The shrill sound of my alarm clock sliced through my ears like a knife. Still half-asleep, I stretched out my hand, knocked it off the bedside table, and went back to sleep.
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! The alarm clock went off again for the second time.
"Please let me sleep a little more... damn fucking alarm," I murmured, opening my eyes and grabbing my phone from the floor where I had carelessly tossed it the night before after reading my favorite novel. 8:27 a.m.
"Shit! I'm late!" I jumped out of bed, nearly falling over. I ran into the bathroom and took a quick shower. Afterward, I grabbed whatever clothes I could lay my hands on, threw them on, and dashed out like a madwoman. I was scheduled to perform a very important surgery in less than an hour, and I had overslept again.
"Oh God, this is the third time I've been late this week," I muttered. I had stayed up all night reading Alpha Psycho, my favorite novel. I'd become so obsessed with it that it had become part of my bedtime routine. I had read it over and over again. I knew every detail about the crazy Alpha he had somehow become my favorite character.
I hurried toward the old Mazda I inherited from my grandmother-as her favorite granddaughter. I tried starting the car, but it wouldn't start. It was like the universe was against me today. I tried again, but it wouldn't budge.
"Please, please, not today," I whispered, turning the key again. Nothing. The car was completely dead. It was as if it had conspired with my alarm clock to ruin me. Frustrated, I rushed to the roadside and flagged down a taxi.
"City Clinic," I told the driver breathlessly. "That'll be 80 bucks," he said.
"What? Eighty dollars for a thirty-minute drive? I will pay fifty."
"No, ma'am. It's eighty," he insisted.
"Fine. But drive as fast as you can. I need to be at the hospital as soon as possible."
"Sure, ma'am," he replied, pulling onto the busy road. Almost immediately, my phone rang. I glanced at the screen. Ethan. The Chief Medical Director. A very scary man in his late fifties. Oh God. I'm in trouble now. I quickly pressed the answer button.
"Where the hell are you, Christy?" he yelled. "I'm almost at the hospital, Mr. Ethan. My car wouldn't start this morning. I'm in a taxi now I will be there in the next five minutes," I lied smoothly, knowing full well I still had about thirty minutes to go.
"If you're not here in five minutes, you'll be suspended!" he barked before ending the call.
"Oh shit. I'm definitely in trouble now," I muttered, then turned to the driver. "Sir, can you go faster?"
"I'm sorry, ma'am. I'm already driving as fast as I can," he replied calmly.
"But not fast enough to get me to the hospital in five minutes and save my job," I groaned. Then, out of nowhere, I heard a loud sound BANG! A loud explosion. And everything went black. I can hear Faint voices around me.
"She's still breathing! Someone call 911!" I heard the voices as I slowly slipped into unconsciousness.
Where am I? Why does it smell like dirt and rotten flesh? I opened my eyes slowly. I was lying on something hard definitely not my bed. And certainly not a hospital bed. I sat up immediately. Shit. My head hurts. It felt like I'd been hit with a hammer. As a doctor, I knew what stress headaches felt like. But this? This was something else.
The piece of cloth beneath me looked like a bedsheet that hadn't been washed in years. The doors in the room had metal bars like something out of a prison cell. Wait... am I in prison? How did I end up here? The last thing I remembered was being in a taxi, begging the driver to go faster... and someone shouting for 911. Am I dreaming? I pinched my arm hard. But the pain was real. This wasn't a dream. I looked around and saw ten other girls sleeping nearby.
"Oh please... where am I?" I asked aloud. One of the girls turned to me with a bright smile.
"Elie, you're awake! Thank the Moon Goddess! We thought you were dead!" she cried, rushing to hug me.
One by one, the others stood up, each rushing toward me, hugging me, thanking the Moon Goddess.
"I'm not Elie. I'm Christy. You're mistaken. Who are you people? What am I doing here? And who is this Moon Goddess you're all thanking?" I asked, utterly confused.
The girls looked at each other. And One of them whispered, "I think Elie's lost her mind... the hit must've affected her brain."
"Who is Elie? Where am I? Someone please explain what's going on!" I pleaded.
"Elie, calm down," one of the girls said gently. "You just woke up after three days of being unconscious."
"Three days?" I echoed in disbelief. "But I was just on my way to work this morning. I had surgery scheduled! I need to call Ethan the Chief Surgeon!"
"Ethan?" one girl repeated. "Who's that?" "He's the Chief Medical Director where I work. Where's my phone?" I asked urgently.
They exchanged glances again. Then one of them said softly, "Elie, we don't use phones here. The Alpha said omegas and servants aren't allowed to have phones."
