*Axel*
The cool tiled ground is the only thing that can leeche the pain and aches from my body as I lie as still as I can. Adriana stopped keeping track of how long it has been, and I’ve stopped noticing the rising and the falling of the sun. Each one just brings more torture and suffering for not only me but Adriana, whom they have taken to using against me.
She lies on her back, just out of reach of me, her chest rising and falling in the dim moonlight. I try to convince my arm to reach out and check on her, but they no longer respond to my commands. They have long been numb and useless. It took Angus’ science team a long time to stock up their stolen supply of the poison they used on me when I first arrived.
Today was the second time they shot me up with dose after dose trying to force the Ultima out. I would explain to them they are wasting their efforts, that the Ultima only awakens on the blue moon, but they don’t seem
*Maggie* Billy grumbles next to me as he stokes the fire, trying to avoid the gaze of Beatrice. He is less than thrilled to have found himself mated not only to a wolf but one who is younger by several years and seemingly a little more clingy. Beatrice had stitched him up and cared for him for the past week, but he hilariously seems to be afraid of her. Billy forces her to maintain a certain distance from him at all times as he tries to decide what he wants to do about being mated when he was resolved to never mate at all. I can understand his reservations, though. When Axel explained the mate bond to me, it was frightening. From an outside view, it sounds like love if forced. I would say that is akin to an arranged marriage. You are destined to be with this person you do not know and know nothing about and you have no say in the matter. The only difference is that love almost always soon follows if it does not precede
It’s easy to forget just how stunning nature is when you are in it or lost in your head. When I am lost in thought, it’s like everything fades to gray and dulls so that my thoughts can take precedence. For weeks I have gone without smelling the forest while literally being in the middle of the forest. I was taking it for granted, just like I did with Axel. Why is it that knowledge always comes after a hard lesson? Life would be so much more manageable if we received it before we ventured out to do our own thing. Then again, it’s said that we learn our most valuable lessons from our mistakes. If that’s the case, I should be so full of knowledge by now that I could become someone’s advisor. The only problem is that I don’t seem to be a quick learner, no matter the subject. Liam walks ahead of me, looking back to ensure I’m following every now and again. Though I know he isn’t actually worried about me taking off. He trusts the mate bond tha
*Axel* The smell of the mushed meat makes my stomach churn. No longer does food look or sound good. My feedings that once were sporadic have become more frequent and better quality. Not that prison food ever tastes or smells good, but it’s better than the literal wet dog food they have been trying to force-feed me for days. They removed Adrianna from my cell over a week ago now, so long gone are the days of her sparing me the occasional roll. The torture stopped the day they started bringing me food. It should be enough to make me wonder what their plan is, but I’m no idiot. The blue moon is coming. I can feel it buzzing in the back of my mind. My strength wants to afford me comfort, but my lack of nourishing food keeps it tucked away. The ultima will need it to surface when it’s time for him to take over. The days and the nights blend as I spend most of my time asleep. My body needs to heal. With all the silver and wolfsbane in this room, it seem
*Maggie*“I apologize in advance,” Liam says grimacing as he balls his fist up.“Yeah, I’m sure you feel so bad,” I mutter, getting into a defensive position. “Can’t we just say I healed really fast?”“You don’t expect him to believe that you only tried to get away once, do you?” Liam says, raising a brow.I know he is right. He seems to be pretty knowledgeable about these things. Maybe it’s something he learned in his past, or perhaps he is just smarter than me. Either way, I put my hands up and ready my mind. I wanted to just let him hit me a few times and call it good, but he refused that. Something about hitting a woman rubbed him the wrong way.“Fine, let’s get this over with.” I groan.“Maggie, make sure you pay attention to my steps, my moves. You might as well try to pick up some fighting skills. We can conside
I have seen packs before, the mini-cities they create surrounding themselves to keep a secure border or barrier between them and the human world. Always far enough away from the accidental human who might trapeze across their lands unknowingly but close enough to be able to import and export products as needed.It all makes sense, the distance, and the secrecy. I had grown up not knowing a single thing about the packs that clearly surrounded me. Humans and werewolves were never intended to live together. It seems unnatural and unlikely that such powerful beings have a desire to not lord over the weak and meek humans. By keeping them separate, they are protecting the humans and their young children.Yet this pack, this pack, is different. The city is run down. Humans mingle with wolves and vice versa. On closer inspection, everyone looks different. Some look sickly and thin, while others look soulless and angry. This pack is beyond broken an
*Axel*The door closes behind me, but I am too exhausted to even turn to see who is coming in. It’s always the same people with the same goal. Nothing that ever comes through that door is good at this rate. I think I would much rather not know what to expect. I can hear the shuffling feet and I ready myself for them to come closer and restrain me like they always do.I play through my mind the different techniques they could try this time; they have tried none of the basic torturing methods used in the human world. I have heard water logging is terrible. I am so absorbed in my own mental preparations that I almost miss the audible retreating of the footfalls. It takes more effort than I am willing to admit, but I force my stiff, raw body to turn onto my back and I have to blink several times to get rid of the hallucination in front of me.Maggie lies on her side, facing me. Her leg looks like it is bent at a s
*Maggie*“GAH!” I scream as I bolt upright in a cold sweat, clutching my cracking leg.Spit flies from my lips as I breathe through the pain and try to keep my sobs to myself. I fall back grunting and sobs wrack my body, only making the pain all the worse. My muscles throb and my femur creaks as it tries to find its other half so it can heal. Each agonizing second it inches closer and closer to where it belongs. An audible snap echoes through the darkroom as I pound the ground with my first.“Mother fucker!” I drag my hand to my mouth and bite down, trying to muffle my cries. Shivers wrack my body in a confused state as every part of me tries to decide if it’s found relief or more pain.“What the fuck was that?” a voice asks softly from the corner.“Adriana?” I ask tentatively.“You know me?” She asks.I bend my legs and test it out, k
*Axel*“It’s coming whether or not you want it to,” Angus says from his chair at the other end of the long oak table.“That is something we can agree on,” I scoff.“Eat, you will need the strength for the Ultima. If he is going to transform strong wolves, then he will need his own strength.”I look at the display of various roast meats before me and I have to keep the drool from dribbling down my chin. Never in my life have I wanted for food as badly as I do at this moment. Every part of my stubborn nature wants to throw the food to the ground in defiance, but I know he is right. My body needs the energy. If I have any chance of getting out of here tonight when the moon comes up, then I need to get my strength up.Reaching out, I reluctantly take a turkey leg, a slice of ham, and a mountain of mashed potatoes. I start to eat civilly, taking a bite and politely chewing unti