Animal Instinct

by Noelle N

  Until you played to kill.

  I felt disgust rise within me but I pushed it back down firmly, sidestepping the woman whose red locks spilled across the ground in bedraggled tendrils. "Anyone?" I called, tilting my head to get a closer look.

  Then I saw it – a railing stretched across a stand, a long chain draped around it that linked all the way to a pair of handcuffs wrapped around frail wrists. The woman beneath it was muzzled and legs bound, looking so thin and starved I knew at once that she was on the brink of death. But her blue eyes were unmistakable and I froze.

  "Bianca?"

  09

  NORTH

  Bianca's eyes flickered with something like vague recognition but she jerked back roughly when I took a step closer to her.

  "Bianca, it's me – Quinn." My words tumbled out in a flurry and I immediately held up my hands in an attempt to placate her. "I'm going to get you out of here, just – "

  I paused, my mind racing with a quick solution. Think, Quinn. I couldn't get Bianca out of here now. I hadn't a way out and whoever owned this place – Mattheus, most likely – would be bound to find her missing sooner or later. Then we'd both be in trouble.

  No, there had to be an alternative route. And right now, in spite of the fact that Jed was the first person I thought of – there was only one other person who came to mind.

  Diego.

  I loosened a breath and stepped back. "Just – try to pull through, for a while more, okay?" I pleaded, staring at her earnestly. "Do anything it takes to stay alive. I promise – I promise, I'll get you out of here as soon as I can." I took another step back, my heart clenching with guilt with she made another panicked noise through her gagged mouth, like she was begging me not to leave.

  But I had to, at least for now.

  Steeling myself, I turned and ran out of the room, sprinting up the stairs. I came to a halt in front of the door, listening for any signs of activity outside before I stepped out, pulling the door shut behind me. The hallway was still empty, thank goodness, and I went down corridor after corridor in search for Diego.

  He wasn't the best option, but he was – he was Bianca's henchmen. It was the same way Adrian had defended my honour back at the café. Werewolves were loyal, even bad ones like Diego. He'd called Bianca Luna. He'd respected her. That had to account for something, right?

  My heart was still racing with anxiety when I finally found him, the same bored expression on his face as he conversed with several other guards. But the conversation immediately ceased when I came up, and he stared at me coldly.

  "I can't find my room," I said simply, knowing that there was no way I could bring Bianca into the conversation with so many other people standing around. "Can you help me?"

  "Bryson here will help you – "

  "No, it has to be you," I insisted. "Mattheus said I was supposed to ask you if I needed anything. And I need to get back to my room."

  Diego shot me a deathly glare and I knew that he was seriously considering wringing my neck there and then. But Mattheus's authority over him eventually won out and he dismissed the guards, before storming off towards the nearest staircase. I followed him silently, until we were striding down the familiar hallway that led to my room.

  "Here, you little shit," he spat, roughly flinging open the door to my room. "Happy?"

  I snuck a glance down the hallway, noted it was empty before pushing him into my room. "Get in – "

  He didn't budge an inch. "What the hell are you – "

  "Werewolves have heightened hearing," I whispered, shooting him a pleading look. "Just get in, I have to tell you something really important."

  He looked at me like he was seriously considering wringing my neck and stomping all over my grave. But I supposed something in my demeanour must've intrigued him, because he strode into the room before turning to face me with narrowed eyes. "Now what do you have to tell me?"

  I shut the door and pressed my back against it. "Where's Bianca?"

  He snorted. "The hell should I know?"

  "Where is she?"

  "I told you, I don't know!" He shot me an infuriated look, but his exasperation made me realise that he was telling the truth. "She disappeared sometime ago after parading around like she was the head of the pack, then she up and left – "

  "She didn't leave," I said flatly. So Diego really didn't know where she was. I couldn't help but feel relieved at that. At least he wasn't as twisted as whoever it was that owned the dungeon below. "I found her."

  He stopped. "What?"

