Chapter 6: Make your wish come true

Scarlett moaned from pain as she was carried into the pack's clinic. Tears stung her eyes, but she stubbornly held them back.

Her left arm was misshapen, bent at an eerie angle. She had fallen heavily on it, snapping the bone and twisting it.

She looked pale, extremely pale. She gritted her teeth as two guards lifted her and carefully placed her on the bed. The clinic smelled like herbs and local roots.

"Get the healer." Jordan said beside her. She recognized him, even though his face had been hidden behind a mask. He was one of the men who gave her father the crate filled with gold coins.

As one of the clinic nurses rushed out to get the healer, Jordan crouched beside her.

"Do you have a death wish?" He asked calmly. "You know it's impossible for you to escape, yet you tried to."

Scarlett ignored him, breathing through clenched teeth. The pain was getting unbearable.

"Look, I know you're in pain, and you're scared." Jordan continued. "But you don't have to be. I'm just trying to help."

"Help?" Scarlett repeated and scoffed. Her voice showed she was in a lot of pain.

"Believe it or not, I am."

"That's funny coming from you." She retorted. "You hate me just as much as everyone else does."

Jordan chuckled and shook his head. "You'd be surprised."

The healer rushed in then, a plus size woman with kind brown eyes. She took one look at Scarlett and tsked.

"Are you trying to kill yourself, child?" Her voice sounded warm and friendly, but Scarlett knew better.

"I think the bone is completely broken, Hope." Jordan said. "Can you heal it?"

"I think I can." Hope said as she examined Scarlett's arm. "But it will be a painful process."

She looked at Scarlett and smiled warmly. "You'll have to be strong, child."

"My name is Scarlett." Scarlett muttered. She didn't understand why these people were being strangely nice, and why the fat healer kept addressing her as 'child'.

"Okay, Scarlett." Hope nodded. "I will give you a little anesthesia now, to help with the pain."

"Do what you can." Jordan said. "The Alpha is already on his way."

When Scarlett heard that, fear seized her. "No, please. Don't call him."

"You tried to escape, Scarlett." Jordan reprimanded her. "You know you're wedded to Alpha Dylan, even though it isn't official yet. He needs to be here."

He was still talking when the door to the room opened suddenly.

Scarlett looked up, her eyes instantly finding Dylan. The room suddenly became too small. His aura was choking, like he carried the flames of hell with him, setting everything he touched ablaze.

When his gaze landed on her, his handsome face hardened.

"What happened here?" He asked in a cold, unfeeling voice.

Hope turned around and bowed. "Alpha. Your bride's arm is severely injured. I was just about to begin treatment."

"She tried to escape from the room." Jordan explained. "But she fell and snapped her arm."

Dylan walked forward, never taking his eyes off Scarlett. He could see she was in pain, with how pale she looked, and with the way her brows knitted in discomfort.

He looked down at her arm. It was indeed broken. Her elbow looked disfigured, yet he didn't feel the slightest twinge of pity for her.

"Did you really think you could escape?" He asked. "How hard is it for you to understand that you belong to me now?"

"I belong to no one." Scarlett retorted. Her voice shook with pain as she glared at him. "And I will not stop trying to escape until I get away from you. Lock me in the dungeons or the highest tower, I will not rest until I am free."

Beside her, Jordan and Hope pleaded silently with their eyes. No one challenged the Alpha and got away with it. It was the uttermost disrespect.

Dylan smiled suddenly, an eerie lift of his lips that made him all the more terrifying.

"How about we make your wish come true?" He said. "Jordan, take her into the dungeon and chain her. I'd like to see how she would escape."

"Alpha, please forgive her." Hope started to beg. "She's speaking from a place of pain and hurt..."

"Would you like to join her, Hope?" Dylan asked sharply.

Hope wisely shut her mouth and stepped back. As for Jordan, he hesitated a bit too long.

"Dylan, think about this." He pleaded. "At least let Hope give her something to ease the pain."

"Let her suffer the pain." Dylan replied. He looked at Scarlett and the cold smile returned. "You want to show how tough you are? Now’s your chance."

Scarlett couldn't hold her tears anymore. They spilled over her cheeks, but her eyes remained fierce. She would never beg.

"Screw you." She whispered.

Seconds later, two guards entered the clinic. They grabbed her, pulled her off the bed and dragged her towards the dungeons.

Some of the pack members watched as she was taken away. A few looked on indifferently, while others had looks of pity on their faces.

Jordan and Hope couldn't do anything, not when Scarlett had openly disrespected Dylan.

"You know she might die from the pain." Jordan said. "Humans are not as strong as we are. They can't withstand such pain."

"Maybe she should have thought of that before defying me." Dylan simply replied. "She tried to escape. Do I need to remind you what the punishment for that is?"

Jordan sighed and shook his head. "No, Alpha."

"Good. Call off the hunt. We'll go another day."

Dylan turned and walked away. Deep down, a part of him started to feel remorse for how he was treating Scarlett, but the heartless part of him overcame the feeling.

He needed to teach her a hard lesson so she wouldn't cross him ever again.

...

Scarlett remained in the dungeon for the rest of the day. No food. No water. And no one was allowed to see her.

The dungeon was cold, filthy and smelled like death. Decayed skulls were scattered around. Dried blood and paint peeled off the walls, while the metal bars were rusted and coated with what looked like rotted flesh.

Scarlett lay curled in a tight ball, still in her uncomfortable dress, her injured arm cradled beside her. Her eyes were shut, but she was wide awake.

She cried silently, cursing Dylan for putting her through this pain. For hours, she lay there until the pain in her arm became a part of her.

By nightfall, she had begun to shiver. Her body burned with a high fever. She could barely open her eyes, barely move, barely speak. Swallowing hurt like hell, and her tongue felt like paper.

The faint sound of a gate opening reached her, and she heard approaching footsteps. She managed to pry her eyes open, unable to cry out for help.

Jordan, who had sneaked into the dungeon to give her some food and water, stopped at the gate of her cell.

"Scarlett?" He called her softly. But when she didn't respond, he panicked.

He lowered the tray he held and opened the gate, crouching beside her. When he felt how hot she was, he became worried.

Because if something wasn't done, she wouldn't survive the night.