CHAPTER 6

ANNA

THERE WAS NO hope. I sat at the edge of my cell and cried pathetically. The tears streamed down my face. I started regretting my past choices.

"Don't regret it," my wolf, Ava, said to me. "You could not have survived with Alpha Rick."

Wouldn't I? I sobbed. It was still better than being locked in a cold, dark cell with death in your future. Mitch had clearly told me that I was going to die, and I did not doubt him one bit. He was going to kill me. 

"And who says Alpha Rick wouldn't have killed you too?" Ava asked me.

I rubbed my eyes and got to my feet. I walked to the front of the cell and held the steel bars. "Could I please get a blanket down here?" I asked one of the guards in a small voice. "It's terrible cold down here."

It was like they were statues. They didn't move or give any indications that I had just spoken to them. 

I rubbed my belly, worrying about the baby forming in my womb. I should not be exposed to extreme conditions like this. Doctor Alan had told me to avoid situations like this. If only...

"I need a blanket!" I said again, adding a little more desperation to my voice. The only response I got was the echo from my voice as it bounced around the walls.

I hugged myself and went back to sit down. I needed to save my energy. I would need it in the coming months, I might get a chance to escape and I didn't want to be weak when the chance arose.

I closed my eyes and for a second, I was back in the Red Moon pack with my loving husband. His hand was around my shoulders, holding me tenderly and the other hand was on my belly, connecting with the baby in my womb. Beth was not there. We were happy, just as we had always been. 

I suddenly heard the echoing sounds of heavy footsteps, I turned away from my husband's arm, trying to see where the footsteps were coming from and getting closer, but I didn't see anyone. It was like --

I was slowly roused from my dream. It was more of a hallucination. The heavy footsteps had been from a tall, broad man coming to the cell.

"Alpha told us not to open the gates or even have any communications with her," one of the guards was saying.

The man said in a deep voice. "Open the fucking gates, Alphonso." He looked over the guard's shoulder and looked at me. "Just take a look at her pitiful self, you think she can do anything against me and then the both of you?"

The guard turned and looked at me. His eyes flickered with uncertainty then he grumbled under his breath and unlocked the gates. "Just because you're the beta, I will allow you," He muttered. "But for no more than 5 minutes," 

"Thank you, Alphonso," The new man said, walking in towards me.

Instinctively, I scrambled back and he stopped in his tracks.

"It's alright," he said in a soft voice. "It's okay. I'm not here to harm you." 

He had kind eyes and his eyes were warm so I believed him. He held out his hands. "I brought you this," He handed me a thick blanket. "I figured this place might be cold." He lowered himself and sat down beside me. "You should not be here in the first place."

I collected the blanket and held it close. "Thank you so much," I said in a small voice.

"Here," He placed a hot plate of porridge on the floor beside my leg. "You might be hungry."

At the aroma, my stomach rumbled loudly. I took a big steaming spoon of porridge and swallowed it even before tasting or chewing. I was that hungry. I had not eaten in close to two days.

"You are Anna Kylin, yes?" He asked.

I stopped eating, suddenly embarrassed of my surname and family. I nodded slightly without looking at him.

"I am Draco," He said. "Draco Thuram. I am the beta of this pack."

I looked at him fearfully. So he was here under the command of that savage.

He chuckled like he could tell what I was thinking of. "He doesn't know I am here. He is probably -- um, doing alpha things. You're not eating..."

I looked down at my food and continued eating.

"What are you doing here?" He asked. "Your father is a powerful man with a lot of land. We know about it." He snorted. "What are you doing this far North?" 

"I left my pack," I muttered the obvious.

"I can see that," Draco said. "But the question is why? Does your father know you are away from the pack?"

"My father is dead," I chewed slowly. "He died some years ago."

Draco stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Why didn't we hear of that?" He asked himself softly. "So your pack is undefended now?"

I could see the gears turn in his head. "My, um, former husband is the new Alpha." I quickly. Even though I hated Rick for his betrayal, I didn't want the pack to be attacked based on the information I gave out. 

"You are married?" His eyes widened in surprise.

"Not anymore," I muttered.

"To whom?" He asked.

I took a second to reply. "Rick Forson."

Draco stroked his chin and looked away. "Rick Forson..." He repeated. "isn't that the alpha of the Red Moon pack?"

I nodded. "He is. Our packs merged." I said. 

"What?" Draco asked. "That's news. But why are you here and not beside your husband... uh ex-husband?"

I shook my head. I was not ready to divulge my pregnancy. "Nothing happened. I just left."

He looked at me for a second like he wanted to press further but then he averted his gaze and we sat in silence. I finished up the food and gratefully handed him the plate.

"5 minutes is up, Beta Draco," The guard Alphonso called.

Draco brought out a long water bag from his jacket and gave it to me. "It's warm, okay? Hopefully, this will hold until I can come again." 

He stood up and looked down at me. "I will try and talk to Mitch," He said. "I'm sure he is mistaken about you."

"Thank you, Beta Draco," I said.

He waved me off and walked out. He looked at the guards and said in a low voice but I still heard, "She is the daughter of an alpha. Treat her with respect. You hear me?"

After he left, I spread the blanket on the floor and laid on it. I was more comfortable than I had been over the past week. I had a full belly and a closed place to sleep - even though it was a prison. 

I allowed my mind to drift away and ask the question that had been throbbing in my head.

If Rick was impotent, how did I get pregnant?

Had I had sex with someone else and that part of my memory is missing? 

What exactly is going on?