CHAPTER 4

Maisie

“Stand guard outside,” Keith ordered Cassian, “I'll be back once night falls.” 

Keith was speaking in low tones, but my ears were listening intently to every sound. I was already thinking of how I would escape. I had done it nine years ago and I would certainly do it again. I was not scared to start over. It would be hard to do so with a kid, but it would not be impossible. 

My heart beat faster as I tried to piece a plan together in my head. 

“Are we taking them to the Silvermoon pack?” asked Cassian, a little louder than Keith. 

“Yes,” replied Keith, “we'll take the supercar. We shouldn't spend too much time.” 

“I have a bad feeling about this,” Cassian’s tone was so unbearably low that I had to strain my ears to listen, “the future Lu…” 

“Don't worry about it,” Keith said, “I'll take care of her.” 

Keith walked towards my son and me. He did not spare the child a glance, but he looked into my eyes and growled, “Don't get any funny ideas, Maisie. I'm not the forgiving type and you know that.” 

I said nothing, only stared at him blankly. 

I waited a long time after he left before I put my plan into action. 

“I need some medicine for my son,” I said to Cassian, who stood in a corner of the room like a statue. 

Did Keith not tell him to stand guard outside? I hated that he was taking his instructions so seriously. 

“The boy needs no medicine,” Cassian said stubbornly, his tone rigid like a robot. 

I sighed.

“I know things are awry between us right now but… but you know me Cassian,” I tried the emotional guilt trip, “we used to be tight back in high school and…” 

“I always told Keith that being with you would only put him in trouble,” Cassian's voice was like brain-freezing water. 

“You were nice to me,” I said because I had not forgotten the good memories of the pack that I still had. 

“Because you were my best friend's girlfriend,” he replied. 

I sighed. 

This was going to be a lot harder than I expected. 

“See just… the drug is in the other room,” I said to Cassian, “I'll just be there with my son and you can keep watch here. I'm not going anywhere. It's not like I have anywhere to go.” 

Cassian turned his head sharply to look at me. 

“You said that too,” he sounded a bit hurt, “and then you left.” 

I inhaled sharply. 

“I had no option then,” I told him, “you knew that.” 

You can take the drug,” he told me, “but remember that Keith has given me clear instructions to kill Lance if you try to escape.” 

I swallowed. 

“Of course.” 

I grabbed Lance's hand tightly and walked down the short hallway into a small room I shared with Lance. 

“Mommy?” 

I placed my finger on my lips to shush him. Then I walked stealthily to the window and peered down. We were on the second floor. It should not be so hard to climb down. 

I peered under Lance's bed for the carry-on bag that was always packed just in case we had to leave suddenly. I put it over my shoulders and signed to my son that we had to climb down. 

I taught Lance sign language as he grew up. Not because he had any speech defect but because I had imagined countless scenarios when we were in danger and making a single sound could cost us our lives. I was glad I was able to put it to good use now. 

Lance appeared reluctant, but the fear in my eyes must have impressed upon him that this was no time for questions. So I carried him on my back and climbed out the window, holding on tightly to the pipe drain outside the window. 

I slipped down the pipe and sighed in relief when my feet touched the ground. But my relief was short-lived because when I turned back I saw Cassian standing there, giving me the death stare. 

I immediately hugged my son as tightly as I could to my chest. If he were going to kill my son, he would have to kill me first. 

“I warned you, didn't I?” Cassian's harsh voice cut through me as I hugged my son tighter. 

“Please don't tell Keith,” I begged him, “I won't try to escape again.” 

I was lying of course but the next time I did, I would make sure not to get caught. 

****

“Cassian told me about your little stunt earlier,” Keith hissed as he opened the door of a standalone house in the large estate where his pack house was situated. 

I held onto Lance more closely and I did not miss the look of condensation with which Keith eyed me as I hugged my son. 

“It won't happen again,” I lied smoothly. 

“It better not,” the door creaked open as he opened it, “because my patience runs out very quickly.”

“Go in,” he ordered. 

I had no option, but to enter the small house with my son. Keith entered too and turned on the lights. 

“You'll stay here,” he said, “and unless I ask for you, you are not to leave this place.” 

I stared at him horrified. 

“I'm not to leave?” 

He smirked, “Don't worry. The house will be locked. I wouldn't want to tempt you with freedom.” 

My heart beat faster in my chest. He had brought me here to become his prisoner. I was worse than a mistress then. I was basically just a sex slave, locked away until he needed me to satisfy his sexual urges. A part of me shuddered at the idea and a part of me found it oddly and sickly pleasurable. 

“Keith, you can't be serious,” I said softly. 

Even when I was in the pack, I was not a slave. My family was free in the Silvermoon pack so why now? Why would he do this to me? Did the love and bond we once shared mean nothing to him now? 

It felt like he had taken a knife and stabbed it through my heart. 

“Keith…” I said softly, hoping he would not concentrate on all the things that had gone awry between us, “You can't just lock me away…” 

He grabbed my chin roughly before I could finish my sentence, “It turns out that I can.” 

He released me suddenly, causing me to trip and fall to the ground. He walked out of the house without sparing me a glance to see if I was hurt. 

I heard the door shut and the sound of keys followed. He was not joking. He was truly locking me up. 

I stood up and ran to the door, trying my best to pull it down with my body but it would not budge. 

“Let me out, Keith!” I screamed but there was no response. 

“Keith?” I called out to him but instead of a response, I heard the faint sound of a woman. 

The woman's voice sounded vaguely familiar so I quietened so I could hear her. 

“Who is there, husband?” The voice bothered me especially because she addressed Keith as ‘husband’. 

So he was married? 

My heart sank. 

What was I expecting? 

Some late-blossom romance where we found a way to forgive each other and move on? 

“It's a new slave I acquired, dearest,” I heard Keith's response, “it is nothing you have to trouble your head about, sweetheart.” 

The lovesick voice with which he spoke to her made me sick, and full of unexplained rage.