Chapter 6

“Yes, wolfsbane…” It was all the answer I was willing to give him.

“They knew you would run.”

A dark chuckle escaped me as I remembered my mother’s body from my hiding place, as I pictured my brother’s life leaving his body in front of me, “after what they did? Yes, they knew.”

“So that would be why her wounds took longer than usual to heal,” Christian commented, aiding my story with that added detail. Alpha Jackson looked at him and nodded.

I shifted uncomfortably, my hand moving to the wounds on my side, only bruises at this point, like I hadn’t run for my life half blind and half frozen.

“I think so. Can’t say I’m in the habit of drugging myself with it.”

Without a wolf, my body was practically human with a few small perks: I was faster than the average human, my senses were heightened and I had a bit of added strength, but healing? My healing was human, and I had to be careful, like a human.

“What do you think, Christian?” Alpha Jackson asked, not taking his eyes off of me. It was surprising, seeing an alpha look for someone else’s opinion. Alpha Fredrick made his decisions and expected everyone to accept them or else. Very few people questioned the alpha, and those who did didn’t stay around long enough to do it a second time.

The beta looked over me, considering my actions, my attitude and my answers during this interrogation.

“I don’t think we should let her go just yet. At best we leave an innocent wolf defenceless and injured at the mercy of the fates. At worst we practically hand Fredrick his prized possession back to him There must be a reason he wants her back badly enough to break territory lines.”

Alpha Jackson looked over me again, thinking deeply before opening his mouth, “Very well. Elise Clares, Rogue, you will remain with our pack until we see fit to release you, we see reason to kill you… or allow you to join us.” He said the last part with some remorse, looking at Christian with a frown.

He stepped forward, picking up a singular silver bracelet and clipping it to my ankle. It was cold but not tight enough that the metal dug into my skin.

“Your wrists may be free but you will keep this anklet on at all times. It will track you and alert us if removal is attempted. You will not have access to your wolf. It will be taken off of you once I deem you trustworthy.”

“You think I would shift and attack you in the middle of your pack?”

“It is not myself I am concerned for. For all I know you could be a spy and the events of last night could’ve been a spectacular performance. I am taking enough risk letting you live.” He meant it, there was no mercy with his words and if the alpha didn’t value the opinion or intelligence of his Beta that much, I may indeed have found myself dead already, “I don’t trust rogues, traitors of their packs who give me no reason to trust them. I especially don’t trust those who bring enemies to my front door.”

Was he expecting me to be grateful? To give my thanks when he had ripped my freedom away from when he had seen how hard I had worked for it? I had never wanted anything more than to leave and be free, I had never been scared or felt so alone. The only thing that had given me a glimmer of hope was the thought of what freedom would mean. And he had taken that away.

“You’re just as bad as Fredrick,” I spat.

Before I knew it, a hand wrapped around my neck shoving me against the wall, sending my mind flying back to my nightmare and my father. I was barely given enough time to suck in a breath as the grip tightened. Alpha Jackson smiled, his teeth bared as if he wanted to rip me apart there and then. I flinched, not because I was afraid of the alpha, not because of the memory of the nightmare, but because of the warrior from the night before, his weight restricting my breathing, his saliva dripping onto my face. I couldn’t stop myself.

I took a swing at the alpha’s face.

He noticed, just in time to dodge, letting go of my neck in the process. I expected retaliation, readying myself for an attack from the two men in front of me, and though Alpha Jackson looked as if he wanted to colour the dim stone with my blood, the beta laughed.

“Oh my gods, Jackson!” He cackled, holding his stomach like he was in pain, ‘She almost got you! She’s chained up and injured but she almost got you!’

Alpha Jackson let out a growl and Christian stopped laughing, but a smile was still on his face.

“That little stunt isn’t boosting my confidence in you little wolf.”

“You’re not giving me the best impression either, Alpha,” I spat the title.

Perhaps if there were no witnesses he would’ve killed me there and then. Not just his beta being one, but the New Moon pack knew I was here. If I died in this territory after how badly Fredrick had chased me to claim me for himself, there would be war. Regardless if I had chosen to flee.

The alpha regained his composure, the cold emotionless mask back on his face, “You will be taken just outside the packhouse, we keep rooms empty for special occasions. Christian will lead the way.”

He turned to leave, his back towards me and before I could help myself I blurted out, “Leaving your beta to do your dirty work are you?”

His back went rigid and I thought perhaps he would turn around and make me pay for all the insolence I had shown him, but he simply said, “I don’t answer to rogues.”

He left.