Enslaved By The Alpha
Chapter 72

~MAYA-

My heart is broken. I don't know why. It's not like I didn't realize that Kane's heart belonged to Maya. He's never tried to hide his feelings from me. He's made it clear since the start that she was everything to him. I don't know why I hoped that he would say

something different.

I caused my own heart to break. I knew that I had no right to ask him that. He'd just poured his heart out to me, telling me everything about Maya and their relationship. But I was so selfish with my own needs that I wanted to hear him say to me that she wasn't the only one he cared about. I wanted to hear him say that he also cared for me.

I can feel him looking at me; we're here to meet Ermanno and his family. And while he's speaking to them, he hardly ever takes his eyes away from me. I don't know what he's thinking. I don't know if he's still worried that I might be sick after what Giselle tried to do to me or just afraid that he was too harsh on me earlier.

I'm ashamed to look his way. I don't know what else to say to him. How can I face him after he'd made it clear that no one else mattered but Maya? I didn't want to push my way into his life any more than I'd already done.

All that was left for me was to help him get his revenge on Giselle. After that, I would be free to leave. We would go our separate ways, and I would be left with the little memories I had of him. I wish that there was more for me to cherish. They would be all I would have left of him after we parted ways.

"This is the location of everyone you wanted me to look into," Ermanno tells Kane as he hands him a list. "Though I've spoken to Lucy, you should know that the first half is not responsible for Maya's disappearance. Austin has already confronted all of them. Searched their homes. It made more enemies, basically. But none of them have Maya. There are only a few left to search under, and Austin has probably already looked into them. It may be faster to discuss this with him before you try looking for her." Kane looks uneasy, "I'm not Austin's favorite person. If I ask him, I doubt he will be willing to disclose that information."

Ermanno glances at me, and I can tell that he's curious to know who I am. This is the second time that he's seen me around Kane. He must understand that there is a story behind the two of us. I didn't want his friends to think that something was going on between us. That would not look good for his already tarnished reputation.

Kane catches him looking at me, and he tries to refocus his attention on him instead, "I wanted to ask for your help. Again."

"What do you need help with?" He asks him. "I already told you that I'll help with whatever you need."

Ermanno's brothers are quiet as they watch the exchange between them. They don't try to ask any questions, and it seems to me that Ermanno might be the eldest. They seem to respect him a lot.

"I want help to take Giselle and her father down," Kane tells him. "I know it's plenty to ask for. They aren't the weakest targets out there. But it's the only way for me to escape Giselle and get the chance to look for Maya. I tried other ways, but Giselle was unwilling to let me go. I need to free my men and the women that have worked with me for years. I don't want to see them suffer because of me. I wouldn't ask for your help if I didn't desperately need it. If we can reach the dungeons and free everyone they've wrongfully held captive, I'm sure that they would help us fight against them."

"I'm in as long as the pretty lady next to you joins us on the trip back!" One of Ermanno's brothers exclaims.

"Marcus," Ermanno growls his name in a warning.

"There you go frightening the poor girl." Another one says. I believe I heard Ermanno call him Thane earlier.

"How are you so terrible when it comes to flirting with anyone other than yourself?" Nolan asks him. At least, I think that was his name.

Kane didn't give a proper introduction between us. But how could he introduce me when I didn't have a name?

I look up at him and am surprised to see him glaring at Marcus. He looks like he wants to send him flying into the air. I've seen Kane angry before, but I don't think I've ever seen this side of him before. If I didn't know better, I would think that he was possibly even jealous. But I knew it was impossible since his heart only belonged to Maya. He wouldn't need to be jealous concerning me. Not that he had anything to worry about, I explained to him once before that I couldn't look at any other man as long as he existed. I don't think Kane understood exactly what I meant back then, but at least I knew the extent of my words.

"It's nice to meet you." The last brother greets me, he looks like the youngest out of them all, but I could be wrong. "I'm Luthais. What is your name?"

I offer him a shy smile and shake his outstretched hand.

"She doesn't know her name." Kane cuts in before I can answer him. "We don't have time for any introductions right now. I'll introduce you later. For now, I need to know if I have your help or not. Giselle thinks that we are getting married tomorrow. She's preparing for the wedding. I can't be away for too long, or she will suspect that I'm trying to set her up. If that happens, the entire plan will be a complete failure. I can't let that happen. I'm too desperate to replace Maya. The more I stay trapped in the castle with Giselle, the more danger Maya's life is put into. Please, I don't know who else to turn to."

Ermanno places his hand on Kane's shoulder, "I think I speak for all of us when I say that we will stand by your side and help free your people. What Giselle is doing is wrong. She cannot continue to destroy your life for her selfish intentions." "You can count me in also." A new voice says.

We all turn toward the sound, and I'm surprised to see a woman in front of us. The first thing that I notice is how beautiful she is. She's one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen.

The second and more important thing that catches my attention is the resemblance between her and Kane. I've studied Kane enough to realize that there were similarities between them. However, Kane doesn't act as if he knows her all too well.

Did I imagine things? Who was she to him?