7

Natalia pov

Furious was an understatement to what I was feeling. It wasn't enough that I was collared with a silver chain and left at the mercy of the elements but even in my unconscious state, someone still thought it was okay for me to be chained down. 

Knowing myself, if I wanted to escape, it was easy for me. I would have done it during the battle between the Devil Claw Wolfpack and the rogues. 

I had seen one or two openings I could have taken and escaped into the underbrush. I had no fear that I would be discovered by my scent as I had one or two tricks up my sleeves to hide my scent. 

I pushed my right leg and then pulled it back towards me which made the chain clang against each other loudly. I waited for a few minutes but nobody seemed to hear. 

I repeated the action, this time more furious and louder. A head poked into the section of the tent where I was from a makeshift doorway and I saw surprise on her face.

"Oh! I see you're awake. You should have called out for help instead of trying to disturb the peace of the tent with the chain."

She said in a strict voice and moved closer to me but I couldn't be bothered with her. I had something else on my mind and it was the stories I had heard earlier about Alpha Draco. 

She flicked a button and the room was illuminated by the light of a lamp. She moved closer to me and peered into my eyes. She helped me to a sitting position but never took the chain off my leg.

She prodded here and there while asking me questions on how I felt and once I had answered her, she left the room and I was on my own, hungry. 

The thought was barely out of my head when my stomach made a loud rumbling sound. I clutched at it and was looking around while deliberating if I should call for help like the woman earlier had suggested when it made another furious growl. 

"Hello. I heard you are awake. The nurse informed me. Here's your meal." 

I heard beside me and jerked up. I had given up the thought of calling out since time was far gone and everyone else was probably asleep due to the long journey they had to undertake the next day. 

So I resorted to sitting with my head down while counting the hours till daybreak so I would be released and I may probably have something to eat. 

Those were the thoughts that occupied my mind as I sat on the bed and didn't make me know when someone came close to my bed. 

"Oh! I'm sorry. I didn't know you were trying to catch some rest." 

My server said kindly as she placed a tray on the bed before me and opened the dishes on it. My mouth watered as I smelt a delicious meal of potatoes, bacon and bread. 

"I don't know what you would have loved to eat, so I brought this when I was told you were awake." 

She explained to me as she arranged the tray so I would be able to reach it without difficulty. 

I devoured those since I was famished and when I was done, she placed a bowl of stew on the tray and handed me a spoon. 

"Go on, eat it. The soup would help you replenish your lost energy faster and trust me,by tomorrow, you will be as good as new. No one would believe you collapsed the previous night."

The way she spoke made me happy that someone cared for me amongst these strange people. Even if she was doing it because she was forced to, the fact that she was trying to be natural about it was enough for me. 

Bolstered by her words, I dipped the spoon into the soup and began to eat. It was a bit spicy but still, I tried to polish it off. After eating, I drank some water and tried to contain the belch that was about to erupt from my throat. 

Grinning satisfactorily, she packed the plates and to my surprise, she didn't leave. Instead, she sat down towards the lower part of the bed and I looked at her with my brows furrowed. 

"No offence. I'm Annie. I'm one of the maids at the pack house. We may later meet or not but I just want to take care of you. 

You can accompany me for the rest of the journey back home as much as Beta Heimdall allows."

She said and without waiting for a reply, she jumped off the bed, picked up the tray she had come in with and was about to rush out without waiting for a reply to what she had said. 

"What's the time now? Is it still far before morning comes?"

I didn't want her to leave without saying something so I asked her what time it was but the reply I got wasn't the answer nor voice I wanted to hear at that moment. 

"So, you would know how to plan your escape, wouldn't it?"

I heard Beta Heimdall's voice. Myhead snapped to the side and I came face to face with his chilly and impenetrable gaze but I had no reason to back down. 

He stood just inches away from the makeshift door wearing a black coat over black combat pants and a black tee. The boots on his feet glistened where the silver buckles were installed and he looked every inch the Grim Reaper that he was. 

I could see Annie as she sped away and was thankful to her in my heart. I wondered what could have happened to both of us if Beta Heimdall had caught her speaking to me. 

I held his gaze with mine as I waited to listen to whatever torture he had designed for me this time around. 

"I take it that the stunt you pulled last night was for a reason but I wouldn't be fooled by you. 

I see you're already trying to get acquainted with those who you would eventually belong with. Since you would become one, I might as well hasten the process. 

Beginning from when we move tomorrow, you would start travelling with the maids and you had better get accustomed to the way things are done here else, you would find yourself a sorry mess when we return to the pack house at Devil Claw Wolfpack."