Save Me Mr. Alpha

Three Years Later

I was on the ground, breathing hard as blood streamed down my face from my temple. He was in my face, yelling, calling me names, spitting on me. I couldn’t feel his fists or legs on me anymore. The pain felt like nothing in comparison to the days of pain I had felt of heat.

“You fucking bitch, you WILL respect me!”

“Yes, James.” I mumble, not daring to meet the man’s face.

This was my pathetic excuse for a life now. I was engaged to a man who said he loved me, but beat me, used me, cheated on me, every day of my life. When my brothers were home, I was more terrified than when they were away.

“I’ll kill them if you say anything, if you step out of line, your boys will be dead and it will be all your fault.” James would tell me. That terrified me more than his physical abuse.

They were my everything and I would do anything to protect my brothers.

My mind flutters to Tyson and his eyes. I left him to protect my brothers, if I could do that, cause such horrific pain for their happiness, I could endure it as well. Tyson’s words float through my head like they do almost hourly, “I will always come for you when you need me, Princess. I will always want you. And when you realize that you not only want me, but you need me, I will find you.”

But I couldn’t call him, ask him to come and save me. James, as sadistic and cruel as he could be, was paying for their education. His fat wallet and charming personality allowed the boys to go to their dream school overseas, for them to live in style and class, to never have to worry about money or anything else. Calling Tyson would ruin that opportunity.

“Tonight, you will submit to me before I leave for Boston.” James hisses. I nod, my stomach weak at the thought of what he wanted me to do, to wear, to say. It was sickening.

James leaves and I lay on the floor, unable to move as I continue to think of Tyson. Most of the times when James attacked me, I would think of Tyson, feeling his empty emotions inside of me still and I could suffer through the beatings, the pain disappearing from me as I thought of hazel eyes and floppy hair. A well-muscled chest, and tattoos.

“I would find you. I will always find you. Now that I have you, I’m not letting you go ever again.” His words appear in my mind like it was just yesterday, I shake my head and stand up, going to the window of my prison. I look out and see snow, heavy levels of snow and ice caking the ground. I sigh, my blonde, limp hair flying around my face, a single tear sliding down my face as I looked out into the free world, a world outside of the house I was trapped in. The door slams open again and I turn to see James, a funny look on his face.

“Plans have changed, get dressed, something fancy, we have a dinner meeting to go. You know what to do.”

I nod quickly and disappear into a massive walk-in closet filled with fancy clothes and shoes. Unless told to, I refrained from using any of the garments on the last rack, but my mind was telling me that I needed to wear it, to wear the dress that had been calling me.

I take a few hours to get ready, to curl my hair and make-up, looking as much the trophy-soon-to-be bride as I could. That’s what I was to James, what benefit I provided. I was a trophy that he wanted to use to make others jealous, especially his business associates.

The dress was a beautiful green, the color of the green flecks in Tyson’s hazel eyes. I sigh at the thought, trying to focus my brain on anything besides him. The dress had long arms that made me look elegant and graceful, but I knew their true purpose, to hide the bruises and scars that I had collected over the past two years.

I pulled on my shoes and the ring that he bought for me when he proposed. It was giant, glinting in the fluorescent light. It felt heavy on my hand and as I finished my ensemble. Tulle glazed with flowers flowed down to my ankles and as I looked in the mirror, something in me changed.

Tonight is going to be different. My mind seemed to tell me.

“Come on.” James yelled from downstairs. I took one last look in the mirror before leaving the room where my master waited below.

I was most definitely right. James and I had arrived before his ‘business associates’ and we were waiting at a large round table. My hands fidgeted nervously and James had the balls to slap my hand at the table when no one was around. That’s when I heard it. The growl. A familiar growl that I knew from my dreams. I look up and see Tyson dressed in a well-fitting suit, seven men flank him and James stands up, not acknowledging the growl as he held his hand out to shake Tyson’s. Tyson’s eyes are cold as they watch James with an acute iciness. He had seen James hit me, he knew, and as he looked at me, his usually warm hazel eyes turned dark, filled with an emotion that filled me to the core, his emotions were stronger now that we were once again by each other.

Lust.

“Ah, Mr. Bergson, we finally are allowed to meet.” James grins, his slick persona turned on as he started to schmooze his client.

“Yes, finally.” Tyson says, but I know his words are meant for me.

“Excuse me, this is my lovely fiancé, Cassandra.” I stand up and shake Tyson’s hand like James taught me to do. Sparks fill my arm as I touch his skin. I don’t dare make eye contact.

“Very lovely.” Tyson murmurs.

“Darling, may I run to the Powder room? I need to freshen up.”