"Omegas? Servants?" I blinked. "I'm not an omega or a servant, I'm a surgeon. And who is this Alpha who makes such ridiculous rules?" "Elie... you're an omega. Just like us. And this is the Redwood Pack," the smallest girl explained. "The Alpha imprisoned us three days ago because the dinner we cooked was salty. He killed the cook on the spot after one bite and ordered the rest of us thrown into the dungeon." I stared at her in horror.
"Wait... did you say Redwood Pack?" "Yes," she nodded.
"You mean... a real werewolf pack?" "Yes, of course," she said, now looking concerned. "Elie, what's wrong with you?"
Just then, the heavy dungeon gate creaked open. A tall, scarred man stepped in.
"Elie, Joan, Rosella, Annabel, and Mitchell you five will serve the Alpha from today. The rest of you, back to duty."
One of the girls started crying. "I don't want to serve the Alpha! I don't want to die!" she sobbed. "What about my pup? What if I make a mistake and he kills me too?"
I stood frozen. No. No. No. This can't be real. I just got here. I'm not going to die in here, not inside a damn novel.
Yes the name Redwood Pack. Alpha Zach. The ruthless Alpha who kills over the slightest mistake.
This can't be. That's the same Alpha Zach I read about last night. How did I end up inside the book?"
"Are you omegas moving?" the guard growled. "The Alpha will kill you all if you delay any longer." The girls rushed out of the cell, and I followed them, my heart pounding. Please God... I don't want to die. Not now. Not like this. Not inside a book
"You all change out of those stinky dresses! Don't suffocate the Alpha with your smell or you know what will happen," a woman who looked to be in her early forties said, wrinkling her nose like we were some sort of filth.
"Here, change into this after bathing. You have thirty minutes," she said, handing each of us a very short uniform.
"Who is she?" I whispered to Joan.
"She's Elizabeth, the Alpha's sister. She and the Alpha's mother are the only women in Alpha Zach's life he hasn't killed."
"Oh, so this is the famous Elizabeth, the Alpha's aunt? Who loves him so much, but sadly she died in the novel. Does that mean he's killed every other woman in his life? According to the book I was reading last night, Alpha Zach doesn't have a mate. He hates women getting close to him. He thinks any woman that gets close to him wants to seduce him and he wasted no time killing them. The only women allowed close to him are Elizabeth and his mother, the Luna."
"Hey Elie, let's go," Joan said, dragging me into the bathroom to bathe and change with the others.
Elizabeth stood at the bathroom entrance. "Make sure you all scrub the dirt off your bodies and use the perfumes too." After ten minutes of intense bathing and scrubbing, we changed into the clothes Elizabeth brought us.
"Elie and Rosella will be in charge of the Alpha's food. You two will stand close to him. Joan, Annabel, and Mitchell will stand at the door with the pack guards. In case these two," she said, pointing at Rosella and me, "try anything. Never mind. Just do as I say."
" Oh Lord. I just arrived in this strange place, in a strange body and now you're sending me to my death?
"Elie, let's go," Rosella said, and I hurried after her. "Good morning, Alpha," Rosella and I greeted in unison, bowing our heads.
Alpha Zach gave a slight nod. Elizabeth came in almost immediately.
"Zach, these two will be your new omegas." "Hmm," Alpha Zach grunted. He was holding an invitation. It looked like it came from a neighboring pack, and suddenly his face became red with anger
"Fools!!" Alpha Zach suddenly roared, and everyone in the room dropped to the floor instantly. "Who the hell received this invitation on my behalf?" he asked, his eyes glowing dangerously.
I tried to peeking at his face. Woah. So this is how wolves' eyes glow when they are angry?"
"Stop peeking or he will kill you Rosella whispered to me. "Are you all deaf? Or do you want me to kill every last one of you?" he growled.
" God, please. I don't want to die! Save me from this place! I prayed silently
"Alpha, I did-" one of the guards began, shaking with fear. Before he could finish his sentence, blood splattered everywhere, and his body hit the ground with a thud. His head was separated from his body. He was dead. Alpha Zach had killed him. Just like that?! Just for receiving an invitation on his behalf? I trembled and I wanted to scream as his blood splashed on me, but I clamped my hand over my mouth. One sound and I'd be next.
"Take this dirt away and clean everywhere," the Beta said, motioning toward the corpse. Oh my God. The psycho Alpha just murdered someone and they're calling the body dirt?!
"Go and clean the bloodstain on the Alpha's body," Elizabeth ordered. Signaling to me.
Oh God, accept my soul in advance, I prayed. I reached for a towel to wipe the blood from the Alpha's cheek, but Rosella snatched it from me and shoved me aside.
"Alpha, I want to-" She didn't even finish her sentence. Alpha Zach slit her throat with his claws. Rosella collapsed, lifeless. I need to run. I need to get out of here right now or I'm next. I bolted for the door, not caring if anyone chased me. Halfway there, something warm and wet dripped down my face. Blood. Fresh and warm. I stopped and touch the liquid. Blood!" I yelled. And that was all I remembered.
