Chapter 2 THE BLOODY MEET CUTE

CHAPTER 2 | THE BLOODY MEET CUTE

LYRA

I thought I’d died when I passed out a few seconds ago from pain, but I woke up when I felt my body being moved.

I gasped, realizing I was being dragged into the forest to be finished off by the guards. My body ached, blood covered every inch of my skin. I knew I was battered, with more than a few broken bones, but I needed to escape.

I couldn’t die like this. I couldn’t give up without avenging my child. I would find a chance to survive… any option at all to escape this damned fate.

“I’ve always known she’s nothing but a lying and manipulative bitch. Every time I tried to touch her, she always hit me. Who would have imagined she had her eyes on the Alpha? No wonder she was playing hard to get.” One of the guards tsked, and the rest roared with laughter.

“She would’ve ended up alive if she chose one of us. She’s a pretty woman, after all. Much prettier than her sister. If only she wasn’t a bitch. But goddess, she has a beautifully perfect body. If only I could just—”

I froze when I felt rough hands on my bare chest. My clothes had been torn during the stoning, leaving me naked for these men to feed their eyes on.

His hand moved to my nipple, and I almost yelled at him to stop, but instead I stayed still. If they knew I was awake, their guard would be up and I’d have no chance to escape.

Luckily, one of the men pushed his hand away, and I heard a slap echo through the forest. “Are you crazy? You want to take advantage of a pregnant woman?”

He scoffed, placing his hand back on my body. “Yeah, so? It’s not like she can do anything about it. She’s going to die anyway. I think we should have a taste of her before she’s disposed of permanently.”

I clenched my eyes shut, praying to whatever god could hear me to deliver me from this hole I’d fallen into. I could survive being rejected by my mate. I could survive being abandoned while pregnant. But rape? Rape would kill me.

The silence in the air was tense. I anxiously waited, hoping for an outcome in my favor.

“You can’t touch her. She’s cursed. Have you forgotten that anyone who brings the cursed scroll into their affairs and is proved a liar is cursed for life? Do you want to take her curse upon yourself?”

I could almost hear the eye-roll from the other guard. “Oh, come on. That’s a myth and you know it. There’s no such thing.”

They began arguing, each one sure of his own belief. In the heat of their argument, they let go of my body, and I saw my chance to escape.

Slowly, I opened my eyes to assess my surroundings. We were at the edge of the forest, and a few more steps would make me a rogue.

Taking a deep breath, ignoring the pain screaming in my body, I forced myself to my feet and bolted for the other side, where I hoped freedom waited.

The guards rushed after me, hurling insults and threats. They promised to do worse than they already planned once they caught me.

I couldn’t afford to be caught. I ran faster.

Adrenaline pushed me forward, numbing my pain. Survival was all I could think about, and it was enough to drive me until I crossed the border.

I thought they would relent when I crossed, but they didn’t. They probably feared what would happen if they returned to the pack without my head on a stick, as the Alpha had commanded.

They kept the pace, and I ran faster, not caring where I ended up. In my desperation, I didn’t notice I had crossed into another pack’s land. They didn’t realize it either, until it was too late.

I stopped when an SUV blocked my path, almost hitting me. Weak, tired, and on the verge of passing out, I collapsed to the ground, all my strength spent.

“I’ll make sure you go through hell before ending your worthless life, bitch,” one of the guards yelled, stomping toward me with a dagger in his hand.

I thought it was over, but fate rescued me when the SUV door opened, and a man stepped out like the world itself was waiting for him.

I looked up, ready to beg for help, but froze at the sight of the most attractive man I’d ever seen.

Even in my pain-filled, hazy state, I could tell he was nothing but sweet temptation. The kind that made sin feel holy. I couldn’t stop myself from drooling as my eyes trailed him.

This man must be Adonis himself. If I had the chance to live again, I’d lick every tattoo peeking out from the rolled-up sleeves on his ripped body.

“Who the hell are you? Stay out of our business. She’s ours to deal with.”

In my starstruck state, I completely forgot I was about to be killed until one of the guards snapped me out of it.

The godlike man stretched his hand toward me to help me up, and I weakly took it. He pulled me against his chest, steadying me so I wouldn’t fall.

“You must have a death wish. Walking into my territory, and barking orders at me. You’re either crazy, or plain stupid,” he said.

Despite myself and my pathetic situation, arousal stirred inside me at the sound of his voice. Smooth as honey, dripping with addictive sweetness and irresistible seduction. Just hearing him eased my fear. I relaxed against his chest, feeling safe.

The guards knew they were in deep trouble for crossing into another Alpha’s land, but they refused to back down. Whether it was pride or their devotion to Orion’s order, they were stupid to be so audacious here.

“I don’t care where we are. Lyra is ours. Let her go, and we’ll leave without harming anyone.”

His chest vibrated as he laughed, mocking their threats. “Lyra.” He tested my name on his tongue, making me squirm as my body betrayed me, and I felt wetness pool in my panties.

“Kill them.”

Before I could comprehend, gunshots rang out. The three guards dropped dead like animals.

I screamed, looking up. Snipers. And worse, their rifles were now aimed at me.

I tried to pull away, maybe run even though I wouldn’t get far, but his grip on my waist was firm and unyielding.

“Let me go, please.” My voice broke.

“No. You came into my territory…and that makes you mine. You belong to me, Lyra. And I’ll do whatever I want with you.”

Fear gripped me like a vice, freezing me in place. “Who are you?”

“Damien Valentino.”

Just like that, my whole world crumbled.