  "I found her." I lowered my voice so that it was barely audible, but I knew with that he'd hear it anyway. "She's a prisoner, here, in the dungeons."

  "There's no dungeon – "

  "Why would I lie about a dungeon when I'm a prisoner here?" I fired back, before taking a deep breath. "Diego, you have to help us. Please. Bianca isn't in a good shape and I'm terrified that she might die if she doesn't get out of there. You should've seen her. She was bleeding all over and she was mutilated and – "

  "And you'd think I give a shit?"

  I froze. "What?" He laughed mirthlessly and strode past me, yanking the door open. Desperation kicked in and I quickly rushed to stop him. "But she's your Luna! You called her that – "

  "That term means nothing to me," he said flatly. "I have no Luna."

  "But what about loyalty?"

  He paused, the dim light from the hallway illuminating his tall frame. And when he spoke, his voice was colder than any other I'd ever heard before. "I don't know the meaning of that word."

  "Diego – "

  I tried to reach for him but he was already gone, striding quickly down the hallway and disappearing past the corner. Defeat was a crushing blow and I sank down on the floor, burying my head in my hands and pressing my lips in a tight line as I tried to keep the desperation in.

  * * *

  It was again in the middle of the night when I heard a howl.

  I glanced up, trying to listen for anything else for a second or two, before losing interest and returning to my task. Everything I needed to have to escape was in the blanket. A spare set of clothes that I had raided from an empty room. Food that I nicked from the kitchen under the pretence of wanting dinner. And the most important thing of all – a bobby pin that I'd convinced one of the older ladies in the kitchen to hand over earlier. I'd already twisted it into some sort of loop at the end so that I could use it to pick Bianca's handcuffs apart later.

  The only thing missing from this collection of things was a knife. But I'd tried to take one earlier, only to be pushed out of the kitchen by the other cooks. Clearly, even though I wasn't locked up in my room like a regular prisoner, some boundaries had to be set.

  Tucking the bobby pin into the pocket of my jeans, I placed the rest of the things neatly and drew the sides of the blanket up. Looped it up and tied it into a firm knot, before making another knot at the ends of it so I could carry it like a bag.

  I was ready. I just needed to find a way out of this hell-hole.

  There was another howl, this one more distant than the previous. But there were no signs of scuffling or shouts going on outside that indicated some sort of fight going on. Just as I was about to ignore it again, I heard footsteps outside my door. I froze, chucking the bag beneath my bed.

  But the door never opened. Instead, a note was slipped under the door, followed by two other objects that made a thud on the floor. I immediately reached for it, feeling a sudden relief surge through me when I saw the familiar gleam of a car key. Along with a compass. And a hastily scribbled note that read:

  Go North.

  Right. North. I didn't know who it was that had sent these things, but I was betting that it was Diego. Somehow, he'd believed me and pulled through. Just the thought of that made me smile in sheer gratitude and I quickly scrambled up, pulling open the door.

  But the hallway was empty.

  Without wasting another moment, I stuffed the note in the bag and slung the strap
over my shoulder, before draping my jacket over the bag. This was conspicuous, but hopefully not so obvious as compared to seeing an actual bag that clearly screamed that I was about to go on the run. Car key in pocket and compass in hand, I pointed the needle North and started walking.

  It was nerve-wrecking at first, following where the compass led me and trying to avoid any unwanted attention. But oddly enough, there were no guards in my path and I soon began to wonder if this too had something to do with Diego. I kept my eye out for him along the way, hoping that I could perhaps convince him to come along with me, but he was nowhere to be found.

  Just before I turned the next corner to head North again, I stopped, making a quick detour down to the dungeon where Bianca was. It was hell to enter that room again, the chilling scent of blood making my stomach flip and heart race with hysteria. Keeping a hand clasped over my mouth and nose, I took a deep breath, closed my eyes and thought of Jed.

  It was strange how thinking of him managed to calm my nerves. I was becoming frightfully attached to him but – not in a bad way. If anything, it made me stronger, because I was doing all these things and pulling through if only so I could get back to him.

