by Robin Roseau
“You are turning on me!” I said. “Let me go!”
Portia ignored me. “We’ll be there in… How long, Eric?”
“Twenty minutes,” he replied.
“Twenty minutes, Head Enforcer,” Portia relayed. “If she makes another run for it, we’ll tie her up.”
I knew that last part was for my benefit. Portia hung up the phone and handed it back to Rory.
I looked away, but Monique was right there. My lap was the only place to rest my eyes that didn’t have a wolf looking at me.
“It doesn’t take four enforcers to bring me to dinner,” I said in a small voice.
“Clearly it takes more than one,” Portia said.
“Maybe if there had been only one, I wouldn’t have panicked.”
“If we release your hands, are you going to remain calm?”
I thought about it. I was still terrified, but I also felt myself turning belligerent. “No,” I replied.
Portia sighed. “We’re not going to hurt you, Zoe. Why would you think that?”
“Gee, I wonder,” I said. I struggled with their clasp on my wrists for a moment, making my point.
“Let her go, Monique,” Portia said. “She’s not going anywhere.”
They both released my wrists, and I set my hands in my lap, still looking down. “Apparently, that’s not true,” I said. “Whether I like it or not, I’m going wherever you decide.”
“Yes, well,” Portia replied. “You’re going to your alpha for a well-deserved chastisement.”
“For what? Breaking up with her sister?”
“Well, I meant Michaela,” Portia said, “so sister-in-law. But no. For ignoring her calls. When the alpha or an enforcer calls you, you answer. If you miss the call, you call back. You don’t go off the grid for a month. You had plenty of time to get over a broken heart and start taking calls.”
“She was calling to yell at me.”
“Did you listen to the voice messages? Don’t even try denying you received them.”
I didn’t answer her.
“If you didn’t listen to the messages, then you don’t know what she wanted, do you?”
“Why can’t you just leave me alone?” I wailed. “I haven’t done anything wrong!”
We sat quietly for a minute before Portia said, “I thought we were friends, Zoe. How could you think we were coming to hurt you?”
At that I looked up. “We both know you’ll do what the alpha tells you to do. And friends don’t kidnap you.”
“Well, I thought you and Michaela were friends, too.”
“It’s not Michaela I’m afraid of.”
Portia shook her head.
“Don’t look at me like that!” I said. “I was given ample reason to be afraid of her. And I know for a fact Elisabeth is willing to frighten and intimidate me for little more than a game. And if we were friends, why are you doing this to me?”
“Why do you think Michaela sent me?” she asked.
“Why did she send four of you?” I countered. “It only takes one to stop by and tell me to answer my phone. Or it doesn’t even require that. She could have relayed a message through Vincent.” Vincent was one of the guards at the apartment building.
“Frankly, this is none of Vincent’s business,” Portia replied. “And we were showing up as friends, Zoe.”
“Bullshit. You were there as enforcers,” I countered.
“All right. We were there as both. We were going to invite ourselves in, chat for a bit, joke around a little, then take you to dinner.”
“Well, I don’t want to go to dinner.”
“Yeah, we figured that out,” Eric said from the front seat. “But that part isn’t optional. Michaela wants to talk to you.”
“Then she could have come herself. She doesn’t need to have me hauled home like an errant child.”
“Well, that’s how you’re acting,” he said.
“I don’t belong there!” I exclaimed. “I’m just a weak, worthless, scaredy-human. I’ll never fit in, and we all know it.”
“You were fitting in just fine,” Eric said.
“You already know what I think,” Portia said. “You were trying too hard.”
“I was just doing what Eric told me to do,” I muttered.
“I told you to play,” he countered. “I thought you’d have enough sense to know your limits.”
“So it’s my fault wolves don’t know how to play with a human?”
No one responded immediately but Eric said finally, “We don’t get a lot of practice.”
“Well,” I said. “I’ve gotten even less.”
