Page 26 of Match (Damselverse #1)

Chapter twenty-six

Penn

A cacophony of harsh, grating voices bleeds through my ears as I slowly come to, blinking my eyes open to a bright light.

I wince, hissing in pain when the light stings my sensitive eyes.

Fuck…my glasses. Where are they?

Someone laughs in a rather cartoonish fashion, and then a shadow steps in front of the harsh light, a balm to my eyes.

Thank God. That light was blinding.

Where am I? What happened?

The last thing I recall is Lucia. My ex. She had turned up at the bookstore to taunt me, and then they showed up.

All three of Halle’s former Alphas. A growl vibrates in my chest. I try to move my hands, but they’re bound behind my back.

Shit. My legs are tied, too, as I’ve been bound to a splintered chair.

Classic.

It looks like the bad guys got me, but I won’t go down without a fight. It turns out that my Alpha is pretty feisty, and when his loved ones are threatened, then he barks and bites.

The villain laughs at me again, then his arm swipes out, giving me a backhanded slap across the cheek.

Blood splatters, and…was that his tacky medallion ring?

“How the tables have turned… Now you’re the one begging for my mercy, bastard!”

My teeth snap, and the Beta jumps back. A laugh echoes in my chest as I glare at his shadowy silhouette.

I don’t need to see him to know who he is.

I can smell him, and he still reeks of rancid piss.

Daryl.

“I’m not begging,” I growl.

Daryl finds the courage to approach me again, but if it weren’t for my binds, then he’d be too chicken shit to ever get this close.

A typical coward. How easily he was able to threaten a small creature like my Omega, and the memory of him touching her again races through my bloodstream, firing up my Alpha.

“Unbind me. Now. And I will let you keep your fingers.”

Daryl cackles like a cartoon villain again; I didn’t realize I had been kidnapped by a B-rated bad guy.

“Fuck you, cunt. Alphas like you think they own any room they walk in. You got the looks and the muscles, but I got the brains.”

Daryl points at his receding hairline.

“I highly doubt that.”

The Beta gives a pathetic growl, and then his leg swings out, aiming for my cock. I swallow back the pain, glaring up at his ugly face.

My vision has adjusted, but only just. I still need my glasses.

Daryl pulls out a knife from his pocket, and it catches the glare of the harsh light. He grabs my hair, yanking back my head to place the pointy end of his blade at my throat.

“Fucking handsome bastard, I hate you! If I were as big and pretty as you are, then I’d rule the world…”

I sigh. “If you think I’m so pretty, then untie me so we can make this a real good time.”

Daryl’s grip tightens on my roots, and then he digs that knife in a little deeper. A small nick at my throat bleeds, but I’ve had worse cuts from shaving.

“Yet you own a freaking bookstore and wear turtlenecks. Pathetic! You could have been anything you wanted, yet you settled for being a nerd!”

I chuckle darkly. “I may be a nerd, but I can still kick your ass. Oh, wait, I already did.”

Daryl trembles, and then he goes to dig his knife in further before someone shouts his name. “That’s enough, Daryl.”

My insides coil up at the sound of that raspy, male voice.

Finally, a real threat.

Daryl is no one.

The Beta hesitates, keeping the blade at my throat for a few moments longer. Then he lets go of my hair and steps back.

Finally, the new male steps into view, and I meet the eyes of the greasy, black-haired Alpha from the shop again.

The leader of Pack Grim.

He folds his arms, staring me down for a few moments. Soon his comrades join him, and now all three of Halle’s former Alphas surround me.

The sound of pointy heels enters the room, and soon Lucia joins their side.

“You will never get her back. I’d sooner die than let you all get your hands on her again,” I rasp.

The pack lead snorts. “Well, you may just get your wish, Hope. Because there is no way we are going to give up on our little plaything so easily. She was ours before she was ever yours.”

I snarl, bending forward in the chair. “She was never yours… You never bit her or bonded her…so, that makes her mine .”

The pack lead scoffs, turning away. “A bond means fuck all.”

My heart thumps in my chest as I stare daggers at his back. His pack brothers keep a close eye on me, daring me to snap again.

I keep my teeth inside my lips this time. I need to play this right. No doubt they will hurt me just to get to Halle, and I feel her through our bond again.

She’s surprisingly calm, and I close my eyes.

Halle has already made the choice to come and rescue me. I just hope she doesn’t sacrifice herself for me.

I’d rather die than let her return to these monsters.

A phone pings, and then I spy movement in the corner of my eye. Daryl takes his phone out, handing it to his boss.

“She got back to me, boss.”

The Alpha takes the phone, and a smile curves his cruel lips when he reads the text. His eyes find me. “Good news. Your Omega is on her way… alone. She understood our conditions.”

My heart thumps against my ribs. No…

"Halle, stay away."

But she is adamant to rescue me, and I shut my eyes.

“Looks like you two may be reunited after all. But not after I rough you up a little first. I want to make it hurt. Show her what happens when she runs from us.”

My eyes squeeze tight shut as I try to convince Halle to keep away.

"Please…they will hurt you."

But the Omega is determined. Stubborn little creature.

“Daryl, he’s all yours,” the head Alpha utters, exiting the room with his pack brothers again.

Daryl steps forward, cracking his knuckles. “This is payback for the bar, asshole.”

I thought as much.

Lucia crosses her arms, leaning against a wall, and I hope she enjoys the show. She really wasn’t the woman I thought she was.

As far as I’m concerned, she is the biggest threat here of all.

Because only a real monster could be so cunning and deceptive at winning my heart once.

Finally, Daryl’s fist swings my way, and then my vision blurs red as I send out one last plea to Halle.

"Stay away. Save yourself."