“Of course my Dear, you don’t need to ask my permission.” He lies, his eyes narrowing, telling me to hurry up or face the consequences later. And at this point I’d prefer the consequences than staying around Tyson for much longer.

I sit on the floor in the bathroom, collecting my breath, I wait a few minutes before preparing myself to leave my safe haven and exit to the dining room where two men, equally as dangerous, sit waiting for me, each expecting and offering something different. The door opens and I know who had followed me. I could feel it in my bones that he would start to chase me as soon as he found me again.

“Princess.” Tyson said. Squatting down to look at me. I buried my head into my knees and the tears started. Tears of pain, of joy, of sadness, and worst of all, hope. “Princess, what is wrong?”

“You can’t be here. Not now, not ever. You need to leave this meeting as soon as possible.” I hiss, trying to make my voice as cold and emotionless as possible.

“No.”

“Tyson, please.”

“I can’t. I just found you again.” Tyson whimpers. He reaches out and touches my arm. I flinch as his warm, soft hands come in contact with the bruises. Normally, they caused me no pain, except when I showered, when all my mind thought of was Tyson, but now, with his gentle, caring hands, they were excruciating. I pull my arms away and tuck them close to me.

“Leave.” I demand.

Tyson glares at me, looking at my arms, his eyes dark and cold.

He grabs my arms and rips the dress away, the fabric tearing and sending hundreds of beads to their death on the floor. Tyson roars as his eyes meet the bruises on my pale, translucent skin, his eyes turn completely black and I whimper, forgetting how terrifying his “other half” was. Tyson pauses.

“He did this didn’t he.”

“No.” I lie. “I fell in the garden.”

“You don’t have a garden here.” Tyson growls, his eyes deep, dark, and menacing. “I knew something was wrong, I could feel it. In here.” He touches his chest and I want to cry.

“No, I fell.” I argue. A knock comes at the door.

“Darling,” an agitated voice comes at the door. “Are you alright?”

“Just a minute Dear, my dress ripped in the door and I’m having issues untangling myself, I will be out as soon as I’m presentable.” I panic. I look around wildly, looking for a solution to my problem.

“Please, just hurry up, Dear.” His voice was hard and I flinch at his tone, knowing the consequences for this would be drastic.

“Yes, Darling!” I call out. All I can see is Tyson, all I can smell is his earthy, warm scent, and he seems to fill up all of my senses.

“Princess, I can fix this. I can help you.”

“I don’t need your help. I am fine, nothing is wrong with me!” I whisper, just in case James was lingering by the door still. I turn to the sink, making sure that the top of my dress was still covering the large bruises on my chest. I make an attempt to fix the sleeve, but I know that it’s to no avail.

“Princess, I can help you get away from him.” Tyson whispers. “I can save you, my Love.”

I look at him. “You can’t save me Mr. Alpha, I’m already gone.” I say coldly. I start to leave the bathroom, but Tyson blocks my exit, he’s frozen in place as his eyes glaze over.

Then, with a fast blink of the eye, he smirks.

“I missed being called that.”

“Let me out!”

“No.”

“Why not?” I demand, thinking of what James would make me do if I didn’t appear as his perfect bride.

“Because you’re coming home with me, I’m tired of waiting for your return my Princess, it’s time that I decide to save you whether or not you can see that you need saving.”

“Just let me go.”

“No.”

“Ugh.” I moan. My body flinches automatically as Tyson reaches out for me.

He mumbles something under his breath. “I need to keep you in here for at least three more minutes.” He says allowing a cruel smile to overtake his beautiful face.

“Why?” I ask, suddenly confused. He grins darkly.

“You really think that I’d let him live after laying a hand on you, whether it was painful or otherwise, he was a dead man once he claimed you as his ’fiancé.’” Tyson’s voice is cold, he freezes, his eyes glazing over once again.

“You can’t ki—”

“It’s done.” Tyson says simply. He grabs my hand, gently, not as rough as James always did, like a pet on a leash, and he leads me out of the bathroom, out of the restaurant, and to a familiar red Mustang.

“I’m taking you home, back to Northbrooke.”

“Am I a prisoner again?” I mumble under my breath.

“Again?” he inquires, his voice deep and low. “When were you ever a prisoner?” he demands. I don’t answer and Tyson must sense that I wasn’t going to as he doesn’t press the issue, which I’m grateful for.

He drives me to my old prison and I remain enveloped in the silence. “Let’s go and collect your things, I’ll come with you.” Tyson mutters as he pulls up in front of the white house. From the street it looked ordinary, like a safe haven from danger, from threats, from horror. But I knew the truth. I knew the darkness that was hidden behind those walls.

