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Chapter 5

'Yes, finally.' Another whisper, but this voice sounded serene and softer than the first.

'We're free.' The second voice echoed.

Suddenly, Audrey felt herself being drawn out of the vortex with incredible speed, like someone was using a vacuum to suck her out at the top of the vortex, the darkness moving in flashes past her.

'Wake up, sleepy head.' The first voice said in a playful tone.

Audrey started feeling a tingling sensation of pain all over her body and slowly opened her eyes. She lay immobile for some time, trying to understand what was happening. She winced from the excruciating pain she felt all over her body, she did not have enough strength left to shout or cry, she was drained.

“Argh!!!”

She suddenly let out a loud painful scream as she felt her body suddenly start to stitch up at an unimaginable speed, she felt like she was under the hands of multiple surgeons, stitching her up all at once at an inhuman speed.

“Make it stop!!!”

She screamed to no one in particular as the pain reached its peak. She arched her back off the floor, gritting her teeth together in pain. She felt like her head was filled with excessive time bombs, ready to burst the next second, she raked the dirty earth with her fingers, trying to grasp anything that could save her from this pain.

But suddenly... Nothing. All the pains were gone like she had just imagined it a few seconds ago. Memories of how she got sliced open all came rushing through her mind in a flash.

She had been weak, hanging in the dungeon when the iron door suddenly opened. She thought the Alpha had come to taunt and punish her, but the person she managed to see with her blurry tired vision was shorter than the Alpha, and his face was covered, leaving only his blue eyes to be seen. He had roughly brought Audrey down and without warning used a sharp shiny knife to cut her open all over. Stabbing her back and stomach multiple times.

She remembered hearing, ‘Courtesy of the Alpha. Rot in hell.’ She knew without being told that the voice belonged to no one but Bill, the wicked guard.

As the flashback ended, Audrey lay on the floor, panting. She gasped for air, trying to catch her breath. She was exhausted.

'We’re safe now.' Audrey heard the first voice again. She thought it was her mind playing tricks on her because she was dying, but she heard it in her mind, loud and clear.

She carefully sat up from the floor. She looked at herself and saw how heavy her clothes were soaked in blood.

“What's happening?" She whispered.

“I can see clearly...at night?” She stood up slowly, not still believing herself to stand properly. Looking around, her surroundings were unfamiliar but her vision of the trees in the forest was super clear and the sounds of the crickets and frogs from a distance poured onto her ears like they were just at her feet, even the sound of a gentle stream running calmly in the distance sounded so close.

She marveled at how strong she felt, her wounds were all healed like it was never there. She could not even feel the pain in her waist which she got three days ago by being pushed down the stairs by Cara.

“What is happening to me?” She asked no one in particular.

'Nothing.' The first voice said to her.

“Who are you, where am I?” Audrey questioned, taking slow steps into the forest, she had to find a place to rest her head tonight. She would make a better decision on what to do tomorrow when she wakes up.

'I am Avery, your wolf.'

“What!” Audrey tripped on a branch, falling face-first. She could not comprehend everything that was happening to her at once. The reply kept repeating in her head until she could take it no more.

'I am Avery, your wolf.'

'I am Avery, your wolf.'

'I am Avery, your wolf.'

“Stop!”

She clasped her hands to her mouth, her eyes wide like saucers. That was more of a growl than a shout. Bats and birds flew away from their habitations, scared by the loud growl they heard.

'Oops, he-he, sorry. I thought we were angry. You know? Adding the right effects.' Avery chuckled inside Audrey's head.

Audrey blinked her eyes, coming back to reality.

“That was… Us?” she asked Avery skeptically.

'Yep, and we can do way cooler stuff, you know? Wanna see?' Avery sounded too cheerful for her comfort.

“Hey, hey, let’s take it slow, okay?” Audrey reasoned.

'Fine.' Avery sighed and went silent.

Audrey smiled and shook her head, she could feel Avery sulking in her mind. Seems like she had to argue with herself a lot from now on. She still did not know how she got here but she was happy, for the first time, she felt so happy. She was finally free, and she had a wolf. A lovely one at that. But, how did she have a wolf? Does that mean her parents were werewolves? She had no memory of her parents and she never knew what they looked like.

'Why, thank you.' Avery smiled at the compliment.

“You hear my thoughts?” She marveled.

'I am your thoughts, duh.' Avery said proudly.

'Let’s go.' Audrey paused, this was not Avery's voice. This one was softer. More reliable.

'Killjoy,' Avery mumbled.

Audrey confirmed she was officially mad. Maybe she was dead and now she’s talking with the spirits.

'You are not wrong…' Audrey felt her body run cold, had she died in the dungeon?

'In a way.' The voice finished.

“What do you mean? Who are you?” It seemed like those were the only questions she would be asking from now on.

