Chapter 4: Back into a Cage

“Show yourself!” Denise yelled, shifting to her human form. Beside her was a deer laying in a pool of blood. Got fooled by her mate’s illusions. 

          A simple laugh echoed in her head, ‘We’ll be playing, Darling.’ 

          In aggravation, she shifted again to her dark wolf. ‘You better hide well,’

          It was past midnight and there were two wolves playing hide and seek in the deep forest. But Denise doesn’t have the intention to seriously join Cole’s foolish game, she needs to run away from that guy. Even though he is her mate, she rather lives alone than be with a man like him. Realizing he has this ability to manipulate illusions just like what he did to her a while ago. 

          Her plans and ambitions will crumble like a wrecked wall if she doesn’t find a way to fix this unexpected mess. After several steps around the tricky forest, she purposely let some of her furs cling to shrubs and bushes as she walks. Spreading her scent everywhere, planning to confuse Cole about her whereabouts. 

          Shifting back to her human form, she mind-linked Cole, ‘Where are you hiding?’

 

          Her feet led her to a crystal lake, her lips twitched upon seeing herself on clear water. All over her body was covered in bruises and wounds bleeding, with the bandages taken off her when she shifts. 

          Taking in a deep breath as she soaked herself in the lake. Groaning in smarting pain under the water where no one could hear her. She stayed a couple of minutes holding her breath submerged under the lake until she decided to get off the water.

          The cold air sent goosebumps on her naked body, she looked for something to wear but ended up freezing without any to cover. Relying on her long, wet hair to drop freely and serve as a veil on her exposed parts.

          They’re still in the human world, it is not that normal for someone to see a fully naked woman walking out of the forest. They’ll think of a crime that had been executed… But wait, that’s exactly what happened. Cole kidnapped her and forced her to do that ‘thing’ with him!

“Gotcha, silly Blueberry!” a man’s alluring voice popped on her side making Denise yammer in shock. “Planning to escape, huh? You know you can’t.” Clutching her waist, he pulled her closer to him. 

         With her strength left, Denise pushed him away.

          More like she’s electrocuted the moment their naked body touched. Noticing her uneasiness, Cole tugged her closer to him. Raising her chin to align meet his, “You’re not leaving me, Denise Soleil.” 

         

          Meeting his gaze, a flash of sincerity was seen in his chocolate brown eyes. Nothing to say as if her mouth would automatically zipper every time he stares at her, locking her head not to look back or side. Just on him, like puzzle pieces leading to mysteries behind those enchanting eyes. With the sparks and unexplainable feeling every time they touch, this guy was undeniably her mate.

          Denise mentally shook her head, realizing those things. The sparks and the butterflies on the stomach were some of the common mate links but with her, there’s nothing more special.

          Plain knowledge of what and who her mate is, was what her heart and mind feel and accept. Doesn’t feel the urge and longing to stay by his side, she'd rather step backward, turn away, and leave him behind.

“I-I Denise Soleil Shadowstone, r-reject you as my mate,” she uttered candidly, lowering her head. 

          Cole’s eyes widened in disbelief, “Repeat! Say it again!” Gentle clasps turn into possessive ones, waking up the dominant Alpha in him. “How dare y—”

“I reject you,” she firmly said. Facing him with a full decision and denial of their mate bond makes Cole rage furiously in anger. Grasping tightly on her shoulders, he pinned her to a tree.

          During their staring contest, Denise saw how Cole’s eyes turned red. Then out of a sudden, her eyelids closed like its intentionally shut down by him. The last she felt was her own body collapsing, held by those cold arms of his.     

***** 

         Tears rolled down her eyes as she blinked twice, still under his captivity. Lying numb on the same velvet bed and wide luxurious room inside the mansion. The sun was high up in the sky, it was obviously past twelve in the morning. 

         Hating herself, her lame plan and actions last night that brought her back into this cage. Denise never cried this way before except for that incident years ago. Since that night, she swore she would never let herself weep again in pain or even be left behind by someone who matters to her the most, and even in her ten years in the academy, despite their ruthless games and training, she still managed to stand up and never shed any tears inside that tormenting place.

          Giving up is not an option for her. However…

          But in this case, why does it seem easy for her to cry and look so weak? In front of her mate, she’s just a feeble and bland girl. A typical she-wolf who isn’t able to protect and defend herself.

          ‘‘This shouldn’t be the end for me,’’ she muttered. Keeping an eye on the two birds that seem like flirting on the branch of a tree. ‘Having him near me does nothing good. I’m to carry a pack and a responsibility, I don’t need someone to ravage the plans and steps I’ve been building to my aim.’ 

“Eat,” a voice in full authority commanded her as if she were a dog to him. Cole was holding a tray stuffed with a bowl of oats and topped with berries, on the side was a tall glass of milk. 

          Staring at the food offered by him, Denise let out a sarcastic smile paint her face. “You added something in there, am I right?” she calmly said, referring to the bowl of oats.

“You’re that observant, bet I can’t feed you with this.” He simply scooped a portion from the bowl and directed it to his mouth. “Lupibia, a powder that came from the Baia tree. It may smell like the wolfsbane but its poisons weren’t that fatal for a high-ranked wolf like you.”

          Baia tree was a regular tree in Claveria Haltera, but only a few were aware of its bark that can be converted to a lethal powder that can kill an ordinary wolf. It has the same odor as the wolfsbane that can be distinguished by someone who has learned the ability to completely repel once they notice the strange aroma. Lupibia powder was a painkiller in disguise as a poison.

“I know, Lupibia is a painkiller and an aphrodisiac at the same time. Eat and you’ll feel better but it drives hormones to go crazy. You really do have a dirty mind,” Denise shuddered, looking at him in disgust. 

“Genius,” he complimented. Amazed at how she knew the hidden side-effect of the powder he sprinkled on the food. Smiling, he took in another scoop and swallowed it directly. “This is the only food I’ll give to you. There are two choices, to eat or not.” Putting down the tray beside her, leaving Denise with a cheeky grin on his face.

          She sighed as the doors shut, he had finally left. Getting up on the bed, she notices the silky fabric wrapped around her body like a dress. It’s in plain colors and minimal designs yet it fits her taste in clothing. She starts to walk around but still the wounds and bruises around her body twinge as she adds more steps.

          Enduring the stinging pain, Denise opened a door that she assumes was the bathroom. With her guess, it is truly the bathroom with a bathtub and a shower area, also a toilet, and a large mirror mounted on the wall.

 “Terrible,” was the only word that came out of her mouth as she undresses in front of the mirror. Ignoring her body like a mummy full of patches and gauze, she walks towards the shower. Allowing the warm water to flow down her as she gently takes off every patch of adhesive bandages from her wounds. 

          When she successfully removed each dressing that covered her wounds, blood starts to come out again, making the clear water on the floor flow bloody red. Denise raised her chin, facing the shower, and closed her eyes, listening to the music of the water droplets. 

          Suddenly, her headaches were exposed to cold temperatures amidst the warm waters causing her to feel like spinning and that could faint any minute by now. She tried to find support while she can still stand but there is nothing to grip on the shower walls. With her blurry vision and the false sense of motion, she collapsed lying on the bathroom floor. Continues water flowing that washes off her wounds still bleeding.

“Let me in! Denise! Are you in there! Do not touch me, Freak. Denise! Answer me! It is me, Sydney!” 

          Before she could close her eyes, that familiar voice yelled behind the doors, a reason for her to let out a smile of hope.