Chapter 20

**Nova**


My mind races as I try to wrap my head around all of this. I don't understand what's happening.

What triggered this?

One second I was kissing Eli and the next I was here. How?

Part of me wants to believe that this is the dream but how can I be sure?

I saw my body. That must mean the time with the guys is what's real. So why am I here?

Why did my mind bring me here?

"Nova? What's happening?" Adly says from behind me.

I turn at the sound of her voice and look at my friend.

She's gone...

This isn't real...

Adly died with the others that day.

I give her a weak smile. "Yeah, I'm good."

Even if this is some sort of dream it means I have more time with her. Maybe this is my chance to figure out what happened to us. So much of before I died is a blur.

"Next group!" A man yells after slamming the door to our room open.

I glance over to see several of our people being shoved back inside. They are barely standing and look on the brink of death themselves.

"I said, next group!" The man yelled again.

No one moves. All of our eyes are on the people who've returned. The men here have put us through a lot but this looks worse. Something has changed.

"Get them out!" The man yells.

The men who had escorted the others move forward and pull their lips back with snarls. I watch them closely and it's easy to see their animal side is becoming more prominent. The shifters had hoped our blood would creature stronger men but maybe there have been some side effects. How did I not notice it before?

The men move slowly and menacing toward another group and the urge to step forward and do something is strong. Knowing what will happen means I could change things couldn't it? But if this is an illusion then it won't matter.

Still...

This could be my chance to save even just a few of my people.

I have never once considered myself brave. Living here for so long felt like I was always in a trance. Years trapped and all personal will stripped could do that to anyone.

This is my second chance, and I can't waste it.

Pulling in a deep breath I step forward just one step. I'm not sure why I pause, but I use that second to try and push away any fears about what I'm about to do.

"Hey!" I yell.

Real smooth, but like I said this isn't my natural reaction.

All eyes turn to me and I feel the urge to pull into myself and hide, but I won't. Not this time.

"You're not taking them," I say moving closer to the man who seems to be in charge at the moment.

He's a big guy, like most shifters it seems, so I have to crane my neck to look up at him. His lips quirk up in the corner as he looks down his nose at me. In this room, he acts like the strongest predator, but it's only because we have been conditioned not to fight back. We have been trained to always remain in control, and that is not something easy to forget.

Except I have lived a couple of days outside of this place and feeling the powers rushing through me that could make me an ultimate weapon against these men.

Wait...

Can I access the powers I've been feeling? I take a moment to assess my body but I don't feel any different. Maybe my abilities didn't pass over with me. That means I'll have to rely on my natural abilities. Before I can consider my next step a large hand thrusts out and wraps around my neck. I gasp as the man's hold tightens and cuts off my air supply. He is strong enough to lift me off my feet and hold me eye-to-eye with him.

His deep laugh and cocky smile makes my blood boil. This asshole thinks he can hurt me, but even without my new powers, I'm a monster. Shifters have become too cocky and they have forgotten who we are. Our control and vow to not use our thirst to harm others without consent have been so ingrained that we are willing to let them use us. That stops now.

"It looks like we have a troublemaker on our hands." He tightens his hold on my neck completely cutting off my breath.

Something happens as I start to feel myself get lost under the lack of oxygen. My mind goes clear and it's like the world slows. Instinct begins to take over and I grab onto the man's wrist. His smile falters as I tighten my hand around his arm. I focus everything on my strength and I hear the crack of his bone. He cries out and drops me.

My body falls to the floor and I scramble away from him. The other men rush toward me before I can even get to my feet. Two of the men grab me by each arm and push me to my knees. The man who held me by the throat walks over to me with his arm cradled against his chest.

He's breathing hard and his face is red. "You bitch." He hisses at me.

I can't help but sneer at him and show him my fangs.

"I think this one has just been moved to an earlier appointment." The man says.

The men pull me to my feet and push me toward the door.

"Grab the rest of them!" The boss man yells and I hear movement behind me.

As soon as we are out the door I see the familiar dark grey walls stained with mold. For a place where they handle experimentation, they sure don't worry about keeping things clean. The two men escorting me shove me hard through another door and I trip and fall to my hands and knees.

"What the hell is this?" Another man hisses.

"She attacked me." The guy I hurt growls.

I push back until I'm sitting on my heels and look up at this new man. His eyes are on me and I notice the golden yellow of his eyes. The man who choked me had blue eyes. So he isn't a wolf shifter. Who else is helping them?

"Fine." The new guy nods at my escorts.

They pull me up again and drag me to one of the many tables arranged in a circle.

"Strap them down." The new guy calls out.

I'm the first one lifted onto one of the tables. There are straps set up at the top and the bottom. The two men grab my arms and hold them in place so that they can wrap the straps around my arms. Once they're finished I tug on the straps to try and see if I can pull myself out. Not that there is a chance I could simply slip them off.

The men tie down my legs next. I struggle but I can't break free. I'm not sure what the straps are made of, but it doesn't look like I'm going anywhere right now.

"Let's begin."

The pain is instant. I open my mouth to scream but nothing comes out. Darkness clouds over my eyes and then there's nothing.

I wake with a start gasping for air.

"Nova?" A familiar voice says but I'm in too much of a panic.

My head is too foggy to focus on one thing right now.

"Nova!" Someone grabs my face and I blink through my confusion to see Eli staring back at me.

"Eli?" I ask through gasping breaths.

He nods. "Yes."

"What happened? Is this real?" I ask, my mind racing with confusion.

"Yes, my mate. You are here with me again." He pulls me into his arms and I breathe in his scent.

I'm back?