Chapter 3

I’m dragged from the dungeon and put into a small room, the door locks behind me. I look around, a metal bed to my right, there’s nothing else but a door to the left. I try it and there’s a small bathroom; a shower, toilet, and basin. The room and bathroom together was only a few metres square.

I sit on the floor next to the bed, tears slip down my dirty cheeks. I could try and escape but I can’t trust Samual won’t kill my little brother. I would never forgive myself if anything worse happened to him. But I’m terrified of trying to ‘please’ Samual’s son, I’ve never really been one to please anyone.

Samual broke from our pack eleven years ago, I had met his son a few times but I was seven or eight, didn’t pay much attention to him. I was too busy training. I knew his son was a few years older than me. What’s his name? Wayne? Cane? Cade? Ugh, I can’t remember. I suppose I’ll find out soon enough.

A sob emanates from my chest. I don’t want to cry, silent tears are the most I ever allowed myself. But maybe today it’s OK. I curl up on the floor and allow the sobs and wails. I stay there for what feels like hours. Long enough for my stomach to start to growl and for the door to unlock. I shoot up from the floor standing with my back against the corner.

I recognise the man as the one that had his nose broken, there’s a bruise over the bridge of his nose which will be healed by tomorrow. Now I’m looking at him, he looks familiar, but I can’t place him. I ignore the thought, he’s probably just one of the many guards I’ve seen. He enters the room and locks the door behind him, slipping the key into his jeans.

“Alpha’s told me to look after you. He’s told me to remind you if you don’t do as I say your brother gets hurt.” I nod taking in his brown hair and hazel eyes. I recognise those eyes, but where from? At least he doesn’t look mean, but looks can be deceiving- Samual doesn’t ‘look’ evil.

A small quiver goes through my body as he grabs my arm, pushing me into the bathroom. I can feel the wolfsbane leaving my system. They usually dosed me every 12 hours, but I have managed to allude to the fact that actually… I burn the wolfsbane they give me within 6 hours. I knew from my lessons that most wolves would keep wolfsbane in their system for days.

The man grabs the raggedy t-shirt that covers me, I feel it tear and he rips my clothes from me. “What are you doing?” I yelp, my arms going over my intimate areas.

“You’re filthy,” he says simply, turning on the shower and shoving me under the cold spray. I jump at the temperature but it soon gets warm.

I stand there, the water cascading over my head, unmoving. I expect the man to leave, allow me to shower but he doesn’t. He stands there, his arms folded, watching me. I don’t want to turn my back to him but I don’t want to take my hands from my body. I shiver, feeling vulnerable and exposed under his intense hazel eyes.

“Get clean,” he barks as I stand there. I stay still, I don’t want him to see me - no-one has ever seen me naked before. He huffs and reaches towards me. I flinch expecting him to grab me, but he grabs the shampoo next to me and squeezes it into my hair. He begins rubbing it into my scalp. I flinch at his sudden touch but he’s not hurting me, his hands gentle as he gets a lather going over my filthy hair. “I can wash myself, just leave while I do it.” I try to keep the shakiness out of my voice, I need to sound authoritative. I don’t want this man touching me, I don’t want him looking at me.

He rinses his hands and takes a step away from me, “I’m not to let you out of my sight, Alpha’s orders.” I gulp.

“Please, just turn around,” I’m begging him, I know I am. He gives out a long sigh but does turn around. “If you try anything,” he growls but I just turn to the showerhead and begin scrubbing the four months of dirt, grime, and blood from my pale skin.

I feel like I could stay in the shower all day. But I want to put clothes back on. I’m still very aware a man is in the bathroom with me, a man that hurt my brother and is part of the plan to make my life a misery. I look around for a towel before stepping out of the shower, I see one and grab it. I turn off the shower and quickly wrap the thin towel around me, hiding my body before he turns around.

He grabs my arm again and pulls me back into the small bedroom. He strong-arms me to sit on the bed. “I can walk,” I grumble, I’ve decided I don’t like him. He ignores me and goes to stand in the corner I had previously been standing in when he came in, his arms folded again.

“What’s your name?” I whisper, his shoulders tense but he doesn’t respond. “Conner?” He remains still, “Trey?” A small twitch in the corner of his mouth gives him away, “Hey Trey, I’m Adelaide.” I try a small smile.

He sighs again, “Please don’t distract me,” his tone is tired rather than harsh.

“If you have to watch me, we might as well get to know each other.” My brain’s feeling clearer, the wolfsbane has finally burnt through my metabolism.

“I’m not chit chatting with you.” He meets my gaze, his hazel eyes have an emotion in them I can’t quite read. It isn’t a mean emotion, is it hurt? A knock came at the door. He walks over and unlocks it.

A woman glides in with a tray of food and some clothes, she places them on the bed without looking at me. “Emma, can I have a chair?” Trey’s polite, but his voice has all the authority I was trying to show earlier. She nodded and left the room. She came back thirty seconds later with a wooden chair which she hands to Trey who closes the door and locks it again.

“That’s for you,” he says bluntly, pointing to the tray and clothes as he put the chair down and takes a seat. I look over to the pile of clothes and the tray, a slab of meat, (I couldn’t tell which animal), and a potato. I pick up the clothes, sliding the underwear on under the towel, I give Trey a look and he huffs but I’m pleased he turns from me. Dropping the towel I quickly yank on the leggings and oversized t-shirt.

I feel better for having a shower and now being dressed. But I couldn’t shake the fear. I don’t know when Samual plans for me to see his son. Part of me wants to get it over with, the other part of me never wants it to happen.

“Why is he doing this to me?” I sit cross-legged on the bed.

“You better not say that in front of Wade.” Wade! That’s his name! Trey sits back in his chair, I can see him eyeing the food.

“Why?” I cut a piece of the meat and offer it to Trey who hesitates but accepts the meat.

“Alpha will beat your brother,” he says simply before taking a bite, at least I know the food isn’t laced with anything, I start eating. I feel a purr in my head.

‘Hey you,’ I say in my head to my wolf, it’s nice to hear her presence again.

‘Glad to be back,’ my wolf responds. ‘Pain’s gone.’

‘Yeah, they won’t give us that bad stuff again, I just have to do what they say.’

‘We don’t take orders, I descend from the strongest, the first wolf.’

‘We have to protect my brother. If we do as they say they won’t hurt him. I’ll need you in this, be my strength.’

‘Of course little one, I will always be strong for you.’

I continue to eat throughout my discussion with my wolf. I don’t want Trey to know that I’ve regained her. They wouldn’t have expected me to burn the wolfsbane this quick. I give Trey nearly half the meal, I can tell he shouldn’t be accepting but he’s hungry, warriors are always hungry. If I can get him on my side maybe he’ll help me later. Creating allies is the only chance I have.