A guard high-fived him. “Showed him.”
Another guard, looking braver now that Romy was locked up, sneered. “Damn Lycan.” His voice rose to be heard over the howling wolves. “Needed to learn his damn place.”
Lycan? I thought back to the research Romy and I did on my computer. The hunters from the woods had known exactly what they were hunting and capturing.
A guard turned to the other wolves, yelling with frustration, “Shut up!”
As he and the other horrid men retreated into the tent in front of me, most of the outside lights were turned off, leaving us in the dark. Only the moon gave us light. I dropped to my knees, stretching my arm through my chain-link fencing to my bloody wolf. I didn’t want to give any details away, but these men knew I was with him, so I took a chance and called out to him as quietly as possible. “Romy?”
Instantly, it went quiet. Every wolf I could see now stood in silence, watching me. For a moment, I held still, arm extended, turning to look at all the wolf eyes on me—on Romy and me. But the need to feel my wolf overpowered my questions about the other wolves’ behavior, and once again, I reached for Romy.
It was pointless. The aisle in between us meant his cage was two inches from the tips of my fingers. I grunted as I forced my arm to accomplish something it couldn’t. Unraveling, I cried out, “Romy, I’m here. Please, wake up.” I didn’t care anymore if someone heard me use his name.
Romy didn’t move.
“I need to know you’re alive, Romy.” Tears choked me before I even realized I was crying. The female wolf whimpered in her cage behind me. I begged, “Please, Sebastian.”
Wolves paced their cages with their tails tucked and shoulders tensed, but when Romy’s paw twitched, we all froze, intently watching for more. When Romy did nothing, I whispered, “I’m here,” with my battered arm stretching again. Heart-wrenching desperation came out in every word I spoke. “I need to know you’re going to make it! Please, Sebastian, just one sign you’re going to live through the night…Pleassssseeeee—”
His eyes opened. They were exhausted but open.
My body collapsed into the fencing in utter relief. My exasperated lungs were finally getting the oxygen fear had denied them. “Thank you, oh, thank you, Sebastian. You can rest now. Heal, heal.”
Romy’s eyes closed.
I whispered, “I love you.”
The wolves, softly and mournfully, howled into the night.
My mother’s body fell to the ground.
Blood… her last words…
My bloodcurdling scream…
My cage door opening pulled me from the nightmare. “Mom?” I weakly called for her. But as men with weapons entered my outdoor prison, I was startled awake, realizing where I was. My eyes squinted to adjust to the sunlight. I’d made it through the night.
All the wolves were already pacing, including Romy. I sat up in a hurry, shocked to see him healed, moving easily and growling. I’d only seen him heal from the effect of four beers before. I’d been unsure of the extent of his healing capabilities. I wanted to get closer to him but had no time. I had to focus to see what kind of trouble I was in.
Three men with guns surrounded me, and then Boss entered, holding some sort of high-tech cattle prod. He grinned at Romy. “Already angry? Haven’t touched her… yet.”
Romy barked savagely as I stayed on the ground, holding my knees to my body, watching him. Boss spoke calmly to Romy over the growling and barking of the other wolves. “Oh, yes. I think I have your attention now.”
Romy viciously attacked the cage surrounding him. It rocked as his body slammed into the link walls, trying to break through. I now understood the reinforcing of his cage and why it had taken so many guards and guns to contain him. I was wrong to think Romy’s rage would scare me. In fact, Romy looked beautiful. My wolf, furious in his attempt to protect me, made me proud. I looked at him in wonder and fell in love with him even more.
Boss acted as though Romy was simply throwing a temper tantrum. The man casually swung his cattle stick through the air as Romy caused havoc to his prison. It gave me an uneasy understanding of how deranged this man, Boss, truly was. My eyes followed the dancing stick while I waited for whatever was coming.
Boss finally spoke to Romy. “My field hunters claim to have seen you in human form, but, tsk, tsk, you refuse to convert and show me your human side. No matter what we do to you. I have to say”—he pointed to the now deformed cage—“your size and strength are alarming and impressive, but every wolf… has a weakness.”
