NEW FRIEND?

NIGHT FANGS PACK

LUMA

Tristan never came back.

Day after day for a month. He never came.

Did he find the documents? I never knew. The question came every morning when I woke in the dark, and every night when sleep wouldn't come.

If yes, why wasn't he letting me go? If no, why did he never come to tell me my fate?

Instead, his siblings came.

Rimena paid shielders to destroy my face. According to her, she hated seeing it. In other words, what my sister had done to her brother had destroyed him. And I, Luma, was going to pay for Ina's sins.

The slaps were endless. My lip split. My eye swelled shut. They laughed each time I fell.

Goddess be blessed that my pup's scent was faint. Only those attentive enough could detect it. I pressed my hand to my stomach in the dark, whispering promises I wasn't sure I could keep.

"I'll get you out of here," I breathed. "I swear it."

Just when I thought I'd seen everything in this prison, something else happened.

A shielder on duty came to me, trying to satisfy his needs. He was gentle at first, cooing soft words. When he understood I wasn't falling for his trick, a hot slap destabilized me. I hit my head. The pain was blinding white, sharp, endless.

But I swore one thing to myself.

I wasn't letting him have his way.

When he undressed, I didn't hesitate. I bit off his manhood.

He tried not to scream. He scrambled out, leaving a trail of blood on the stone floor.

I sat there, blood on my lips, heart pounding. I expected a death sentence. I expected them to drag me out and execute me in the morning.

Instead, no one ever spoke of it. Not the shielders. Not anyone else. He was quietly replaced.

The new shielders didn't come near me. That was reassuring. One less thing to worry about.

In the meantime, I'd look for a way out. Hopefully, my pup and I wouldn't die before then.

The starving. The beatings. They were too much. I feared they'd hurt my pup. Every kick to my ribs, every day without food I felt my body weakening. But my belly stayed safe. Hidden. Unknown.

For now, escape wasn't possible. I couldn't find a way out if I didn't even know the layout of the dungeon.

Like every other day, I lay on the floor. Sneezing. Waiting. The dust coated my clothes, my hair, my skin. I had stopped caring.

The door burst open. No warning.

Daniel's voice reached me first.

"So the filthy rogue has finally learned her place. You look seductive lying there," he teased.

I heard his brother's voice follow.

"Don't try it. She'll bite your dick off."

They both burst out laughing.

"I didn't know you were that fierce, dear sister-in-bond. You must be a phenomenon in bed."

More laughter. It echoed off the stone walls, bouncing around me like insects I couldn't swat away.

A cold realization hit me. They had sent the shielder. They didn't expect me to react that way. If I had agreed, would they have labeled me a tramp too?

I ignored them. Sat silently. Stopped tracing circles in the dust.

"The little rogue is deaf," Sanders interrupted.

More laughter.

Without another word, they dropped my food. White rice as usual, with a bit of blood in a dusty cup. My stomach growled a loud, embarrassing betrayal. They stood waiting, grinning. I didn't move.

After a moment, they left. Their footsteps faded.

I hurried toward the plate.

Then stopped dead.

The rice smelled of piss.

No wonder they waited. They wanted to see me humiliated. They wanted to watch me eat it anyway because I was starving.

My stomach growled again. Luna, I was so hungry. But eating this could harm my little one.

I went back to the wall. Leaned against it. Closed my eyes. My hand found my belly again.

"I won't let them hurt you," I whispered.

Then the cell door opened.

A shielder escorted in a witch. Blonde. Dressed in leaves. Her hair in beautiful braids. Probably in her thirties. She moved like water—silent, fluid, impossible to look away from.

Then darkness again as they left us in silence.

"You smell so good, wolf. Why are you in a cell if you're carrying pups?"

Pups?

"I don't know what you're saying." My voice was tight, barely a whisper.

She chuckled. In the dark, I saw her eyes glowing red. My heart pounded so loud I was sure she could hear it.

"I'm a witch, little wolf. I know when you're lying and when you're not."

"So what? You want to read my destiny now?" I hoped to steer her away from the subject. Away from my belly.

"I don't like it when people don't answer my questions. But this seems like a sore subject, so I'll drop it. What I don't understand is why don't you tell them you're pregnant? You might be freed."

I ignored her.

Reveal I'm pregnant? Would Tristan even care? No one cared. They'd probably use it against me. Chain me tighter. Hurt me more.

The witch chuckled again.

"Even if no one cares, you have to keep living. For these little ones."

I turned back to her, startled.

These little ones?

"You're right. I can read your thoughts. Your tragedy. Your fears."

Tears filled my eyes. I didn't want anyone reading my mind. It was the only private thing I had left.

"Don't read my mind anymore. Please. I've had enough drama these days."

Silence.

"As you wish, little one."

That broke me.

I covered my mouth and sobbed. More than I had ever sobbed before. My whole body shook. The witch stayed silent. She didn't touch me. Didn't offer empty comfort. She just stayed.

For that, I was grateful.

After a long time, I fell asleep.

*****

I woke to bile poured over me.

"Wake up, little rogue." A shielder's voice, bored and cruel. "Miss Rimena says after breakfast, you'll head to the field to harvest rice. You eat the pack's food and do nothing all day."

Finally, the window was opened. Pale light spilled in the first I'd seen in days.

I blinked against it. My eyes burned.

I searched for my cell mate. She was nowhere to be found.

Thinking she might have already gone to the field, I stood up on shaky legs.

Then I saw her. Hanging from the ceiling like a spider. Watching me with those red eyes.

"Good morning, Luma."

"I didn't tell you my name."

"I heard your story from the shielders last night. I have to admit I'm defeated. And sorry."

"You don't have to be sorry. Just stop reading my mind. Please."

"Done."

I nodded and headed for the door. My legs trembled. The light was too bright. But I kept moving.

I finally had a way out.

Could I have a chance?