Chapter 4

I wake disorientated. For a moment, I forget where I am, and jump when I see the light streaming through the window. I sit as the events of yesterday rush through me. This was probably the best rest I had in years. 

Silently, I trudge to the hallway, fearing that this dream might come to an end if I dare to make a noise. A heavenly smell wafts to my nostrils as I climb down the stairs. 

"Good morning." 

I startle at the sound, frantically looking around for a threat. I search the foreign surroundings, but there isn't a menace nearby, only my mother with a dissolving smile on her angelic face.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."

My heart kicks at my rib cage with a familiar ferocity. I take small breaths to calm my erratic system. 

"It's fine." Even as the words escape my lips, I can see my mother recriminating herself for this. 

I offer her a small smile as I enter the kitchen. My father stares at me with concern painted across his features. I dismiss their gaze by observing the banquet in front of me.

Set on a square dark brown table is a vast selection of food. I've never seen such abundance before, and I can't contain my surprise. Back in the compound, breakfast was always oatmeal, it never changed.

My mouth waters just by looking at the plates. "You didn't need to do all of this." 

My mother sets a plate in front of the nearest chair and grins. I sit down, feeling their eyes on me the entire time. They're quick to mimic my actions.

My stomach protests with hunger after an entire day without nutrition. "May I?" I ask shyly, remembering Natalie's etiquette lessons. At the time, I didn't know why she even bothered, but now I'm grateful.

They encourage me to eat, and I don't waste a second longer. The rich flavor of fresh bread hits my tongue, and it's all I can do to not moan. My parents talk calmly between themselves as I absorb the new sensations. It's all so mundane that it's easy to pretend that I never left.

I can picture myself doing this every day. I can conjure the image of another me, the one that had the opportunity to grow in their love. I practically feel the happiness of the illusion. My eyes lower as I acknowledge all the things that were ripped away from me. 

"Audrey, the alphas would like to meet you. Would that be okay?" My father's deep voice brings me out of my reflection. 

I frown. "Alphas?"

"Our Alpha Henry is retiring as soon as Devin changes." 

I pounder over this new piece of information. Both the Alpha and the Warrior of a pack don't hold their post for very long. As they have to be the strongest, as soon as their first descendant reaches maturity and finally transforms into a wolf, they step down. 

Most changes occur around the age of eighteen, though, to some, it can take longer or less. It all depends on the metabolism and the stress they suffer. According to the hybrids, I'm an abomination. After all the torture I endured, I should have changed already.

If everything goes as expected, my father will work for another two years, then I'll have to take over. Even as the thought creeps into my overwhelmed brain, a sudden wave of fear crashes into me. I have no idea how to lead a pack, nor do I want to.  

For the remaining time, we eat in silence, even though I can practically hear the questions and doubts settling over them. I do my best to ignore it. I'm not ready to disclose what happened in that hideous compound, and they won't want to hear it. 

I'm told that we're supposed to leave in an hour, so I'm quickly ushered to a bathroom with a new set of clothes. My fingers shake as I grab onto the basin. I look into the little round mirror, and a shock runs through me. Is this how people see me? 

My face is incredibly pale from the years spent in isolation, my light brown hair falls like a sheet to the middle of my neck. It's unevenly cut and seems dirty. The only reason why the hybrids even bothered to cut it was to reveal my mark. My fingers brush against it, and bile rises into my mouth. The number 666 taunts me. They laughed as the needle punctured my skin, thought it was funny to brand me with the number of the devil.

I suppress these memories as hard as I can, instead I focus on my features. My eyes are dark and dull. If I stare long enough, I can see the figures dancing behind them.

I grab the hem of the fluffy sweatshirt and hesitantly pull it up. I trace the scars that paint the front of my body with delicate reverence, a perfect contrast with the hate they were created. Emotion chokes me as I stare at each one of them. I quickly dispose of the rest of the clothes. If I don't move, I might crumble right where I stand. 

I enter the long shower with awe. The water hits my battered skin, soothing all my aches, and ridding my body of the atrocities they committed. I turn around, letting the spray clean my back, and instantly regret it. I hiss as my knees buckle and I crash to the ground. 