I woke up in a room I guessed it was the omega quarters.
"Where am I? What happened?" I asked, confused.
"Elie, you fainted inside the Alpha's office," Joan said.
"I fainted?" I asked surprised "Yes, Elie." "But why? I remember trying to run after the psycho Alpha killed Rosella then everything went black." "You fainted from shock."
"I'm not going back to his office. That man is a psycho! He killed a guard for accepting an invitation, and he killed Rosella for trying to clean blood off his face! I'm not going back or I'll be next!" I shouted.
"You don't have a choice, Elie," Joan replied. "If you refuse to serve him, the Alpha will tie you to a pole, rub salt all over your body, and leave you there until you die. Or worse he'll have the guards tie your hands and feet, take you to a river, and throw you in."
"No!" I screamed. "Then you have to serve him," Joan said. "At least if he kills you, it'll be quick and less painful." Oh no. I'm too young to die. I'm just 25! How did I end up inside this novel?! And how do I get back to my real life before this psycho maniac Alpha kills me?
"Elie, you're awake," Elizabeth said from the doorway. How did she get in without a sound? Damn wolves.
"It's time to get back to work. Since Rosella is dead, Annabel, you'll take her place. Now, back to work."
God must really want me dead. What if I fake a faint again? Or pretend I'm dead? Maybe Elizabeth will pick someone else instead. That could work. I'll just hold my breath for ten minutes wait, what if I actually die holding my breath?! Oh Lord, come to my aid. I'll just try to avoid the psycho Alpha.
We arrived at the Alpha's office. The guard at the door warned us.
"The Alpha is asleep. Be careful not to wake him or you know what the consequences will be." He opened the door, and we tiptoed in. Annabel was already shaking at the sight of the sleeping Alpha. Lord, accept my soul, I prayed, glancing up at the ceiling. I moved closer to where the Alpha was sleeping in his chair.
He looks so handsome, and his peaceful in his sleep. How can someone this good-looking be a psycho?
"These ugly omegas are here again?" What? Who said that?! I looked around but it was just Annabel, me, and the supposedly sleeping Alpha.
"Did you hear that?" I asked Annabel. "No. I didn't hear anything."
"I hate these stinky omegas. How dare they try to seduce me?"
There it is again! Wait... am I hearing the Alpha's thoughts?! Oh God! Not only am I stuck inside a novel, now I'm hearing a psycho Alpha's inner voice?!
"They don't know I'm awake, but I'll pretend I'm still sleeping. I want to see which one dares to wake me then I'll separate her head from her body. Hehe. No... I won't do it right away. Maybe I'll grab her by the neck and slam her head into the wall. Again and again until her brain splatters. Yes, that will be fun."
No, no, no! He's not sleeping, he's pretending! He wants to kill us! I grabbed Annabel's hand and bolted out of the office.
"Why did you drag me out like that?" she asked, confused. I couldn't tell her I was hearing the Alpha's thoughts she will think I was crazy.
"I didn't want us to disturb the Alpha. He looked peaceful," I lied. That was close. But now I know if I can hear this psycho's thoughts, I'll use it to my advantage and stay alive. And one thing's for sure: I'm not going back in there until he picks his next victim. Not me. We will have to wait outside.
"You poor omegas, why are you standing here?"
A redheaded girl sneered as she approached. "Don't you know you're polluting the air?"
She wore the shortest skirt I'd ever seen, her butt cheeks almost hanging out.
The crop top clung to her chest so tightly it looked painful. An omega trailed behind her, carrying a plate of snacks.
"Who is she?" I whispered to Annabel. "She's Olivia, daughter of the pack trainer. She thinks she's going to be the Alpha's mate."
Oh God, who in their right mind would want to be mated to that blood-sucking psycho?
"Are you deaf? I'm talking to you two!" Olivia shouted.
"I'm sorry," Annabel said quickly. "The Alpha is sleeping, so we're waiting outside until he wakes up."
"I don't care if he's asleep. Go ahead give her the tray." She pointed at me.
"Take this to the Alpha now! " she commanded me.
"What? Me?" My voice cracked. "I can't go in there! He'll kill me! I'm sorry, ma'am. The Alpha is sleeping. He can't be disturbed."
"Do I look like I care?" she snapped, thrusting the plate into my hands. "Take this snack to him now. Tell him it's from me."
"The Alpha is awake," one of the guards announced. Olivia snatched the plate back and dashed into the office, the omega girl close behind her. That was close. Then I heard the scream. "Ahhhh!" The Two guards dragged out the omega's lifeless body.
"She's dead," one said flatly. "He killed her." Two more guards followed, each gripping one of Olivia's arms. She was badly injured but still breathing. That's it. I'm running away from this place. He's killed three people in one day and I might be next.
