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Chapter 3

Rolling my eyes, I let out a small laugh. My wolf is the complete opposite of me, yet the Moon Goddess paired us together, so I suppose opposites do attract. Why she thinks we’re so strong is beside me.

“Look, rogue. I don’t have time for this,” the guy says and crosses his arms over his chest. “You’re coming with me.” This time when he speaks, it sounds much more aggravated.

Swiftly, he reaches for my arm, but thankfully, I have time to jump back. My heart starts beating a little faster, and from panic and anxiety, my legs turn to jelly.

“What’s happening? Why does this man want to take us? Why did he call us rogue?” I panic.

“Well, apparently we did cross on his land.”

“His land. Why does he have his own land?”  I question dumbly.

“Evangeline, it’s a pack’s land, and to be specific, he said Tate pack land,” my wolf explains in a rush.

Before I know it, I am being snatched at again, but this time, I don’t get away in time.

“I’m s-sorry! I don’t understand! Please just let go of me!” I cry out, completely confused, but he does not let go of my arm.

Instead, he continues to drag me through the trees, further from home. I try hitting him, begging him, and I even start crying from fear of the unknown.

“Evangeline, calm down, or he’s going to kill us,” my wolf yells at me.

“Kill me! But I didn’t mean to cross on his land!”

“Where are you taking me?”

“To the alpha.” His voice is firm and emotionless as if he knows this is not going to end well for me, and I believe him.

The man continues to drag me, and I happen to notice a small building through the trees. Behind it, I can almost make out other buildings, almost like houses. As I come closer towards the dreary, dim place, I notice two people standing outside by the door. Maybe they are guarding it.

“Found a rogue while checking the perimeters?” one of the men guarding the doorway asks, not very amused. “Why bring it back?” The man dragging me nods. “It was giving me a hard time.” “It! We are not an ‘it!’”  My wolf riles up within me.

“I was going to keep it in a cell until I get orders from the alpha, you know, what he wants to do about it.” The man’s tone is bored as if he deals with this kind of nonsense every day.

Locking innocent people in cages, how barbaric.

“Go on in.” The guard motions to the doorway.

The man abruptly yanks me into the brick building. The inside is dark with a horrid smell, possibly rotting flesh, reeking throughout the room. There are rows of cells with black bars caging in whatever they hide.

We halt in front of one cell, and with a thin strip of light cutting into the cold space, I see the rest to be empty. Suddenly, his large hands push me inside. Before I can comprehend what is happening, the door is slid shut with a clicking sound. My eyes grow full, and I rush to the black bars. As soon as my bare hands touch the metal, a stinging, burning sensation sears me. Hissing in pain, I peer down at my singed palms.

“Oh, I wouldn’t touch the bars. They’re made of silver. Don’t let the color trick you!” the man calls from where we came, on his way out.

“We have to get out of here!” My wolf frantically panics.

“Oh really? You think we should?” I seethe at her sarcastically. I take a deep breath to calm down. “Sorry, I’m just scared.”

I am torn from my thoughts by a sudden movement in the far corner of the cell. It is too shadowy and dark to tell if anyone is there, so I stand up straight, trying to find an ounce of courage I may have.

“Hello?”

“Help…me.” The voice is feminine and weak as if she has been sitting in here for decades.

Immediately, I rush into the darkness and try to feel around for anything. Then a hand lightly touches mine, and I grab it.

“I’m going to pull you where it has more light, okay?”

I warn the person, but I get no answer. What if she is dying? I do not think twice before pulling her where the light shines through the small window in the hallway.

When I look down, I see a girl maybe a few years older than me. I gasp when my eyes reach her leg. There is an enormous gash on it, and it is most likely infected. Dirt from the floor covers her face, and there are small cuts and bruises all over her body. The clothes she is wearing are all tattered and stained with blood.

“Oh gosh! What happened to you?”

Her head slowly turns towards me, and her dull eyes stare into mine. “I-I was trying to get home, bu-but I accidentally c-crossed on a territory.” She breathes out.

Her voice is dry and hoarse, and I know she must be dying for a drink.

“But your leg?”

“They attacked m-me.” Her head moves back onto its side, and the girl takes in a small breath.

I peer back down at her leg, and it looks to be bleeding.

I quickly take off my jacket and wrap it around her leg. I try to tie it the best that I can to stop the blood from seeping out.

“Thank you,” she mumbles.

“I wish I could do more, but—” I look around the cell “—there is not much in here. How long have you been in here?”

“I’m not sure. M-maybe a couple of days.”

Who could be this cruel? Trapping people in cells until they rot. What kind of land have I stumbled onto?

After a while of sitting in silence, exhaustion starts to come over me, but I have nowhere to sleep but the cold cement floor.

“Goodnight,” I say to the girl, yet her eyes are already closed.

I do not get any answer, so I assume she must be asleep.

I sigh and turn on my back, looking up at the blank, gray ceiling.

“Don’t worry. We’ll get out of here,” my wolf says.

“I sure hope so.” I close my eyes, hoping this is all a cruel nightmare.

Please, let me wake up in my bed. Let me wake up at home where I am safe.

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