by Rain Itika
"Shoot him." The voice next to her urged her on.
She was afraid. Killing people was wrong, her parents had taught her that yet these people told her it was fine.
"Do it now, or I will punish you."
The punishment at this place was horrible, and she would do anything to stop it, so a decision had to be made. Lara closed her eyes, not wanting to see what happens next and squeezed the trigger. The back kick of the gun pushed her onto her backside. The gun slipped out of her hands and fell next to her with a big thud. The shot rang in her ears repeatedly, with her eyes still closed. She is too scared to see the scene in front of her. Seconds passed before she heard a low moan over the ringing in her ears. The next moment hands grab her head, fingers digging into her cheeks.
"What have I said about closing your eyes. Assassins do not fear what they are doing."
She finally took a peek through her lids to the sight. The man was lying on the floor as blood was pooling around him, his eyes big and wild. He was still alive.
The instructor grabbed the gun off the floor and made his way over to the injured man.
"You will watch me kill him. Watch his life vanish from his eyes." He demanded while pointing the gun to his head.
The hands around her face dragged her closer to the scene. His fingers were prying open her eyes further to force her to watch what was about to happen.
"No..." before she could finish, the instructor pulled the trigger, the man dead within the next breath. Blood flowed out of the hole in his head while chunks of meat lay scattered around. His eyes were still open, staring blankly at her, haunting her for the rest of her life.
The instructor turned to face Lara, "I will punish you for your wrongdoing, and after, we will try this again until you learn. You are made to kill, and the sooner you realize this, the better."
He nodded to the person holding her, turned around, and walked away.
The hands left her only to land on her back, pushing her down further.
A sharp pain seared on her skin. The whip is drawing blood. Over and over, she's beaten, until the tears dried up and her voice raw from screaming.
Hours or minutes could have passed when the instructor came back in. He stopped to stand next to her and stare down. "Ready to go again?"
*****
A scream filled the air. Roland shot up in bed, ready to attack and on high alert. In seconds his eyes had adjusted to the dark, but there was no one there. It must have been a dream.
He laid back down, listening sharply to any sound outside he could have missed. There was nothing, only the breeze scraping the branches against the window.
He closed his eyes, ready to fall back asleep when a voice made him shoot up again.
"No.." it came from Lara. He peeked over the side of the bed and was shocked by what he saw.
She was lying on her back, her shirt twisted around her stomach and clinging to her skin. She was sweating profusely, head thrashing from side to side.
He climbed down, hovering over her, legs on either side. He looked down, wondering what she was dreaming about when another scream filled the air.
He started to worry. His mate was afraid of something, but he did not want to touch her. Every time he did, he loses himself more and more. She was his other half, but she was not a wolf. The closer he gets to her, the harder it would be to kill her when the time comes.
Her moans drew his attention back to her. If he does not help her, he would not be able to fall asleep again.
He lightly touches her face, caressing her, "Wake up, sleepyhead."
Nothing happened, so he brushed harder, his fingers already soaked from her sweat. His touch made her moan louder; the sound is unnatural.
"Wake up now!" He uses his Alpha voice, deep and loud.
Her eyes flutter open, and her hand shoots out, wrapping around his throat. She uses her body to twist them around, her on top, and pressing harder onto his neck.
She looked down at him for a moment, eyes glazed over until recognition washes over her, making her realize how close she is to him. The point where her hand meets his skin starts to tingle. A spark was running up her arm. It causes her to jump back, severing the tie.
Roland gets up and stands in front of her. Without any words spoken, he gets back into bed and opens the blanket, indicating to her.
"This is more comfortable."
She looks back down at the floor, knowing he is telling the truth. She reluctantly climbs into the bed with her pillow, staying as far away from him as the bed allows.
"No touching, or I will cut off your hand."
He holds up his hand, fingers straight, "Scouts honor" as he turns around to fall back asleep.
Lara lays down, enjoying the comfort of the bed, sinking in deep. She was ashamed. She had another of her nightmares right in front of him. It probably made her look weak in his eyes, and she is not vulnerable.
As she closed her eyes, she wishes in her head that the dreams will not come again tonight.
CHAPTER 14
The screams of pain pleased him. Their little mutters of begging filled the empty hole in him. They are abominations that need to be exterminated.
The man walked down the dark corridor, cells on each side. In them were creatures of the night. Vampires, banshees, wolf, and even a fairy. He took pride in his collection. With them, he could learn all of their weaknesses and then slay them. He would love to torture the wolf now, but he had bigger fish to fry.
