Two

ELENA 

Without my glasses, my vision became blurry, I couldn’t see a thing which meant I was stepped on several times as people made desperate attempts to get to the exit. Each time I tried to crawl in what I assume to be the entrance, I would step on again which forced me to crawl into a ball as a desperate last attempt to protect myself. 

I could hear people screaming around me, the growl and snarls had gotten more loud and something told me the creatures were more than one. It’s been a while and no one has stepped on me yet, so I tried again, using my hand to feel the floor for my glasses. 

After some minutes, my fingers finally crawled around my glasses and I picked it up, dusting off the sand. It was broken, meaning it was completely useless. Squinting my eyes, I crawled towards the desk lobby, hoping it would protect me from the creatures. 

More creatures poured into the lobby, the screams were getting louder as more bodies dropped down, I tried to mask out the snarls, I couldn’t. I felt trapped, I was terrified and I couldn’t even decide on what the worst part is, hearing and not seeing what was going on around you or knowing you are about to die soon? 

Suddenly, I felt exposed. My senses told me the table I was hiding under had been flung away. I hit my lips, praying it wasn’t true even though I felt the creature right in front of my face. The heavy breathing, the smell of blood mixed with French coffee… wait, that's weird. 

I opened my eyes, I couldn’t see well but I could see a faint red of glowing balls, long set of nails? No, it can't be. What I’m looking at is stronger, longer and definitely more sharper than nails. The next thing I knew, the creature growled directly in my face and a don broke out of my lips. 

My body quivered, I felt faint due to how scared I was. I brace myself, waiting for him to consume me the same way it had consumed others but for a long time, nothing happened. I couldn’t bring myself to open my eyes because I could still sense it still being in my face. While facing death, I thought of Mom, hoping I get to see her in heaven if God says that where I would hold up. 

I felt something sharp against my cheek, forcing my eyes open but I still couldn’t see clearly without my glasses. The sharp thing moved over my face, going lower until it stopped on the side of my face. I felt it tilted my face upward before moving it from side to side. 

Then the sharp object slips away and once again, I’m left to wonder what was going on. A few minutes passed and nothing happened except for the change in his breathing. Instead of the harsh pants that had been hitting my face, it was much softer now which doesn’t make sense because the coffee scent is stronger now, filling my senses the same way the creature had. 

“Bring her with the others, be gentle. She cannot see.” A Deep masculine voice ordered and suddenly, I was lifted off the ground. 

My hand searched for something to hold on to, I could feel a person’s face, hair, nose, mouth… I was attempting to explore further when a soft sneer interrupted the movement and before I knew it, I passed back to the person who smelled like coffee. 

Up till now I still haven’t figured out what the hell is going on, except that I know I’m not in close proximity with the creature. A man is carrying me, I know that for sure but who? The man stopped and a few seconds later, I was lowered into what seemed like a car seat. 

“Who the hell are you!” I demanded, fighting to get out. If there was one thing I’ve learned about kidnapping cases is never to allow them to take you to a second location. 

“How dare you speak to our Alpha that way?” Came an angry growl. 

I imagined the person inching forward to attack me and I flinched on impulse but it never made it to me. 

“I need my glasses… please.” I pleaded, even if death isn’t inevitable, at least let me get a glimpse of my surroundings before I go. “My Dad… where is he? Is he okay?” I began to claw frantically once I thought about him. 

“Easy there kitten.” The familiar voice breathed in my ear causing me to go still. “I do not know who your father is but if it’s any consolation, he may be among my prisoners.” 

Prisoners? What the hell is going on? What the hell is he talking about? 

“Prisoners? Why is he being arrested? My Dad isn’t a criminal! He would never hurt anyone, please let us go.” I pleaded, once I noticed the vehicle was moving. 

The man laughed like I just said a joke, his laughter puts me on edge. I didn’t like the sound of it, even though I don’t laugh often. I know a cheerful laughter when I hear one but he sounded off, something cold and without emotion. 

“You know I can’t see you right? I need my glasses to be able to, it broke when the creatures broke out of the lab and I was trying to escape. I found it though but it was broken and completely useless, I have to really squint my eyes before I can see anything…” I trailed off realizing I was rambling. 

