Chapter 4

Kimble

I gasped as my wicked owner tightened the leash. He pulled it so hard I was choking. My eyes filled with tears. You wouldn’t even punish your pets like this. So what did that make me?

My heart thundered in my chest when I tugged at the leash, gently requesting that he release it. But he didn’t. I felt ripples in the leather strip.

There was unease in my chest, like a silk-wrapped dagger was slowly twisting in my belly. It was an unusual pain, something I couldn’t pinpoint, but it was there. This was the second time I’d experienced it. Since I couldn’t bend over, I pushed my hand against my stomach. Tears streamed down my face.

“Kimble?” Kenzie asked. “You look pale. Look at me.”

I licked my dry lips and turned to face him. If I told him I was in pain, would he believe me? Especially after the escape stunt? “It’s nothing,” I whimpered. “I’ll be fine.” But it just got worse.

“Talk to me,” Kenzie grunted, tightening his hands around the wheel as if in anger.

“Talk about what?” I whispered hoarsely.

“How did you end up with Madam Nella? Are you a whore?”

“What? No!” I retorted in the same hoarse voice. “I’m a student at Mary Glock High School and was going to graduate in three months when all this—” I choked on my sob. “—happened.” Fuck. The pain increased. I wasn’t even on my period. “Ah!” I started panting. “I can’t—I can’t—” I started thrashing my head against the seat. “This is—” Oh God! What was happening? “I think I’m about to get my period!” I cried. A sudden roar from the back made me snap my head toward the tinted screen accompanied with a blast of pain deep inside me. I screamed as sweat covered my body.

Kenzie brought his hand to my shoulder and stroked me gently. “Hush… It’ll be fine… The pain will go,” he said in soft, gentle words as if he knew what was happening to me.

Minutes later, the pain ebbed and I gazed at him with blurry vision. Wiping my tears, I said, “I’ve never had such bad pre-menstrual pain. This is new.”

Kenzie gave me a tight-lipped smile as he stroked my back. “We’ll take you to the doctor. Don’t worry.” As he stroked my back, I heard a low growl resounding through the SUV. Kenzie immediately removed his hand from me. He picked up a water bottle from the side and gave it to me. “This will help.”

I drank some water and relaxed back. Closing my eyes, I wondered what the pain was about. Also, how could two people be so different? While Kenzie was so gentle, Talon was an asshole.

My thoughts went back to when I had quietly tried to run away, after peeing behind the tree. I used the North Star as my guide and headed south. If I’d been able to keep on running, I was sure I would have reached my hometown by the next afternoon. As for the wild animals, I had my blade and intended to spend the night in a tree.

My plan had worked well, but only for ten minutes. Until I slammed into what I thought had to be a rock. But it was a chest. I yelped and craned my neck up to see at least six foot three of solid man. He had an intimidating build with muscles upon muscles that must have been a result of rigorous training. His chest had tattoos running around like they hugged him. The muscle on his right chest, beneath the big wolf tattoo, jumped when my gaze went there.

His jet-black hair appeared slightly tousled, giving him a rugged appearance. My lips parted when my gaze settled on his beautiful face. He had deep dark pupils with flecks of gold in their dark irises. His eyes seemed to penetrate me like they could see my soul. He was effortlessly attractive and dangerous. A perfect predator, who loved to toy with his prey before devouring it. The kind of guy your mother said to be afraid of. Brute seemed like a rabbit in front of him.

“Hello Kimble,” he said, and I froze. “I’m Talon, your owner.”

So he was the owner of that deep, dark, throaty voice—the man who bought me.

I trembled from head to toe. On an instinct, I turned to flee, but he charged at me, caught my leash and pulled me to him. I was slammed against his chest. Before I could protest, I was hauled over his shoulder being carried back to the SUV in a neanderthal way. I’d pounded him with my fists and legs but nothing had worked.

When the car finally screeched to a halt, I jerked open my eyes, realizing I must have fallen asleep. I rubbed my eyes and yawned, noticing it was already dawn. The morning light coaxed me from the cocoon of the night. I stretched, as my eyes went to a golden petal of the sun, unfurling in the sky.