  When I opened my eyes, my vision seemed clearer. I crept silently across the room, relieved to find Bianca still slumped in the corner with her hands restrained.

  "Bianca?"

  She jerked up immediately, eyes wide with fright. It took a few seconds before she calmed down, her head drooping forward in relief when she realised that it was only me. I didn't hesitate to move forward, my fingers reaching for the muzzle strapped across her face. It was far too tight and almost impossible to remove, but I worked through the contraption methodically, until I felt it give beneath my hands.

  Her mouth was bloody and there were bruises all over her face when I pulled it off her. "Quinn," she exhaled, her voice so tiny and infinitely broken that I half wanted to start crying for her.

  "You thought I'd leave without you, huh?" I said instead, trying for light-heartedness amidst a dark situation. Reaching down, I pulled out the pin from my pocket and started to pick at the lock within her handcuffs. "I made you a promise, didn't I?"

  She kept silent for a long time, watching me pick at the handcuffs. When the metal chains finally gave, I pulled it off her. She stared at me blankly as I rummaged through the bag in search for the clothes I'd gotten for her.

  "Why?" She rasped at last, blood dribbling down her chin as she spoke.

  I knew what she was referring to. Why had I come back for her even after the way she'd treated me the last time we met? The answer required no thinking at all. I held out the clothes to her and averted my eyes while she dressed with slow, painful movements. "Because you're not the monster here. And – we need all the help we can get to take him down."

  She winced as her arm got caught in the sleeve, and I reached over, helping her to pull the shirt over her bruised body. "Twenty-three times," she said quietly, blue eyes flickering up to meet mine. "I counted."

  I didn't know what to say. Sorry didn't seem to cut it, and besides, I had nothing to apologise for. "Well – " I dragged out a breath. " – t least there won't be a twenty-fourth time."

  She didn't say anything. Realising that the clock was still ticking, I climbed to my feet and held out a hand to her. She grabbed it but stumbled as she pulled herself up, and I quickly wrapped an arm securely around her waist to help her maintain her balance. She could barely walk and I found myself dragging her across the tiles, wincing as I saw the blood trickle from her and stain the floor beneath us. It was painfully slow, dragging Bianca out of that hell-hole and out of the building, but thankfully, there was no one in our way.

  It wasn't until we reached the exit that I realised what the car key was for. Beyond the gate, there was a car in the driveway, and no one seemed to be inside. The gate was unlocked, much to my relief and I mentally thanked Diego for going above and beyond what I'd expected from him. I placed Bianca in the backseat and climbed in the front, plugging the key into the ignition.

  "Get some sleep," I said, meeting Bianca's gaze through the rear-view mirror. She quietly curled up and was out like a light within seconds, while I didn't waste a moment pulling out of the driveway.

  And heading North.

  It was dark out and the road was unclear at times, but I kept to the compass directions. Everywhere around us there were trees and shadows, the moonlight had never seemed fainter before and home had never felt farther. Still, I kept driving, keeping my ears pricked for any distant howls or threats that could harm us.

  After what seemed like forever, I caught a glimpse of a familiar street in the distance. It was sweet relief, to see Jed's house outlined in the dark, or the low-lit street lamps that had never seemed more welcoming before. The porch of Jed's house was lit and I was still revelling in the warmth I felt at the sight of home when Bianca suddenly jerked awake with a gasp.

  "Quinn." Her voice seemed panicked, and I threw a backward glance at her. She doubled over, coughing out blood onto the floor of the car. "You – you have to hurry."

  "Yeah, just hang in there." I jammed on the accelerator and sped as quickly as I could towards home, slamming a hand against the car horn to get someone's attention.

  In the distance, a figure descended the steps of the porch, and I almost began to cry in relief when I realised that it was Lorraine. Thank God she was still alive. Lorraine's eyes were wide when she saw the car, but then she began running towards us when I pulled the car to a stop.

