Chapter 45

I woke with a sharp pain in my head, my eyes heavy and somehow sore, the last thing I remember the strange man who entered the kitchen. I finally peel my eyes open after several attempts, frightened to find that I was chained up; my arms hanging above my head.
I looked around in panic, realising that I was in a damp cell, not much light pouring in from the small window in the metal door. I gasped when I tried to pull on the chains, the wolfbane that had been added to them burning my skin.
I cried out in pain, fresh tears falling from my eyes as I look around, searching for anything that would be able to help me. Panic had crept into my thoughts as I was unable to contact Nyx for help, she was completely silent, it was like she wasn't their at all. How much wolfsbane had they used on me? What did they want?
was it Balthazar who had found me? Did he send that masked man? I had so many questions and no one to answer any of them, I just hoped that it wasn't Balthazar, that it was some sort of mistake. I didn't want to go back to him, I couldn't. I knew that he would force me to be his, and that was the last thing I wanted, I hated the warlock. He made me sick.
if it was Balthazar who had taken me back, I'd find a way to escape again, I had to. I bet my mates were worried sick about me, everything had been so perfect, almost too perfect. They cared about me, and I loved them back, I just couldn't leave them. Not now.
I sobbed into my shoulder, alone and scared, the sound of dripping water my only company in the dark cell. At least if Nyx was here I wouldn't be on my own, she would help me find a way out of this. She always knew what to do when we were in trouble.
I just had to think of something on my own, use the gifts that the moon goddess gave to me. I concentrated as hard as I could, calling upon the power within me, only; nothing happened. Whatever they had done to me had stopped everything, left me defenceless and vulnerable.
I had no power.
some red wolf I was.
I jumped when a door opened somewhere in the distance, the metal creaking and groaning as it did, my heart spiking at the sound. I was panting for breath as the footsteps of someone approaching became louder, causing my fear to rise, what was I going to do?
Whoever came through the door wasn't going to be friendly as I need a plan, I needed to do something! I couldn't be a prisoner again, I promised myself I would never go back to that life.
the lock on the cell clicked and the door opened, revealing a tall man with raven black hair and the greenest eyes I had ever seen, he must have been 6ft 5, with muscles that rippled even through his long sleeved shirt.
I recoiled back when he began to approach me, the scent of ginger and chocolate reaching my nose, shocking me. It couldn't be, this was the man that had grabbed me, but something was wrong. My instincts were confused, they must be.
"I bet you are wondering why I brought you here, MATE." He says in a smooth voice, watching me closely.
"no no no." I sob, pulling on the chains.
he couldn't be! My instincts were wrong! He couldn't be my mate, I already had four, all of them kind and gentle. Not like this wolf, I could tell he was cruel, more so than perhaps even Balthazar. I didn't want this! How could the moon goddess be so cruel?
"oh yes." He laughs, "you won't have your wolf to confirm it, but I am your mate. I know you can tell."
"I-I'll reject you." I stutter, doing my best to pull away from his as he walks towards me.
He kneels down in front of me, roughly grabbing my chin. "if you do you will never leave this cell." He says, "do you want to take that risk?"
"why are you doing this?" I cry, pulling my chin from his grasp. "My mates will come for me! Th-they'll hunt you down."
he laughs again, shaking his head as though I was an ignorant child. "You might want to get comfy then, it'll be hard for them to come for you with all the rogue attacks on their home."
"no!" I shout, thrashing against the chains even as it caused me pain. "you can't do this. Leave them alone!"
"well, if you are a good girl, I might call off some of them, or at least tell my men not to attack the alpha." He smiles cruelly, "I'm sure we can make a deal."
"I'll never make a deal with you!" I growl, spitting in his face.
He slaps me around the face, my head snapping to the side. "You might want to watch your attitude with me, I'm not as linient as the others."
Tears fell from my eyes, my cheek burning as I scowled at him, knowing that their was nothing I could say to change his mind. But, that didn't mean I was going to roll over like a good she-wolf. I was stronger than that.
"If you want my cooperation, then you will spare them." I growl out, my voice laced with venom.
"Ha!" He laughs deeply, "you think you can make demands?"