Romy froze. The cage still creaked, but Romy did not move another muscle. What Boss was up to was starting to make sense to both of us. In less than a blink of an eye, Boss was at me, and he shocked me. Painful volts jolted my body. I screamed and crawled backward to get away while Romy went berserk. The surrounding wolves joined in.
Over all the chaos, Boss yelled one word to Romy. “Convert.”
Romy stopped his tirade again, and his horrified eyes looked at me. I knew he was struggling internally with what to do. His mother had told him never to reveal himself, but I was going to be tortured, possibly until he did what they demanded.
I tried to mouth, “it’s okay,” but Boss preferred that Romy and I not communicate. At least, that was what I interpreted the next bolt of lightning jostling my organs to be about. This time, I didn’t scream. I held in my waves of nausea to make this easier on Romy.
“Reveal yourself to me, wolf, or you shall learn I’m a patient man with much endurance. How about your little mutt here? Wanna wager on how long she can take this?” He examined his fancy stick from hell. “Hmm, oh, here’s the button to increase the voltage. Let’s see. Had it at number three. I say we try number six. Don’t worry; it goes to twelve. But I’m hoping to reason with you before that drastic measure.”
Boss leaned over to me, preparing for his next attack. I quickly turned my back to Romy, so he didn’t have to witness pain on my face. Then I closed my eyes, becoming as brave as I could, waiting for my next electrocution.
Boss’s chuckle was unnerving, and his words confused me. “And that’s how it’s done, gentlemen.”
Without moving from my huddled position, I opened an eye. No stick was in my view. I opened my other eye and saw the guards staring behind me. My shoulders sagged. I let out the breath I had been holding then slowly and sadly turned toward Romy’s cage.
Refusing to glance at me, stood a proud, naked Sebastian.
Chapter Fifteen:
Bittersweet Destruction
A guard pushed black pants through a slot in Romy’s cage. Sebastian dressed but had yet to say a word or look at me. He came back to the fence, putting his hands behind his back, standing tall, staring straight ahead, and looking pissed. From where I still sat, I could practically feel Sebastian’s anger radiating from his body.
Boss seemed wickedly pleased as he toyed with Sebastian. “Ewwww, he’s ferocious as a human, too! I bet you’re dying to get your hands on me.”
Boss walked over to stand next to me. “You’re refusing to look at her. Hmmm. What do you not want me to know? Hmm.” He squatted behind me and leaned in, still eyeing Sebastian, who only stared over our heads. “So then, you don’t mind if I become acquainted with this attractive young lady?”
Sebastian’s jaw clicked.
“Care to admit this is your female? Yes? If she’s not yours, maybe I should let my boys have a crack at her. It gets lonely out here.”
His guards all chuckled as they repositioned themselves, crudely implying what crack meant. I tightened my legs to my body. Sebastian did not break his empty stare, but his body began to shake. It was torture to watch him being tortured. Now I understood why he’d revealed himself for me. I wanted to beg Boss to stop, but I was trying to follow Sebastian’s lead—say nothing.
My stomach soured as Boss took his finger and seductively ran it over my shoulders. I refused to show any weakness by withdrawing from his touch. A deep rumble escaped Sebastian’s chest. Boss snickered. “I’ll take that as a yes. She’s yours.” He stood then walked back toward Sebastian. “What shall I call you, Lycan?”
Still staring at nothing, my protector coldly answered, “Sebastian.”
The wolves howled in unison. Then stopped.
Boss looked around in thought. “Their reaction to your presence intrigues me. Interested in sharing?”
Sebastian didn’t budge.
“Didn’t think so. How about another game? Let’s play Make Your Female Convert.”
Sebastian suddenly broke his stare with a blink of surprise toward Boss. “That game is impossible. She’s human.”