We rode quietly after that. I didn’t make any more trouble, and they didn’t berate me further. But I was sick to my stomach, and knew the worst was yet to come. My anxiety increased as we drew closer to the compound.
“Calm down, Zoe,” Portia whispered. “It’s not that bad.”
“Easy for you to say.”
“What do you think is going to happen?”
I didn’t know, which was fueling half of my fear. But if it took four enforcers to pick me up, I knew it couldn’t be good. I didn’t answer her.
We pulled into the compound and parked. Eric and Rory got out of the car, but Portia turned to me and clasped my chin, drawing my gaze back to her.
“Whether you believe it or not, I am your friend.”
“Do friends kidnap friends?” I asked.
“We didn’t kidnap you.”
“You dragged me out of my car and then forcefully shoved me into this one before driving away with me. What would you call it?”
“An intervention. I am your friend, Zoe. So are the rest of us. So, by the way, are Michaela, Lara and Elisabeth.”
It didn’t feel like it. “It feels like kidnapping to me,” I muttered. “Whatever.”
Portia didn’t say anything, but she stared into my eyes for a minute longer before releasing me. By the time she turned to the door, Rory had it opened. She slipped out then turned back to face me. “Come on.”
Monique didn’t wait for me but released my seatbelt herself. I stared at Portia for a moment, but Monique nudged me, and I found myself moving towards Portia. She grabbed an arm and carefully but firmly pulled me from the car. Then she kept possession of my arm. A moment later, Monique was on the other side.
I thought they would take me to Michaela’s house, but we turned to the barracks. We closed half the distance before the panic fully returned.
“No,” I whimpered. “Please don’t do this, Portia.”
She ignored me, and they continued to pull me towards the barracks, in the basement of which was a far too familiar cell. I was sure that’s where they were taking me.
Futilely, I began to drag my heels into the dirt again. It didn’t do me any more good than it had back at the apartment. As we drew closer and closer to the doors, I increased my frantic attempts at escape, scrambling my feet and squirming in their grasp.
They didn’t slip in the lightest, although Monique was holding my arm so tightly I knew she was leaving bruises.
“Zoe! Calm down!”
“No!” I keened. “No!”
Eric opened the door of the barracks. Portia and Monique dragged me to the doorway, but I stretched out my feet and braced them against the doorframe.
“Don’t do this!” I screamed. “Don’t lock me in that cell again!”
I pushed and struggled, frantic, out of my mind with fear. Portia and Monique struggled to push me through the door, but they were controlling their strength, and for a moment we had a standoff.
But then Rory stepped forward, wrapped his arms around my waist, and then slithered down until he had fully captured my legs.
“No!” I screamed. I squirmed and squirmed, but the three of them carried me into the barracks.
“Zoe!” Portia said. “Calm down! Zoe!”
“No!” I screamed.
“We’re not taking you to the cell. We’re taking you upstairs.”
&nb
sp; “I don’t believe you!” I wailed.
And so, while I squirmed and struggled, the three of them carried me deeper into the building and, just as Portia said, up the stairs. But I was so out of my mind with panic that all I could think of was trying to escape, and so I continued to struggle.
Eric ran ahead and opened the next set of doors and then again for the final set of doors.
And so, quite humiliatingly, I was carried into the conference room, still struggling and, I was sure, foaming at the mouth.
They came to a stop. I continued to struggle, keening the entire time. I looked around wildly; Elisabeth, both alphas, and several other enforcers were waiting for me, all of them staring at me.
“This is an unexpected entrance,” Michaela said loudly enough to be heard over the noises I was making.
“In spite of my efforts to convince her otherwise, she seems to think the worst,” Portia replied. “We’d put her down, but I’m afraid she’s going to hurt herself.”
“I was given to believe she had calmed down,” Elisabeth said.
“She lost it when she decided we were tossing her downstairs,” Portia explained. “Maybe we should just hold her until she wears herself out.”
