C8- Y-yes ma'am

Vynessa's POV

"Hey, look what we got here!" One of the men jeers. "Little princess, all alone and scared."

The man painfully holding my head up chuckles as he pulls me up to my feet.

“Let me go!” I cry out, hoping, praying someone will hear. But the only movement on the street is the car that's fast approaching. And from the relaxed posture of these men, I can tell they run the streets and so can't afford to give a shit about who's coming.

"Shut up!" He growls, his smelly breath hot against my ear. "We're gonna have some fun with you, sugar."

I struggle and kick, but they're too strong. And it's only in this moment I realize just how weak I am. A groan falls from my lips as they pin me down, all laughing hysterically.

"Please," I beg, my voice shaking as my view suddenly gets blinded by my tears. "Let me go. I won't tell anyone I promise."

Their laughter only increases, their grip on me tightening.

“Yo, chief, we can't possibly taste her out her.” Someone says in a haste.

“Who car…”

The loud noise of a screeching car cuts whoever was talking off. Dust rises in the air as the car comes to a halt, and after a second I'm surprisingly pulled up to my feet.

Familiar faces spill out. Among the people who just arrived is the middle-aged maid who had refused to leave me alone in the bathroom. She strides towards me with that same stoic expression, her eyes focused and hard.

Striding confidently to us, she swiftly draws two daggers with black blades from her cargo pant legs. Hell, she looks a hundred times different from the lady I'd seen in the bathroom. She looks domineering – in charge.

The blades glints in the day's light. The hand on my shoulder tighten as I'm yanked closer to my captor. I freeze as he releases an inhumane growl while the others bare their teeth, but to my surprise, the maid doesn't flinch, instead she steps forward.

“Hand her over.” She says with a bossy tone.

Who on earth are these people?

Unsure of what's happening, I keep my mouth shut, my chest heaving with my rushed breath.

"Why?!” The guy holding my hair and shoulder painfully snarls. “We were told there just might be something for us on the streets. She's one beautiful piece." He growls, bending down to bite softly on my ear.

The act disgusts me but I'm too scared to move. I catch how the maid's eyes flash with anger, but she doesn't attack. Instead, she speaks softly, "She belongs to Alpha King Elijah."

As soon as the words leave her mouth, the man pinning me immediately releases me, his faces pale and fearful. Suddenly all his men back away, their eyes fixed on the maid and the guys beside her,

"We had no idea. Swears if we did, we'd never tamper with what's his," the man curses, gently pushing me forward into the other group of three. His face falls in regret as he takes a step back, his eyes darting between the maid and her companions.

I flinch feeling one of the men in black suit hold me close, as he glances at me, taking in my bruised and bleeding knee. It's just a scratch I'd gotten when I'd been pushed to the ground.

"She's bleeding from the knee." The young man says, his voice laced with concern.

The woman's eyes harden as she glances at my knee. "You've hurt her badly. You know the drill." She says calmly, her voice heavy with an unsettling calmness.

The man who had held me down immediately pushes one of his own men forward. "He'll be the alpha's canvas. We apologize once again." he says, his voice trembling.

The man who has been pushed forward cowers, his eyes wide with fear and disbelief. “Chief!” He calls out in hurt but I notice how he doesn't try to make a run for it. The second guy who had arrived with the maid grabs him, holding him strongly. He struggles and kicks, but he's no match for his captor who simply holds him down while he handcuffs him.

"Run," the maid mutters, and immediately the other crew turns tail and runs as if death itself is on their heels. They disappear into the night, leaving behind them, the man who has been so easily chosen to pay the price for their mistake.

My heart skips a beat, as the maid's gaze locks onto mine. Her eyes digging into my soul, as I realize that I've just been rescued by the very people who were holding me captive.

"I believe you've had your fill." She says, her voice low and menacing. "Alpha Elijah's been kind enough to let you play, but this...is game over. You sit out from now on. Understood?"

Something in her gaze frightens me to the core, and I nod my head, my voice barely above a whisper. "Y-yes, ma'am."

In a flash her expression softens as she regards me with a curious expression. "Please, don't," She starts, her voice gentler now. "You are my future Luna. I don't deserve such respect."

Unsure of what to make of her words, I open my mouth to ask about one of the several things that have confused me this past hour. But before I can ask any questions, she continues.

"I understand you are confused, but this is for your own good. Once we get back, everything will be explained to you. And that will be done by the woman you've learned to call mother, miss Vynessa."

My confusion now, is even greater than it was before. But one thing is for sure. Whoever this people are they know my mother. Maybe they have her. What if I've been running away from Ma all this while?

“D …do you have my mother?” I ask, my mind racing. What if they've hurt her? “What have you done to her?!” I yell, feeling frightened by my terrible thoughts.

“Nothing back. Only your absence has left her a bit worried but not too much. She'd known we'll bring you back.” The man who's still holding my hand, says.

My voice cracks when I say, “Please take me to her.”