I screamed when more bolts zipped through me because Boss had indeed turned up the heat. Sebastian gripped the fencing and shook his cage. “I have done what you’ve asked! You are torturing a HUMAN!”
As I panted in a dazed state, Boss said, “Liar.” He shocked me again.
When I could finally slow my gasping for air and see again, I realized every wolf, including Sebastian, had become a Tasmanian devil. I looked around as every prison shook, showing Boss had misjudged the wolves that had been somewhat docile until then. The confinements weren’t sturdy enough for Boss to keep prodding me without a consequence. Alarms sounded, and more guards ran toward us with guns raised, fingers on triggers.
Boss pulled out a handgun, cocked it, and put it to my head. “She’ll be shot before this war even begins. You may escape, but your mutt will be dead.”
Sebastian stilled with his nose to the fencing, breathing heavily, staring at Boss. The wolves followed suit. For some unknown reason, the surrounding wolves had made it clear that they would have Sebastian’s back. They stared down Boss, a silent dare to electrocute me one more time. I might be killed, but the stakes in Boss’s game had just been raised.
Boss finally broke eye contact, holstered his gun, and smiled, as if he had never been challenged. “If you’re willing to show me your conversion, why be secretive with hers?”
Sebastian’s tight jaw refused to relax. “I don’t know who you are or what you want, but She’s. Not. A. Wolf!”
Boss shrugged then looked at me. “Maybe you have a weakness, too?” He pointed to Sebastian but told me aggressively, “He doesn’t get fed till you convert. Your stubbornness will cause your alpha to starve.” After a hand gesture from Boss, the guards started to leave.
I finally broke my silence. “Wait! I’ll do anything you ask, but I can’t be something I’m not. Please, don’t starve him because of me.” I got up and ran to the locked gate, clinging to it, pleading as the men went into the tent, ignoring me.
“Marley, stop. I don’t care what they do to me as long as you’re left alone.”
I followed the perimeter of my prison until I was as close as I could get to Sebastian. I shoved my arm through a link, reaching out for him. Sebastian tried too, but his hands were too big to pass through. In frustration, he shook his cage again. He stopped when he saw my reaction. My panic level was rising, bordering on hysteria, as my outreached fingers begged for his touch.
His deep voice attempted to soothe me. “Shh, Marley. I’m here.” His long fingers escaped captivity, attempting to touch mine.
When the tips of our fingers brushed each other, a sigh was released from my exasperated body. My eyes closed, and I concentrated on the only touch I could have. His fingers kept rubbing mine. “See? I’m here.”
I nervously nodded, my face scraping across the metal.
“That’s my girl.” He took a deep breath as I began breathing regularly. “You’re okay.”
Collecting myself, I pulled my arm back inside my prison. “Are you okay? What did they do to you?”
Sebastian didn’t seem to want me to get worked up again. “It doesn’t matter. Are you hurt? They hit you so hard last night.”
“You saw that?” I hung onto the fencing for support.
His eyes closed. “I woke to your scream. I’m so sorry about your mom, Marley.”
I thought of Romy nudging her when he’d missed her on Sebastian’s first day of school. I knew Sebastian was hurting too, but remembering her in the kitchen, in her apron, her bleeding body flashed through my mind. I banged my head against my cage with my eyes tightly shut. “Don’t. I can’t think of her and… breathe.”
“Okay. Marley. Open your eyes. Concentrate on what we do have, for now.”
I opened my eyes to see his worried grays. I nodded. “Okay. D-Do you know what happened to my dad?”
“Yes, he’s caged on the other side of these tents.”
His words were bittersweet. I’d hoped my father had escaped but was relieved to know he was at least alive. “Is he hurt?”
“Not much. I was in a cage near him. He talked to me. I-I listened in wolf form.”
I took a deep breath. “Who are these people? What do they want?”
“I don’t know exactly. Last night, when I was awake, I was a bit too destructive and distracted to listen because they wouldn’t let me see you. But I think we should keep our talking to a minimum. Do you understand why?”
