Page 30 of Forced Alpha Bride
The three tough-looking guys fan out behind us, and Damon shoves me forward, making me walk ahead of him. Dread begins to build in me, and as the high spires of the manor rise before us, I begin to lose hope completely.
Surely, he can’t do this. He can’t tie me up, force me to the altar, and marry me without my consent. Not in this day and age!
When we reach the courtyard, I see a huge crowd has gathered. Mostly the extended Brent family, but some people from town, and all of the elders.
“Oh, my dear!” Isla, Krista’s mother, rushes out of the crowd toward me, her arms open. “What has he done to you?”
“Stop right there,” Damon commands, coming around in front of me. His guys immediately fall in behind me, making sure I can’t escape.
Isla glares at him, standing her ground even though her lip is trembling.
“I’m going to give her to you now so you can clean her up for the ceremony,” Damon says. “I’ll even let Krista out of the dungeon. But she’s to keep her restraints on, and if she escapes, I’m holding you personally responsible.”
Krista’s in a dungeon!
Isla scowls. “The fact that you could do this to the poor child—”
“Isla!” Damon roars. “Do you understand my terms? If not, I’ll revoke my offer, leave Krista in the dungeon, and force Winnie to the altar immediately!”
Isla’s face falls, and I watch her struggle against her tears.
“I’m sorry, Alpha,” she whispers. “Your orders are understood.”
“Excellent,” Damon says. “Austin, you take Winnie with Isla and guard the door while she gets ready. Logan, go get Krista and take her to the girls’ suite. Flint, take me to a spare room. I assume you’ve found some clean clothes?”
“Yes, my alpha.”
Damon moves out of the way, gesturing to his friend Austin as Isla rushes forward and throws her arms around me. Both of us cry a little until Austin gives us a shove towards the manor.
I cling to Isla, fighting my ropes a little. After seeing Damon ordering the pack around in the courtyard, I’m feeling extremely intimidated. I realize it’s not just me he can hurt, but all my friends and loved ones, too.
When we get to Krista’s suite, she’s already there, looking almost as dirty and bedraggled as me. Isla breaks down, holding her daughter and sobbing.
“Oh, no, my baby! What did they do to you?”
“I’m alright, Mom,” Krista says, rubbing her on the back. “It was just really dirty and dark down there, that’s all.”
“You guys really have dungeons here?” I ask in disbelief. Krista nods.
“They haven’t been used in years, but yeah. We still use the ceremonial rooms, so I didn’t think the cells would be that bad. But they’re actually worse.”
“I’m sorry,” I say. “I won’t let him hurt you again.”
“You’re the one who’s hurt,” Krista points out.
“Girls!” someone roars from the other side of the door. There’s a sharp bang against the door that makes us all jump. “You don’t have all day. Get cleaned up and back out here, pronto!”
Shivering in shock and fear, I let Krista lead me to the bathroom, where she helps me wash.
“I wish I could take off the ropes,” Krista says.
I shake my head. “No, don’t risk getting sent back to the dungeon. Just do what he says.”
“Areyougoing to just do everything he tells you? How can you marry him?”
I shake my head. “I really don’t have a choice. There is too much risk to people I love. This way, I’m the only one who gets hurt.”
“I never picked you for being the brave one, Winnie.”
