My Wolf and me

by Adams, India R

  Wolves were taken away. Cages were cleaned. Sometimes, the wolves didn’t return, and if they did, they were bloody and wounded. Tongues licked small areas of their exposed flesh where it appeared to have been dissected and not bandaged. It was like the ones in black were testing the wolves’ healing process and immune systems or something.

  The fourth night became much colder while I slept. Having no food for energy was not helping my endurance. In the middle of the night, I woke from another nightmare about my mother to a terrible fuss. The wolves were so loud I could barely hear Sebastian screaming, “She will die!” He had climbed the wall of his cage like a gorilla and was rocking his whole prison. “She is freezing and starving to death!”

  Finally, four guards and Boss exited their tent. Boss said, “Lycan, your pen is starting to look crippled. Bad dog. Now what’s this all about?”

  Sebastian pointed to me on the ground. “Please, look at her. She’s not responding to me.”

  I shook terribly but otherwise could not move from the fetal position. Boss nodded to his men. They entered with weapons pointed at me, as if a human Popsicle was somehow deadly.

  The wolves quieted, and Sebastian pleaded, “It’s got to be fifteen degrees tonight. She can’t withstand this kind of exposure, especially since you refuse to blanket or feed her.”

  Boss countered, “No, I refuse to feed you, fleabag. She refuses to eat.”

  Sebastian rattled another cage wall. “You’re feeding her old, raw meat!”

  As he looked me over, one guard said, “Boss, her lips are blue. Willing or not, she should’ve shifted into a healing defense mode, being this cold.”

  Boss sounded somewhat human when he asked Sebastian, “Why didn’t you change her?”

  “She’s not a fucking wolf, you madman!” Sebastian was completely hostile.

  “Settle down. I’m just asking why you haven’t contaminated her, Lycan?”

  My mind was practically frozen, but I was still shocked at what I was hearing.

  Sebastian, out of breath, looked dumbfounded. “Th-That’s a myth.”

  Boss looked around the campsite and smiled. “Is that so?” He turned to one of his men. “Do we have a portable cage for the possible human inside the tent?”

  “Negative, sir. Nothing that will withstand a change if he’s lying, and unit six is full.”

  Boss looked to Sebastian. “Sorry, Lycan, say your goodbyes before her ears freeze and she can no longer hear you.” He started walking back to the tent. Sebastian and the wolves resumed their tirades. Boss turned around and pointed to a cage with a smaller male wolf in it. “Kill that one.”

  A gunman walked over and aimed as the wolf backed away to try to protect himself. Wolves howled while Sebastian screamed, “NO!”

  The bullet rang through the dark, cold night.

  The innocent wolf never moved again.

  Boss baited Sebastian. “Anything else?”

  Sebastian looked defeated, as if he had failed the wolves that had been sacrificing their meals for him. “You didn’t have to do that.”

  “Think of it as communicating. Always important to communicate.”

  With determination, Sebastian pointed to me. “Let me have her, then.”

  The guards started to chuckle. So did Boss. “Uh, let me think. No. Anything else?”

  “But her heartbeat is changing again!”

  Boss just stared at him with no visible emotion.

  Knowing I would die and that he would have to watch or that his misbehavior would cause more wolves to die, Sebastian did the only thing he believed would gain him bargaining power. I heard the strain in his voice when he asked, “What if I change her?”

  Chapter Sixteen:

  The Walk of Lessons

  It worked. Boss stepped forward. “You would willingly contaminate her?” That seemed to be a key factor that piqued Boss’s interest.

  After a ragged breath, Sebastian answered, “Yes.”

  “How do I know you haven’t already?”

  Sebastian tried to control his frustration. “If I’m willing to starve and die for her, why would I have her freeze to death? Think! What’s the point?”

  “She does look pretty bad,” Boss remarked with no shame for causing my miserable condition.

  Sebastian growled, “Can we move this along then? I am losing her.”

  “What’s this game piece going to cost me?” Boss inquired.

  “She is to stay with me at all times,” Sebastian answered, trying to get to me as fast as possible.

  Boss rolled his eyes. “Too much.”

  Sebastian rushed out his words. “At night then. Let me have her every night so that I can keep her warm.”

  Boss was not hurried when he asked, “How do you know I’ll keep my word?”

  “What choice do I have?” Sebastian was clearly at the end of his rope.

  Boss grinned. “True… okay. You contaminate her only when I say.”

  I knew he didn’t want to, but Sebastian forced himself to say, “Deal.” Then he whispered, “I’m sorry, Marley.”

  I trust you.

  “We don’t have to shake on it. I’d prefer to keep my hand,” Boss stated.

  “I respect that wise decision,” Sebastian retorted. “Now, please hurry.”

  Boss pointed to the ground. “Sit, so they can tie you up. Any funny business, and she’s dead.”

  Sebastian hurriedly sat on the ground and put his hands to the fencing, allowing himself to be handcuffed to the front of his cage while he watched other men try to coax me to move with the butts of their guns.

  I couldn’t. My hearing was fading, and my limbs refused to cooperate since they were frozen in place.

  One guard asked, “Sir, you want me to carry her?”

