illusion of safety?

“Let us help you little one.” One of them says, as his arm slides behind my shoulders and lifts me to sit. The other holds a glass of water with a straw for me to have a drink. The cold liquid quenches a thirst I didn’t even know I had. When it hits my empty stomach it feels like icicles being plunged into me. I wince before I can think to hide my discomfort. I’m not a stranger to hunger pains, but this was sharp and unexpected. I can’t show weakness, weakness is not acceptable, Alphas beat the weakness out of the pack. Kendrick would tie pack members to the pole outside the pack house and have their family and friends deliver the punishment. It was brutal to hear. He never took me to the pole. If people knew I was there he might have to share me, “Do you want me to share you.” He would leer in my face, his putrid breath making my stomach turn. No, my punishments were private and sadistic. No whip for me, no cane, hell I would have rather been dipped in wolfsbane and had had my skin peeled than what he did.

“Thank you.” I whisper. My legs ache and throb as I shuffle back so that I can lean against the head board. For the first time I take a look around. I had assumed I was in hospital but I have never seen a hospital like this. The huge floor to ceiling windows flood the room with natural light, framed by deep grey heavy silk curtains which are bordered with intricate silver embroidery. The bed I’m in is much larger than I realised too. I could easily roll over three times from the middle and still not fall off the edge. Along one of the light grey walls is a beautifully carved, antique wooden dressing table, the mirror casts light from the window up at the ceiling. Chests of drawers beside it have little piles of books, candles, vases full of flowers and most curiously, two wolf teddies. One of them is silver, the other pitch black.

“Am I in someone’s bedroom?” I ask, panic rising in my throat.

“What, no little one. You are in a guest room in our home. The doctor and some nurses have been coming to check on you, but …” one of the twins starts

“We thought you might be more comfortable here and it is easier for us to keep you safe at home than it would be at the hospital.” The other twin finishes.

“After we found you in the state you were in, we thought it best to take all the precautions we could.” The first twin adds. I really should probably try to remember their names.

I really think we can trust them Liberty, look at how well they would look after a complete stranger. Maybe the things Kendrick said weren’t true. He is the one we can’t trust. Justice calmly reasons. She is so keen to just let them in. She could be right, or maybe they want something from Kendrick in exchange for returning me to him.

“Did you mean it when you said I don’t have to go back?” I hug my knees to my chest and look from one striking face to the other. The bed dips either side of me as the twins sit looking down at me. Even with them sitting I have to crane my neck back to look up at them properly, they must both be almost seven feet tall. I never considered myself short, but these two are built like trees, and just as sturdy looking. There is no way I’ll be able to escape the two of them, even with Justice.

“Yes, little one, we mean it.” the first twin smiles and his warm hand gently cups my chin. I flinch and close my eyes tight, waiting for the burn when his other fist connects with my face. It doesn’t come.

“Shit, this is fucked up. I’m not going to hurt you.” He starts with a growl but his voice softens at the end.

“You are welcome here for as long as you like.” The second twin strokes a finger down my cheek. Both of their eyes sparkle and for a fleeting moment I forget about wanting to be free. I feel safe for the first time since I was dragged from my Mother’s cold arms. Safe is an illusion though, the only real safety is in death.