Chapter 4 The Vow of Independence

Anna's POV

My chest moved up and down as I struggled to breathe. My knuckles hurt from hitting Derrick's face, but it was a good kind of pain. His blood was on my hand. He was curled up on the floor like a ball, making weak, pathetic sounds.

I looked away from him. I saw Ronald Reed holding my phone. He was staring at me like he couldn't believe his eyes. His golden eyes were wide. I didn't care that he was a famous Alpha King. I didn't care that he was strong enough to kill me with his bare hands.

I walked up to him and grabbed my phone.

"This belongs to me," I said sharply.

Ronald didn't try to stop me. He didn't growl. When our fingers touched, I felt a spark of electricity shoot up my arm. It made my skin tingle. That strange "mate bond" was trying to pull at my heart. It wanted me to stay. It wanted me to jump into his arms.

I looked at Derrick one last time. I spat on the floor right next to him.

"You were right about one thing, Derrick," I said with hate in my voice. "You are just a placeholder. You are nothing compared to a real man."

I didn't wait for the Twin Alphas to speak. I could feel Ryker watching me with hungry eyes, but I didn't look back. I marched out of the office. The guards in the hall moved out of my way quickly. They looked like they were afraid of me.

I ran down the big stairs. I burst through the front doors of the palace and ran to my motorcycle. I hopped on and started the engine. It made a loud, angry roar. I didn't look back at the palace. I didn't want to see them watching me go.

I sped away from the Silverfang gates. I drove fast through the city traffic. The cold wind hit my face and dried my tears before they could fall. Every time I stopped at a red light, I felt a pull in my chest. It felt like an invisible string trying to pull my bike back to the palace.

"No," I whispered. "Never again."

I finally reached my small apartment. I parked my bike, ran inside, and locked the door. I used all three locks and the chain.

I ripped off my leather jacket and threw it on the floor. I walked back and forth in my small room. My heart was still beating very fast. The room felt too small.

"This can't be happening!" I yelled at the ceiling.

I looked out the window at the moon.

"Is this a joke?" I screamed at the Moon Goddess. "I loved a man for years, and he treated me like trash! Now you give me two more? Just because of a bond? I won't do it! I am not a prize for two Kings!"

I was shaking with anger and fear. People always told me I was a "weak omega" because I didn't have a wolf. Derrick had used me like a toy. Why would the Twin Alphas be different? They probably just wanted me so they could have children or look good at meetings.

"My name is Anna Russell," I said loudly. "I am a biker. I am an orphan. I am independent."

I walked to the table and picked up my silver gun. I took it apart carefully. I cleaned it and put the bullets back in. It was the only thing that made me feel safe. If those Alphas tried to take me like property, I would fight them.

I went to the bathroom and washed the blood off my hands. I looked in the mirror. My lipstick was messy, but my eyes looked strong. I didn't look like a girl who needed a mate. I looked like a girl ready for a fight.

"No more pack," I whispered. "No more mates. No more lies."

I stayed alone for hours. I turned off my phone. I sat on my bed with my back against the wall. I held the gun in my lap. I tried to ignore the empty feeling in my heart where the bond was calling for the Twins. I listened to the sounds of the city and the rain hitting my window.

I was going to live my own life. I would work at a garage. I would ride my bike. I would be my own boss.

I must have fallen asleep for a moment, but a loud noise woke me up.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

It wasn't a normal knock. It was the sound of heavy footsteps in the hallway. They were slow and strong. The floor seemed to shake under the weight.

Then, I smelled them.

The scent came through the cracks of the door. It smelled like a storm. It smelled like wood and cold rain. It was the smell of power. It was the smell of the Twins.

My heart hit my ribs very hard. My skin started to tingle. The pull in my chest got so tight I could hardly breathe.

They were here.

I grabbed my gun tightly. I didn't move. I didn't make a sound. I watched the shadows of two big men under my door.

"Anna," a voice called out. It was Ronald. His voice was soft, but he sounded like a leader. "Open the door. We need to talk."

I didn't answer. I just pointed my gun at the door and waited.