Chapter Four
Give up and they win , were the only words written on the crumbling kitchen wall.
Was it a joke? A warning? A parting motivational message?
Deepa frowned, her fingers brushing over the words. They were written in dark red lipstick, thick and freshly painted.
Vanessa's house was empty. There were no signs of a fight, so Deepa could only assume that the human turned werewolves had abandoned it and moved on.
It was a smart idea. It would be harder for Infection Control to track them down if they were constantly on the move.
They left nothing useful behind. No detailed guide on how to survive as a werewolf. Not even a single scrap of paper. They'd done a good job of erasing all traces of themselves.
Deepa sighed, taking one last look around the house, trying to imagine what her life would have been like if she’d stayed and accepted Vanessa’s help. She wouldn’t have tried to hunt down Axel. She wouldn't be stuck in a vicious cycle of letting him screw her.
Deepa had spent most of the previous day feeling shit about his rejection, snuggling up in his bed and inhaling his scent like a desperate creep.
She was overjoyed when he returned, responding to his touch like a well trained dog, begging him to fuck her.
But he was gone in the morning, sending her straight back to feeling shitty again.
Screw him, Deepa thought as she made her way out of the house, gazing over the outskirts of the city.
She didn't need Axel or his overly accommodating cousin. She'd leave and make it on her own, hitchhiking out of the country and hiding in the wilderness.
She would never have to set eyes on that blond arsehole again.
Deepa only managed several feet before her inner wolf began to claw to the surface, forcefully taking control of her body.
Deepa gasped, her vision going fuzzy, the familiar sensation of her limbs transforming washing over her.
Not now, she pleaded, but it refused to listen. Please, let me go.
The wolf brain was persistent, and Deepa soon found herself falling to all fours, shrinking and morphing, until a large brown wolf stood where a woman had been seconds before.
Deepa was unsure how much time had passed. It felt like the wolf had taken the wheel, shoving her into the trunk. There were flashes of consciousness. A glimpse of trees, a scent in the air, but no control.
It was infuriating, but everytime she attempted to fight back it would only shove her down once more, locking Deepa away deep in her unconsciousness as it chased down rabbits and pissed on trees.
Axel was there too sometimes, fully naked rutting into her like a beast, muttering gibberish about filling her up with his spawn.
The wolf relished in his attention, flipping their positions and holding him down against the cool ground, rocking back and forth on his cock as she climaxed around him.
She was fucked. Any hope of returning to a regular human existence slipped like sand through her fingers.
This was her life now, a wild animal mystically tied to the man who ruined everything.
There was no point trying to fight it. Deepa was just along for the ride.
When the wolf finally relinquished control, Deepa found herself naked in Axel's bed, her hair disheveled, her clothes nowhere to be found.
The room was different from the one in Luke's house, more sparse and lacking warmth. There was only a bed and closet with a large window overlooking a forest.
"Hey," Axel murmured, his arms sliding around her.
Deepa blinked, confused. Mind frantically trying to piece together the past few days.
"You okay?" His thumb stroked her cheek like he could sense her distress.
"How did I get here?" Her voice trembled.
"You don't remember?"
Deepa shook her head.
"Well, I'm not one to kiss and tell," he smirked.
Deepa groaned.
"It's okay.” He pulled her closer. "We'll figure this out. Together."
Deepa's body relaxed, her eyelids fluttering closed, the warmth of his body lulling her back to sleep.
"It's not safe for you here.” Axel shook her awake. "I'll take you back to Luke's. He's a good guy. You can stay there until I sort some things out."
"Sort what out?"
"I'll tell you later.”
Axel slipped out of bed and pulled a hoodie and a pair of sweatpants from the closet, tossing them onto the bed. "Here, you can wear these."
Deepa pulled them on. They were far too large, but she found the scent comforting.
"Come on.” He gently pulled her to the door. "I'll drive you before anyone else wakes up."
He led her down a silent hallway.
Deepa gazed at the perfect white walls and spotless cream carpet, feeling like she'd stepped into a showroom. There were countless windows overlooking small courtyards, each filled with colorful flowers.
"Is this your house?" Deepa asked. It didn't seem like a den of rabid werewolves.
"Just for now," he said quietly. "Come on, the cars are out back."
"Cars?"
"Yeah," Axel said with a smirk. "We have a lot of those."
Deepa followed him down more hallways, memorizing the layout out of habit. Never during her time in Infection Control did she imagine that werewolves could live so luxuriously.
They exited out the back of the house, stepping onto a massive balcony overlooking a sprawling valley.
Several cars were parked nearby, ranging from expensive sports models to large SUVs.
"Axel?" called a soft female voice.
It was Axel’s sister, wearing a short blue nightdress, her long blond hair tied back into a messy braid.
"Good morning." Nastya smiled, her blue eyes sparkling.
"Shit," Axel muttered. His grip on Deepa’s hand tightened.
"Who's your friend, Axel?" Nastya asked sweetly. “Didn't mother teach you that it's rude to bring a girl home and not introduce her?"
"It's none of your fucking business," Axel growled. "And she’s leaving."
"So soon?" Nastya pouted. "Can't she stay for breakfast?"
"We'll pass." Axel pulled Deepa away from his sister and towards the parking lot.
"Axel!" called a deep male voice.
Deepa turned to see a large man emerge onto the balcony, thick black hair neatly combed and deep blue eyes glaring straight at them.
"Parker?" Deepa whimpered.