The Alpha King's Princess
The Alpha King’s Princess – Chapter 36

I struggled against the darkness. I knew I was unconscious, but as I pushed and pushed against whatever she had prayed me with, I felt my mind waking up. I pushed my power to strengthen my mind and senses, listening for something. I felt something jostle me. If I had to guess, Bella either stumbled over me or kicked me. Then I heard her feet going away.

What was her plan? I didn’t know, but as I forced my eyes open, the ceiling spun in my vision. I heard her getting farther away. I grit my teeth, pushing at the heaviness in my body until I could turn onto my side and drag myself away from where I had fallen. My head pounded. Had I hit my head? I didn’t know.

My heart was beating a mile a minute with fear and panic, but I tried to focus. I had to move. Even avoiding her plan, staving it off a little would buy me time. Team Gamma-2 would come looking for me soon. I heard my phone ringing, but I couldn’t get to it.

If I didn’t answer it on the second try, they’d come after me. I just had to hold on until then.

Male laughter drifted through the air and my stomach lurched. I dragged myself around the corner as the voices seemed to come closer. The door slammed shut. Darkness swam in my vision until I pulled myself toward the showers. I closed one of the stalls and locked it. My head swam again as I kept going, sliding under the stall and back into the locker room.

Every move felt like it was taking all the energy I had, but I kept pushing my powers, pushing my body until I got to the storage room.

“Where is she?”

“She couldn’t have gotten far,” a man laughed. “First one to replace her gets the first taste.”

The others laughed. What did that mean? Vampires? Was Bella in league with vampires? Were they going to kill me?

“Lock the door. We wouldn’t want to be interrupted.”

“Where are we going to dump the body?”

“No clue. Figure that out later. Maybe we’ll just leave her here.”

“It’s not like any one is going to suspect us.”

Someone laughed again, “Come out, come out, Hedy. We just want to talk.”

Liar. I slowed my breathing as I pulled myself onto my feet and up onto the top of a cabinet. It wasn’t too high, but it would be high enough to give me an advantage. I swooned, leaning back behind the row of uniforms that were hung up above the cabinet, and peered through the uniforms.

There were at least three sets of footsteps, maybe more. I counted threw voices. If I wasn’t so dizzy and nauseous, three against one wouldn’t be so bad. I could outrun them, I was sure, but now.

I wished Candido was here. I wouldn’t have anything to worry about if he was, but he wasn’t, and it wasn’t unlikely that he would just show up. I had to deal with this on my own.

I heard them going towards the showers, kicking in doors, and fighting with the door I had locked.

“Kick it down, stupid.”

Someone’s foot slammed against the door. One of them drifted past me heading towards the showers, and I held my breath. I didn’t recognize him, but he was wearing nice enough clothing that I could believe he belonged at the academy.

Were they important? High ranking in their packs? Were they just fans of Bella at the school?

A sharp metal sound cut through as the door slammed open.

“Sneaky bitch. Spread out!”

I glanced at the clock across the room, listening for the ring of my phone. It started again and I almost sighed in relief. I just had to hold out for another few minutes.

Another one drifted past me, but I recognized him as an upper classman. I narrowed my eyes following him as he stomped past.

“She’s not the type to lie to me,” he said, and I realized that he was the one that mentioned a first taste.

He wasn’t a vampire, I knew. A knock sounded on the door of the locker room.

“Looks like the rest of them arrived.”

“Late to the party as usual.”

The door opened and slammed shut. The voices multiplied and terror started to pool in my gut. Two? Three? Seven?

There was no way I could deal with ten men on my own. I had to be smart about this. There were two doors. One leading to the field and the other leading into the hallway.

“Watch the doors until we replace her.”

I bit my l*p, my heart thudding. My phone was still ringing.

“What’s this?”

I froze seeing one of them nearby and looking at the ground. Had I left a trail? He frowned and walked towards where I was hiding. I squinted and realized that he was following the sweep of b***d where I had dragged myself toward the cabinet. Was I bleeding?

He stopped just in front of me and before he could look up, I shoved the clothes rack forward as hard as I could, falling with it.

He cried out as I landed on top of him, driving the bar down ahead of me. I rolled off him quickly and scrambled away, but I wasn’t fast enough.

“There she is!” One of them growled, his lips lifting in a triumphant sneer. “I love a little hide and seek, doll.”

He reached for me, and I kicked at him, breaking his nose. He let out a howl of pain as I dragged myself onto the bench nearby. Someone grabbed my leg and yanked. I tightened my grip on the bench and kicked back at them.

“F*****g, bitch! Grab her!”

I got free and rolled off the bench, avoiding one of them. I grabbed for something, scrambling back and away from him. I grabbed hold of something and swung wildly. Someone howled behind me as I continued to try and escape.

I felt the adrenaline kicking in as I used the thing in my hand to push myself to my feet. Someone slammed into me, knocking me down. He struck me across the face viciously. I saw stars but lifted my arms to protect my face from the next blow.

But the weight of the man lifted and pain exploded in my side. I heard something crack and I rolled as I gasped in pain. I rolled again and again until felt something digging into my side. I grabbed it and swung it, hoping to hit someone. The bat stopped and was yanked out of my hand as my vision started to clear and the upper classman fell on me, forcing my hands to the ground and spitting in my face.

“You should have just cried like the others.”

Others?

I twisted, wiggling, trying to fight him off, but someone else kneeled by me. He took my hands and dragged them up, pinning them painfully beneath his knee as he stroked by face and took a handful of my hair in his hand.

“I’ve always liked blondes,” the one said, his voice rough as he reached for his belt. “You bite me, and I’ll make sure you die screaming.”

My heart lurched and my b***d ran cold. I didn’t even feel the sharp pull and rip of my shirt. My stomach heaved as the man above me wrapped his hand around my jaw and pressed, trying to force my mouth open. I pressed my lips together and kicked as someone else grabbed the waistband of my jeans.

“She’s still got some fight in her.” The upper classman laughed. His voice was dark. Someone else laughed. “Squirming ones are always tighter.”

My cheeks burned. My eyes filled with tears as I tried to fight. I couldn’t hear the ringing of my phone. How long had it been?

Were they coming?

Cool air rushed over my thighs and h*p.

“Look at that! The curtains match the drapes!”

Someone else laughed. I closed my eyes as the man above me started shoving his pants down and pressing on my jaw harder.

“Open your f*****g mouth!” He panted. “I’ve been waiting all f*****g day for this.”

I clenched my jaw so hard it popped.

Candido, please, I thought. Please help me.

The air shook, and a door slammed open. I heard the crunch and whine of metal bending and twisting, then the man above me was ripped off. Someone screamed. I smelled b***d and heard it splash above me.

I felt the warmth of it across my chest, but no one touched me. A furious roar filled the air. People screaming in fear. I heard boots stomping into the room. A glint of gold filled my eyes as a figure flew over me. There were more screams mingled with pleading voices and snarls.

“Candido?” I gasped, weakly before my body and mind gave out.