Chapter 40

(Maya POV)

My whole body felt weaker when i finally woke up. The feeling of someone shaking me violently more like tore me away from sleep, and my eyes still being covered only made me feel more disoriented. It felt like I had been here for months, having all sight taken away from me somehow made the days seem longer. Not being able to see the day or night, i had lost track of time here. I felt like I was slowly losing my mind being here. I knew now that the boys and the pack were looking for me, which had given me hope for a brief moment, but it easily slipped away when i heard my kidnappers speaking angrily about now being the time to move.

"The pack has covered most of the border, but one of our men discovered a small section that is hidden enough that we should be able to make it through without detection. The alpha is growing very impatient and is willing to storm the border if we do not complete this job. He is not happy about how long he has had to wait." One of the men said.

"What is so damn special about this tiny girl? She is weak!" Another man said in anger.

"It doesn't matter, all I know is that the alpha wants her and if he doesn't get her then he is willing to kill everyone in his way to get to her. She must be someone important for him to put in all this effort to acquire her. Maybe he wants to sell her or something, maybe he wants to kill her himself. Who cares! Once we hand her over, our debt is paid, and we are free. So, let's just dot his job. The beta will be waiting for us at the meet up point just past the border, we hand her over and we are done!" The first man said.

Why did no one seem to know what this alpha wanted with me? Part of me wanted to meet this alpha and ask him what the hell his deal is, but I think that part of me just wants to give up. I am tired. Tired of hiding, being afraid, feeling lost, feeling like I don't really belong anywhere. I was a stranger to the pack, to my mates, and even to myself. I knew there was something that my parents had not told me, I had such a normal childhood. At least a normal human childhood. I had successfully learned to hide my wolf side, and was able to blend in fairly well, and although I was still not the most popular girl in school I was normal. No one ever suspected what I was as far as I knew, and yet my family was targeted. My parents were killed because of a secret about me, and they never warned me or prepared me for what could happen. I was left in confusion and pain.

This made me hate my parents for lying to me and not helping me prepare for this possible outcome. I had so many questions, and no one to answer them for me. Well, there was one person who seemed to know, and that person was looking for me anyway. Maybe…just maybe if I go there he can tell me what I am. But that is crazy! Why would I willingly go to him? No, I can't think like that! This man is a monster, it doesn't matter what he says because it could all be just more lies.

“It's time. Grab the girl and let's go. This is our last chance!" One of the men said, while the other walked toward me.

His footsteps were rushed and heavy, he must be a big guy. Soon rough hands were gripping onto my arms and I was being untied from the chair. The rope around my chest was loosened and strong hands picked me up and held me close to their chest. This felt unusual, to be this close to one of the men who had been keeping me captive. Another weird thing was that this man was far gentler than the other men who had been watching me. He held me tight like he was almost…. protecting me. It was strange, but when he got close to my ear a whispered to me, even his voice sounded concerned.

"Don't worry, I got you." He whispered to me and I shivered as his breathe hit my ear.

It felt wrong being this close to a man who was not my mate, something was weird about this guy for sure. Yet, my choices seemed pretty limited, and I would much rather be carried by this man than one of my more abusive captors. I felt to week to have them roughing me up again, so this would have to do. I felt him walking along the floor gently and as soon as I heard a door open I felt the cool breeze of what seemed like the night air. Around here it was warm during the days but lately at night it had gotten cooler, so it was night now.

I could hear slight crunching sounds under the men's feet as we walked toward what I was assuming is the border. Suddenly the man carrying me stopped and leaned in once again to whisper to me.

"Stay quite love, stay very quiet." He whispered, his lips brushing against my ear.

I was scared to make a sound; I was not sure if whatever was around us was someone here to help me or here to take me away. I heard the sound of steps running toward us and soft growls warning the men that someone was coming. The whole group fell silent for a moment as they waited for the sound to reveal who was coming. I realized that I and not even tried to warn Eli that I was being moved, but what could I even tell him? I had no idea where we were.

