10. Vivianna
VIVIANNA
Iwas awoken with a bucket of ice water and a swift kick to the middle of my back.
I cried out in pain, but it was quickly cut off once the taser made contact with my wet skin.
Once the current stopped, I looked around and found that Vadik was back with his entourage of watchers.
He picked me up by the neck and slammed me back on the cell wall.
“Did you have a nice sleep?” Vadik asked.
He obviously wasn’t expecting an answer since he wasn’t letting enough air to pass into my lungs.
“Have you decided to submit to me? Will you be a good little wolf and let us put this collar on you?” Vadik loosened his grip just enough for me to answer.
“I’m not your fucking pet, asshole,” I croaked.
Vadik’s face was alight with fury. “Little wolf, you will be what I tell you to be. Once I have this collar on you to keep you from shifting, I will mate you, and then you will have no hope of being rid of me,” Vadik said, closing his grip tighter on my neck.
I scratched at his hand, trying to get him to loosen it before I was choked to death.
You need to shift back, Viv, it’s the only way I can keep you safe, my wolf commanded as I whimpered through the pain of suffocation.
Vadik noticed that I was bordering on passing out and dropped me to the ground. He walked over to Dr. Faulk, who handed him the metal collar.
What the hell difference would it matter if I was human or not? Torture is still torture!
Yeah, but they can do so much more damage to you as a human. As a wolf, your brain can withstand more. Just trust me on this and let me keep you safe, my wolf begged of me. Now let’s pull our shit together, shift, and fight back.
I curled my legs under me and knelt, weaving slightly from getting choked out.
I needed to clear my mind enough to figure out how to bring my wolf back out.
I reached for her, and she jumped out to meet me, wrapping her energy around me like a shield.
I felt my body begin to heat up, burning away my skin, and fur burst from me.
My wolf shook out her fur, trying to regain our balance through the shift.
Unsure of what to do, I took a step back and let my wolf mind take control.
I knew she would do what was needed to get us out of this alive.
I felt her aloof demeanor stepping in, giving me the chance to look at things objectively.
I was facing off with an alpha wolf who wanted to dominate me.
Alongside him was another wolf that was a few steps away from being a submissive omega.
He made the collar that he handed the alpha.
My ears told me it held an electrical current running through it.
I growled, widening my stance, ready to face off once again with the alpha.
“Vivianna, why can’t you just do as you’re told? You’re always so damn stubborn. We should have spanked you when you were younger. Clearly, the dignified way of rearing a child doesn’t apply to werewolves,” Father said, looking at me in disgust.
I felt the fur between my shoulders raise in irritation. There was no way in hell I was willingly going to do what they wanted. I knew that once that collar was on, I would have the shit shocked out of me every time I did something they didn’t like.
“Listen to your father, little wolf. As your alpha, you can’t fight me forever. I will break you down, one way or another,” Vadik mocked, circling around me. “You will learn to be a good little follower, just like every other alpha in my pack.”
Didn’t anyone teach him how to woo a woman? What kind of fiancé is he? Where are the flowers, chocolates, the promise of a nice dinner? Why do we need to go straight for torture and shock collars?
You can’t eat chocolate anymore, you’re part wolf, remember?
WHAT!
Already pissed at everything else, being told I would now be denied one of life's greatest pleasures was the breaking point. I let out a snarl and dove toward Vadik. Following my wolf’s lead, I dove for his leg but latched onto the collar and snatched it out of his hands.
Whoever had the control sent the signal to shock me, and I had to fight to keep my body moving.
I used everything I had to crush the metal collar, but it wouldn’t budge.
Tossing it at the metal bars right where my father was leaning caused him to jump back with a yell, letting me know the shock had transferred through the bars.
Ha! Take that, you prick!
Someone grabbed my tail and dragged me backward harshly.
I yipped at the pain, digging my claws into the ground as I turned on Vadik, latching on to the meat of his thigh.
Fighting like a rabid dog, I dug my teeth into his flesh and shook my head, trying to get to the artery that I knew was there.
I let the cold hunter of my wolf cloud my human propriety.
Just as I felt the artery burst, Vadik punched me with both hands clasped together on my head.
Dazed, I felt my hold on him loosen and fall away, freeing his leg.
