The Alpha’s Curvy Cinderella - Chapter 86: Chapter 86

Stella POV
Fools, the lot of them. They were completely buying my pathetic weakling act as I played the damsel in distress. The emotionally wrought female who needed a male to step in and protect her. Yes, I was distraught over Maxwell’s death but I was also bloody angry that the i***t had decided to fight to the death rather than face banishment and rebuild a life with me as our mate bond held us together. I hadn’t been lying when I said the pain of losing my mate as the bond severed completely was excruciating. It had brought me to my knees, sending me sprawling as I felt a tearing sensation inside of me and then it felt like my heart had been ripped in two. Tears had trailed down my cheeks. I knew without needing to be told that he was gone. The bastard had been so determined to insist on Sarah coming along with us, no matter how much I tried to persuade him that there was no way they would let her go. I had felt so much grief overtake me that I had struggled to get back on my feet, blindly making my way through the forest, sobbing loudly. Maxwell had been the only one who understood me and now he was gone. Forever. The one man who saw me as something more than just a pretty bauble, even if he too had underestimated me in the end.
It had been a few days since I’d stumbled onto the Full Moon Pack, Alpha Jaxon, and his family reluctantly taking me in. It hadn’t come as a huge surprise when Jordan had chosen to allow me to stay although she had been slightly hesitant, Luna Serena informed me tightly. Jordan had always been too softhearted for her own good. It had come as no surprise to me. As always she had made the wrong decision, based on her kind nature and inability to hold a grudge. I had faked graciousness, sobbing loudly with relief, the entire time smirking inwardly. Jordan was such a soft-hearted creature. There had been no doubts in my mind that she would forgive me. Or at least show a medium degree of compassion towards me. It was in her nature. Despite everything she’d had done to her, the girl still possessed a kind soul. A miracle really. If it had been me in her place, there was no way I would show even a hint of kindness. I guess that was the main difference between us.
I know Luna Serena is suspicious of me. She’s always eyeing me and giving me sidelong glances as I move through the pack house. I’ve been given a guest room on the ground floor, well away from their rooms, and no better than what an omega would be granted. No matter. I don’t plan on spending too long here. In fact, I’ve spent enough time here to get what is needed. It’s been a massive pain really, having to sneak around and eavesdrop to the best of my ability without being caught in the process. But you would be amazed what omegas will let slip while they are working and they think nobody is listening. They gossip quite freely if they think they are on their own. Idiots. But I suppose that’s what happens when you are given free rein and don’t have somebody watching your every move over your shoulder. Luna Serena was way too trusting of her omegas and their abilities to carry out their chores without supervising them directly. Then again, I could hardly complain when it had worked to my advantage, could I?
I glanced out the window. It was dark, the full moon shining brightly overhead. There was a chill in the air and the wind was fast and furious, the branches of trees whipping back and forth in the air, the leaves rustling loudly in the distance. I shivered, getting slowly to my feet and beginning to get dressed in the warmest clothes I possibly could. I put a black cloak on and tied my hair back from my face before putting the hood over me. I trod carefully out of my room, wincing at the slight creak from my door before tiptoeing out the front door. I had spent the last few days watching patrol carefully and making notes. I knew that I had a little time to get into the woods as they changed shifts but I had to hurry or I would get spotted. I swallowed hard, knowing what was awaiting me in the depths of the forest, and felt my heart beginning to beat painfully in my chest. I dreaded what awaited, but I feared not going even more.
My legs trembled as I swiftly made my way across the grounds, keeping to the shadows as best I could. I masked my scent, a trick I had learned way back in my past, and made it to the safety of the trees with a huge sigh of relief. I needed to make my way in deeper before a member of the patrol spotted me. I began to carefully place my feet on the floor, avoiding the various debris of leaves and twigs on the ground, lest I give away my position accidentally. The last thing I needed was to be heard as I continued further into the forest and further away from patrol as I went deeper into the territory.
I tried not to think about how much time was passing by, fighting the urge to panic, my feet seamlessly walking as I made my way to the boundary line. I deliberately stepped over it and inhaled sharply. I could not be taken back by patrol now. I had successfully dodged them. Somehow, I didn’t feel as triumphant as I should have. I was now in neutral territory. My eyes scanned the trees nervously, my mouth going dry. My chest tightened. I had kept to my side of the bargain. Now it all centered on him and whether he was going to turn up. Somehow, I doubted he was going to forget, not after he’d threatened me in the woods before I made it here.
A large burly figure stepped out from behind the trees, his scent wafting towards me, the shadowy outline getting larger and larger as he moved closer, the sound of his footsteps large and heavy. I gulped. As I’d suspected he had come, as he’d threatened, he would. His eyes were glittering as he folded his arms across his chest and regarded me. I bit my tongue, too scared to speak, my mouth refusing to cooperate anyway. This man could break me in two if he chose to, easily I might add. For a moment there was nothing but silence as we stared at one another. I felt panic rising inside of me. The urge to scream increased and I fought it back. It would do no good. It would only piss him off and right now that was not what I wanted to do. He had let me live, but only on the condition I gave him the information he sought.
