Chapter 13
I glanced at the bed. There was no couch, only three chairs, and one bed. This was fantastic. I turned around and walked back into the living room. Quinnlyn walked back into the room from outside, carrying bags.
“How are we doing this sleeping thing?” I asked.
“What do you mean?” he asked nonchalantly.
“There is only one bed,” I said.
“You’ll sleep on the bed, you need the rest,” he said.
“And you?”
“I can sleep on the floor out here,” he said.
“I guess…”
“Do you want me to sleep in the bed with you?”
“No, I don’t,” I said.
“Then that settles that. There are blankets and a sleeping mat in one of the bags,” he said.
“I’m feeling a little tired. I’ma go rest,” I said, before turning around and walking back into the bedroom.
I climbed into bed, lying on my right side.
My hand instinctively moved to my stomach.
The reality hit me again: he was gone. No more little kicks, no more punches.
Tears and sobs poured out of me. I gasped for air in between cries.
Why did this happen to me? What did I do to deserve this? Why me? Sleep took me under.
Daxyn’s body contorted. His head tilted to the sky, and a howl emerged from him. His arms twisted unnaturally, bones shifting beneath his skin—A giant wolf was standing there, where Daxyn once stood.
Our baby was in his mouth, the way the wolf carries its young. I screamed at the top of my lungs.
“Zalayuh!” Quinnlyn shouted.
My eyes shot open. Eyes wide. I glared at him.
“Oh, my god. Oh, my fucking lord!” I shouted.
“What? What’s wrong?”
I lurched out of the bed, every aching part of me screaming. I backed into the far corner away from him.
“You’re safe. You’re ok—”
“No. No, I’m not. You. Oh, my lord… You’re a wolf. You… you… oh jeez. Bless the heavens… you’re a monster,” I stuttered out, not making a single bit of sense.
His eyes were wide, then he closed them.
He licked his lips before pressing them tightly together.
He opened his eyes again, meeting mine. My chest pounded so hard, so fast. My breathing was ragged.
Black stars shot through my vision. He didn’t speak, just stared at me, standing in the doorway, frozen.
After a brief moment, he took a step forward. I threw my hands up.
“No. Don’t come near me. I saw it,” I pleaded.
“It was just a nightmare,” he said, low and calm.
“It wasn’t a fucking nightmare!” I yelled.
“I’m standing here right now, as a person,” he said.
“No. You lie. You’re lying. This is why I don’t have my baby,” I said.
My knees gave out, and I collapsed to the floor, knees bent in front of me. Sobbing.
“What are you talking about?” he said.
“I was standing there that day, and Daxyn… oh my God… He was there, and then he was a wolf. Then that stupid guy locked me in that room. I pleaded for him to let me out. I begged him. I cried and banged on the door. His music was so loud. I told him I needed help, but he couldn’t hear me.
He hid me in there because I saw it,” I cried out.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” he said.
“You’re gonna eat me. You liked hunting me, you enjoyed it that one day. You’re a wolf, too. Don’t lie to me. That midwife was trying to tell me,” I said.
“I… um… you weren’t supposed to know,” he said.
“And what do you ‘spose was gonna happen out here in the middle of nowhere? Twice a month, right?”
“I was going to leave for supplies for the night. My cousin offered to hang out with you if you didn’t want to be left alone. You’re not being held here against your will. So, I don’t need to babysit you every day,” he said.
“Then I’m leaving… I’m going home,” I said.
I pushed myself off the ground and took a few steps before my vision went fuzzy, and tingling rushed up to my head. I fell forward. Before I hit the ground, he grabbed me and pushed me onto the bed.
“You aren’t going any damn where, be fucking for real,” he said.
“I thought you weren’t holding me against my will,” I muttered.
“I’m not, but you need to rest and heal. You have been through something very traumatic,” he said.
“I can do that at home!” I shouted.
“I don’t want to be here either! God damn it, I could be somewhere else.