I never ramble, in fact I don’t talk that much. But suddenly I couldn't seem to stop, the words kept pouring out of my mouth. 

“Creatures?” He inquired, his voice hard and sharp. “Go on, tell me about the bad creature that broke your glasses.”

The tone of mockery in his voice almost had me inching forward to smack him on the face but he would see it coming and I wouldn’t. That wasn’t a fair advantage so I swallowed my pride and looked away. My mind flashes back to minutes before the incident, my Dad inching me towards the entrance, people making a run for it towards the door, my mind drifting back to the growls. 

It didn’t sound like any animal I knew, could my Dad be lying? But why would he lie about something like that? It made no sense for him to be rested, he is not a criminal and I don’t care what anyone says! I know him better than anyone! 

The car abruptly stopped, knocking me forward but something stopped me or someone in this case. A short while later, I was carried out of the car in a bridal style, he walked a couple of steps before he finally stopped. 

“Get her a new pair of glasses.” He ordered someone. 

“Maybe you should put her with the rest, I don’t think the councils will be happy seeing you carrying a human into the pack. I’ll get her the glasses but put her with the others, until we figure out how to deal with them…”

“She’s mine!” He growled at the other person and once I heard that, I resumed struggling to get away from him. 

“I’m not yours and I’ll appreciate it if you keep your hands to yourself!” I hissed, crying out when I landed on the floor a second later. 

“Oops! Look at that, I decided to keep my hands to myself.” He retorted in a mocking voice. 

I don’t know who the heck this man is but I hate him! I hate him so much and as soon as I can see properly again, I’d make that known to me. Someone else grabbed my hand, leading me away in the opposite direction. I complied, having no choice but to do so. 

I heard a gate open and the next thing I knew, I was pushed inside so violently that once my hit collided with the ground, I passed out. I woke up from what seemed like hours later, my body was sore and my head was throbbing so bad. 

I looked around, everything seemed clear and bold, I touched my face, adjusting my glasses. Someone must have put it on me while I was out cold… wait? What the hell am I doing in a cell? I looked around, seeing unfamiliar faces in their own coat in the cells next to mine. 

“What’s going on?” I asked, my expression blank and confused. 

“Who said something?” A guard sneered as he came to view, standing a couple inches away from my cell. “I’m not going to ask again, who spoke without being spoken to?” 

No one answered but I could see the fear in their eyes, again I wondered what the hell was going on. How did I go from the lab to being imprisoned in a cell? Why are you locked up as if we were criminals? I had so many questions that were left unanswered. 

I opened my mouth to speak, but someone shook their head. I recognized Larry immediately. He shook his head again, telling me not to say anything but I can’t let that happen. If I didn’t say something, the guards were going to punish all of them. With the manic rage in his eyes, I could tell he would enjoy doing just that. 

“I spoke…” My voice quivered as his gaze swung in my direction. 

His mouth twisted in a smile as he advanced towards my cell, he opened it and dragged me out by my bun. I struggled, jerking my head away from his head. One thing I will never allow is someone touching my hair and I’ll die to stop anyone from doing it. 

“How dare you!” He swung at me, hitting me across the face. “You think humans are in charge here? You filthy disgusting pigs! Your kind is nothing but a disgrace to humanity!” 

I collapsed against the bars of my cell, my cheek throbbing from how hard he struck me. He pulled me towards me, using my hair before dragging me yet again. Blood spurted out from my mouth, an indication that I might have broken a tooth or something. 

He tried to hit me again, I flinched bracing myself for impact. When the hit never came, the familiar scent of coffee hit my nostril again, forcing me to look for the source. A surprise gasp slips out of my mouth when I recognize the man from earlier, the one who had whispered in my ear, carrying me into a car. 

Without blinking, something sharp extracted from his fingers and the next thing I knew, the guard was torn into two. I opened my mouth to scream but no sound escaped, unaware of my reaction or caring, he clicked the blood off his claws then retracted them, turning his full gaze on me. 

I took a step away from him, wishing I could become one with the iron bars on my cell. How could he tear someone apart from limp to limp without blinking? What kind of a monster he is? Everything clicked in my mind, the creature at the lab, it was him! My God! I don’t know how that’s possible, I just knew it was him!