The world outside my window was a canvas of soft pastels. Nestled at the foot of the hill, the land was covered with wildflowers, rippling gently in the whispering breeze. Trees stood like ancient sentinels, casting dappled shadows on the ground. The hill rose like a slumbering giant, its slope cloaked in a tapestry of moss and ferns. Streams from the river trickled down the hillside, weaving through it like a vein of this untamed paradise.

The back door opened and I saw Talon getting out wearing only his pants, his beautiful, sculpted body on full display. A beautiful woman who I hadn’t noticed earlier stepped out and followed him. Her auburn hair caught a ray of sunshine, making it glow like fire.

She looked at me briefly with her gray eyes and joined Talon, lifting his arm and circling it around her shoulders. Talon glanced at me, threw the leash to Kenzie, and walked in. “Take it.”

“Let’s go,” Kenzie said with a tight smile.

We had stopped in front of what looked like a manor, its red granite shining in the morning. There were several large houses dotting the landscape around. All the houses had beautiful gardens and there were a lot of gardeners. Wow. What kind of money was floating about here?

I entered a grand foyer that had a dazzling chandelier hung from its high ceiling, casting a warm glow on the polished mahogany floors that were adorned with large area rugs.

The room was spacious with luxurious furnishings like velvet sofas and antique coffee tables. A large fireplace with a carved mantle on the left had its own seating space. The walls were adorned with classic paintings, large framed mirrors and bespoke wallpaper. On the right, a grand wooden staircase led to the second floor.

I saw Talon going up the staircase, but just before he left, he turned and gave me a sweeping glance.

Kenzie stiffened. “Alpha, I’m taking her to one of the guest rooms,” he said, waving toward the west wing of the manor.

“No,” his boss growled. “She will live in the attic above my room.”

My mouth dropped as I stared at him with disbelief. “Attic?” I squeaked, images of rats and raccoons running through my mind.

He narrowed his eyes. “I see that’s also a luxury for her. She’ll stay in the servants’ quarters.”

My mind went numb. This man had servants? Images of him whipping them flooded my mind.

Talon’s face hardened as he ordered, “Make sure you’re back down here by 11 AM.” He turned, taking Aria, now walking with his support, upstairs with him.

Kenzie shook his head as he ran his fingers through his hair. “I’m sorry, Kimble. You have to live in the servants’ quarters.”

I didn’t want to think much about it because I was both mentally and physically exhausted. So I followed Kenzie. He guided me to a small two-story building at the back of the manor. We climbed the stairs and followed the passageway to the last room on the second floor. Kenzie punched in a code and the door opened with a soft click.

“This is going to be your room from now on,” he said, like this place would be my final abode.

As if.

“Just try to stay under the radar, and everything will be fine,” he advised.

I didn’t want to shatter his belief and tell him I’d be running away from here at the first opportunity.

He entered behind me. “There’s a bedroom over there,” he said, pointing to the left. “And the kitchen is here. Usually, you won’t be using the kitchen because all of us eat in Alpha’s house.”

“Alpha?” I said. I’d heard him say it before, but my mind was still too messed up from the auction to ask about it then. It was a funny way to address the boss.

He coughed. “I mean, our boss, Talon Granger.” He suppressed his lips. “Make sure you don’t approach him,” he added. “Avoid him at all costs, and if you accidentally find yourself in his presence, lower your gaze.”

I blinked. What kind of a psycho was he working for? “Thanks, Kenzie,” I said, touching his forearm. “Can you tell me what I’m supposed to do? Why has he bought me?” He already had Aria. Why had he paid three million dollars for me?

Kenzie placed a finger on my lips and looked warmly at me. “Don’t worry, Kimble. I’ll find out for you soon. Until then, stay low, okay?”

For the first time, I smiled. Unable to control my emotions, starved of human love, I hugged him tightly. “If I survive this next month until my birthday, I’ll celebrate it with you.”

Kenzie froze for a moment before wrapping me in brawny arms. “I know you’re afraid, but I’m here. Talon’s never bought a servant that way, but we’ll see how this goes.”