Page 82 of Trust No Alpha
I wasn’t sure I believed him. But maybe it could be true. Thorne was paranoid about his upcoming Burn. He had told me I would not be able to stay with him during it. Was this his way out, then? Did he, like Father, think he was protecting me by staying away?
“The van has arrived and your things are being loaded in.”
“I won’t go!”
“You will come peacefully, Kris, or should I call my men?”
His “men” meant the bullies who’d taken me from Thorne’s house.
I crossed my arms in front of my chest. “I’m not going!”
He took out his phone and I watched him make a call as if he were calmly ordering a reservation for dinner.
When two large Alphas arrived, I decided I would make it as difficult as possible for them. It was either that, or break down and weep in a puddle at Father’s feet. Since I knew Father had no heart anymore where I was concerned, it would do no good to succumb to the latter.
Maybe it was the Alpha still inside me, strong and tough the way Father raised us. Maybe it was my own pride I did not want to lose. Or maybe I just needed to feel my rage in its full on power.
I chose to fight.
I slammed my body into the first man who tried to touch me. As the other made a grab for me, I kicked out and knocked him hard in the stomach, though I had been aiming for lower.
My braid whipped about my head as I fought. I kicked and punched and dodged, but two against one meant I couldn’t win.
Still, I delayed them. I made blood run from the nose of one. The other let out a yelp of pain. I had to admit it was satisfying at the very least.
But too soon they had me in a strong hold, both my arms twisted behind my back, their bodies close to my sides. My bucking and kicking only served to annoy them now.
I couldn’t escape.
They dragged me yelling down the stairs.
I saw Trigg come running, but there was nothing he could do. He hung back in the shadows, which was the right decision. He should not have to get himself into trouble over me. His eyes were big; his mouth opened in a look I hoped never to see again on someone I cared for.
As the men shoved and dragged me down the stairs, I tried to get them off balance at the curve. I didn’t care if we all fell. But they were prepared for me now. They didn’t budge.
Father led the way to the front door, seemingly calm, though I could tell by his taut shoulders he was affected. Father never liked when we kids made a scene. When we were little we were spanked for misbehaving, but later he punished us by forcing us into isolation, or making us skip meals. Mostly, though, he shamed us, which worked horribly well on impressionable young boys who only looked up to him, only wanted his approval.
As the men swung me off the bottom step of the staircase, Father turned, watching. His face remained slack, his eyes dark and unreadable.
I thought he might say a word to me. Or tell them not to hurt me. Instead, he opened the door for them and they propelled me through the front door.
I saw down the winding, flower-lined path, the black van waiting, its engine running.
This was the end of my life as I knew it.
“Father! Please!” I put all my heart into my voice. “Don’t do this! Don’t.”
Father stood in the doorway. I saw Trigg come up alongside him and say something to him, but I couldn’t hear him.
Father merely shook his head and moved his hand up as if to shoo Trigg away.
“Father!” I kept calling out as I was pushed toward the van. The side door opened. A large Alpha man got out, starting to give orders to the other two.
“Put him on the couch in back. Strap him in tight.”
“Father! Please!” I turned, trying to fight my way out of the men’s grips. I saw Trigg start to run out the door toward me.
“Trigg!” Father’s voice carried over the front yard. “You will go to your room now!”