Vadik kicked me hard in the gut, slamming me once again into the wall. He stalked over and lifted his uninjured leg, placing his foot on my throat. “I was playing nice, but you went too far, little wolf. You’ll pay dearly for that bite. I will make you submit to me, even if it means your death.”
This was you playing nice? Who the fuck raised you?
Um, I think that would be a pack of werewolves…
“Vadik, no! She is too valuable! You can’t kill her,” Dr. Faulk cried out.
“A wild wolf is just as useless; if I can’t get her to submit, you will just have to do the experiment again,” Vadik said, putting more weight into his foot.
My vision started to darken as my lungs cried out for air.
My chest burned, and my eyes watered as I scrambled against the pressure, trying to get away.
He was just too heavy—I couldn’t get away from him.
Just as my eyes dimmed, I saw a black wolf leap onto Vadik’s back, biting into his shoulder.
Thankfully, Vadik released his hold on my airway.
I gasped, feeling the life-giving flow of air rush into my lungs. I was going to live… at least for now.
While I was still relearning how to breathe, I felt someone come up behind me and pick me up.
I struggled against the hold, trying to get away.
No! I won’t let you put that damn collar on me!
I’d rather die, please just let me die if this is what my life is going to be like.
The strong arms holding me tightened, but not enough to hurt me—just enough to keep from dropping me.
“It’s okay, Vivianna, we’re here to help you. We met before, it’s Rikkart Hunt,” the person who was holding me said.
I stilled. I knew that voice, and the name rang a bell. There’s no way that he could be here, though.
It’s him, alright. I would remember the scent of that alpha anywhere.
Wait, he’s a werewolf?
Yep. So is his friend that you saved. I smell him here too. Actually, there’s a bunch of new werewolves that just showed up.
Should we trust them?
Well, we have two choices: stay here and be abused for the rest of our lives or let this delicious-smelling alpha take us away. I vote for the second option.
You’re right, anything has to be better than Vadik.
While I was debating on what to do, Rikkart wasted no time and was running out of the cell and down a long underground hallway.
It reminded me of the catacombs of London but cleaner.
I could hear his heart beating fast as he ran, but his hold on me was strong and sure.
At the end of the hall, two men and a wolf appeared ready for a fight.
“Koit, a little help here,” Rikkart yelled.
The same black wolf I saw attack Vadik sped past us and tackled the wolf, crashing into the other two guys.
Rikkart charged forward, jumping over fallen men and turning right, going up a long flight of stairs.
When we reached the top, something crashed into his legs, causing us to fall.
He let go of me to catch himself, and I leaped out of his arms, landing on my feet.
Whipping around, I found a skinny, tawny wolf baring its teeth at me.
I spread out my stance and lowered my head, meeting the wolf’s gaze and letting out a low growl.
The other wolf shook his head, trying to break my hold on him.
I didn’t back down—instinctively, I knew this wolf was far weaker than me and would bend to my will.
The tawny wolf whined and laid down, stretching out its neck to me.
He’d surrendered, and now I was going to take what was mine to claim.
I took the few steps we had between us, and just when I was going to take his throat, a hand on my back stopped me.
“No, Vivianna, he surrendered. There is no need to kill him.” I looked behind me to see Rikkart, the man who had challenged me in the alley.
That moment seemed so long ago, considering everything that had changed since then. I growled at him, irritated that he would think he could stop me from doing this.
Who does he think he is?
He’s an alpha; it’s what they do. They control things.
Why does he think he can control us? He isn’t my alpha.
Ha—you got that right, girl. Although I wouldn’t mind a little alpha action in bed. He looks like he could be fun to have a tussle with.
Oh god, my wolf is sassy and horny. I huffed, shaking out my fur.
You know I can hear you…
Oh, I know. So, what are we going to do with Mr. Hot-and-Alpha?
Not giving me a chance to confer with my wolf longer, he crouched down beside me and spoke in a soothing voice. “I know your instincts are running the show right now, but if you come with me, I can teach you how to manage your new life.”
His green eyes were bright, but they didn’t try to hold my gaze. As I watched him, I gave up my attention on the tawny wolf at my feet. Free from my command, the wolf scampered away, leaving me alone with the alpha. I blinked at him, waiting to see what his next move would be.