Chapter Forty-Eight
Iheard a chuckle and then a soft whisper. “Slepta noir sha dineh por clotin.” Then the world went dark.
Amy, stay awake. Nix called me, but I couldn’t move. Everything was heavy. I felt like I was snuggled under the best blanket in a dark room.
Amy! Megan called after me, but I was snuggled deep into slumber.
A few more minutes, guys. I called back to my wolves. I heard them both growl.
What is the point of having magic if we fall victim to it? Nix growled, but Megan just sighed.
It wasn’t an attack, like Verity said it was a gentle spell to put her to sleep. We are still awake, and if anything happens, I’m sure we can force her awake. But there is a bright side.
What’s that? Nix sounded doubtful, but open to listening.
Amy will be rested and fully recharged. Then we can figure out what the actual fuck happened. Like, how did Rick catch us?
I felt my wolves settled near me. And I rolled to touch them. I wanted to wake up. This seemed like something important. Something was wrong.
Are you sure she won’t wake up unless something happens to her? Nix sniffed close to my face. Her breath made my face twitch as I swam in the darkness.
She said she shouldn’t and Vince was cuddling us to his chest. Megan sounded disgusted. Why?
Because I’m sure she is about to wake up. Nix shuffled closer and pressed her nose against my face. Amy, if you are about to wake up…
Wait. Megan cut it. If you can understand us, give us a minute so that we can adjust your scent.
My scent…
Nix seemed to know what my question was.
Your body produces more of your scent when you’re awake.
Your body becomes more active so wolves can scent when you wake up.
It’s built into our survival instincts. We need to adjust your scent with our magic to stay the same before you’re fully awake, so Vince doesn’t know.
I pushed harder. Something was happening, and I needed to know what was going on.
Don’t push too hard too fast, Amy. If you twitch or jolt in his arms, he will know. Say still, slow deep breathing, that’s it.
Is she awake? Megan trotted back over.
Yes. Just barely. I opened my eyes. What’s going on? What happened?
Nix and Megan pulled back. But it was Nix that answered.
As soon as Verity said the words, you dropped.
Megan and I were still awake, but we wouldn’t control our body.
Vince picked us up and climbed back onto Rick.
Morgan had to let Brandon ride him with the missing fingers.
He carried the pup, but… She trailed off.
What?
Megan stepped closer. We still can’t move. Vince is bringing us to a place I have never seen before. And… She looked away.
And what? I looked around. My dark forest was still the same. Comforting and safe. I pushed off the ground and walked to the edge of the trees, looking out. I finally figured out what they were too hesitant to say. Is Vince petting me?
My two wolves walked to my side. Yes… Nix sat next to me. He’s been doing it ever since he picked us up.
Megan shivered. He’s also been whispering to us.
Just as she said it, his voice was soft in my ear.
“Such a strong-willed female. I think I want to keep you. Would you like that?” Vince’s fingers trailed along my fur.
“You are stunning. Even if you’re only a Beta, I can feel your strength.
” His chuckle was deep. “Too bad you had to run into my web, huh?”
His web? I looked at my wolves. What does he mean?
Nix looked at me. The traps Rick was telling us about? They were draining traps all over the woods. As we were running, using our magic, the traps were draining us and transferring it to Rick.
Megan nodded. That’s why Rick said they wouldn’t believe it if we got away from him…he was being fed our strength.
How is that even possible? I shook my head but my wolves were lost too. I thought of my book and my magic. It has to be a transfer spell…but how in the hell did they make it so it goes to Rick?
Nix nudged my side. Look at the back of his neck. She nodded outward. I made sure I was facing away from Vince and I cracked an eye. I hung in his arms, confused.
What are you talking about?
Nix nudges again. Look down to the wolf under you, his neck. There is something there. A burn mark.
I finally focused on the spot, and I had to hold in a gasp. On the back of Rick’s neck was a burned rune. The rune for quickening. I whispered. But it’s wrong.
What do you mean?
