Chapter 24

“What happened to him?” I called out nervously to no one in particular. “Why is he covered in blood?”
“Because he put up a fight like a little girl when he arrived down here,” Jared’s voice rang out, making me jump. “As soon as he saw the cage, he seemed to get a little life into him. He doesn't know how to fight well, put it that way!”

I spun around and saw that Jensen was also standing in the room beside his brother Jared. I didn’t even hear them come in, but I felt more at ease seeing two friendlier faces down here. Nodding silently, I turned back around and laid my eyes on James. I coughed loudly to get his attention, our eyes meeting once more.
“Are you okay?” I asked curtly, not really caring at all. “How are you doing in there James? Are you enjoying being tied up in silver?”
“It burns and it is making me weak,” moaned James pitifully, looking at me pleadingly. “Please, get me out of here! I beg you!”
“Ah, never mind eh,” I mocked sarcastically, folding my arms as I began to enjoy having my moment with James. “Now you know how my parents felt, being kept prisoner in the basement!”
“Basement? What basement?” James stuttered in shock, looking at me as if I was mad.
“Oh, come on James,” I replied stiffly. “The basement under the kitchen floor! Behind the locked door!”
“I don’t know about any basement! I swear!” protested James gruffly, as he grimaced in pain as he tried to get comfortable in his cell. “That door was always locked. She told me your parents were both dead!”
“Well, they went!” I snapped back angrily, my fangs protruding as I could feel Mya trying to come out. “We found them! Both alive! Draped in silver cages and surrounded by wolfsbane! They're now in the hospital wing being treated and they may not make it yet!”
“Well, I’m sorry to hear that,” replied James, “But I’m having nothing to do with that! I didn’t know they were there! That’s the truth! You ain't pinning that shit on me!”
“Yeah, well I’m not here about that!” I replied in a bored fashion, clicking my tongue impatiently. “I want an explanation of what you did to me! Can you remember that? I pray you don't need reminding!”
“I’m sorry,” James sniffed slowly, his voice finally sounding remorseful. “I didn’t mean to hurt you! I promise! I can’t explain why I did what I did. It was wrong of me, and I know that! I live with the guilt every day, knowing that I hurt a pup!”
“But you still did it!” I yelled furiously, feeling my anger beginning to surge. “There must be a reason why!"
“I did really like you,” James began slowly, looking at me intently, even though one eye had now swelled shut. “Not in a mate way but in a way that someone loves someone. I thought that one day, I would leave Julianne, take you with me and make you mine. I wanted to love you, look after you and treat you right. I guess my emotions ran away with me and believe me, I didn’t want to punish you! Juliane made me do it and every slap or punch ripped through me like a branding iron!”
“You’re a liar! You were getting off on what you were doing!” I screamed angrily. “You can’t even look after yourself! You’re a raging alcoholic and a dirty perverse old man. What made you think that I’d ever run away with you and be yours? You deserve everything coming to you! You really do!”
“What are they going to do to me?” James mumbled sadly. “Kill me? If so, do it now to end my suffering. I can’t live without you Libby. I adore you! Look at what you've become! You're a true beauty!”

Behind me, I heard Blake growl in anger at James’s words, but I gently lifted my hand to hush him before turning my attention back to James.
“I don’t know what they are going to do to you, to be quite honest,” I smirked. “And whatever they decide to do will never be enough. This is the last time you will ever lay your filthy eyes on me! I hope you rot! Theres a special place in hell for people like you!”

And with that, I stormed away from James’s cell and marched towards Julianne’s cell which was right down at the other end of the room. Briefly, I paused to catch my breath before standing in front of the bars and looking down, hoping to see an equally weak Julianne before me. But before me, sitting on the floor, albeit in pain, was a fresh-faced Julianne. She wasn’t dirty or ragged like James, but her usual calm, composed beautiful self. Before I could say a single word, Julianne lifted her head and focused her bottle-green eyes on mine before smiling evilly and muttering two small words that sent chills down my spine.
“Hello, Libby.”

Silently, I stared deeply into the emerald, green eyes gazing back at me. It wasn’t love or happiness looking back at me but a dark unnerving loathing that burned through my skin. Everything that I was and had now become was clearly an unbearable itch to Julianne’s triggered soul.

“Libby, well well well. What a surprise,” Julianne breathed, in almost an inaudible whisper. “How nice it is to see you again, albeit alive.”
“No thanks to you,” I retorted back angrily. “No thanks to you, I nearly did die when you basically threw me to the wolves. Where's your daughter? We can't find her!”
“So, how are you still alive then?” Julianne sneered, her voice tinged with hatred. “Oh, wait unless they are keeping you as a family pet. You’re not worth much more. But you’re used to being kept as someone else’s pet, aren’t you? And I don't know and quite frankly, I don't care where she has gone!”
“For your information,” I paused, inhaling sharply, beginning to enjoy the power I now had over her, “I am their new Luna. I’ve Mated with the Alpha here. He was the one that saved me from certain death. He sees something in me. Something you didn’t.Something you never gave a chance!”
“Such a pity,” cackled Julianne gleefully, her eyes glinting in the dark. “This pack is really letting its standards slip. They must be really desperate to have someone like you as their Luna. You’re nothing. You’re weak and pathetic. No one wants you. No one loves you. No wonder your parents killed themselves. No wonder, having a freak for a daughter like you!”

From behind me, a chorus of furious growls rang out around the room from the surveying pack members. Turning around slightly, I held up my hand to silence them once more as I focused my attention back on Julianne. Containing my own snarling wolf, I stepped forward and crouched down on my heels, staring back at Julianne coldly.

“I think you and I need to have a little chat, don’t you?” I whispered softly, just loud enough for only Julianne to hear. “Woman to woman! I know what you have done. Do you care to explain, before I drag you out of here and let my wolves rip you limb from limb?”
“You wouldn’t dare!” sneered Julianne gleefully while quickly glancing behind me nervously. “You wouldn’t have the balls! You’re all mouth, no action. All smoke, no fire! You’re just the same weak, pathetic little girl that you’ve always been. You have no power!”
“Jared, Jenson, Alistair!” I called out loudly in an authoritative voice, without breaking eye contact. “Would you do the honours of bringing her out to me please?”
“No! I’ll tell you everything, I promise!” screamed Julianne quickly, as Jenson, Jared and Alistair started to prowl towards her, smiling menacingly. “What do you want to know? I’ll tell you anything! Just don’t let them come in here! I don't want them near me!”
“Very well. Then maybe you’d like to explain to me how the fuck my parents both are still alive!?” I yelled angrily, feeling hatred bubble through me like an inferno. “In your basement, below your house, I may add!”
“Please, Libby, you need to listen to me,” Julianne pleaded, eying up Alistair carefully, who was still snarling menacingly behind me. “James made me do it. I swear. This was his idea! All of it. I had no choice. He threatened to kill me otherwise. I was scared. I didn’t know what to do!”
“You’re a liar!” I fumed, feeling a white-hot surge of hatred flow through my veins. “My mother and father both died way before James turned up on the scene. They were your friends! Alistair, bring her the fuck out here now!”