I nodded. I knew we did not want to reveal anything more than we were forced to.
He added, “So far, I haven’t seen any video cameras or monitors watching us out here.”
“Neither have I.” I held up my finger. “One more question?”
He nodded.
After checking no one was listening, I whispered, “Sebastian, a-are these wolves here like you?”
Hope and dread pumped through my heart at the same time. If they were like Sebastian, they could possibly be his family. But if they were like him, they were in serious trouble.
He looked around and then stared at the female wolf behind me. “I have a”—he rubbed his bare stomach—“pull to them.”
“You haven’t seen any of them… change?”
He gave me a look of disapproval for me asking another question but answered. “No, but I feel I need to prepare you. These people have a tent that looks like it has a lab inside.”
I found it hard to swallow again. “I’ve heard them use the word testing.”
A metal wagon wheeled up behind Sebastian, limiting our conversation. The man pushing the cart stopped at each cage, slipping plastic trays with food and water through the same kind of slot Sebastian’s pants had been shoved through. When the man got to Sebastian’s cage, he goaded, “None for you,” then came to my enclosure and pushed in a tray with raw meat: a skinless hind leg of an animal I didn’t recognize. I looked away and closed my eyes.
Sebastian and I sat on the ground instead of inspecting my dinner further. The sun offered the warm relief I needed before the cold night to come. Spring was showing its arrival but winter had yet to let us go completely. We looked around and noticed all the wolves staying away from the raw meat we knew tempted them. The female wolf rested her snout on top of her paws, watching us with sweet green eyes.
“Sebastian, what’s happening?”
He looked at the wolves purposely going hungry. “I don’t know, Marley.”
As the morning passed, I made a decision. “Become Romy.”
“Why?”
Pulling on the raw meat, I glanced around, making sure I wasn’t heard. “I’m going to feed you. If you eat, maybe they’ll eat.” With bloody fingers, I gestured to the wolves watching us.
Sebastian’s body tensed, and his whispers were frantic. “No! Don’t do anything to cause yourself harm.”
“Then you’d better hurry up so I don’t get caught.”
Sebastian sounded unbelievably desperate, clinging to the cage between us. “Do you know what
it does to me to see you hurt?” I stopped picking at the raw meat. His eyes were absolutely tortured. “After I woke and saw that man hit you, I lost it and hurt them. Then they—”
I closed my eyes, thinking about how Sebastian was brought to this cage, brutally damaged and unconscious.
“Look at me,” Sebastian demanded.
I did, feeling broken.
“Don’t do anything to give them reason. Think how many wolves will get shot if they break free to try to help us.”
I felt helpless as I angrily pushed the tray away. “Okay. I just don’t want you and the others to starve.” I wiped my bloody fingers in the dirt and grass I sat on.
Sebastian pointed to my tray. “I’m more worried about you starving.”
“Think they’ll give me a hibachi grill, coal and a lighter?”
“Not likely.” Sebastian checked our surroundings again.
I had tried to joke, but both Sebastian and I knew that without cooking the meat, I was possibly inviting certain kinds of bacteria into my body that might not end in my favor.
Three more days went by like that one. Demands. Threats. No food for Romy. No food I could risk digesting. And not one wolf touching what food was offered to them. I would dig a hole and take restroom breaks in the middle of the night when I hoped no one was watching and made do with grass and leaves. After my body was depleted of food, I only had to pee, and that was nowhere near as embarrassing in front of the wolves. Both Romy and Sebastian had seen that activity many times in the woods. With it being so cold, I was not as stinky as I should’ve been after not showering in so many days. I didn’t have the energy to care, but my hair was much in need of attention.
Sebastian had begged for me to be fed, but I was not. Sebastian told me a wolf could go for lengthy amounts of time without a meal. Being a human and used to eating every day, I became so hungry I considered eating the raw meat, but after Romy sniffed it, Sebastian said, “I’m sorry. It is too far gone for human consumption. You’ll become ill, Marley.”
My Wolf and me Page 15