He kept walking until the end of the room and stopped in front of the last cell. Inside was a young girl who may look like she was nineteen, but the witch was almost two hundred years old. She was thin, from lack of food, and her black hair in messy knots.
He scrunched his nose, her smell making him gag.
"Witch, wake up." He demanded while tapping on the bars with his knife.
She stared up at him with pure blue eyes, filled only with hatred towards this man.
"Back again so soon." She whispered.
He stared down at her, no emotion on his face. "Your kind are only good for one thing, blood."
She started to laugh, "You wish you were one of my kind, you pathetic human."
He slammed against the bars, his temper rising.
"What you going to do, kill me. Anything would be better than have to look at your face for another minute."
He smirked down at her, "Do not worry. Death will welcome you soon, but not before I get what I want from you." He pointed the knife right at her.
She scurried back into the wall, the sight of it scared her. She knew what he was about to do. It has been done for the last twenty years. This was her hell on earth.
Come forward.
He used his power to command her, and she had no other choice. She crawled forward, trying to will her body to stop, but it was no use. This man had the powers of a god. Not as strong as a real one, but just enough to hold dominion over every creature.
"You might make me do what you want, but you know I can only give it freely."
He looked her dead in the eyes, again emotionless, "True, but when I am done you with you, you will be begging me to take it."
Her screams filled the air once again as horrible scenes flashed in her head. He was putting them there.
The other creatures fell deeper into their cages as the hit the walls, trying not to catch his attention, for they might be next.
*****
The warmth was comforting and inviting, so she pressed deeper into it. If she was a cat now would have been the best time to purr. The heat had stopped the
nightmares for once, allowing her the rest she needed over the last couple of years.
"Getting comfortable, I see."
She froze in place. Opening her eyes, she is finally able to see the source of her comfort. Below her head was a chest of strong muscles, and she was wrapped all around it.
"Do not stop on my account." He chuckled.
She pushed off him hastily, sitting back as far away as she could. He was looking relaxed with his hands folded behind his head, a big smirk on his face.
She blushed.
"I thought I told you to stay away from me."
With a glint in his eye and a smirk branded on his face, he said, "You were the one grabbing me. I swear I even heard you moan."
She grabbed a pillow and hit him as hard as she could, "Do not lie."
His face fell serious for a second, and she thought he was getting mad, but a moment later, he had another pillow in his hand, "You want to fight, so let’s fight." And all hell broke loose.
They smacked each other around with the pillows until feathers were flying everywhere. The bed covered in them as the laughter picked up. Finally out of breath and tired, they laid down, neither wanting to speak.
Being so close to him was breaking down Lara's walls. She had only known him a couple of days, and hell, he even kidnapped her, and she tried to kill him, but being with him here felt like a piece of her soul was returned, a part she did not even know was missing. He then had to go and break that feeling.
"Who sent you to kill me?"
She looked over at him as she froze, trying to think of how to explain. The company was top secret, and her mission was to keep it that way.
"You know I can't tell you."
"I think I deserve answers. My pack could be in danger, and you would keep it from me."
"I am sorry, but I will not."
He kept quiet for a minute. She could see the emotions running over his face. A few times he open and closed his mouth, thinking better of not asking what he truly wanted to know until he got an idea.
"How about this. I ask a question then you answer. I won't make it to personal. And then vice versa."
He stared at her, waiting for a response. She knew she should not, but it was a too tempting offer.
"Fine, but nothing personal." She was going to regret this.
"What is your real name? Not the one you used at the motel."
She took a deep breath before responding, "Lara Smith."
Before he had time to process the answers, she followed, "How did you become a... wolf." The word felt strange to say out loud.
"I was born, just like any other human. Expect both my parents are also werewolves."
"How does it...." he placed his fingers over her mouth, stopping her.
"Remember the rules. One question each and then the other person gets a chance."
She could not help it. He had opened a flood gate, and the stream was endless
"How did you get into the business?"
"That sounds a bit personal. You trying to trick me into telling you what you want?"
He lifted up his hands, a sign of defeat, "No, just want to get to know you better."
Again, the seeds of doubt began to sow deeper, but she was too caught up in the game.
"My parents died in a fire when I was young and after that, my godfather, Bill, took me in. Let's just say the house was not a traditional place."
He kept quiet, processing all of the information just given.
"My turn. Can a human become a werewolf, like if they got bitten on a full moon or something?"
He started to full-on laugh, "Of course you would believe the fairytale story."
She slapped him lightly on the arm, the contact leaving a spark in her fingers, "It is not funny. What do you expect? Yesterday you were just a myth, but today you are real. Sitting in front of me, skin and bone. Now answer the question."
