A Bond Over Misfortune

The first thing River felt was the cold wall pressing against her back. 

She flipped her eyes open slowly, gazing around her. Although she couldn't make out where she was, she recognized her environment. She was in a cell. And, she was laid on its floor.

It was dark. The only light that brightened the room was a single bulb hanging low above her. There is a bunk bed by the other end, fluffy mattresses and sheets arranged neatly into the springs.

The floor had grey tiles, but there were also skid marks as if the floor had witnessed a lot of footprints. 

When she turned around to her left, and her gaze landed on a symbol embedded on the wall above her, she froze

Ryker Brothers Pack symbol.

The images of Alpha Ryker massacring her father's Pack and his wicked smirk as he watched from afar flashed through her head.

Alpha Ryker of the Ryker Brothers Pack was a ruthless, heartless Alpha, and she had been one of his victims. He had ridden her of everything she had. Made her fatherless. Forced her to relocate to another Pack as an Omega and made her meet Caden, who had subjected her to bullying.

Aside from that, Ryker Brothers was a rebellious Pack in the North. And, the most powerful Pack out of the 300 Packs in the North. Their history of Alphas were strong werewolves who could take down over 100 werewolves at once.

Ryker Brothers started as a Pack of rogues, and they threatened to cause more massacres if the Werewolf committee didn't register their Pack as an official Pack in the North. The members of the Werewolf committee recognized that Ryker Brothers would keep their promise and kill more people, so they had no choice but to accept. That was how they became the Pack people feared.

Their territory was off-limit for non-members of their Pack. And, if you are ever found within their territory, there was no getting out alive.

And now, River had somehow found herself there. In the hands of her sworn enemy.

She began to panic, thinking back to her last moment at the woods. Obviously, Uncle Derek had sold her. He did mention to the masked men to thank their Alpha for purchasing her at such mouth-watering amount.

He had sold her to Ryker Brothers Pack of all Packs.

River's eyes watered.

How could she be so stupid to fall for Uncle Derek's trick twice? 

Five years ago, when her father was still alive, he had invited Uncle Derek over, and they had shared a happy moment over dinner. Then, Uncle Dereke suddenly offered to take her to the Pack pond - the Pack's pond was off-limit for low-ranked wolves but, Uncle Derek said he had access to it because he was close with the Beta's nephew - so, River followed him happily. Only for three men to appear in the pond and grab River, hauling her away. It had been her father who rescued her, or she would have been sold.

But, what was the point then when she had finally fallen for his tricks again. She knew she shouldn't have believed him when he came back begging for a second chance. Uncle Derek was a monster who wouldn't think twice about hurting his own relative.

River's sob died down in her throat when she heard approaching footsteps. Creases formed her forehead in curiosity when she realized the footsteps were approaching the cell she was. 

The footsteps grew closer, and River realized there were two of them. One soft and tiptoeing, the other purposely and loud. 

Then, a man in a guard uniform came into view, holding a scared girl in his grasp.

He forced the bar of the cell open and shoved her in. 

The girl lands violently on the cement floor before River. The cell guard locked the cell gate and stalked away.

The new girl, in a dirty white sun dress that had been shredded in some part, sat up against the wall, opposite River, burying her head. She sounded like she was panting for air.

River frowned over at her.

“Are you okay?”

River’s weak, hoarse voice asked, and the girl nodded, although she still hadn't looked up at River.

River couldn't catch the scent of the girl's rank, but she assumed she was an Omega.

River watched her carefully. She had bruises on her arm. Claw bruises. They were old bruises. 

She is a mateless Omega.

Only mateless Omegas had old scars. The purpose of a mate was the heightening of powers, and that included healing wounds as fast as within a nanosecond. River was also bruised. Her face was totally a mess, and when the girl lifted her head to finally look at River and a frown appeared on her head, River knew the girl also saw her as a mess.

The girl had tanned skin. Her captivating Hazel eyes soon left River's and wandered around the room, giving it a scan, and her gaze halted at the symbol of Ryker Brothers Pack just like River’s had earlier.

“This is Ryker Brothers Pack."

River explained as if the girl hadn't seen that already.

“You are in Ryker Brothers Pack cell.”

The new girl nods.

Doesn't she speak English? Maybe she is Chinese? She does look like she shares the breed of an Asian country.

“How-how did you get here?”

The girl's weak voice broke the silence as she rested against the wall.

“I-They sold me. My stepmother sold me to this pack." River nodded slowly, sympathising with her. With the look of the sadness in her gaze, River could tell that she trusted her stepmother enough to sell her just as she trusted Uncle Derek. Although not entirely, for that night, at least. And, she had been unfortunate that Uncle Derek took advantage of her trust the minute she gave it out.

After a beat of silence, River decided now was the best time to light up the mood.

“I don't know. I think we share the same fate. And, please tell me you don't have a wolf. I have spent years in search of someone like that. I need a partner in crime.”

River teased. But, when the girl raised a brow at her in return, she realized she should have waited for some time before she could crack a joke. The poor girl was obviously still in the daze of her stepmother betrayal.

Then, a bark of laughter tears through her, bouncing off the wall of the cell. Then, River followed closely after, laughing loudly for the first time in months. 

"Yes, I don't have a wolf. I had one, but she left after I got my fourth rejection." The girl breathed after her laughter died down.

"Fourth?" River echoed. "Four is a crazy number. You are pretty."

A pink blush stained the girl's face. 

"What about you? Had any rejections?"

River's smile disappeared at the question because she remembered Caden Caldwell and the misery he had caused her after that rejection.

"Just one." River swallowed. "But, I'd have prayed for five. Ten, even if it wouldn't be as messy as that one." 

River swallowed the tears that were threatening to spill out as she remembered her memories with Caden Caldwell.

“I’m Aubrey. Aubrey Maddox.” The girl finally said after a beat of silence.

"River. River Bradley. It was a pleasure to meet you." 

Maybe making a friend over her capture wouldn't be so bad. It could help her ignore the fact that she was currently Alpha Ryker's slave. A slave to her sworn enemy.