Chapter 32

SYLVIA

“Except for what you need. Someone to love you.” I said as I watched him snarling into my face, more wolf than human.

“I don’t need love, you stupid bitch! Do you see my face? This is what so-called love did to me!” The sudden release on my clothes had me sprawling on the table, my face almost hitting his plate.

“This is how much my father loved us. He ruled us with an iron fist. We feared him and I learnt that fear was much more powerful than love.”

Drake pulled my face up by my hair, my neck bent so far back I could hardly breathe. I grabbed at his hand, trying to release his fingers.

“Then one day he was drunk and high on drugs. He raped my sister while my whore of a mother watched. I killed them, all three of them, ripped them to pieces when I transformed into my wolf. And I liked it.” He laughed, a monstrous sound. “Are you satisfied now, my curious little mouse? Have you heard enough? Are you still feeling sorry for me?”

He lifted me off the table. I gasped for air, holding on to the edge of the table to steady my trembling body.

I didn’t answer. There was no getting through to him while in this rage. He had no control over his wolf.

“I didn’t think so. All you she-wolves are liars.  The lot of you. Users.” he sneered at me. “Go back to your room. NOW!”

I jumped when he shouted. Mentally I scolded myself for showing fear. I wanted to be brave, show no fear, but he was right – fear was a powerful emotion. And he knew how to use it.

***

I sat on the hard bed, staring at the door and fearing he would come through it any second. With my heart beating out of my chest I remembered how he used to whip me for my so=called disobedience, my insolence when I said something I shouldn’t have. How could I bear it this time?

Oh, Kira, I need you! Help me! Wake up! Come to me, come to me now! I closed my eyes, concentrating as hard as I could. I hugged my knees to my chest, pulling the T-shirt over them. Please, please, save me. I am not strong enough.

“You are a warrior, Sylvia Deveraux.’’ I heard a soft voice in my ear. I swung around, looking for it. But it was gone like a whisper in the wind. Could it be her?

“Kira?”

No answer. I sighed and fell back on the bed. When will she come back to me? Or was all that happened only a dream? My heart ached for my mate. The shame I felt of what Drake had done to me was devastating and the guilt ate at me for what it was doing to Hunter. I could only imagine, remembering what Marcelle went through with Joffrey being hurt.

Tears welled up in my eyes when I think of them, my friends, my mate and I had no way of knowing if they were alright. And Nina, I missed her so much. The emotions overwhelmed me and the sobs wrenched out of my soul while I clutched the pillow.

I must have fallen asleep because when I opened my eyes the room was shrouded in darkness. Drake was absent, thank the gods. I went to the door, turning the handle - careful not to make a sound. It was locked. Of course. I didn’t sense him at all. I was alone in the cabin. Fumbling in the dark, I found the light switch.

There was no getting out of this room. No window in the bedroom. The window in the bathroom was so small I wouldn’t be able to get my head through it if I stood on the toilet. Frustrated I screamed at the top of my lungs. Maybe someone would hear me. I only succeeded in hurting my throat.

How I hated Drake! He was a monster, a psychotic werewolf. Then why do I feel sorry for him? Am I going mad? What was wrong with me? I loathed him, I feared him and I felt sorry for him. He was mad, cursed.

“He needs to be put down.” I told myself. “For all our sakes.”

“We will destroy him.” I heard a weak, small voice in my mind. Kira!

I shrieked: “Kira, you are alive!”

“Be quiet. He mustn’t know.” Her voice was almost non-existent.

The tears flowed from my eyes. I laughed and cried at the same time. She was alive. I had my wolf. But she was so weak. All this time she was hiding.

“No, not hiding. Hurt. Bad.” She sighed and was silent.

Then it hit me. All those years, the beatings, the abuse – she must have taken most of it so I could survive. My poor Kira! No more, I won’t let him hurt us anymore.

***

“Wake up.” Drake growled in my ear. He held a collar in his hand and my heart sank to the floor. A red LED light flickered on it and I recognized it. He had a remote control in his hand. If he felt like it, he would press it and the collar would send a shock through my body. It sickened me because I remembered how much it hurt.

I didn’t respond fast enough. Drake grabbed my wounded shoulder and ripped me off the bed. I cried out and he slapped me.

“You know what this is for, don’t you, little Mouse?” He snapped the collar onto my neck. “Try and run from me and I will press this button.” He waved the control in front of my face.  “We’re going for a stroll.” He laughed mockingly, the scar on his face twisted into an ugly grimace.

 “You can’t just lay around here. You will get fat and you know how I feel about that.” He grabbed hold of my cheeks with one hand, making my lips pout. “Say thank you Alpha.”

He goaded me. He knew I wouldn’t call him Alpha. I worried about Kira. I couldn’t let her take my pain. She was still too weak. Drake released my face, raising his eyebrows waiting for me to defy him.

