Dungeons!

I could feel my insides burn as I ran as fast as I could. The image of Caleb turning into a werewolf was flashing in front of my eyes again and again. With my hands, I pushed aside the branches hindering my way and kept running. I could feel the sweat dripping off my face and some of it collecting over the top of my lip. Involuntarily with a swift movement of my tongue, I cleared the sweat only to get the salty taste that lingered longer on my tastebuds.

I stopped for a second to look behind, well maybe it was just an excuse to catch a breath. But that one extra breath did cost me a lot. Suddenly I was pulled to my right.

“Where are you going?”, Caleb’s voice made a shiver run down my spine.

“Leave me!”, I screamed and pulled myself out of his firm grip.

“I will not!”, he said with authority holding me by my shoulder again.

I looked at him with fear, but cold eyes. His hands held me tighter, and his fingers went deeper into my skin, making me yelp in pain.

“It hurts!”, I cried trying to get free from his hold.

“I don’t care.”, Caleb said in a cold tone. His emotionless voice made me look at him. I realised he seemed different.

“Caleb?”, I asked a little unsure. The moment his name left my mouth the grip around my shoulder tightened.

“Ah ouch!”, I screamed in pain, but he didn’t budge.

“Do I look like Caleb?”, he asked pulling me closer.

I took a closer look at his face. He was right. It was Caleb’s body, but something was different. This man standing in front of me seemed dark and dangerous. I shook my head as an answer.

“Good!”, he said with a satisfied smile and loosened the grip a little, letting my skin finally breathe.

“w-who are you?”, I mustered up a little strength and finally asked.

“You just met me and forgot me? I am the monster you were running away from.”, he said feigning hurt.

“T-the werewolf?”, I asked earning a burst of laughter.

“Darling, Caleb is a werewolf. I am just his wolf.”, he answered.

I was even more confused now. He said he is Caleb’s wolf, but he was standing as a human in front of me.

“I’ll answer all your questions soon. Maybe Caleb will. Right now, you just need to come with me.”, he spoke with authority. I have always been bad at taking orders.

“I am not going anywhere with you!”, I said in a stubborn tone and pushed him a little. I used all my force, but he just got pushed a little. He laughed.

“And where will you go?”

“Anywhere but not with you!”, I answered standing up to him.

“Oh! We got a feisty mate, I see!”, he smirked.

“A what?”, I guess I heard mate! I have read enough werewolf stories to know what a mate is. Till today I didn’t believe any of it but now things have taken a weird turn.

“Let’s go!”, he said and started dragging me along with him. I knew I wouldn’t give up this easily. I twisted his hand and with my legs crossed over his wrist, I sprawled on the ground.

“What exactly are you doing?”, he asked amused.

“I am not going anywhere with you!”, I screamed.

He looked at me and then shrugged his shoulder. Holding my hands tightly he picked me up in the same position and carried me like a handbag that weighed nothing.

“Stop! Put me down!”, I yelled trying to free myself from his tight hold, but he didn’t listen. This was way more embarrassing.

After a while, I stopped trying to get free and gave up knowing he is way stronger than I am. Finally, he stopped.

“Are you done? Will you walk nicely, or do you still want to act like a spoiled brat?”, he asked.

“I am done!”, I answered defeated looking away.

“Will you walk properly?”, he asked, and I nodded still looking away.

Slowly he kept me back on the ground and let me untangle my legs. I finally stood up and he held my hand again before I could run.

“Good girl!”, he said and dragged me with him again. I sighed but followed him, nonetheless.

“Can I ask you something?”, I asked. He nodded without looking at me. I realised there was so much similarity between him and Caleb.

“If you are not Caleb, then what is your name?”, I asked.

“Leon Adolf. But you can call me Leo!”, he answered still not looking at me.

“Leon!”, I whispered and suddenly he stopped, making me walk into his back.

“Ouch!”, I yelped, and he looked at me.

“Say it again!”, he said.

“Say what?”, I asked all confused.

“What you just said!”, he was impatient.

“Ouch?”, I wondered why he wanted me to say ouch again.

“Not this. Say my name again.”, he answered my confused thoughts.

“Leon!”, I said in a low tone. He looked at me and then looked away and started walking again without saying another word. I also preferred walking silently.

After walking for another half hour, I finally saw the Adolf mansion. And the moment my eyes landed on the mansion, it hit me- Arya is dead! What will I tell Anna? Where did Arya go?

Lost in my thoughts I kept walking behind Leo, and we finally entered the gates.

“Hayley! Caleb!”, a worried Ethan came running towards us. The moment Caleb’s name left his mouth, he met with angry eyes.

“L-Leon?”, Ethan stuttered, and Leo nodded.

“Sir!”, he suddenly bowed his head and so did other people standing there.

“Put her in the dungeon.”, he ordered and pushed me towards Ethan.

“What?!”, I was shocked.

“Sir, she is your mate!”, Ethan said. The moment these words left his mouth, Leo pushed him to the wall, with his hands around his neck.

“And you think I don’t know who she is!”, Leo screamed in anger making the room go silent.

“I-I am s-sorry sir!”, Ethan managed to apologise making Leo let go of his throat.

“Take her to the dungeon! Now!”, he ordered and Ethan who was still gasping for air walked towards me.

“No! Please no!”, I pleaded. But without even looking back once, he went inside the mansion.

“What is wrong with him?”, I asked Ethan.

“Not here!”, he shushed me and asked me to follow him.

“I am not going to the dungeon.”, I said.

“You have no other choice.”, he stated.

“I can run away!”, I gave him a nice suggestion.

“That is not Caleb. That person is Leon Adolf. He will kill every single person standing here right now.”, Ethan said and I looked around. There were a dozen people in the room looking at me helplessly.

I sighed.

“I can’t let them get killed. But I can’t go and stay in the dungeon.”, I said.

“You don’t have to stay there for long. Once Caleb is back, he will get you out!”, Ethan said and asked me to follow him.

“Where has Caleb gone? Shouldn’t he be in there with Leon.”, I asked following him.

“I can’t explain to you that right now. You have to wait till Caleb is back for all your answers.”, he said and opened the gate that led to a dark hall.

“When will he be back?”, I asked.

“Soon!”, Ethan answered and locked me in a dark room.

“Ethan I am scared!”, I said.

“It will be fine. Don’t worry.”, he said with a forced smile.

“Arya is dead!”, I told him.

“What?!”, he asked shocked.

“Yes! We found her body in the forest.”, I told him.

“I’ll look into it.”, he said.

“No! you please make sure Anna is safe.”, I said.

He nodded and with a light smile left me alone in that dark, damp and smelly place.