Chapter 6

When I woke up again I had no idea how long I had been out. This wasn’t helped by not having any windows. I could have been here hours or it could be days. My suspicion is that they do this purposefully to disorientate people.

My head throbs and my mouth and throat are dry and I struggle to breathe at first. Then I realise what woke me up. Someone else had entered the room and was looking over me.

A young man, not much older than myself is looking down at me with concern etched on his face. I’m not sure how to react at first.

“Hello” he said and just continued looking down at me.

“Can I help you?” I ask him. Only after I say it do I think about what a weird question that is coming from a girl strapped to a bed. The guy looks at me perplexed and then bursts out into laughter.

“Sorry “ he said calming down “but I’ve been doing this job for like a year and that’s the first time anyone has reacted by asking how they can help me”

I just glare at him “I am glad my misery is funny to you” I state.

“I’m sorry.” He says more sombrely now. “Here let me help you.” He comes forward and unstraps me from the bed and then helps me slowly sit up.

“Gently does it” he says “Between the sedatives and wolfsbane you’re going to be spinning for a while”. He hands me a glass of water. From my prone position I hadn’t seen that there was a trolley with him. On it is a plate of food and a water jug. I take the water he offered and chug it down.

“I am Aiden” he introduces himself “I am an orderly here, I will bring you meals and meds basically.” He says passing me the plate. I want to tell him to fuck off and where he can shove his food but my stomach does a lurch to tell me its been ages since we last ate and whatever is under the cover smells good. Removing the cover it’s roast beef and vegetables.

My stomach makes another noise at me to tell me that we are not passing this up. I wonder if it’s poisoned and then realise they just injected me with pure wolfsbane in front of me. Why would they need to hide poison in my food?

Aiden must be able to sense what I am thinking. “Do you want me to taste it first for you, prove it’s not poisoned” he offers with a cheeky grin

“No I am good thanks” I say picking up the fork and tucking in. I hate to admit it but it is good food.

“Some of their treatment methods may be unorthodox” Aiden says frowning “ but it’s still a 4 star place to stay, when they let you out of the room, there is a games room, a sauna, masseuses, tanning beds and a pool.”

Dropping his voice lower he check no one is by the door “I’m sorry for what you will go through I will help where I can” and before I can register he said it he starts walking to the door, a smile on his face telling me he will be back for the plate in a bit and locking the door behind him.

That last sentence sours the taste of the food in my mouth and makes me feel like what I have already eaten may come back up. Done with the food I put the plate down on the tray and try standing up.

I am like Bambi trying to walk on the ice. My legs go skittering off in two different directions and I land on the floor. Artemis laughs in my head. I wonder if I will ever get used to that. Graceful, she says. Are you sure you are part wolf?

Does your inner wolf have an off switch I ask her. She laughs again. No, you and me 24/7. Despite what I just said this fills me with a warmth as I try and get back up from the space on the floor where I have collapsed in a heap.

Back on the bed the reality of where I am starts to settle in. Everything is unknown now. Am I here to be treated? Will I just be talking to a psychiatrist and medicated? The way the welcome wagon has been rolled out for me so far gives me the distinct impression I am here for anything but my own health or to be treated for anything.

It only took ten minutes for me to get my answer, and I am instantly filled with regret for my curiosity. Two large men come in. They look like they could be related. Both in dark t shirts and jeans I would say they have distinct 'nightclub bouncer' vibes and they are not afraid to manhandle me.

They force me into a wheelchair and strap me in. No matter how much I thrash against them I am so tiny compared to these burley werewolves I must be like a doll to them. They ignore the fuss I make and wheel me down a long corridor past plain, white locked doors until we reach a big stainless steel one.

As they push me into this room my adrenaline and my fear spike. It’s a steel box and in the middle of the room is a surgical table. Not a good sign. Several nurses and doctors with masks and gowns on are stood around waiting for me by the looks of it.

The burley wolves take me from the chair and strap me onto the table. They strap my body and legs so I have no movement whatsoever and my screams or protest are falling on deaf ears.

“What the fuck are you doing!” I scram “Let me go, you can’t do this”

“Oh we can” says one of the masked doctors and I realise he is the man with the syringe from earlier. “We can and we will and you will be awake for every moment of it princess so settle down.” Between what he says, and the use of the term of endearment Atari is howling in protest in my head but she can’t so anything to help. She is still weak from healing me earlier.

“Oh Nova” he says leaning closer, I can now see the light glinting off the scalpel in his hand. “I’ve always wanted to work on a wolf like you and that stupid Alpha and his son had no clue he was just part of your mother’s plan to send you to me” I can’t see his mouth to see if he is smile but his voice is dripping with undisguised joy and enthusiasm.

“She’s been promising me a special wolf to play with for so long, I almost gave up hope” he said looming closer. I think I am going to have a heart attack, it is straining so hard in my chest and “but here you are princess. Let’s have some fun”