“Thank you… Alpha.” I said, cringing inwardly.

“Well, well…” he purred. “Are you scared of me, little Mouse?” He narrowed his red eyes at me, stroking my cheek with one finger.

I looked down. Of course, I was terrified, but how was I supposed to answer that? He would want me to be scared. “Y-yes.” I answered.

“Yes, Alpha! You forget so soon?” he growled, fisting my hair and pulling my face closer so I could feel his breath on my cheek.

“Yes, Alpha.” I gritted my teeth. What game was he playing at?

He placed a rough kiss on my cheek.

“Come.” He pushed me out of the bedroom and we went to the front door of the cabin.

The morning air embraced me when we moved outside, fresh and heavy with the scent of the forest. I took a deep breath. The cabin reeked of Drake and lust. It felt good to be out.

He walked towards the trees and I followed. He was up to something and I feared it bore no good for me. Kira stayed silent in my mind, but I could feel her and it gave me some comfort.

We reached a clearing between the great oaks where he stopped abruptly and I almost bumped into him.

“Let’s play a game.” He grinned like the devil he was and I thought to myself today was the day he was going to kill me.

Looking down at the leaves at my feet, I remembered the strange dream I had at the villa – standing naked in an unknown forest. A shiver snaked up and down my spine. I felt cold.

“How fast can you run, little Mouse? I want to test the range of my device.” He said, his voice creepily cheerful.

I shook my head. “I – I don’t want to run.”

“Tsk. Tsk. As if you have a choice, Sylvia. Run.” He smacked me on my arm. “Tag. You’re it. Now fucking RUN!”

I sprinted away from him, my heart in my throat. “Kira, he’s going to shock us! Don’t you dare take the pain.” I screamed at her in my mind. My legs worked like pistons, carrying me away from Drake as fast as possible.

The jolt was sudden. It stopped me in my tracks as if I had hit a brick wall. My body jerked and spasmed violently on the leaf littered ground. No sound came from my open mouth. It only lasted a few seconds, but every muscle in my body hurt.

Drake stood over me, smirking. “You run fast. But not fast enough. Got you.” He laughed hysterically. “Get up.”

I couldn’t move. Couldn’t speak. He frowned at me.

“Come on. Don’t tell me you give up? Aren’t we having fun?”

Gasping like a fish out of water, I lay there looking up at the smirking bastard. He inclined his head, watching me. His booted foot nudged my ribs. I groaned.

“So weak. No wonder her Majesty doesn’t want you for her son. She practically begged me to come get you.” He mused, stroking his bearded chin.

My eyes popped open. What did he just say? The queen begged him to take me?

“Wha- what?” I managed to croak out. I struggled to get my legs working.

Drake scoffed, “Oh of course, you don’t know.” He lifted me up, dusting me off. “This was all her idea. To kidnap you, not our little game. She had it all planned out. Clever old bitch.”

Was he telling the truth? I couldn’t believe she would do this.

“No, you lie.” My throat hurt to speak.

I gave her a tracking device to put on Hunter’s car. How do you think I knew where you were?” He looked so smug I wished fervently to smack the expression from his hateful face.

“Took my time and then you came walking right into my arms. So to speak.” He laughed again, reminding me of a loon. “I feel like another round of tag. What do you say, little Mouse?”

“Please, I can’t run anymore.” I hated to beg, but my muscles were spasming.

“Oh well, if you can’t run, then I’ll have to find another way to entertain myself.” He growled and the flickering in his eyes made my stomach churn. I knew what he wanted.

“No, I – I will try to run.” I moved away from him. Falling over my own feet I landed on the ground again. I tried to crawl away from him. Anything, I would do anything not to let him rape me again.

He stood, shaking his head as he watched me. “Pathetic. You are such a pathetic little mouse. I could squash you with one of my feet.”

“Then why the fuck don’t you?” I screamed at him. “Put me out of my misery!” I was reckless, I didn’t care anymore. I wished he would kill me. It was enough. I’ve had enough.

Drake howl-laughed as he came towards me, grabbing hold of my legs and pulled me over the ground. The T-shirt shifted up, leaving me completely exposed to him.

“Your misery is what I live for, why would I kill you?”

I heard him pulling his pants down.

“No! I will not let you do this to me.” I kicked him hard. But it was like kicking a stone. He didn’t feel a thing.

I scratched, clawed at his face, trying to bite him. All the while he laughed.

“Tell me you love me, little Mouse. Tell me you feel sorry for me.” Drake lifted my hips towards him, he was fully erect. I screamed as if possessed.

He pressed the button again while he entered me. My body belonged to someone else. That body bucked and writhed like a puppet on a string. It wasn’t mine.