"Oh, Moon Goddess..." Annabel whispered, trembling. "I don't want to die." She broke into sobs.
"Why are you two still out here?" a voice asked. I turned to see Elizabeth, the Alpha's sister approaching. "The Alpha is awake. You should be inside serving him."
"We're sorry," I said. "He was asleep. We didn't want to disturb him."
"That's fine. He's awake now. Go in. He might need something." She said frowning.
God help me. I know I'm going to die today. We entered the Alpha's office. He sat there, relaxed, bloodshot eyes gleaming. As if he hadn't just murdered three people.
"Why are these omegas walking like fools?" he muttered under his breath. "Can't they walk like normal wolves? And who dressed them? They look ridiculous." His voice again. The one only I could hear, his inner thoughts.
"Why is she staring at me like that? Has she seen a ghost?"
" Of course she has. You just murdered three people I said to myself
"Hmmm... this one smells like roses," he continued. "I wonder what her blood smells like. Should I bring her closer and slit her throat?" He asked in his inner voice.
"Oh God, he's thinking of killing me.
"She's got a nice shape though. What color of panties is she wearing? What if I bend her over and take her right here?"
That's it. I need to run. He's either going to kill me or rape me. I need to do something or say something that will take his mind off me.
"Alpha, is there anything you need?" I asked, desperate to escape from here.
"She's got a sweet voice," he thought. "I wonder how she'd moan if I fuck her right now. But why does she walk like a toad?"
Excuse me?! Did he just call me a toad in his inner voice?"
"All the omegas in this pack are ugly except this toad," he added. His eyes raked over me like I was something to eat.
"It's already afternoon. Where's my lunch? Useless omegas."
This psycho wants lunch? After killing the last girl who brought him a snack? At least I can hear his thoughts. I'll know when to run.
"I'm tired of eating meat every day," he continued. "Can't they cook something different? And why is this toad still staring at me like that?" Should I kill her? I'll count to twenty. If I don't have lunch by then, I'll kill her." 1... 2... 3...
"No, Alpha! I'm going to get your lunch now!" I screamed, bolting from the office. Annabel followed, panic in her eyes. We rushed to the kitchen. Elizabeth was directing the cook.
"Add more meat. Make the soup thicker. Spicier. Hurry. He must be hungry." When she turned and saw me, she smiled.
"Still alive? Impressive. Most don't last more than an hour. You? Three hours."
The worst three hours of my life, I said to myself. "The Alpha's lunch, ma'am."
"Just in time. Here." She handed me two plates meat and soup. Annabel grabbed the wine and water. What if he doesn't like it? Will he kill me too? Just as we enter his office I heard him again
"Hope this toad brought meat," I heard him think. "Or her flesh will replace it."
My knees nearly buckled. We placed the dishes on his desk. He stared at it like we just served him poison.
"Taste it," he ordered coldly. My hands shook as I took a spoonful of soup, then stabbed a piece of meat with the fork. I turned to Annabel and offered her some, she collected the meat from me her hand shaking as she at it.
"Alpha, I..I..I have-" The words wouldn't come out.
"Why's this toad stuttering? And chewing like that? She looks like a toad. Talks like a toad. Smells like vanilla though."
He snatched the spoon from me and tasted the soup.
"Not bad," he muttered. "Let's try the meat. Maybe I'll find a reason to kill someone."
"Oh God, He's hunting for an excuse again. He took a bite. His face twisted with rage. He flipped the table. Annabel fainted. He looked from me to her collapsed body.
"I didn't even touch her. Why did she faint?" Because you're a psycho killer!
"Who cooked this garbage?" he snapped. "Alpha the chef," I replied, heart thudding.
"Call her. Now."
"Yes, Alpha." I ran to the kitchen, praying the cook wouldn't die today.
"Elie... what's wrong? Why's the Alpha calling me?" the cook asked. "Did I do something wrong? I followed Elizabeth's instructions!"
"There's nothing wrong with the food. He's just a killer, I thought. My chest ached with guilt. The cook followed me sensing she was in danger. We entered the office. I bowed, then stepped aside in case he wants to kill me too then I can easily run from this corner.
"Why is the toad hiding in the corner?" the Alpha thought. "Does she want me to strangle her there?"
I immediately returned to the chef's side. "I'm sorry, Alpha," I whispered.
"She's apologizing again. This toad really is something. A cute one though. I won't kill her yet, Let me deal with the chef first."
"Alpha, I'm sorry" I made the food the way Elizabeth instructed me too.
"Come closer the Alpha said.
Please! please! don't go closer, he's going to kill you too I said to myself. The chef walked close to the psycho Alpha her body was shaking with fear like she knows what was coming.
I heard a crack sound. The cook fell down. Dead. He broke her neck!!. I wanted to scream, but my voice failed me. This fourth death I have witnessed In just one day. Everything spun. And then darkness.