Sold To The Alphas

a

uldn't stay in there. I hadn't slept, and my body felt like lead, dragging ac

tomb. Silent. Empt

he back of my neck. Something

me, shoving me into a dark corner until the walls

oss my face. The slap was a single, s

ittle

d her, her two shadows hovered with grins that were too wide and

rned. "You're a whore! I saw the way you threw yourself at Damon! You

to pull away, my voice trembling. "I

king glass. "Liar! You're nothing withou

ed against my ribs. A brutal rain of strikes followed-stomach, side, face. One set of nails clawed at my h

hing inside

urting. Everything went quiet. The high-pitched, terrified

ink at all. I just became a blur. My han

ngers around D

drained out of her face, re

cream, but it only came o

. She kicked and clawed, but it was like a doll fighting a mountain. I threw her against

e smiles shattered. I could smell th

No pain, no regr

a cold, burning silver. A monstrous strength filled me, something t

My voice was a dark, heavy rasp that sounded

Tears streaked through the purpl

thing I was becoming. Devora felt like paper in my hands. I could cru

mbling over their own feet as they bolted down the

vora's face was turning a sickening shade of

her neck when the heavy, synchroni

ademy Guards. Their eyes locked onto the s

ard, barked. His voice was a wal

down. It knew the rules. It recogni

My hands were shaking, not from weakness, but from the sudden, violent loss of that pow

me. A flash of something-knowing, maybe a warn

is voice dropping to a lower,

didn't touch me, but I felt the weight of the invisible chain

s, their faces pale with fear. The whi

Academy. My father had built this place on our land-a gold-plated cage fo

powerful man in the world, an

e of the guards muttered, avoiding

rse he

m like a common criminal. The do

My mind kept looping the image of Devora dangling in the

I turni

y ribs paced back and forth, restless and wi

t through

ys, her lab coat crisp and her hair p

orning,

clinking made my stomach knot. I hated this routine

y," Astra said. She didn't bother lo

es

t like lead

s locked around my wrists. They were he

the bracelets

er than I intended. I hated those

st my skin and I held my breath. The sting was sharp, but I le

she asked, pressing a cotton

satisfaction of an answer. She waited, then

he last day

up. "What are yo

in at dinner. Just keep

ss her, a guard st

Your trainer

dles. No more bracelets. Was I being cured? Or

ver his chest, muscles straining against his black shirt. His jaw was

, Princess,"

weights, avoiding

lift. Another guard b

here early. Shower and meet him in t

stomach. My father never

d about t

too bright and far too cold. The massive table was set for a crowd, but only three people sat there. My father was at the head. Astra was at his rig

econd I stepped inside. His gaze felt l

e said. His voice was a

the silk of the dress. "I'm sorry.

me off without a second thought. "I heard

uttering in my che

. Your training will double. Your studies will shift. There are duties

y thighs under the ta

elene. She is your mentor. When you beg

ding. Ceremony. The air

a sharp wave of his

d escorted me out bef

floor, and pulled on a T-shirt and leggings. I opened my laptop to a story about a spy: someone with

iling behind her. I slammed my laptop shut. The room felt tiny. The bars

r voice steady and fro

a violent kick

es darting toward the

er face was a blank mas

punchline. I waited for her to l

st out. "What? Is this a joke? Am I sup

ression did

peated. The words were slow and he

the room seemed to drop, making my

ost too calm. "It's different from the

g at the walls of my skull in total denial. "What about my s

bag. "You never had diabetes, Kaia. The injections were a potent blocker. They were designed

ed through my head. "You

said it a thousand times. "Your father wanted to delay everything until you were older. He wanted you r

You kept me locked up. You controlled every meal and every movement. You drug

nly choice,"

like a physical strike. "It was

something deep inside me. "I know this feels impossible. I kn

y. "I don't trust either of you. Not a si

't the point. Your transformation is

in sick circles. I lifted my wrists. The cold, heavy silver bracelet

voice was a thin

t," Astra explained. Her tone was clinical. "They s

ow pit. "So you were drugging

changing the word made it better. "To manage t

monster," I

to actually make contact. "You're not a monster, Kaia. You were b

don't want this power. I

oftly. She pulled her hand bac

shrinking. My breath came in fast, shallow gasps that didn't rea