It’s poisoned.
Nix and Megan pressed against my side. What are you saying? It’s poisoned…poisoned how? Nix leaned in, trying to see it closer, but we were stuck where we were.
The rune on his neck was collecting the power the traps were pulling from me. The quickening. It says it right in the name. It converts your power into physical strength and speed. Like I was doing with our power, but this is for a person who doesn’t have magic.
Okay…I still don't know what’s wrong. Megan leaned against the barrier and I laughed.
Do you see the line that cuts through the rune? Both of my wolves focused on the rune that was bobbing in and out of our line of sight as he ran.
Yeah. Nix finally said. The part that looks infected?
Yes. That’s exactly what it is. A poisoning. It breaks the limits on the rune and pushes power into the person. Normally, the person will hit a wall. The wall being that their physical body can’t go any faster or it hurts them, breaking down their bodies. Like poison.
So you’re saying that because they removed the safety features of the rune, that Rick is being slowly poisoned.
I’m saying it’s not only his daughter that’s going to die. I stared down at the rune.
Do you think he knows? Nix stood and paced away. I mean, does it matter? He did this to his kid…
I turned to look at my wolf. We don’t know all the answers. We can’t make that decision. All we know is what we heard today.
Isn’t that enough? Megan paced away. He did this for his own benefit.
I sat back, watching where we were headed, with a growing pit in my stomach.
The escalating horror of where we were going continued to build.
Once I was sure, I turned away and focused on my bickering wolves.
I know it seems like he is a villain, and he might be.
But I feel like there is more to his story.
What else could there be? Some explanation that is going to make us overlook everything he has done? Unlikely. Megan scoffed.
I shrugged. All we can do is watch.
Rick came to a stop and Vince clutched my body closer to his chest and I heard a soft inhale. “She’s still asleep. Let’s get her into a cell and then we can bring the kid home.” Vince moved towards the door and I was transported back to my first life.
“Brandon, please, I didn’t do anything. Our pup-”
Brandon’s enraged growl stopped my voice. “Stop fucking lying.” He dragged me by the arm into the building on the edge of our pack lands. I could just make out the field where we held our mating ceremony years earlier.
“Baby please.” I begged him, but he continued to drag me down and the door slammed behind us with a heavy clang. There was a wolf there, bored and tired, watching the door with keys.
“Open it.” Brandon kicked the cell, and the wolf hustled over. He unlocked the cage and Brandon tossed me in. I covered my stomach, trying to protect my pup as I rolled into the tiny room. My back touched the back bars, and I hissed, silver. The bars were silver.
“Brandon, Goddess, please don’t leave me here. I’m pregnant with our pup. This place will kill me.” I shrieked as I ran towards the open door, but he slammed it shut, locking me in.
“Good. I fucking hope you and that fucking abomination die in here. What the fuck am I supposed to do with a pup that isn’t mine? He will do nothing for me!” He screamed as he turned to face the guard. “No food, no water. Do not speak with her.”
“Yes Alpha.” He looked at me and then opened his mouth.
“What?” Brandon snapped.
“She is my Luna…”
He snorted. “She was injected with wolfsbane. She won’t be commanding anything from you. Just do as you’re told.”
The guard nodded, and Brandon walked out, slamming the door behind him. Leaving me in this hellhole.
I was suddenly back in the present as Vince laid me down on the bed. I felt a sharp jab in my neck, and the telltale burn of wolfsbane entered my system.
Nix and Megan both snorted. This is going to be fucking fun. Nix turned. We will be out of here in minutes.
Megan nodded. This won’t keep us here.
No, it won’t. I agreed. But I still hesitated. But I think I’m going to wait for a little while.
Both wolves turned on me. Why?
I looked at them. The guards here are loose lipped, remember. They knew way more than what they were letting on.
Megan stared at me for a minute. You are going to pump them for information.
Yeah, and I’m going to do it so they don’t remember. There aren’t any cameras in here. Foolish really. I think I’m going to make Vince regret that particular choice.
