As I had explained to Morgan, about fifteen minutes before the class ended, I excused myself to go to the restroom. I walked down the hallway where Lex thought he had caught his scent. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw some movement. Someone had excited a class. I rushed after them.

"Hey, wait!" I called out as I neared the tall figure. When he turned around, I noticed that he had file folders in one hand and a briefcase in the next. He was a scholar.

"You lost or something?" the scholar asked and I shook my head.

"Sorry, I mistook you for someone else," I responded.

I let out a deep breath as he walked away. My feet began to drag as I slowly made my way back. What was I thinking? How could I possibly narrow down who our stalker was if I didn't even know his face? I dragged a hand down my face as I tried to think.

I felt someone tug me sideways by my hoodie and nearly fell as I lost my balance. I felt a large hand covering my mouth and the coldness of a curved blade at my throat. The blade was so sharp that I didn't realize it had cut me until I felt blood running down the emblem on my neck. I heard the stranger's heavy breathing and let out a sound of disgust when his tongue licked at my blood.

My emblem began to hurt, burning in a fiery rejection.

I struggled against him until he pressed the blade against my inner thigh, way too close to the family jewels for comfort.

"You're not going anywhere."

I knew that voice! Before I was able to make another attempt at freeing myself, I felt a sharp pain on the back of my head and my vision darkened.

::::

I felt groggy. The lower left side of my head throbbed in pain, as did the emblem on my neck. My lips felt dry. A gag had been stuffed in my mouth, and I found it difficult to think. My body kept wanting to drift back into unconsciousness, but an annoying voice startled me awake.

"The albino that got away."

My pale lilac eyes settled on a face that was both beautiful and disturbing. He had dark brown eyes, fair skin, and black hair that reached down to his chin. Though his skin was fair, he had imperfections like freckles and birthmarks. I had always envied his looks. His appearance had never been ridiculed or laughed about.

"Ashur?" My question was muffled due to the gag. I didn't know what he used to tie my hands behind the chair, but it felt thick and soft.

Out of all the Alphas that could have stalked us, I would have preferred anyone other than Ashur. Hell, I would have even preferred Nestor. Though, I had heard through Sabine that Nestor had settled down with a male Beta and the couple lived in another town.

Ashur was sadistic and unpredictable. Crazy, I'd even say. I never regretted having turned him down because I knew him to be violent and selfish.

Damn, I hadn't even realized that he came to the same campus.

A quick glance around made me realize that we were in an empty classroom. How long had I been knocked out? Was there anyone still around? Would anyone be able to hear me?

"I've always admired you, Avion," Ashur admitted. The words didn't sound very sincere. "You never gave any ground and always fought back."

I swallowed hard. I didn't know where he was going with any of this. I didn't know what he was planning to do. All I could do for the moment was observe.

Ashur reached out to roughly tug the top of my hair until my head tilted back. The throbbing on the lower left side of my head intensified. "And then you allowed yourself to be claimed by Lexus of all people…that pathetic, useless dolt."

I heard the sound of walking and running outside of the classroom. My eyes lit up with hope at the sound. There were still people around!

As if he sensed my thoughts, Ashur used the hold he had on my hair to tilt my neck to the side where my emblem was. I felt his nail dragging down just below the cut, causing pain to flare up. He then leaned down to give my ear a sharp bite.

I let out a muffled cry.

"I think I will cut this tasteless emblem right off your skin," Ashur growled.

"No!" I cried out once again though no one could hear me. Lexus! I felt something inside my chest clench as I sent out the plea.

Avi? Avi, is that you?

Lex! You can hear me? Ashur has me! Ashur has me in an empty classroom!

I'll find you! Just keep talking...err, thinking, to me!

I felt the blade sliding down to my collarbone and up the other side of my neck.

"Or perhaps, I will carve one out of my own," Ashur contemplated aloud. "In a much bigger place, one that Lexus will always be able to see…"

I was nearly choked as he roughly tugged at the collar of my shirt and tore it open in the back with the blade.

Lex, he's going to cut my back up!

Just hold on!

I felt Ashur's hands spread across my back and his lips descending on my spine. My body began to shiver in disgust. He bit at the skin and then tugged it sharply between his teeth.

"Hah!" I hissed in pain. Lex…I'm sorry. I thought I could confront him alone…

We were both startled by the sound of keys opening the lock on the door. Lexus immediately ran in, rushing past the university's dean in the process. I started crying, happy to just see him. I didn't have time to feel ashamed about it. The shame could come later.

The blue-eyed Alpha quickly took hold of Ashur's wrist tightly until the blade was dropped from his hand. The Bernese struggled to get out of the grasp, but Lexus adamantly dragged him towards the dean.

"You've seen it with your own eyes now, right?" Lexus challenged the dean. "My mate is hurt. You can no longer allow this to continue."

I saw the dean lower his head as if in defeat. "I…I understand," he replied. He then slowly walked over to untie me. "You both have my deepest apology."

As I stood up from the chair and removed the gag, I had every intention to help Lexus with Ashur. Lexus must have read my thoughts, because he stopped me right in my tracks.

"No. Morgan will catch up with us soon. You are to wait here for him and then the two of you are going home," Lexus commanded. "I will deal with Ashur myself."

Just a few hours ago, I would have given him hell for using another Alpha command on me. But, at that particular moment in time, I really did just want to go home. I had no energy left to argue.

The moment I saw Morgan skidding to a halt in front of the door, totally out of breath, I rushed over to hug him tightly. The Beta didn't hesitate to hug me back. "I knew something bad was gonna happen," Morgan babbled. "That's why I told Lex right after class…thank goodness you're ok!"

I broke down into more tears while in the presence of my best friend.

Morgan decided to skip all of his evening classes to stay at home with me.

:::

(a/n: Below is an amazing sketch of Lex and Avi drawn by fellow Tapas member 1agogo!)