An agonizing sound escapes my frail lips while the water keeps on hitting the open wounds, and it takes everything in me to turn it off. Breakfast quickly rushes into my mouth, but I push it right down. I close my eyes against the onslaught of pain, trying to count my breaths. In... out... in... out. And yet, the droplets of water still cling to me, ripping me off all my strength. 

"Audrey?" A knock on the door startles me. 

"Yes?" I retort, unevenly.

"Are you alright? We heard a scream."

"I'm fine." The lie stumbles out of my lips with ease. 

It takes me a minute to get up, and once I do, I scrub my body clean with vigor, to take away the dirt and forget the feeling of their hands, and the pain they created.

I dress in a hurry of motion, trying to escape my own traitorous thoughts. The clothes don't fit quite right, the shirt is too big and the trousers too tight. Still, it's an improvement from the ratty garments I was forced to wear. 

When I climb down the stairs, my parents are already waiting for me. I avoid eye contact to ensure they don't ask me any uncomfortable questions.

"We need to buy you some clothes," my mother tries to break the ice as we move to the car. 

I flash her a grin. "Do I look that ridiculous?" 

She smiles, and it stretches to her eyes. "Nothing compared to when we put you on a dress." 

My father chuckles as he starts to drive. "That was a sight to see."

I must look puzzled, for my mother turns on her seat to explain. "You hated it. You made a point to rip every last one of them."

My father laughs in earnest. "Once in the Alpha's party..."

They delve into their memories, telling me stories of a sneaky little girl. I find myself laughing along with them, even though I hardly remember anything from my life before the compound.

The conversation is easy and simple, and the time flies by us. We don't dare to talk about what came after, the darkness and the loneliness that plagued us. There will come a day when we'll have to expose our wounds, but not today. I don't think either us could handle it right now.

Similar to Tyler, we park the car on the outskirts of the forest and walk the rest of the way. I breathe in the sweet scent of the woods as we step deeper. My parents keep a close watch on me and our surroundings. I wonder if they fear as I do that if they close their eyes, I'll be gone. I wonder if that fear will ever dissipate, but it's too ingrained, it clings tight to me, making a cage out of my terrors.

Soon enough, we step into a clearing. The house stands afar and, in the distance, I see a man, making his way to us. His full lips stretch into a boyish smile as he reaches us.

"Two days without practice. Afraid of losing, Gabriel?" 

He's tanned, like most werewolves. His black hair is cut short to the scalp on the sides and voluminous at the center. His muscles strain against the fabric of his black shirt, revealing the effort he puts into his training. He's the typical Alpha.

My father snorts. "Hardly."

His piercing hazel eyes find mine and linger. His sharp jaw ticks as he stares at me. His beard is short but perfectly cut, he must waste a lot of time just to keep it this way.

I clench my fists as his gaze refuses to waver. Despite my discomfort, I keep eye contact. I won't show any weakness.

"I don't believe we've met. I'm Devin," his voice is sultry, seductive, and I'm instantly wary. He extends his hand, and I glare at him eerily. 

"Audrey," I reply uninterested. Since he's my future alpha, I begrudgingly grasp his hand in a firm shake.

I let go a second later, not enjoying the way he looks at me.

My father clears his throat. "Where's Henry? He said it was urgent."

Devin stiffens as he's brought back to reality. His eyes darken, and I know something terrible has happened. 

"Let's go inside," Devin responds, the good-natured boy replaced with the burden of his responsibilities as the future alpha. 

He leads us to a humble house with a lovely porch. I'd never say this was a pack house; everything is pristine and arranged in perfect order. Unlike Jason's, the rooms seem alive and welcoming.

We reach the office in seconds. A middle-aged man stands behind a desk, an inviting smile on his lips. 

I do a quick sweep of the room. A rectangular light brown table takes the spotlight with the usual twelve chairs lined up. This room resembles more a library than an office. The walls are lined up with shelves with hundreds of books, and the desk is filled with stacks of paper. 