I had a plan. I was working on taking back what was mine.
Instead, I’m here. By God, I didn’t save your life for you to think you’re just going to get home magically.
Then Ravik finds out that I didn’t kill you, and we both get killed. ”
I studied him as he stood next to the bed. His veins bulged out of the side of his neck. His face was flushed. Nothing came out of my mouth. He was right. How the hell would I get home? It took an entire day to drive here. I could barely walk.
After a long moment of silence, he spoke.
“Yes, werewolves are real. That’s why you were kidnapped, because Ravik wants control.
Demands control over all of us. Pack loyalty is a lie.
If only one person challenges him, even if they are stronger than he is, it doesn’t matter.
Those loyal to him would take that person out.
Ravik killed my father to prove a point.
Your baby could have been a Novo one day—or that’s what he hoped anyway,” he said.
I didn’t know what to think. How was I supposed to respond to that? I was pregnant with a little werewolf. He only wanted him to continue building his army.
“I’m not a werewolf, though. Would my baby still have—”
“Yes, all babies born at least half werewolf will shift,” he cut me off.
“What about Annabelle? And that last guard? They didn't shift?”
“No, they don’t. Both were only a quarter wolf. Half of them don’t shift, but she does have some traits.”
“Then why are they around?”
“He makes them do things. Those are the ones that gather supplies, cook, and clean. They are still part of the pack. They still earn their keep,” he said.
“What happens when you shift?” I asked.
“That’s enough questions… I need some air…” he said, then turned around and left the room. A few seconds later, the front door opened and closed. The quietness hung over me.
It was true. I didn’t dream any of it. Those howls were real. They transform into wolves. I was going to be living with a wolf. I’d been living with a wolf. He hadn’t eaten me yet. Maybe that’s because he was following orders. What if he decided I was a good meal later?
I couldn’t believe this was my life. Twenty-one weeks ago, I was a freshly turned eighteen-year-old enjoying life. I was partying. I was smoking weed. Life wasn’t great, but it sure as hell beat what had happened in the last four months. I went from being pregnant to being held captive.
Oh lord. My mind went back to the cellar. The room I’d entered, where there were chains. Big, big chains. Those weren’t for humans. Those were for werewolves.
I decided I needed some fresh air, something that I hadn’t truly enjoyed in months. I walked slowly out of the bedroom and out of the cabin. Once I closed the door, I leaned back on it. I took some deep breaths.
The sun was high in the sky. It was probably around noon or so.
I stepped out into the grass, and there was a spot where the sun hit.
I walked to that spot and sat down, crossing my legs beneath me.
I looked up to the sky and focused on my breathing.
It was December, but Louisiana was warmer than home.
It felt like the low sixties, with a slight chill from the wind, but I didn’t care.
I hadn’t gotten to enjoy the outside since August.
Leaves crunching under shoes caught my attention, turning my head. Quinnlyn walked to me. The veins in his neck weren’t popping out. His hands were relaxed at his sides.
“Are you… okay?” he asked, cautiously.
“Yeah. No. I don’t know. Right now, I just want to enjoy the sun,” I said.
“I’m gonna make some lunch,” he said, before he walked off.
I sat on the ground. I studied my surroundings. I could hear water rushing nearby. Birds chirped in the trees that surrounded the cabin. It was quiet. No neighbors. Only trees and running water.
My body flinched at the sound of the door. I turned my head as he stepped off the concrete patio and headed my way with a bowl in his hand. As he stepped closer, the smell of food hit my nose. Even with a hearty breakfast, I’d missed several meals and was instantly hungry.
The bowl had red beans, rice, and andouille sausage.
Once he handed me the bowl, he walked back inside, grabbing more bags from the back of the truck on his way.
The food was just what I needed. It was hot, warming me up.
The perfect hint of spice. I spooned the food into my mouth, savoring each bite.
Something rustled to my right, and my head spun quickly.
