Chapter 24
Josie’s POV
When I left the hospital earlier, I went straight to Aria’s school and picked my baby up. She was happy to see me but had questioned about Diego because, for three straight days, we hadn’t seen
him.
It was unlike Diego to disappear without letting us know or even stay for a complete three days without checking up on us.
I must admit, worry gnawed my heart. I couldn’t lie to Aria so I told her I was not sure where he was. At least, I had tried his number but it wasn’t connecting.
I only hoped he was okay wherever he was. Getting home, I spent maximum time with Aira while I waited for Ms. Beth to come over as she had promised. The woman had taken permission
from me to attend to her mother which I granted.
Halfway into watching Aria’s movie, the one she had chosen earlier, I heard the ding of the bell.
“Stay put, baby. I’ll go answer the door.” I had told her and got to my feet.
I heard Aria mumbling something about the person being Uncle Diego.
I had kinda believed it was him though, until I got to the door and creaked it open.
Surprised, there was no one there.
Tossing my gaze into the street to catch a glimpse of whoever it was I saw no one.
“Who could that be?” I whispered under my breath as I grew more curious.
My question was unanswered
and I decided to shut the door. However, just as I moved my feet backward, I felt it hit something.
Looking down, I saw the wrapped white envelope.
Dropping a bit to my haunches, I picked up the envelope and shut the door.
Still in the foyer, I turned the front of it and saw the tiny cursive writing.
“Loan shark.”
My ears were already ringing with the tempo my heart went into. I read the letter and saw that Logan, the rogue lycanwolf alpha had demanded I pay him five hundred dollars tonight.
Gasping, I perched my back against the door. Fear weaved its way inside of it because I knew what would happen if I failed to obey him just as he had demanded.
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Chapter 24
“Mommy? Is that… Uncle Diego’s gift?”
I shook at Aria’s voice and rumpled the letter in
my hand.
Strolling over, I picked up my baby and kissed her hair.
“No honey. It’s not uncle’s.” I placed her back on her overstuffed chair and plodded over to the kitchen.
I don’t have such an amount on me and I need to get Logan
off my back.
My thoughts were scrambled and I took my phone and called Diego.
Just like before, he didn’t pick. A sigh vibrated from my lips and I thought of who else to call.
Of course, I couldn’t
call my friends for money because
I knew Jane and Tessa had their own problems to solve.
I was left with no other option than to call him. Ashton.
His phone rang thrice and he didn’t pick now.
Annoyance was all I felt as I gathered my hair in a loose bun with ringlets over the sides of my face.
By nightfall, I couldn’t
get anyone and I thought of only one solution and that was to go to the place I was asked to meet with Logan’s men.
Hell, I felt shivers at the thought of meeting those scary as lycanwolves.
Ms. Beth arrived in time of my departure and I left Aria in her care.
Boarding a cab, we made our way to the place.
“It’s here?” I asked the driver while peering outside.
This wasn’t the place I actually thought. Being with those scary rogues in a casino?
I feared what might happen. Plus the fact that I’m not even with the complete money as was told.”
Goddess please save me, I hummed as I got out of the car, paid, and started a beeline to the front door.
I was asked who I had come to see by the security and when I told them, they called to confirm.
Then, I walked inside what looked like another world with bright lights everywhere, with trembling
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Chapter 24
legs and shaky hands.
My eyes skidded around as I took in the various men, women, machines, tables, and cards that littered the whole place.
“Wow!” I sighed but didn’t feel relief.
If I’m not mistaken, half of those here are rogues, alphas, betas, zetas, and other ranking wolves.
I could smell humans here though but they weren’t much.
Now focused, I began searching for Logan’s men and there I saw them.
Ephraim stood out with his uncanny blue hair and boogeyman frame. I swear, I shrunk seeing him.
Funny, I’m just looking at his back while he played a hand–hand power game with an opponent. The men surrounding them were bare–chested with ripples of scary muscles.