'I am Selena, your spirit guide.'

“Spirit guide?” Audrey questioned.

'Yes. I have been in your generation for centuries, but for many decades now, I have not found a befitting host. I am honored to be accepted by you,' Serena explained calmly.

“Wait, centuries? Host? Accept you? When did I do that?” Audrey got more confused as she spoke.

'Let’s go, you will understand.'

“Argh!”

Audrey screamed as she was suddenly pulled into a very bright vortex, colors flashing through as she fell in. The last things she saw before she blacked out were beautiful flowers and weirdly yet beautifully shaped trees, with grasses soft and green like something from a Disney movie.

“Poor child, she’s been through a lot.”

“Who knows what they have done to her? Those monsters.”

Audrey heard voices around her but none of them were familiar to her, she did not know who they belonged to. She slowly opened her eyes but an unbearable headache made her shut them immediately.

Her head was throbbing with intense pain. She closed them for some time and slowly opened them, everything seemed blurry at first and then it slowly cleared, allowing her to see the dome-shaped wooden ceiling above her. She tried to sit up, but a hand held her shoulders, stopping her from doing so.

“Do not move, child. You are still weak.”

Audrey slowly lay back. She looked up at the middle-aged woman, but the face she saw was not a familiar one.

“Who are you? Where am I?” She questioned.

The woman just smiled and went over to a table to pour something into a cup. The woman had her black hair clipped neatly to the back. The lantern-like bulbs hanging all around the four walls of the room illuminated her fair skin, and the green flowery gown she wore created a beautiful contrast to her skin.

Audrey was lost in admiring the woman’s beauty, she did not know when the woman returned to her bedside. “Here, drink this for your headache.” She outstretched her hand to Audrey, holding a glass cup that contained a purple liquid.

“Oh…thank you.” Audrey was jerked out of her secret admiration.

She took the glass and took a cautious sip. It was a fruity-flavored drink, it was drinkable; She drank it in a gulp. She had been water-starved for so long, the cool liquid soothing her dry parched throat.

“Thank you.” She returned the glass cup to the woman. After placing the cup back on the table, the woman came and stood beside Audrey, but Audrey shifted away from her, not trusting her intentions yet.

“I won’t hurt you. Audrey.” The woman gently approached the bed and sat down.

“How? How do you know my name?” Audrey became nervous, this stranger was acting a bit too familiar with her. She didn't like it.

“I am Miranda, your Aunt.” She smiled warmly at Audrey. She had been holding herself back from hugging and kissing her adorable niece ever since she appeared in their Secret Coven.

“Niece?” Audrey was astounded and confused. For the first time, someone was claiming to be related to her by blood. She felt ridiculed. Who would want to be related to a nobody like her?

“I don’t believe you.” Audrey was in huge denial, it was written all over her face. Miranda smiled at her like she was expecting her reaction.

“I wouldn’t believe me too. It’s been such a long time... Sixteen years.” Miranda stood up and went over to the table. She drew open the third drawer and took out an old photo album.

“Maybe when you look at these pictures, you’ll find reasons to believe me.” She placed the photo album in front of Audrey on the bed.

Audrey skeptically took it in her hands and reluctantly opened it. The first picture she saw made her heart skip a beat, her palms became sweaty and unstable. It was a picture of the woman from her dreams. She would recognize those familiar red hair and green eyes anywhere, they were just like hers.

Miranda noticed Audrey staring at a particular picture, she moved closer to her and caressed the face of the woman in the picture.

“I knew the moment you appeared, that you are my sister’s daughter.” She placed her hand over Audrey's, calming her jittery nerves.

“She is my… Mother?” Audrey asked. She has had an inkling about it for the past sixteen years, and the mysterious dream she had was finally becoming clear.

“Yes. She is.” Miranda said softly.

Audrey did not know where to start from, she did not know what to make of her life at the moment, her head was full and her thoughts were scattered. Her life was a mess. She slammed close the photo album, surprising Miranda with the unexpected behavior.

Audrey stared at the closed photo album and made a decision right then. She was going to take control of her life, no more letting things and people from the past or present affect her. She had planned to inquire from Miranda why her mother had abandoned her in the hands of those cruel monsters, but she decided not to. She did not care anymore. Whatever the reason, she no longer wanted to find out. She just wanted to know, Where she was and how she got there.

“Where am I? How did I get here?” She asked in a detached tone, shifting the photo album away from her. Miranda knew she was angry. She saw all her thoughts just by touching her hands. She was going to go slow with her, she had been through a lot for the past sixteen years.

“Oh, where am I manners? Hannah?” Miranda stood from the bed and took the photo album with her. She would return it to Audrey when she would be ready. A younger woman in a bright yellow colored dress that was similar to Miranda's, came through the door.

“Yes, Ms. Miranda?” She answered softly.