Quinnlyn was inside, and my adrenaline spiked.
A big doe stood there staring at me. I stared back at her.
Eyes wide, both of us frozen. I sighed. Just a deer.
I continued eating while staring at her.
After a few moments, she relaxed and reached down and ate some of the foliage on the ground.
Then she darted off. I watched her until I could no longer see her. Once she was gone, I headed inside before something else came out of the woods. Alligators were common down here, but they usually weren’t roaming around in December.
I walked back inside, heading for the sink to wash my bowl. Quinnlyn was at the counter, putting various things away. He reached for the bowl, but I ignored him and continued to the sink.
“I can wash that. I should wash that. You should rest,” he said.
“It’s fine,” I said flatly.
I washed the bowl and put it in the little strainer next to the sink, before going back to bed. I prayed for a peaceful nap. I needed one. I started feeling weak and overwhelmed as I walked to the bed.
The smell of fried chicken pulled me out of my slumber.
Goodness, it smelled so wonderful. I wanted to sleep, I didn’t want to leave my dream.
I’d been dreaming of Aspen and my little guy.
They were both there alive and well. I needed to name him.
He deserved a name. The smell of frying potatoes pulled me back.
I wasn’t sure how long I’d been sleeping, but the sun was nearly gone. I got off the bed and walked into the common room. Quinnlyn was standing at the stove, spatula in his hand, flipping sliced potatoes around. Two chicken breasts were sizzling in another skillet.
I sat down in the rocking chair. My thoughts instantly jumped to the baby. I should be rocking him in this chair. This chair almost felt cruel. A single tear rolled down my cheek. Fuck, Zalayuh, you can’t cry every day all day. I got up and moved to the other chair. I just couldn’t do it.
“Are you hungry?” Quinnlyn asked, startling me.
“Yeah… it smells good,” I said. I quickly wiped the tear from my cheek. I didn’t want him to see it.
“Do you like greens?” he asked.
“I don’t think I’ve had them, but I’ll try it,” I said.
“They’re different but good.”
I watched the fire crackling in the fireplace, something he must have started while I was sleeping.
“How long was I out?”
“Several hours. I reckon you needed it,” he said, his southern twang slipping through his words.
“Were you raised here?”
“Umm, it’s complicated.”
“We have all the time and nowhere to be,” I told him.
Sizzling and popping continued as he stirred and flipped the food around.
“My grandfather—my father’s father—once was the Novo. My father moved here and met my mother. They married and had us three children, myself, Calliope—”
“Wait, that’s your sister?”
“Yeah… not my… girlfriend,” he said.
“Hmm… oops,” I said.
“Anyway, and my younger brother. You met him. He came to the cell one time with Ravik. Always the ass kisser. We lived in this area until I was about 12, and then my grandfather passed away, and my father dragged us to Tennessee. He and Ravik fought over everything. Who was to lead the family, who was to inherit personal belongings? Typical siblings—”
“Ravik is your uncle!” I shouted.
“I don’t claim him, but technically.”
“Wait, that means your dad was—”
“White… yes. I’m the lightest one, looking mostly like my dad, except my hair and my eyes,” he said.
He grabbed plates out of an upper cabinet and scooped food onto each plate. He carried them to the small circular table, placing them down. I stood up and moved to the table to join him.
“Long story short, Ravik had my father killed. You see, it's the oldest son who is supposed to take the reins when it’s time. I never really wanted it, until the opportunity was taken from me,” he said.
“Where’s your mom?”
“She didn’t handle losing my father really well. She became very depressed, stopped eating, and her heart gave out. She died two years later,” he said.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” I said.
“You say sorry a lot for things that aren’t your fault,” he said.
“Habit, I guess.”
The chicken, fried potatoes, and even the greens were delicious. I glanced at Quinnlyn. Part of me hated him, reliving every memory of him holding me hostage. The other part knew he saved my life.