"Eli?" Can you hear me?" I had to at least try. "Eli can you hear me? They are moving me tot the border now, there will be someone on the other side to take me to the alpha. Eli?"

Could he hear me?

No reply.

I tried several more time to connect to Eli through our mate link, but no reply. I hope he heard me and maybe just can't answer me right now.

"Let's move we are not far off now." One man whispered to the others causing the sound of footsteps to begin again.

The sound we had heard before had become faint and soon was blocked out by the sounds of the kidnappers shuffling together toward the border. Soon the sounds of the footsteps changed, it sounded like there was an echo now.

"What is this place?" The man holding me asks aloud.

"Some old cave. But one of the scouts discovered that it turns into a tunnel that should lead us to the other side of the border without anyone realizing." Another man said.

"It should? Did they not check for sure if it had an exit?" Another man asked.

"Shut up! I am sick of all of you rumbling and questioning me! Let's go!" The man spit back.

The sound of trickling water added to the echoes of us moving through the tunnels. The cave smelled like wet earth and a little moldy but compared to the little room with all those male wolves crammed together, this was a step up.

"Look there, see I told you there is an opening." A man said proudly.

"You call that an opening? None of us will fir through that small space." Another protested.

"Well than we will just have to make the exit bigger than wont we?" The man who I am guessing is in charge says.

"Use your muscle and move those boulders away! I am sure that shouldn't be a problem for you all. Go!" The boss man yelled.

The man holding me sets me down softly and I can feel the rough, damp, cold stone beneath me. I was so tired of feeling cold and was craving a hot chocolate so bad! I shifted slightly to try and sit up better, but with the damp rocks beneath me, I slipped and scrapped my arm along a sharp edge causing me to cry out from the pain. I felt hands on me pulling me up.

"What are you doing? Why did you do that? Now you…you're bleeding! Hang on. Hang on." The voice was of the man who had been carrying me.

"What the hell?! Why is she bleeding?" The boss man yelled.

"She must have slipped and scratched herself on one of those rocks sticking out over there." My wolf transportation replied.

"Or she is marking a trail so someone can find out which way she went!" the boss man said angrily.

SLAP!

He hit me across the face as punishment and the sound echoed far down the cave.

"Clean up the mess she made; we don't want to leave any clues that we were here. Wait….SHUT UP ALL OF YOU!" The man yelled, making the others fall silent again. Someone is coming, we need to get her through now! We can fight them off and follow her after." The boss man ordered.

"She can't go through alone; she won't know which way to go!" My transporter replied.

"Remove her blind fold, and she will be able to see the cabin." The boss said.

Oh no. I had heard that when a kidnapper does not keep you blind folded, it means they plan to kill you. Because if you are dead, you could never identify them anyway. I was about to see the faces of all the men who had held me hostage, and the man who would take me to the alpha. This meant, I would never be coming home. The cloth was slowly removed from my eyes. I blinked several times to try and see what was around me. Soft light from their flashlights bounced off the glistening wet walls and casted nerve shattering shadows. My eyes slowly began seeing the faces of the men who had kept me prisoner and when my eyes fell upon them I gasped to myself.

The looked more menacing than I had imagined. Not one of them looked more than a battle wounded warrior. Their faces and bodies had scares all over them. I turned to look at the one who had carried me, and I was surprised by how young he looked. He was not yet wounded like the others; he had not seen the darkness of war yet. In fact, he was rather handsome in a boyish kind of way, his eyes were soft. He watched as my eyes examined him. A smirk formed on his lips and I scoffed, at least the best I could with my mouth taped.

He lifted his hand and brushed it against the part of my face that was not covered by the tape. I flinched from the action, but he did not pull back.

"You have really pretty eyes; did you know that?" He said with a smile.


"Get your hands off of her!" A deep growl rang through the cave sending a shiver over my body.

I knew that growl, and not just anyone could cause my body to react that way.


Mate!