Chapter 01: Cornered
MORANA
I took a deep breath, feeling the night breeze caress my face, trying to enjoy the last few hours of freedom I had left.
I stared at the empty street as the cold wind stirred my hair. Perhaps a walk would help me ease the tension. Although deep down, I knew nothing would save me from the fate that awaited me the next day.
I began to move away from the entrance of the bar, walking along the gray stone sidewalk. The sound of my steps echoed in the nocturnal silence.
But unlike the loud music in the bar, the silence did nothing to aid the difficult task of escaping my own thoughts.
I was almost at the corner when I began to hear footsteps behind me, and I didn't need to turn around to know they were two males.
Their strange scents invaded my nose, instantly putting my body on alert, but I kept walking.
"Hey!" A deep male voice called out.
I didn't stop or look back. I quickened my pace and almost immediately, they did the same behind me. The street was empty, which led me to assume they were following me. This was very bad.
"We're talking to you, bitch!" A second voice sounded, making me shudder.
Damn it. I needed to find a way to get rid of them. But running wasn't an option, as it would only incite them, and they would probably catch me.
Most males of our species were dominant, aggressive, and highly sexual, meaning if they caught me, it would not end well. My only option was to try to hide.
As soon as I turned the corner, I spotted a dark alley to my left. Making a quick decision, I darted into it, but I instantly regretted it. There was a damn metal gate between the brick buildings.
Damn. I closed my eyes, feeling anguish hit me. But before I could decide between starting to climb or run, I heard the sound of their steps approaching, stopping when they stood behind me.
I was screwed. I swallowed hard, feeling a chill run up my spine.
"You're not trying to run from us, are you?" One of them asked.
I kept staring into the darkness, trying to think of a way to escape, as my heart pounded uncontrollably in my chest.
"We saw you dancing in the bar, and we have exactly what you want," the other said in a suggestive tone.
I tried not to panic while confirming my suspicions of what they wanted.
"She looks even hotter up close," one of them commented, disgusting me.
"I want nothing. Go away," I said through clenched teeth, still with my back to them.
"No need to play hard to get. The way you were dancing was enough to get me hard."
The male's words made me feel nauseous. Damn it. If I had known that dancing to try to escape reality would get me into more trouble, I would have just stuck to drinking.
Gathering courage, I finally turned to face the two males. My eyes moved from one to the other, standing side by side in the darkness.
Both had dark hair and were tall and muscular. They must have been twice my size. The darkness of the alley didn't allow me to fully see their faces, but the strong smell of alcohol coming from them made me more apprehensive.
"I wasn't dancing to attract your attention, I already have a mate," I said, thinking maybe I could use that to deter them.
One of them inhaled deeply, sniffing the air. I knew exactly what he was doing, and also knew he wouldn't find anything.
"Then why hasn't he marked you?" he asked when he didn't detect the scent of another male on me. "To me, it seems like you're just a lying bitch, desperate to be fucked."
"I told you to get lost!" I growled, unable to control my anger any longer.
I knew that fighting was the last option. If they had drunk too much, they could become more aggressive. But I was unable to control my emotions and knew the scent of my fear only excited them more every second. I tried to focus on the anger.
"Do you want to go first?" the male on the left asked the one on the right, making me shiver.
"I think she prefers us both at the same time," the one on the right replied, smiling in a way that made my stomach turn even more.
"Fine, I don't mind sharing," the one on the left retorted as I struggled to control my fear.
"If you dare come any closer, you'll regret it!" I threatened, ready to fight for my life, because I'd rather die than let them begin.
I let anger take over, feeling my senses become even sharper and the uncomfortable sensation of something crawling under my skin intensifying.
They just needed to take one more step.
"You know you'll die if you fight. Be a good bitch, and we'll let you live," one of them said, taking a step forward.
His eyes glowed, almost red, as if he too was about to transform. The energy of his animal was so strong and dominant that fear made me step back. All that remained was a lump in my throat.
No. No. No.
"I said no!" I snarled, baring my teeth.
But my body didn't want to obey me, even as I focused on the anger. Fear had overtaken me.
The male with dark hair and reddish eyes continued to approach with a predatory expression, making me back up until my back hit the metal grate behind me.
"Don't worry, in a second you'll love feeling me inside you," he said, getting closer.
I swallowed the lump in my throat, feeling tears forming in my eyes. Please, no.
"And you'll be dead if you touch her," a deep, menacing voice sounded from behind the male who was further away.