CHAPTER SIX

I wake up on the floor of a cave. My vision is still blurry, and my head is spinning, but I think I can make out the shape of bars around me.

I am confused.

Why am I in a cave? And why are there bars on the door?

I try to stand up, but the room starts to spin, and I fall back down.

I am dizzy.

I try to crawl away from the bars, but I slip, and I feel my body hit the floor.

I don't know what is happening.

When I try to get up again, I start to lose my balance.

My vision is getting even blurrier.

I feel weak. So weak.

I look down and realize I am covered in blood-- matted in it, even.

It's on my legs, my belly, my paws. It's even on my back, which I can't see.

I touch it, and the pain stings.

I try to stop the bleeding, but I can't.

My sight is fading.

I'm so cold, and I'm struggling to breathe.

My lungs are burning, but I force myself to inhale anyway. I know that if I stop breathing, I will die.

My vision is still blurry, but I can see the bars.

I can't remember how I got here.

I try to remember how I ended up in the cave or why there are bars on the door.

But I can't. I can't remember anything.

What is happening?

I feel lightheaded, and I collapse against the floor.

My head is spinning, and my vision is getting worse.

I close my eyes and force myself to breathe.

I think I'm going to vomit.

I pull myself away from the floor, and I force myself to get on all fours.

I am shaking from head to toe, but I get to my feet and run to the bars. I don't know where I am, but something inside me knows I have to get out of here.

I look for something to hold onto, but the room is spinning, and I am losing my footing.

I know it's a bad idea, but I try to make my way to the cell door. It seems impossible, but I feel as though I have to try.

I summon all of my strength and courage, but it's no use. I am too weak to make it there.

My legs give out, and I collapse against the wall.

I start to feel cold, and suddenly everything goes black.

I have no idea how much time has passed when I finally come to again. When I do, I'm surprised to discover I am not alone.

"Oh, good, you're awake," I hear a voice say.

There is a wolf in the cell next to me, I realize. I can't see him, but I can hear him. And there's something oddly comforting in knowing he's there.

"Are you alright?" he asks.

"I-- I'm not sure," I say.

"What happened to you?" he asks. "How did you wind up here?"

"I-- I don't know," I say.

"Think," he says. "Where are you from? How did you get here?"

I try to remember.

"I-- I'm not sure," I say again.

"Try," he says. "Think."

I try to remember why I'm here.

I try to remember where I'm from.

But try as I might, I can't.

It's all a blur.

And then, suddenly, it all comes flooding back to me. The murder of my pack. The way I sought refuge with a new pack only to be forced to accept a mate I didn't want. The fight with Impala.

"Did you remember something?" he asks.

I nod, and I start to sob.

"Everything is gone," I say.

"What do you mean?" he asks.

I start to sob again.

"Everything is gone," I say. "Everyone is dead. I am all alone."

"You are not alone," he says. "I'm here."

I want to say something, to acknowledge his kindness, but I can't. I am crying too hard.

"It's okay," he says, his voice calm and soothing. "It's going to be okay."

"How?" I ask. "We're trapped in a cage."

"True," he says. "But we're alive. And we have each other. We'll figure something out."

"I-- I don't know," I say.

"It's going to be okay," he replies. "I promise."

"I-- I'm sorry," I say. "I don't even know your name."

"I'm Ajax," he says.

"I'm Victoria," I say.

"I'm so glad to meet you, Victoria," he says. "It's been a long time since I've had company in here."

"How long have you been here?" I ask.

"I don't know," he says. "A while. Somewhere along the way, I lost track of the days."

I shudder. I can't stand the idea of being trapped in here that long.

"I don't know about you, but I'm starving," he says. "Do you think you could eat anything?"

I think about it for a minute.

"Maybe. Is there any food around here?"

"I don't know," he says, "but I'll look around and see what I can find."

"Thank you," I say.

I don't know why, but I feel safe with Ajax.

I have no idea how to explain it, but there is something about him that puts me at ease. I know it's dangerous to feel so at ease in a place like this-- a place where the unknown threatens to take over at any given moment—but I can't help myself.

It's not just that he's nice to me.

It's that he knows what to do, and he's not afraid of it.

Ajax is a wolf I can trust.

Or, at least, I think so. The truth is, I don't really know him at all.

"What about you?" I ask. "How did you wind up in here?"

Suddenly, Ajax goes quiet. For a moment, I think maybe he didn't hear me. I'm about to ask the question again when I hear his voice.

"I'm in jail for being a traitor to my pack."