"You must be Audrey. I'm Henry. Pleased to meet you," Henry's voice is low and soothing. He nods at me gently. "Have a seat."

I feel a pair of eyes burning me, and I grit my teeth. Why does he keep staring? Devin makes a point of sitting opposite me, analyzing me with such intensity that I refuse to glance back.

Henry sighs as he copies us, sitting on the top chair. "I have good news and bad news. Which do you want first?" 

He stares at my parents expectantly. 

"The Council decided on a date, haven't they?" My mother inquires in a harsh tone. It's enough to startle me. 

"Yes. In six days."

My father growls. "Why so soon?"

My mother's hand finds mine and squeezes. "Because they want to interrogate me," I answer flatly. 

"They believe you have information about their whereabouts," Devin continues, as his gaze scorches me. 

"That was the good news," Henry finishes as dread installs in the pit of my stomach. He gives my parents a pitying look. "You're both forbidden to attend."

My parents argue in earnest their voices reaching new highs. I can't help the relief that floods me, and that, of course, doesn't escape Devin's attentive search.

Henry holds up a hand to stop their protests. "This isn't up for discussion. The Council was unanimous on this matter. Devin and I will take her. She'll be protected."

My parents don't look convinced. "I'll be fine," I assure them.

Henry turns his dark eyes to me. "I'm sorry, Audrey, but you'll have to be tested." 

I hear voices on the background, but everything seems muffled. "For what?"

He gives me a comforting smile that does nothing to soothe my nerves. "Physical and medical. We need to know you're prepared to live within the pack."

I pale, the color rapidly leaves my face. They're going to pry, and everything will be exposed, all my errors, my scars, all those horrible things I've been through that I don't even dare to pronounce.

I fidget with the hem of my shirt. "When?"

"We'll start with the physical tomorrow," Devin is careful with the words as if he were approaching a wild animal. 

The room explodes into chaos.

"That's enough! You know it has to be done," Henry's voice looms around the room. At this moment, he shows why he detains his title.

I look to Devin and then him. They look nothing alike. Sometimes, if the alpha doesn't have children, he can choose another alpha's descendant to lead his pack. I make a note to ask about it later.

"We have another problem to discuss," Devin interrupts the heavy silence. He frowns. "Two werewolves were murdered." 

On cue, Henry pushes two pictures in front of us. A heavyweight settles on my chest.

"Where did you find them?" My voice is small, devoid of strength. 

Henry rubs his wrinkled forehead. "They were left in Jason's territory."

I stare at the familiar faces in the pictures. I don't even know their names, but they too suffered beneath the hybrids' hands. 

"Do you know them?" My mother asks softly. 

I look at the bodies more closely, trying to decipher their cause of death, but can't find any clues.

"Subject thirteen and seventeen." I point at each photo in turn. The temperature in the room drops a few degrees.

"Do you know their names?" My father asks. 

I shake my head. "I didn't talk much to the other prisoners, only when we fought."

I see my mother tense and realize that I let too much intel slip. If I continue, they will only get more hurt. 

The hybrids probably killed every last one of them and dropped the remains for the world to see. 

"Given yesterday's ambush, we need to take cautious measures. Audrey, you have to avoid all contact with humans until we figure out what they know about your escape. We'll have a few men guarding your house, and if you need any reenforcement, you call me."

When no one argues, he lets us go. Devin accompanies us to the door as I try to digest all the information thrown at me.

He and my father shake hands, and he offers my mother a sweet smile. His hand falls on my shoulder. I freeze. I glare at him, and I swear I could incinerate him right here, right now. He doesn't seem affected by my hostility.

He smirks. "Tomorrow at four. Don't be late."

I shrug, and his hand falls. "Wouldn't dream of it," I reply with venom.

I whirl on my feet before he can infuriate me any further. The problem with alphas is that they're used to get what they want without asking. He probably doesn't know the first thing about sacrifice, he had everything handed to him. 

My mother gives me a puzzled look but doesn't comment. We leave, and despite my tentatives, I can't shake those hazel eyes off my mind.