Chapter 16

Angie's POV

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“This one,” the ogre of a man points at me and the girl next to me screams thinking it’s her they’re taking. I squeeze my eyes shut praying that it’s not me they’ve come for. Any girl who has left this room hasn’t returned. I hear the cell door creak open and brace myself. His big hand wraps easily around my wrist and he yanks me up. “Time to go little one.” He drags me out of the cell as I scream and the other girls try to pull me back to them.

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“Please, just let us go!” I yell as he pulls me up under his arm and carries me like a sack of potatoes down the long hallway. He opens what looks like a garage door and the bright sun nearly blinds me after being locked in the darkness for days. I kick and scream as he carries me, and I manage to wiggle myself out of his grip and he drops me to the ground. Quickly I look around and see forest all around us. I jump up and in bare feet I start to run towards the trees; the ogre following right behind me. I run as fast as I can and I think I might be able to escape him when a massive wolf jumps in front of me.

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I freeze.

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The look on its face is terrifying, like it wants to rip me to pieces. It almost looks human, and its eyes are blazing green. They remind me of Leo’s. The thing is snarling like something not of this world. I turn back and see the big man right behind me now.

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“Best not move little girlie. That wolf looks like it needs a snack.” He chuckles and then grips the back of my neck. He slides a rope around my waist and ties it tight. I barely even notice with the beast standing in front of me.

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“Enough fucking around Kal. I need her prepped for Eric.”

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I watch as the animal before me starts to smile and then, its fur begins to recede and its bones crack and contort. I watch as its body transforms, and now a man is standing before me. He’s easily six feet tall, muscular, and covered in tattoos, with red hair and his bright green eyes slowly fade to brown. It’s impossible to miss that he is completely naked.

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I can’t even find words before I’m pulled by the rope away from the laughing creature and back toward a large stone castle.

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“Wh-what was that? What is this place?” I ask as I try and tug the rope off of me, but every time I try, my captor just yanks the rope and it cinches even tighter around me. “Where are you taking me?” I plead for answers, but I’m ignored. The next thing I know I’m being pulled through a massive doorway into what looks like a castle. The maids and servants look at me with pity as I’m dragged up a large stone staircase.

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“Where are you taking me!!!” I scream, but the asshole doesn’t answer me. We get to the top of the stairs and he pulls me in front of him and pushes me toward the hall. Two men stand on either side of a wooden door, they are dressed in all black and don’t even bother looking at me as the door opens and I’m pushed through. I hear one of them comment something about the king’s new pet and I start to feel sick.

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“Go shower and put this on.”

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“Fuck you.” I have no intentions of doing anything this man tells me.

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“I wasn’t asking you.” He comes at me quickly, picks me up, and drops me in the shower stall. When the cold water hits me I scream and attempt to jump out, but he is standing like a wall in front of me.

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“Get cleaned up and stop giving me shit. Do you really think I want to be doing this?” He shouts at me and I shout right back.

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“You assholes kidnapped me!” He turns the water warmer and rolls his eyes.

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“That wasn’t my decision. I do what I’m told. Now, get cleaned up and put on the clothes that are on the counter. When you’re done come out. Make it quick, I don’t have all fucking day.”

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He leaves me alone and I know there isn’t any way to get out. I decide to do what he says and hope that I can find another opportunity to escape.

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When I’m done I put on the clothes. There’s underwear, a t-shirt, a pair of leggings and a simple sweater. All black. I hesitantly leave the bathroom and the man is sitting on the bed flipping through his phone. I look at him quietly for a moment, and even though he’s huge, he looks like a normal guy. He seems less menacing. I move into the room so that he sees me and he looks up.

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“Okay, was that so hard?” He asks and I just glare at him. “I’m not going to hurt you. What’s your name?”

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“Fuck off,” I reply.

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He grunts and then walks to the corner of the room. That’s when I see it for the first time. In the far corner, there is a small bed and a desk all surrounded by what looks like a bird cage. Bars come up from the floor and curve at the top forming a dome. There is a door and a padlock on the outside.

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“Let’s go.” He walks over and swings the door open.

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“You can’t be serious. There is no way I’m getting in that.” I back away from him, scanning for another way out and my heart starts to pound in my chest.

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“I’m not playing games. Get in, now!” he screams and I make a run for the big oak doors. I fling them open but the guards standing outside grab me and toss me right into the arms of the bastard. He picks me up and tosses me on the little bed, quickly exiting the little cage and he locks me in.

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“You asshole. You can’t keep me in here! Let me out!!” I grip the bars and watch as the man walks to the door.

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“I'm following orders. When Alpha comes back I suggest you do everything he says. He’s an evil man and won’t hesitate to kill you if you give him any trouble. Do you understand?”

