You abducted me and brought me to a freaking tourist spot?" she asked confused, turning back to look at the castle standing proudly before her. "What the hell," she muttered to herself.

Axel let out a short chuckle, shaking his head and murmuring something that sounded oddly alike, "Humans' reaction to this place is always so entertaining."

"What?" Inaaya asked, "Why am I here? What is this place?"

An amused smile played on Axel's lips as he answered, "It isn't a tourist spot, Inaaya. This is my house."

"Your house?" Inaaya raised her brows challengingly, scoffing. "Right." Inaaya shook her head, annoyed that he was playing guessing games with her. This castle in no way could be anyone's house, much less his own!

Though, Inaaya was made to reconsider her assumption when she saw several passersby bowing their heads in respect at Axel and sending polite smiles her way. Some glances were curious and some were examining.

Axel smiled, placing his hand tenderly on the small of her back, guiding her forward. "This isn't a tourist spot. This is my house. Trust me, I know. I live here," he told her smugly, eyes twinkling with mirth.

Inaaya opened her mouth to argue but was interrupted as Axel bowed his head and addressed a white couple waiting at the entrance of the castle. "Alphas," he said upon reaching them. Standing on the sidelines, Inaaya took to giving the couple a once over.

The man had a statuesque built. Tall, muscular and handsome. His blonde hair was slicked back, ending in a small ponytail at his nape. His curious electric blue eyes were glancing at Axel and herself. He was dressed in a three-piece black suit, looking ready to walk a red carpet.

The woman, only about a head shorter than the man, had an hourglass figure. Graceful and imposing. Her deep red hair swirled down her back in perfect curls and contrasted with her jade green eyes. Her visage was one for the cameras. She wore an elegant long black dress, complimenting her counterpart's outfit.

Both of them looked in their late twenties or early thirties, much like Axel. Looking at this beautiful couple in their immaculate clothing, it wasn't so hard for Inaaya to believe they lived in this stunning castle.

"Welcome back, Beta Axel. I presume the business went well?" asked the female, smiling softly, though her voice held undertones of authority and formality. Inaaya's mind reeled at the odd titles she had heard so far. Beta, Alphas... She wasn't big on the whole Fantasy genre but she wasn't living under a rock either. Surely it couldn't mean that. Surely it had to be some kind of a twisted joke.

"Yes, Alpha," Axel responded dutifully, glancing at Inaaya as her body went rigid under his hand. "The business was well taken care of." He gestured at Inaaya with his free hand, giving her a small smile as he made the introductions. "Alphas, this is Inaaya. She's my..." Axel trailed off, causing Inaaya to look up at him with interest.

"Ah, we understand your predicament, Axel. Well, I'm sure everything will work out just fine," the woman spoke, resting her hand on Axel's arm in a supportive manner. The stealthy nature of her words unnerved Inaaya. "Welcome, dear," the woman said, giving Inaaya a welcoming smile.

"I'd say thank you but I haven't come here willingly," Inaaya asserted, putting on a strong front to hide the numerous emotions coursing through her being. Apprehension, distress, aggravation and curiousity— to name a few.

Axel's eyes widened at her words. "Inaaya!" he whispered in a warning tone, "Show some respect." His fingers curled tighter around her waist as his eyes urged her to comply. Inaaya raised her brow challengingly, pushing his hand off her body. Who was he ordering her to respect a couple of strangers after he abducted her!

"You do realise she's a human, right?" the man spoke, giving Axel a questioning glance. "And what's this business about her not being here of her own will?" His eyes held a steeliness to them whenever they focussed on Axel. It was easy to see both men merely tolerated each other's existence.

The woman spared a curious glance at Inaaya, furrowing her brows as she noticed her beaten appearance. "What happened to you, dear?" Inaaya, however, was too lost in contemplating the man's words to answer. He had called her a human as if he weren't one himself. As if neither of them was. Inaaya's thoughts were spiralling as she dazedly glanced at the three strangers accompanying her.

The couple was now staring at Axel, eyes reprimanding and accusing. "What happened, Axel? What did you do now?" the man asked, taking an intimidating step forward.

The woman placed her hand on his arm, holding him back as she turned to Axel. "Answer your Alpha, Beta Axel," she commanded.

"She jumped out the moving car in an attempt to escape," Axel responded, casting his gaze on Inaaya.

"She what?" The man's tone was disbelieving as he looked over at Inaaya.

"Why was there a need for her to escape, Axel?" the woman asked, her eyes betraying how enraged she was underneath her calm exterior. "You know the protocol."

"Alpha, she is a tourist. I didn't know what else I could do. I couldn't just let her leave," Axel explained, eyes staring stubbornly elsewhere. He looked like a headstrong child who knew a rebuke was long due for his wrongful actions yet refused to accept his folly.

Despite his perverseness, Axel did seem afraid of a reproach from the couple. They seemed to hold a distinctive authority over him. Axel called them Alphas and he himself was being called a Beta. The similarities with a certain myth were becoming too uncanny for Inaaya to disregard. How she hoped this was some kind of a prank or a warped role play. As disturbing as that would be, she would take it over the only other explanation any time. That had to be an impossibility and Inaaya wished it would stay that way.

The woman extended a cautious hand towards Inaaya, "Come dear, I'll take you to the infirmary." Inaaya met the woman's eyes and something unsaid seemed to pass between the two. An understanding of sorts.

"Axel," Inaaya called, her voice stoic and body stiff. Her heart was racing. Her head was screaming at her to run away, to hide. "You said you needed to talk to me. Now's the time."

"Uh, now? Are you sure, Inaaya? Uh, it can wait..." Axel stumbled upon his words, surprised by hers. His eyes were pleading for her to wait.

"No, it can't. Please, tell me now," Inaaya responded, an urgency lining her words heavily. If the truth was what all the hints were pointing at, then no amount of time would prepare her for it. And if the truth was different, then the sooner she knew of it, the better it would be for her sanity.

Axel gulped, glancing at the couple. "Alphas?"

"It's not like you asked us before bringing her here, Beta Axel. I believe you are capable of walking the rest of the path alone too," the man said crossly.

The woman, stuck between the two unfriendly males, gazed at her counterpart as if communicating with her eyes for him to let the matter go. She then turned to Axel, "It's your decision to make, Axel. We are with you."

Resigned to the situation, Axel nodded his head at Inaaya. "Okay, let's go." He gestured to the front and the couple began leading their little group inside the castle. Inaaya followed instantly, needing to put some distance between her and Axel. No amount of space or time would be enough for her to cope if what she thought was the truth and yet, more space and time was all she was wishing for.

A/N:

Ooh, I suspect a shift happening soon. Don't you?

What social media do y'all use?

Because I'm going to be posting sneak peeks of the upcoming chapters of Tug of War from now on. (Early morning on Mondays and Thursdays, IST.) You can find them under the hashtag #ToWSneakPeek on my Instagram/Twitter account: messyfirstdraft as well as my Facebook Page: fb.me/messyfirstdraft.