Finally, he spoke, his voice hoarse and gravelly, breaking the silence and making me flinch.
“So you came,” he said “I was wondering if you would or if you would try to run away like a coward.”
I bit my lip. “If I ran you would only chase me,” I said bitterly. I wish I had never met this bastard in the first place, but my greed and ambitions had gotten the best of me.
He grinned, his teeth shining pearly white in the darkness, amusement on his face “I’m glad to see that you aren’t an i**** on top of everything else” he said icily “I would have hated having to track you down and you would have suffered painfully for it” he warned.
I had no doubts I would have. He had the power to give me as much pain as possible and he wouldn’t have hesitated to do it. There was no escaping him. I felt bile rise in my throat and hastily swallowed it down.
Breathe Stella. Give him what he wants and then you can leave. Go on the run again. Plan your revenge against the Blood Moon Pack. You can do this I told myself fiercely, pushing my hood down and revealing my bright red hair. He smirked.
“Did you do as I requested?” he asked, his eyes narrowing as he glowered at me “Or have you come to plead for more time?”
“No” I stammered “I have the information you are seeking,” I told him hastily “I wouldn’t dream of asking for more time.” To do so would mean instant death, I was certain of it.
He chuckled. “I see you have some intelligence in you. Although, it was certainly lacking when you informed me that the contract, which you put in place despite Maxwell’s timeline would be going ahead, only to back out of it. Nobody backs out on a contract with me” he snarled, his hands clenching into fists “especially when it’s something I want or desire.”
I hung my head. Initially, I had thought that the contract with Alpha Romero was a good thing but the man had been furious when he found out that we couldn’t stick to it. I had signed it, without informing Maxwell, certain that we didn’t need the two weeks as suggested. It was legally binding. How was I to know that Jordan would seek Sanctuary and escape? Or that she would find her mate and go to another pack? He could have found somebody else to be his breeder but for some unfathomable reason, Alpha Romero was fixated on her. He’d liked her on sight, but he was obsessed and he wouldn’t take no for an answer. He wanted Jordan and he wasn’t going to rest until he had her. To the point, he didn’t even show much care for his wife, who was suffering from the thought of being replaced. What kind of power was it that Jordan possessed that everybody seemed to desire her so much? She was so average I marvelled and yet men acted as though she was irresistible.
“I could find you another breeder” I suggested, and he let out a low furious growl at the suggestion, causing me to blanch and tremble. Apparently, that was not what he wanted in the slightest.
“I don’t want another breeder, I want her. She is the first woman I have responded to sexually in months. I don’t even want my wife anymore” he hissed; his hands clenched into fists “which I suppose is what happens when you are chosen mates rather than true ones. I don’t know but my body longs for Jordan, ever since I saw her and I won’t accept anyone else. You signed a contract with me and I expect it to be upheld” he growled.
I sighed. He continued to glower at me. “Give me the information I need” he snapped “Before I snap your neck you stupid little b***h” he vented.
He was growing angry now, restless, his body moving from one foot to the other. I sensed his agitation as his eyes grew darker. I blinked and then hastily opened my mouth.
“Fine,” I said hoarsely “Jordan is located at the Crimson River Pack. But you should know she’s with her mate Alpha Blaze and he’s hardly likely to let her go” I warned, half hoping that would be enough for him to give up.
Then again, maybe he would get his comeuppance and Blaze would kill him. The thought was appealing to me.
He chuckled. “Let me worry about that. No Alpha has been able to defeat me before” he said frostily “and I doubt a young pup like Alpha Blaze is going to beat me either.”
He sure as hell was confident, I mused. I felt a little bad for Jordan if his prediction rang true but then I shrugged it off. It was no problem of mind. All I cared about was getting away from him and being far away before anybody discovered I was missing.
“If that’s all, then I’ll be going now,” I told him, beginning to turn to walk away.
“Where are you going?” he snarled and then moved, faster than I could have anticipated, picking me up with his strong arms as I shrieked, clapping a hand over my mouth as I struggled against him, my legs kicking and my arms flailing.
I tensed, prepared to shift. “Do it and I’ll kill you right now” he breathed into my ear.
I stopped. My heart was racing. “Please, I gave you what you wanted” I pleaded, wriggling slightly “I did what you asked, now let me go” I demanded.
He laughed. “Oh you might have done what I asked but only because I threatened to kill you if you didn’t. I can’t have you warning Jordan that I’m coming” he breathed and I stiffened.
“I would never” I denied thoroughly pissed off “I just want to go my own way” I protested.
I felt his hand at the back of my neck, his fingers gripping tightly as my eyes widened in horror, realization beginning to dawn. “We had a deal,” I said shrieking through his hand “You said if I did what you asked you would let me live” I wailed.
“I lied” he whispered in my ear, “shouldn’t surprise you, should it? I don’t trust you as far as I could throw you” he murmured, his fingers digging painfully into my neck as I winced in pain.
I felt my head moving to the side and frantically tried to prevent him from doing what he was about to do. I felt the most searing pain in my neck as he broke it, darkness surrounded me and then I knew no more as the bastard killed me and left my body in the woods. for the animals to find.