“No,” said Michaela. She moved closer, and I fixed my eyes on her. She captured my gaze and came to a stop beside me. “She’s going to calm down. Right now.”
As if.
I renewed my struggles.
“Eric,” Michaela said. “Guard the door. Rory, set her down.”
And just like that, I found my feet on the floor, although I was still supported between Portia and Monique. I continued to try to break free of their grasp, completely out of my mind.
“Let her go,” Michaela commanded. “And back away.”
“But-” said Portia.
“Do what I said,” Michaela said firmly.
“Yes, Alpha,” Portia replied. But she adjusted her grip, moving behind me and holding me against her chest with one arm. “Monique, go,” she ordered.
From my left, Monique released my arm, and then it was only Portia I struggled with. I squirmed for a moment, but she pulled me tightly against her chest then bent her head.
“Zoe, I’m going to release you,” she said. “No one is going to hurt you.”
“Much,” added Elisabeth.
“You’re not helping, Enforcer,” Michaela said. “Shut up.”
“Yes, Alpha,” Elisabeth replied.
“Release her, Portia,” Michaela said.
She began to relax her hold, and suddenly I burst away from her, scrambling backwards until felt the far wall behind me.
No one pursued me.
I breathed heavily, looking around the room for a path to freedom. Eric and Rory were both in front of the doors, and I knew I couldn’t get past them. There were no other doors or windows.
I was trapped.
Then, slowly, Michaela moved closer to me, speaking quietly. “Calm down, Zoe. You have entirely overreacted.”
My eyes fixed on her as she approached me at an oblique angle.
“That’s right,” she said softly. “Look at me. There you go.”
I kept my back against the wall and panted at her, but I’d stopped keening and crying.
“There,” she said, coming to a stop an arm’s reach away. “Deep, slow breaths,” she said. “Breathe with me.” Then she took exaggerated breaths, and I found myself breathing with her. “Good,” she said after a moment. “Deep, calming breaths. We’re all friends here, Zoe.” She continued to breathe at me, and I matched her.
“Doesn’t feel like it,” I managed to say.
“Yes, well,” she said. “That is your fault, but we’re not going to talk about that until you’re calmer.”
It felt like she was blaming the victim. “Talk?”
“Yes. Talk. Well, there might be some yelling. I suspect Elisabeth intends to growl a little.”
I glanced over at Elisabeth.
“No,” Michaela said. “Look at me, Zoe. Eyes on me.”
I found myself obeying, looking down into her eyes. She moved just a little closer.
“Alpha…” said Serena from the other end of the room. My eyes snapped to her, and I pressed my back more firmly against the wall and began sliding away from Michaela, moving closer to the corner.
“No, no,” Michaela said. “Zoe, look at me!” Her command was firm, but I stared at the wolves, all of them watching me intently. Their gazes were hard.
“They want to hurt me,” I whimpered.
“No,” Michaela said. “Zoe, please, look at me.”
I snapped my eyes to her for a moment, but I was back to panting. While she was closest, she didn’t feel like a threat, and my eyes traveled back to the wolves, watching all of them.
Michaela tried to interpose herself between me and the wolves, but she wasn’t remotely big enough to block my view of all of them. As short as I was, I could still largely look over her head, and I could certainly look past her. She waved her hands at me. “Zoe! Zoe! Look at me. Breathe with me.” She took more, exaggerated breaths. “Breathe with me, Zoe.”
I looked back at her. “Please just let me go, Alpha.”
“Zoe, you’re not in this much trouble. Calm down so we can have a rational conversation.”
“I-” I looked around wildly then settled my gaze back on her. Finally I slumped and turned away from all of them, leaning my shoulder against the wall while I stared into the corner.
That was when Michaela finished closing the distance. She pressed against my side, a hand on my shoulder. “No one is going to hurt you,” she said gently.