  Boss looked at Sebastian and talked through gritted teeth. “If you’ve lied and she attacks, we kill your mate. Understood? I don’t care if the wolves go into revenge mode or not!”

  “Yes, yes. Understood.”

  With other guns aimed and with much reservation, a young man laid down his gun and began to pick me up. I couldn’t help it. I had witnessed these mean men be cruel, so I wiggled with disapproval. I instantly was dropped, and everyone started yelling out demands.

  “Back away!”

  “Get ready to shoot!”

  Sebastian bellowed over them. “Don’t shoot her! Marley! You are not to move a muscle. Do you hear me? I’m right here waiting for you, but if you move they will kill you. You are to let them touch you and bring you to me, Marley.”

  “Yes,” I tried to reply, but no real sound exited my frozen mouth.

  Nobody moved.

  I guess Sebastian’s ears could hear what humans couldn’t because he hastily told Boss, “She said yes.”

  When the young man tried again, my body obeyed Sebastian’s command and didn’t move. Rapidly, I was lifted and carried out of my cage. I heard Sebastian’s gate rattle with a key, and then it opened. Once again, my body was harshly dropped to the ground. Sebastian’s gate slammed shut behind me. The young man was too afraid to get close to Sebastian.

  “Come to me, Marley. I’ll warm you.”

  I wanted nothing more than to be in his arms, but my body simply couldn’t move. Then, with his hands still trapped, I felt Sebastian hooking his legs around my frozen body, pulling me to him. “Please, God, don’t let her die.” His long legs circled me tightly, trying to give warmth.

  With no regard for us, the men walked away and left Sebastian tied up. The young one who’d carried me spoke quietly. “Boss, I don’t think she’ll survive—absolute ice cube—but his wolf heat can probably do the trick.”

  They stopped walking as Boss thought.

  Another guard asked, “Is th
is a disposable case study?”

  “No, she’s his Achilles heel, and he is of importance. Unlock him. And get her some cooked food.”

  The words “Achilles heel” caused me to fear what they would do to Sebastian now that the leader knew how far they could push him or Romy by using me.

  I heard the handcuffs bang against the fence then felt shockingly warm hands grasping my face. Lips caressed mine in a hurry before Sebastian laid me down. When I didn’t feel Sebastian, I heard him removing his pants. His body tried to fold around mine from in front of me as he lay on his side. Gray fur greeted me and tempted my frozen fingers to latch on. I burrowed myself into his midsection. His front and back legs sheltered me, over my head, under my feet, and two legs draped over me. A wet snout sniffed me and inspected me.

  One by one, my muscles began to relax, relishing in the warmth my Romy offered. Eventually, I was even able to slowly roll over to heat my back against his soft chest. I’d missed my furry best friend and this wonderfully familiar, comforting embrace.

  A tray sliding through Sebastian’s slot made me stir. I did not want to see one more slab of raw meat I could not eat. But when a stick pushed the tray the rest of the way in front of me, I could barely believe my eyes. There was a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, an apple, and a small bottle of milk.

  A whisper told me, “I’m sorry I couldn’t get you something warm to eat at this hour.” It was the voice of the man who had carried me.

  My hungry hand shook as it reached out, afraid it was being tricked. My fingers sank into the soft bread, and my eyes welled. I quickly took a bite and thanked the man making his way around the cage.

  “You’re welcome, ma’am.” He was surprisingly young.

  “How old are you?” I shakily asked.

  “Eighteen.”

  “So young.”

  “So are you,” he said with a hint of regret.

  I thought of my mom, my dad, and my present predicament. I felt older than ever. “Not anymore, I’m afraid.” I tried to reach behind me with my sandwich. “Romy, take a bite.”

  One bark.

  “Please, Sebastian. Tell Romy to eat.”

  One bark.

  “I was afraid he would take your food from you.”

  I weakly said, “Not this stubborn alpha,” and took another bite. A simple PB and J had never tasted so good. The young man had sorrowful eyes as he walked away.

  Burrowing into Romy while he guarded and warmed me, I felt safe for the first time in days. I knew the chances of feeling this miraculous way again were slim to none. Sebastian and I were most likely going to become lab experiments and possibly meet a gruesome end. Before my life ceased, I wanted one more moment with Sebastian. My fingers ran through the fur under his chin. So soft. “Romy? Please become Sebastian for me.”

  He whimpered.

  “I know it’s cold, but I’m much warmer now and…” I began to cry. “I need to kiss the man I love.”

  A bare-skinned chest appeared. I inhaled Sebastian and moaned in deep satisfaction as I felt his arms surround me, as if promising more safe moments. “Marley, this is not the end.” His hand touched my face. “Don’t give up.”

  I looked into his eyes. “Kiss me. Let me have this.”

  Sebastian surrendered to my request with urgency. He kissed me with so much emotion we both were crying by the end. Our tears mingled as he rubbed his face all over mine. “Oh, Marley. I missed touching you like this.”

  I kissed him again. “Thank you for giving us this moment.”

  I regretted that Romy had to return, but I was trembling again. Sebastian’s expression told me he adored me. His words told me the same. “No matter what they do to me, know this—I will love you forever, Marley.”