I lead the way in, entering the security code and deactivating the alarms that protected James’ prized possessions, or his most prized possession, me.

“Take whatever you want, he’s not coming back to claim any of it.” Tyson says, his voice void of emotion. I look around the large, cold room and anger sweeps over me. I think of my brothers, how they weren’t going to finish their dream like I had promised they would. That’s when I crack. Tears stream down my face and I begin to throw things at Tyson. Vases, books, everything I could get my hands on.

“You ruined everything!” I shriek. Sobs escape my chest as I continue to throw things at him. Tyson easily knocks them to the ground and they either fall in a heap at his feet or shatter. I slip to the floor, my dress pooling around me as I continued to let my emotions loose after three years being away from him. Tyson comes over to me, wrapping his arms around me, I don’t have the energy to fight myself as I melt in his arms, tears streaming down my face.

“It’s going to be alright, Princess. I will fix everything, no matter what it takes.” He whispers, stroking my hair.

It takes a while, but the tears finally subside and I’m able to pull myself together. I stand, pushing Tyson out of the way as I go up the large staircase. I go into my cage and upturn the mattress. On the underside of the mattress is a hole in the padding, a small box containing the only remnants of my life before James. I sigh as I grab the box and tuck it under my arm. I look around to see if anything else should come with me. Nothing screams out necessity and I leave the cage for what I hoped was the last time.

I go down the staircase where Tyson waits for me. He eyes the box carefully.

“That’s it?” he asks.

I nod. “None of this is me.” I didn’t say mine, it was mine, but it was a reminder that I didn’t want, that I didn’t need.

Tyson nods and leads me to the red Mustang.

“Let’s go home.”

It had been two years since I had last seen Northbrooke. The town hadn’t really changed, it was still quiet and as calm as it always was. Tyson drove past my old house and I saw the new family that had moved in had taken out my peonies in the front yard. My stomach felt sick at the thought of my father’s pride and joy being demolished. Tyson’s hand was outstretched, open on the console, but even though I knew he wanted to hold my hand, I couldn’t bring myself to touch him.

Tyson continued to drive. Finally, we arrived at the large house that I had fainted in so many years ago. Tyson, the house, the town hadn’t changed much, but I had.

“Cassandra—”

“It’s Cassie, or Cass, not Cassandra.” My voice comes out sharply. He nods.

“I prepared some rooms for you and your brother in the second house, for privacy, I know that they’re at school, but I want you to know that they are always welcome here in our home.”

“Your home.” I correct.

Tyson nods sadly. “Let’s go over there so you can settle in, maybe get some sleep?” He offers.

I nod, my eyes downcast. I knew I was being difficult, but I just wanted to be left alone. To hide, or maybe to run, but where? Where could I go now?

Tyson drives around the large house and about a mile behind it sits a second house, cottage like in style, it was comfortable and warm. He leads me inside, and I look around. The entry way was gorgeous, and everything seemed so comfortable, so familiar, and yet, it seemed empty, unlived in.

Tyson rubs the back of his neck.

“I hope you like everything—”

I nod, just wanting to go to bed, the long drive and stressful night had stressed me out enough as it was.

Tyson leads me upstairs to a hallway with doors on either side.

“The room you’ll be staying in is the door at the end of the hall, there’s a bathroom attached and some clothes you can change into if you’d like. Just call for me if you need me, I’ll come and assist you immediately.”

I don’t respond as my brain starts to turn quickly, thinking about the last 24 hours.

“Tyson—” I call out. He freezes and turns back to me.

“Yes, Princess?” He looks at me hopefully.

“Why now?” I turn away from him, looking at the door at the end of the hall. “Why did you come for me now?”

He pauses before answering. “I just knew that you needed me more than ever. I could tell that your—hope was fading.” He finishes.

“It didn’t fade. It didn’t exist.” I whisper. Tyson is silent. “I’m going to bed.”

Tyson nods and I make my way down the hall, my small box tucked under my arm the entire time. With the door shut behind me, I finally open the box and pull out its contents. Pictures, messages, and memories are tucked underneath a torn, burnt piece of fabric. I breathe in the smell that still lingered on the old duvet that James had tried to burn when he found it. The smell lingered just barely, and now that the person behind its woodsy smell was back in my life, it seemed not to exist. But I knew, that without the comfort of that smell, sleep would never come, it would evade me until I fainted with exhaustion.

I crawl into the large bed in the middle of the room, ignoring the rest of my surroundings, and I sigh, taking a deep breath in, smelling the same scent of Tyson in the room, and faster than ever, I fell into a deep, safe sleep.