I didn’t respond right. I wasn’t sure I believed her. I simply stared straight ahead. I was still deeply frightened, but my brain was starting to work again, and I was at least as embarrassed as I was frightened.
“Scaredy-human,” I muttered eventually. “Elisabeth is right to be disgusted by me.”
“No one is disgusted by you,” Michaela said. “You should have seen me a few times.” She raised her voice. “Monique, bring me a bottle of water.” Then she spoke quietly, just for me again. “It’s just Monique. She’s a sweet girl, and she won’t hurt you. She’s bringing you water, then she’ll retreat again.”
I didn’t respond. Monique passed a bottle to Michaela who opened it and then pressed it into my hands, clasping both of my hands around it.
“Take a little,” she ordered. “Just a little. Don’t choke.”
I lifted the bottle and took a swing. I could taste my own fear in my mouth, and so I used more water to rinse before swallowing.
“There,” Michaela said gently. “Keep breathing.” She made her big breaths again. “Drink more of the water when you’re ready.”
I did what she said, but I turned further away from her as my embarrassment grew.
“Everyone is watching me,” I whispered.
“Yep,” Michaela agreed. “Welcome to my world.” She rubbed my back for a while, speaking soothingly as I continued to calm down. “Ready to be yelled at?”
Inside, I was still in turmoil, frightened, embarrassed, and upset. But I sighed and nodded. Michaela took my hand and pulled me from the wall, leading me towards the assembled wolves. I followed docilely. “Normally we would make you stand for this, but I think it’s best if you sit.” She lifted her voice. “Portia, pull out a chair for her.”
Portia grabbed a chair and spun it towards me. At Michaela’s urging, I sat in it, but I couldn’t help but look over my shoulder at the wolf.
“Stay calm,” Michaela said. That was easy for her to say.
Portia turned the chair until I was facing Lara and then stepped away. Michaela moved to stand next to her mate. She took a deep breath.
“Head Enforcer,” she said, “Say whatever you’re going to say, then get out.”
Elisabeth began moving towards me, and I looked up at her. She leaned over, resting her hands on the arms of the chair, deep into my personal space as she loomed o
ver me. “If you were a wolf, running from the enforcers is a beating offense. To further complicate your offense, you nearly ran Monique over.”
“That was her own fault!” I blurted. “She jumped in front of my car. I’m sorry if human reactions weren’t fast enough to stop sooner.” I said the last part sarcastically.
“She wouldn’t have had to jump in front of your car if you hadn’t been trying to run. She wouldn’t have had to jump in front of your car if you had obeyed her when she told you to stop.”
“She didn’t have to jump in front of my car at all!” I spat. “She could have let me leave. That was her choice. You can yell at me for running if you want to, but I don’t take responsibility for the choices others make.”
“When an enforcer tells you to do something,” Elisabeth said in a low voice, “you do it.”
“I don’t take orders from 15-year-olds,” I said back.
“Would you have behaved any differently if it had been Eric yelling at you to stop?”
I looked down.
“That’s what I thought,” Elisabeth said. “I should put you over my knee and paddle your bottom red.”
I snapped my eyes back up to her. “Just you try it,” I said. “I’ll-” I trailed off.
“You’ll… what?” Elisabeth said, her eyes narrowed.
I tried a different tack. “We don’t have that kind of relationship anymore,” I said. “But is that how you get off? Treating your former lovers like a wayward child? Does the thought excite you? Is that what the big, strong wolf needs? Is that why you were dating down in the first place?”
She loomed closer. “No.”
“Maybe you just like scaring me,” I said. “You sure seemed to enjoy it the last time I was here.”
“God damn it, Zoe!” she said. “I’m trying to scare some sense into you.”
“So being afraid of you is an appropriate reaction, and I was fully justified in trying to run. Gee. I wonder why I didn’t want to continue to come to dinners. It wasn’t just that I didn’t want to be around my former lover, the woman who didn’t think I was good enough for her.”