"Fine, I will give you that one, but do not believe everything you read. No, a human cannot be turned from a bite. In fact, no human can become a wolf."
She relaxed a little, knowing he would not be able to infect her. To become a monster like that is not on her priority list.
"Why were you sent to kill me? I know you cannot tell me who, but at least tell me what the reason was. Please, my pack might be in danger."
She pondered over his question, not wanting to give crucial details away.
"We kill people who deal with bad and illegal things. The information given showed that your business use children to make your profits. As in forced child labor."
The words had broken open a deep wound in him because, in a split second, his eyes had turned pure black again. He jumped off the bed and began pacing up and down, trying to calm himself.
Lara did not know what had made him lose control, and it scared her. Every time he looked like this, he almost hurt her. She jumped back, trying to create as much space as she could.
"I do not abuse children. We cherish and protect our pups." He screamed at the top of his lungs.
She looked around, trying to find a weapon. The only thing available was the side lamp, so she grabbed, ready to beat his head in when needed.
"You need to calm down. That is what they told me, so clearly it is wrong."
She tried to reason with him, but it was not working. Her voice was like a beacon because he started charging towards her. He stopped right in front of her, his breath fawning on her. Looking up into his eyes, she was able to see the color up close. The black seemed like it was an endless pit.
"You will not tell me what to do, human."
Now those words sent her over the edge. And she has had enough of him, "Why would I not, because I am a human or I am your hostage. Make up your mind. Either kill me or torture me. I have had it with your mood swings."
He looked at her like he wanted to kill her, but he fought that instinct and walked away. At the door, he turned around to look at her one last time.
"You are right. I will not make that mistake again. You are my prisoner, and I have been soft on you. Next time I see you, I want the answers, and I will not go easy on you." He said as he slammed the door shut behind him, the lamp bursting into million pieces moments later on the door. She had aimed for his head but had sadly missed.
She sat on the bed, trying to calm herself down. She had to get out now. He was going to kill her or her illness will. Since she did not have her injections with her, it could go either way.
CHAPTER 15
Running in his wolf form always seemed to calm him down. The wind caressing his pelt, the dirt beneath his paws, and open spaces to calm his mind. And his mind was all over the place.
She infuriates him. Being so close to his mate and not being able to claim her is driving him insane. If by some weird twist of fate and she is truly his, his bite would kill her. No human can survive it.
He kept running, pushing his body until he was too tired to think.
He finally stopped when he came close to the border, separating his pack with the others. They were on friendly terms, but they would not be happy if he crossed it without an invite, so he veered to the right, heading to the river not too far from him.
When he reached it, he was finally able to slow down and appreciate the surroundings. It was amazing. The water sparkled in the sunshine, so clear that he could even see the bottom of the riverbed. Trees lined all around, obstructing the view of unwanted eyes. This was the place he would always come to be alone, and the place he used to forget about his past. A past that Lara had unintentionally dug up when she mentioned childr
en. He felt terrible about the way he had acted.
His parents and little sister had died 10 years ago, killed by rogues who were trying to claim his pack, and because of that, he was thrust into being Alpha before he was ready. His sister was only five years old when it happened, gone before her time. Pups were sacred to wolves, and for the rogues to harm her went against their instinct, which means that they were crazed out of their minds, beyond saving. Sadly, they were never able to bring them to justice, and since then, it has killed him inside.
Lara's words have made it worse. Now she thinks he hurts children, his own mate.
He took a sip of the water, letting the cold liquid wash away the hurt. He turned around to run back to the pack, an idea forming. Now was the time to get answers from her, starting with why she smells like a wolf. Hopefully, soon, before he accidentally kills her.
*****
Lara looked around the room, not knowing what to do. Roland had left her all alone and angry. She could not even leave this room since he had chained her to the bed. Staring at her burden, letting the image burned into her head. She had gotten to close and personal with him. It was time she remembered that she was still his prisoner, chained like an animal.
She was about to search for something to break it open when the door moved. She looked up, expecting Roland but was greeted with a pair of warm brown eyes.
The lady looked like she was in her seventies, hair tied in a bun and silver grey. The smile she gave Lara shocked her the most since it reminded her of Roland. Maybe she is his mother, meaning she would not be able to beg for her freedom.
"Hello, dear. I hope everything is all right?" The lady asked as she walked into the room. She stopped in front of Lara, peering down at her with a loving look.
Lara was so surprised at her that she did not even reply.
"Where are my manners? My name is Mary Catch. I am the pack healer. What is your name, dearie?"
"L..Lara." she stuttered, finding this whole situation weird.
"The Alpha asked me to come to check up on you, so how about it. Would you like some breakfast?"