  I choked on tears because I felt as if we were saying our last goodbye. “Sebastian, our love will stand the test of time. It will never die… even if our bodies do.”

  One last beautiful kiss was placed on my lips before Sebastian allowed Romy to warm me through the rest of the night.

  The sun on my face told me I’d made it another night. The wolf’s heavy breathing in my ear told me why. Getting to sleep next to him, as I had for most of my life, left me feeling rested and, for the first time since my mother passed, free of nightmares.

  Still spooned by Romy, I heard footsteps and men talking as they came and went. Soon, I heard and felt the rumble of Romy’s growl. I knew what that meant; they were here to remove me.

  “You promised to behave,” a man warned Romy. “Keep your end of the bargain, and she’ll be back tonight.”

  Since he didn’t even like another’s scent on me, I was sure Romy would be fighting his possessive side. I was almost happy to know Romy was going to fight for me because I didn’t want to lose this feeling of comfort and safety. I refused to open my eyes and accept that our wonderful evening together was crashing to an end.

  I was surprised to feel Romy lick my face and then experience his heat leaving my body. When my eyes opened, Sebastian was putting on his borrowed black pants. With an expression I could not read, he knelt down and grabbed the apple I had not eaten. “Please eat this today.”

  I slowly nodded, accepting the apple in a confused state. I couldn’t fathom why Romy was letting me go. Sebastian stood and reached his hand out for me. I took it and stood as he silently asked me to. His arms embraced me, and he whispered in my ear. “Forever, Marley.”

  His expression made more sense to me. Sebastian was heartbroken. He sensed how I was going to react to being separated from him. And he was right.

  I clung to him and my apple as he made his way to the front of his cage, silently pleading to him to not let me go. I followed him to the ground and sat in his lap as he took his position to be handcuffed again, not letting my pleas deter him. My hands followed his as he raised them to the fencing in one last attempt to stay by his side. I jolted as I heard the key wrestling with the lock on Sebastian’s gate. I unraveled in fear.

  “No, no, no,” I moaned.

  “Shh, my Marley. Be brave.” Sebastian tried to soothe me while rubbing his head on top of mine. I hid in his neck, kissing him, begging for his protection. What I didn’t realize at the time was that he was protecting me. Sebastian was fighting every instinct Romy shot through him, wanting me to be left alone. What Romy didn’t understand was that Sebastian knew they would hurt me to control him and not shed a tear over it. The wolves meant nothing except experiments and results.

  “Ma’am?”

  Clinging to Sebastian’s bare chest, I dared to look behind me at the sound of kindness. The guard who had brought me food last night, the same young man who’d carried me into Sebastian’s cage, now held out his hand, gently saying, “It’s okay.”

  Another black-dressed man smacked him on the back of his head. “What are you doing? She’s one of them.”

  The young man stood angrily. “She is human, and my oath said to protect humans!”

  “Stand down,” Boss said, exiting the tent. “He’s right—if she’s a human. Take her to unit six for blood testing. Maybe she won’t be inconclusive like the rest.”

  Sebastian spoke in my ear. “You can do this, Marley. Eat that apple to help your sugar level.”

  The young man in black squatted and reached out his hand again. “Please, ma’am.”

  He was doing what he could to help me. I chose to do the same. I kissed Sebastian hungrily. He responded. Then I took the hand offered and was led away.

  Behind me, I heard Sebastian say, “You know we’re not lying, or you would have guns out, not just one guard escorting her.”

  Boss replied, “Until we know otherwise, we’ll keep her injuries to a minimum.”

  I watched over my shoulder. Sebastian’s fists were iron tight. “What do you mean? Don’t hurt
her! We have a deal!”

  A laugh was the only reply.

  Sebastian rattled his cage, screaming, “We had a deal!”

  I tried to keep looking behind me, but the young man who had a hold of my arm convinced me otherwise. “Don’t look. He wouldn’t want you to see this.”

  I faced forward. Then I heard a thud. All went quiet.

  My knees gave. My next step faltered. The kind guard tightened his hold, keeping me from hitting the ground. He whispered, “He told you to be brave. Breathe.”

  Tears fell from my eyes as I continued my journey to unit six, hating my weakness.

  Through my sniffles, I heard a lapping. I looked to my left, and saw as I passed each cage, each wolf tried to lick through his prison. The young man looked behind him to see if anyone was watching. “What the…?”

  Sebastian was right; no one was following us—no one was afraid of me. The young man guided me closer to the holdings. “What do they want?”

  I reached out my hand. The wolf’s tongue licked my fingers over and over. I sadly answered, “To give affection.” My finger reached through the fencing, and I rubbed the wolf’s nose, returning the endearment. “If they’re anything like Sebastian, they are the kindest souls you will ever know.”

  The guard gestured for me to move again, mumbling, “I hate my job.”

  “I hate your job, too.”

  When we walked around the bend of tents, I saw I was correct. All the cages made a huge, circled border. On the other side of the green tents that was my view from my cage, was a white tent.

  “Marlena!”

  I looked for my father. I soon saw him caged, yelling again. “Marlena!”

  “Dad!”