  "Quinn!" she cried, yanking open the door of the driver's seat as I unbuckled my seatbelt. "I'm so glad you're – "

  "I'm so glad to see you too, Lorraine, but there's no time for that." I all but scrambled out of the car, and gestured to Bianca in the backseat. "Get her out of there. She needs medical attention, immediately."

  "Our doctor's with the rest of the pack out looking for you." Lorraine wrung her hands in distress, before turning around and signalling one of the few people who had stepped out of their houses to see us. A younger guy came running up, looking barely a day over sixteen, bowing almost nervously when he saw me. "Harvie, take Dion and Terence with you, head over to Callisto and see if they have a medical team on hand."

  "Got it."

  "Be careful!" Lorraine called after him as he sprinted off. She signalled the rest of the people over. "Okay, let's bring her into my house. And someone please get our Luna comfortable."

  "No, I'm fine," I assured one of the men when he ushered me towards Jed's house.

  Somewhere in the back of my mind, it suddenly hit me that all the people left here were either the older folks or younger ones, with the exception of Lorraine, who was clearly supposed to be on the lookout for any abnormalities. I set that observation aside for the moment and focused instead on the situation at hand. Bianca was still bleeding from certain open wounds, and I was more than certain that she was suffering from some form of internal bleeding as well.

  "We should give her some space," I suggested, after several long minutes of watching the crowd of people stare at her, some with curiosity and others with anxiousness. "If she wakes up and sees how many people there are in here, she's going to be terrified."

  "Good idea," Lorraine said, before glancing at the crowd behind us. "I need everyone out of here, and someone please check on Harvie to make sure he and his friends have made it through to Callisto. And has anyone called for Alpha again?"

  "Yes," one of the members of the pack said. "He's on his way back."

  "Good." Lorraine perked up at the patters of feet that sounded from the driveway. "Ah, there's the medic team. Luna – " She turned to me. " – you need to step aside. She's going to be fine."

  "Yeah, okay." I let out a relieved sigh as I watched the medic team attend to Bianca. Several people lingered behind, and I knew that she was in good hands. Wearily, I followed Lorraine out into the driveway, biding a quick thank you and goodnight to some of the people still remaining.

&nbs
p; "We all have plenty of questions for you, but I think the only thing you need right now is a good rest," Lorraine observed, slipping her arm through mine as she led me towards Jed's house. "You look like you've been through hell."

  "Well – close," I murmured, trying to hold the remnant pieces of my composure together. I pulled to a stop on the front porch and sat down on the top step. "I really want to wait for Jed."

  Lorraine's eyes glinted in satisfaction. "You miss him, huh?"

  I smiled wryly. "Is this what the mate's pull is all about?"

  "No." She patted me on the back softly. "This is totally human emotion. You don't know how much you're going to miss a person until you're torn apart from them. Not everything should be attributed to fate. Give yourself a little credit."

  My smile widened and I nodded, looping my arms tightly around my knees as I sat quietly on the front porch with Lorraine, waiting for Jed to return. I knew that she too was waiting for her mate Spike and brother Lance, and she was just as worried as I was. My head was pounding and I felt like I was half about to pass out because of sheer exhaustion, but I forced myself to stay awake.

  We didn't have to wait long. Minutes later, several cars drew up, but Jed's was the one in front. He was also the first one out of the car, with Adrian stepping out from the other side. To say that Jed look exhausted was an understatement. He looked – broken, if that could even be a way to describe a person. Like he'd been through hell and back again. It was clear he hadn't shaved, if the faint lines of shadow tapering across his jaw was of any indication, and his hair fell haphazardly into his tired green eyes. But he was everything I imagined and everything I hoped to see.

  He saw me first and his eyes seemed to brighten, and I thought if I'd seen light before, it was nothing compared to the light I saw in his eyes now. He strode quickly across the front yard, just as Lorraine left my side to rush over to Lance and Spike. It wasn't until I was close enough that he paused in his tracks, barely a few inches separating us, and he exhaled.