Audrey recognized the voice as the second one in the background when she had woken up earlier.“

Please, prepare a delicious meal for my dear niece, while she takes a bath,” Miranda informed Hannah.

“Yes, Ms. Miranda.” Hannah left after that, and Miranda took Audrey to have a long-overdue bath.

“Can’t you just follow a simple menu!?” Alpha Lake threw the mushroom soup to the floor, shattering the plate and splashing the content all over the floor.

“I'm sorry, Alpha. I don’t know how to make anything from your menu.” Cara sobbed, tears pouring down her face like water from a shower. Her eyes were rimmed red and her cheeks stained red from embarrassment.

For the past week, Alpha Lake had reluctantly eaten from the Pack's kitchen. Ms. Bridget had refused to cook for him. She was throwing a huge tantrum about Audrey, and much to his dismay, she decided to send Cara to him, and, not once, not even once had she been able to prepare a single meal from his menu. He was frustrated and hungry. He lost his patience with her today as she brought him a bowl of mushroom soup instead of spaghetti and meatballs.

“Get out, and do not come back!” He growled.

Cara whimpered in fear and scurried out of the Alpha's house in tears. She cursed Audrey in her head as she cried, even in death, she still held an advantage over her. She wished she was the one who watched her take her last breath, death seemed to her like an easy getaway for Audrey. She prayed she rot in hell.

"Don't cry, Cara, the bitch is gone. You'll get him for sure, just give him time." She whispered to herself.

Alpha Lake slouched on the sofa and sighed. He cursed Audrey for the nth time in his head, she had successfully managed to disrupt his entire life. Nothing has been the same since the day he locked her up in the dungeon. Andrew had always been lost in thoughts since that night, Sebastian had stopped replying to his texts, Ms. Bridget was not happy with him, and to crown it all; his wolf had become like a sad puppy since that night; and, her two friends now looked dejected and forsaken every time of the day.

He did not understand his wolf though, Regal had never objected to the way he treated her, but he never supported it either. Regal had always been silent, like Audrey did not exist until the night he saw her wounded.

He had been...detached since then. He clenched his fists in anger, wishing he was there when she took her last breath, that would have been so satisfying for him to watch. He wished she could die a thousand times more.

Alpha, Mr. Russell is here.’ Alpha Lake received a mind link from Andrew. He checked the time; he still had an hour advantage before the meeting. He stood up and went up to his room to freshen up. He had set an appointment with Mr. Russell to meet at his company by 2: pm, but it appears Mr. Russell was way too eager to meet him. He wondered what the cunning human was up to this time.

He parked his black-tinted car in front of a tall skyscraper and walked into it. He was greeted by the receptionist who he successfully ignored and went up the elevator. He was going to fire his receptionist soon, he could always scent his arousal each time he saw him. He wasn't gay and even if he was a girl, he didn't do his employees.“Alpha, he refused to wait and went straight to the meeting room,” Andrew told him as he came out of the elevator. He nodded and walked into the meeting room.

“Mr. Lake, Hello.” A young man in a blue suit stood up from the chair and went to offer Alpha Lake a handshake. Alpha Lake shook him briefly and occupied his seat at the center of the table. Mr. Russell followed suit and sat on one of the chairs.

“What can I do for you, Russell?” He asked directly, cutting straight to the chase. He knew Mr. Russell had come to check if he knew anything about his break-in to his secret warehouse. He did not have time to play mind games. He would deal with him in due time.

“Well, it’s about the partnership I proposed the last time. Have you considered it?” Mr. Russell adjusted his tie arrogantly. He did not want Alpha Lake to see how nervous he was, but it was too late. Alpha Lake smirked at him. He already saw through his act.

But he was not ready to expose him, yet. Mr. Russell had been in hiding since his failed attempt to attack Alpha Lake's secret warehouse. He laid low, waiting to see if Alpha Lake found out that he was behind the attack, but he heard nothing.

He was confident that he had escaped this time, so here he was, trying to get close enough to gain Alpha Lake's trust, if he succeeded in winning his trust completely, he could easily infiltrate his data and it would be very easy for him to get rid of Alpha Lake, then take over his numerous businesses. He hoped to convince him to accept him as his business partner, that way, he was one step ahead in achieving his goals.

“I do not partner, Russell. We can only do business the way I've done it from the beginning, but not partnerships. I do not need anyone in my business.” He stared directly, looking Mr. Russell straight in the eyes.

“Oh, seems I’ve not been convincing enough?” Mr. Russell asked, chuckling, trying to lighten the heavy atmosphere.

“If there is nothing else, I’ll be attending to something else. My P. A will see out.” Alpha Lake stood up and left the meeting room.

He went back to the Pack to check how the full moon preparation was going. After seeing a few people, he retired for the day...hungry, starved.

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