Within seconds, Ephraim tugged the hand of his opponent over the table and everyone around them screamed, clapping their hands.
As if he felt my presence, the boogeyman turned sharply and bored his eyes on mine. All my thoughts flew out of the window and I nearly peed on my body.
“I…alpha….Logan…” I began stuttering to my displeasure.
“Yeah, so I heard.” Ephraim snapped and I nodded. Swiftly, my hand went into my bag and I slipped out the money and handed it to him.
The
permanent scowl on his face became more noticeable as he counted the money and gazed back at me with a scoff.
“Two hundred and fifty dollars? Really?” His deep voice pierced my ears.
Jolting backward, I nodded. I clutched my bag to my chest, afraid of what he might do next.
Goddess, what did I get myself into?
That Ashton refused to pick up his calls, if not I would have paid in full.
“Bird you know this won’t go anywhere…” He rattled on.
I swallowed thickly as I blinked.
“I promise to pay by tomorrow…” I said.
This was just part payment that I was making. I sure owed them a lot that only taking me as a slave might be the only way to pay up because my debts were much.
” that shit!?‘ He took a step closer, and closer…
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Chapter 24
I moved back too as I watched his hair glowing under the lights.
“We don’t do that, you know. Once an order is given, you’re meant to follow. No questions. No plea.”
“Please…” I said, biting my lips. He dragged his lazy eyes over me and hummed.
“Can only accept if you let me in between your legs, bird.”
Hearing those words made me pull my brows together, the words flew out quickly before I could rethink.
“No, I can’t…”
My back nestled against the back of the slot machine behind me as I pinned my gaze on Ephraim.
“Huh….then I have no option but to take you with me.”
He gripped my wrist with his steely ones and began to drag me away.
My body was wracked with fear.
What if they rape me?
Worst–case scenarios played out in my head. However, we were only five steps away when I heard the alpha command.
“Let her go!”
I froze as well as Ephraim. My breath roared as I reeled at the sound of the voice which was all too familiar.
Slowly, I turned my head and there stood Ashton with visible veins at the side of his forehead.
The redness of his face made it look like he was….jealous.
“I said you should let her go!” He boomed and I flinched.
Ephraim was quick to let go of me. My wrist was red from where he held me and I rubbed at it to ease the pain.
“Alpha Ashton…” Ephraim greeted through his teeth. I knew he was angry but said nothing.
“Leave!”
At Ashton’s last command, he strutted away.
I brought my eyes back at Ashton’s and I felt my heart skip a beat. He looked different this evening. Haggard hair, a pair of ash sweatpants, and a sleeveless black shirt. His muscles looked appealing
Chapter 24
under his tanned skin.
He looked nothing like a doctor now but much like a God.
Hmmm…” I scoffed, making him stare in surprise. “I didn’t need your help. I could have handled that, you know.”
“You could have?” He said, sounding incredulous.
“Yes. Just stay out of my business.” I intoned. That was part of our deal.
Veering on my heels, I moved away. And into the night.
I waited for a cab in front of the casino but none came. Most of them were already filled up.
Though I didn’t wish to trek, I had no other option but to do so.
Treading down the street which looked a bit lonely, I got lost in my thoughts about Ashton.
I had my head down, walking tiredly when I felt my head hit a wall.
I winced, rubbing my head and imagining the kind of wall I had bumped into in the middle of the
road.
On raising my eyes, I saw them and I whispered a breath in fear.
Standing before me was Ephraim with a stick in his hand. Well, unfortunately, he wasn’t alone.
Flanked by his sides were seven rogue lycanwolves. Power, musk, and smoke clouded their skins.
Ephraim’s right eye dimmed as he took me in. He moved dangerously close to me while his men circled around me, he said.
“Now, bird, where were we?”
I knew just then…this wasn’t
going to end well for me given the hungry looks in their eyes…
To be continued…