I waited until Vince pulled out the needle and I jumped up, growling. I let my hackles rise and I lunged for Vince, but he danced back and slammed the door shut. His chuckle was infuriating, and I lunged, hitting the bars on purpose. I yelped and jumped back from the searing pain of silver.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you. Everything in here is silver.
” Vince wagged the key in front of me. “You will just have to be a good girl to get let out.” I nearly gagged, but I lunged again, testing how hard the bars were.
They bent a little, making every man jump back.
I yelped again and slid against the ground, showing the burns to Vince. “Stop!”
I pulled away, slowly, weakly, growling softly to show I hadn’t given up yet. Nix rolled on the ground. You are really selling this, Amy.
Vince is eating this up for sure. Megan shook her head. But don’t push it too far. A wolf cornered would fight, but a weaker wolf would stay away from the silver after this.
I nodded. Oh, I know. That was the last charge. I just wanted to see how soft the bars actually were. And if we could force them if I had to.
The silver… Megan turned to me.
Will hurt, but I built up my resilience. I’ll bounce back real quick. I’ve had to slow my healing on these burns with magic, so Vince wouldn’t see the healing. I shook my head. But I need to figure out more of his plan.
“Stupid girl.” Vince finally stood when he realized I wouldn’t charge again. He turned to the guard. “Feed her normally and be careful. She is stronger than she looks.”
“The shot?” The guard nodded to me.
“I’ll come back every day to give it to her. You are not to enter the cell. Is that understood?” The guard looked at me, laying weakly at the back of the cell. He swallowed and then nodded.
“Understood.” Then everyone filed out, with a parting shot from Brandon.
“Stupid whore. You’ll be dead before the week is out. I hope it was worth it.” He snorted as he left. I saw the last look from Rick, a look with dead eyes, with a tiny flicker of worry before it was gone.
Then I was alone with my burns and the pain of the wolfsbane in my veins.
I allowed my magic to get most of my healing, except the top-most layer of skin.
The burns looked vicious, but in reality they were very superficial.
I sighed in relief as my system went to work purging the wolfsbane from my system.
The immunity I built up over the years kicked in and the burn disappeared.
I fell into a fitful sleep as I heard the main door open. “I’m here to take over for your break.” Rick’s voice was soft, but apparently this was a normal protocol when there was a prisoner because the guard left without even looking back.
I kept my eyes closed as he walked over, and he pulled something out of his pocket, clicked something on it, and the room flickered for a second, then steadied.
“There. If there was anything in here that was watching or listening, they aren’t anymore.
” He watched me for a second, then backed up against the wall and slid down until he was sitting.
“I know you understand what I’m saying, and I think you know who I am, even though I have no fucking idea who you are.
” Rick closed his eyes and banged his head.
“I called Amy, texted her, but no answer.”
I chuffed out a laugh. I didn’t know if I could still trust him. “She trusted you.” Was all I said. The accusation was there.
He nodded. “I know. And I know after today I don’t seem that trustworthy. But all I can hope is that she will give me a chance to explain it all.” He closed his eyes and cursed. I watched as a tear trailed down his face.
“Why are you crying? She was going to give you and your mate a way out. She was going to save your pup. You betrayed her.” I watched as each word hit him. I watched as he folded in on himself.
“I didn’t betray her. And even if she hates me, I pray to the Goddess she will save Abby. Amy is one of the best people I know.” He looked down at his hands and whispered to himself. “Even if I die, she has to save Abby.”
I snorted. “You said you didn’t betray her, but look at what you’ve done. What you did today. You aren’t innocent.”
His eyes jumped to mine. “I know. I know I’m not innocent. I was stupid. I was weak. But I’m not evil.”
I scoffed again. “You are sacrificing your child and mate.”
He surged to his feet. “I would never do that to Abby and Shelly. They are my fucking world. I’d die for them.” He hit the wall and his hand went to his neck. “I am dying for them.”