Chapter 172 Pick Your Poison
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"It's a fucking code red," the burly man shrieked. "Alpha Blake has called for a code red. We have to get off Midnight Moon territory. Help has been called in."
I sat frozen, trying to make sense of what was happening. I assumed the help he referred to was Alpha Christian's or Alpha Blake's packs. Still, I wasn't sure how much difference it would make, since Midnight Moon easily outnumbered them.
"What's that?" the guard asked, pointing to the window that was now almost exposed. Alpha Christian looked at me, golden flakes swirling in his eyes.
"You will pay for this. I'm not done with you yet," he said as he gripped my hair with his large hands and dragged me through the doorway. I yelped in pain, begging and pleading for him to stop. He didn't care; he continued pulling me down the hallway and into the kitchen.
Bailey sat at the kitchen table. When she looked at me, she just rolled her eyes. How could she let her mate do this to me? She was trying to act tough, but I knew her better than anyone. Deep down, I knew she was heartbroken and crying inside right now.
"Are you ready?" she asked, pushing her cellphone into her back pocket. I couldn't stop the tears streaming down my face. Maybe they did break me. Maybe I'm broken. Bailey glanced at me briefly before scoffing and turning back to Alpha Christian. "So fucking pathetic," she muttered with annoyance.
"You know the plan, sweetheart. Help is on its way. Just follow the plan, and soon we'll be back in our pack with our newest toy," he said, pressing a kiss to her forehead. I watched as she melted into him. Just one little act of affection, and he had her eating out of his palm. The headstrong, never-to-be-controlled Bailey I once knew was gone.
Bailey moved to the kitchen island and opened the top drawer. She pulled out a chain and walked toward me. I winced as she came closer and slipped the chain over my neck. The chain was long enough to act as a leash, like I was a dog that needed to be walked.
"I'm not going to run away," I mumbled, which seemed to irritate Bailey.
"Can you get your foot out of your mouth?" she asked, sighing heavily.
"I... I'm not going to run away," I repeated, this time a bit louder.
Bailey laughed and returned to Alpha Christian's side, then passed him the end of the chain.
"Warriors have been spotted across the street. We have to hurry, Alpha; this is our last chance," a man said as he entered the kitchen with the guard.
Alpha Christian growled in reply, "You listen to my orders, not his. I'll rip your throat out if you dare question my decisions again."
The two men stared at Alpha Christian, wide-eyed and pale.
"Yes, Alpha," they said in unison.
"Shall we?" Alpha Christian asked Bailey, offering his arm while tugging on the chain I was attached to. She gave him a sheepish smile, and they started walking toward the back door. I tried to keep up with them. I felt weaker than ever, but every time Alpha Christian tugged the chain, pain pulsed through me, making me want to scream.
We stepped into the backyard and continued into the ravine behind Bailey's childhood home. The same ravine I had once roamed freely, where no one cared whether I had a red wolf or not. Now that same red wolf was going to be the reason I died.
I followed closely behind, nervous Alpha Christian would yank the chain again. I quickly realized this route had been pre-planned. The way the two of them took turns moving through the trees with ease made me wonder how they knew the path so well.
Suddenly, faint rustling came through the forest, and Alpha Christian's head snapped toward the sound.
"Shift," he ordered Bailey. "If someone's there, we need to be ready to defend."
Bailey nodded, and I watched anxiously as they prepared to shift into their wolves. Alpha Christian set the chain under his foot, dropped to all fours, and his body began to contort.
Now, I told my wolf, this isn't a game of cat and mouse. This is my only chance to save myself. I had to move quickly, even if it might cost me my life. At least I had to try, for my son's sake—I had to.
I counted down from three in my head and bolted in the opposite direction. A spine-chilling howl followed behind me. I knew it was Alpha Christian, and by the pitch, I knew he was furious.
I remembered one advantage I had over him—these were my woods. I knew these pack lands better than anyone. I sprinted through the forest, dodging trees and leaping over logs. Something inside me urged me toward the lake house, and I decided to listen, knowing there was no time to overthink.
I heard paws angrily pounding the forest floor—I knew he was getting closer. I took a deep breath and pushed forward, shifting midair. The chain broke into pieces as my wolf surged forward, freeing me from its constraints. I landed roughly but stayed on all fours, stunned that I shifted with such ease.
I kept running, silently thanking the Moon Goddess when I heard a piece of metal hit Alpha Christian, now giving me the advantage over him.