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He doesn’t wait for me to answer, he leaves quickly, and I’m left alone in a cavernous room that looks like it belongs to a king, and I’m locked in the corner like one of his possessions. I realize I may never see my family again, or my friends. I think about Leo too and start to cry.

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Leo's POV

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“How long have you known her?” Elise asks as she holds my hand, trying to get me to calm down.

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“I met her during one of those drills that they do in school, you know like if there was an active threat or shooter. I was in the bathroom when the drill started and by the time I got out, everyone was already in their safe rooms. I banged on one of the doors and when the teacher opened it a bunch of the kids started laughing. I heard one of the girls say that if it were a real drill it would be better if they just kept me locked out so only the freak would get killed, and that no one would miss me anyway.”

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“My God, Leo. What a horrible thing for someone to say.”

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“Angie thought so too. She walked right up to that girl and punched her in the face. Angie told her what a piece of shit she was and then came over by me and introduced herself. She sat next to me during the entire drill, and honestly never left my side after that. Angie looked out for me when no one else would.” As I think about her, and the photos that I saw of her this afternoon I feel sick to my stomach.

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“Elise, I have to find her. I can’t let anything happen to her. I just can’t. Somehow this is all my fault.” Elise looks me in the eyes and brushes away a tear that slips down my cheek.

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“Leo, none of this is your fault. Do you hear me? We’ll find her. I swear to you we will. Your mother too. We need to start by having you reach out to your wolf. We can start right now if you want.”

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“I don’t know how to. The voice usually talks to me, not the other way around.” I say and Elise smiles.

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“That’s the problem, Leo. To acknowledge him means that you accept him as your equal. I want you to close your eyes and hold my hands. Okay?” I nod and do as she asks. “Now, take a few deep breaths and reach out to him.”

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“Outloud?” I ask and she squeezes my hand.

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“Whatever you’re comfortable with.”

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I sit quietly for a moment and then, in my head, I try.

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'Hello? A-Are you there? It’s me, Leo.'

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I wait but there is no response so I try again.

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'Please, if you are in there say something. I - I’m sorry I didn’t know. I thought I was losing my mind. I didn’t understand.'

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I wait in silence for a few more minutes and then open my eyes, seeing Elise looking at me with anticipation.

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“Nothing. Maybe he doesn’t want to be my wolf. Maybe I ignored him for too long, or maybe he doesn’t want to be paired with me.”

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Elise shakes her head and taps her finger to her chin. “No, our wolves don’t think like that. Maybe he’s ignoring you because you ignored him for so long. Giving you a taste of your own medicine.”

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'Doesn’t feel good does it, Leo?'

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'You’re there. (Leo)'

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'Of course, I am. I have told you we are one. Does this mean you are finally acknowledging me?'

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'Yes, I acknowledge you.' (Leo)

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'Leo, I would like to formally introduce myself. My name is Gideon. I am going to bond us together if you are ready.'

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“Leo, is he talking to you?” Elise is tapping my arm and I didn’t even notice.

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“Yeah, he said he wants to bond us. What does that mean? I’m freaking out a little bit here.” My leg starts to bounce and she places her hand on it gently.

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“What’s his name?” She asks, staring deep into my eyes as if she is trying to find him inside them.

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“Gideon.”

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“Gideon, it’s so wonderful to finally meet you. Lily is beside herself with excitement.” She says, and I can feel a rush of energy swell in my chest and warmth begins to creep over me, from my head down to my toes. My mind gets cloudy for a moment and then with a burst, I can see things clearer than I ever have and I can feel another presence inside me, another half of me that makes me whole. The emptiness that I have carried is gone and I feel as though I could do anything. It’s a powerful feeling, and as the energy buzzes through me Gideon is talking to me.

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'Leo, you and I are bound together in this life and the next. We are warriors and we will dedicate our life to doing what is right for our people. It is how it has always been and how it shall always be. I will take things slow, but I am proud to be your wolf. I accept you Leo as my human side and together we shall take back our kingdom.'

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For the first time in my entire life, I feel strong. I feel as though I belong to something. I look up at Elise and she has tears in her eyes.

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“There is no greater feeling than to come together as one with your wolf.” She says. “With him, you are never alone, but we need to teach you how to work together. I’m so happy for you Leo, happy that you now know who you are. What you are.”

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We talk for a long time, and she explains what it is like to grow up in a pack, and I realize how much I missed out on. Most kids get their wolves when they are ten years old. Gideon explains to me that he didn’t make himself known because of my circumstances. He thought it would be easier to wait until I was older than try and do that while I was in foster care. That the humans wouldn't understand and things would have been far worse.

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Elise climbs into bed and I follow her. She pulls me close to her and gently runs her fingers through my hair as I lay on her. I can feel Gideon’s emotions, he is content as she holds us. But, I can’t stop thinking about Angie, and my mother.

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'We will find them, Leo. I swear to you we will.'