Chapter 42

The floor beneath my back was cold and hard; the rough surface noticeable even through my shirt. I forced my body up into a sitting position; my stomach cramping. A sharp hiss of breath escaped my lips at the sharp pain that surged up into my abdomen.

I rested my hand against my stomach, or I would have if cold metal didn't bite into my wrist and pulled it back. My eyes flew open; shooting towards the shackle clamped around my arm, the thick metal chain it was attached to, screwed into the stone wall behind me.

I reached out to my wolf; calling out for her help. I could faintly feel her respond but it was like there was a barrier between us; which had never happened to me before. She was in tune to me; we were always one. Now it felt like there was a window between us, I could tell she was there but I couldn't touch her directly.

I knew that I wouldn't get anywhere if I lost it now, so I controlled my panic; telling my wolf to do the same, as I began to assess my surroundings. I was sitting on the floor of a rough, stone cell; much like the ones that were designed for pack prisons. The cell itself seemed to be built specifically for keeping a shifter in. The metal shackles keeping me from moving further forwards was made of a heavy metal strong enough to keep me from breaking through even if I had my wolf's strength.

The rest of my little cell was bare; the metal door at the far side of the room creaking open as the man I'd beaten up before stepped in; his head bandaged heavily as he shuffled forwards with a limp in his step. Another familiar face accompanied him; the nerd who had hassled me from before, his face appearing serious as he stalked towards me at a uniform pace beside the man next to him. “I see you’re awake.” The bandaged man mumbled; disdain in his voice.

Despite the hatred I felt for this human who now had my wolf and I caged; I managed a smirk. “And I see that you’re still breathing.” I looked him up and down with a deadpan expression. “Pity.”

The other guy spoke then, his face smug. “You should have accepted my offer to hang out.” He commented. “It would have sped up the whole kidnapping process.”

“And here I thought you were just super desperate to get a girl to go out with you; you know, especially considering that fact that you look like you do.” I sneered; giving him a mocking smirk. As both of them stood before me; I could notice a slight resemblance in their faces; even with one guy looking more like a mummy than a human. “And now your brother looks just about as shitty as you do.” They looked a little shocked at my words, which confirmed my suspicion; they were siblings. That will make it so much more satisfying when I slay them both right in front of one another.

“Shut up you werewolf bitch.” The nerd snapped defensively.

The Alpha power in my blood didn’t respond well to that little ‘command’ of his, especially because it was coming from such a weak creature. I was surprised to find that my wolf couldn’t respond. My form remained frustratingly human. I yanked against the chain as I snapped forwards. “Tell me what to do again, and I’ll make sure that when I’m out of here; I’ll rip your beating heart right out of that puny little chest of yours, you pathetic piece of human scum!” I growled; my fingers curving at just the thought of getting that kind of satisfaction.

The bandaged man scoffed; wincing as that probably caused him some pain. “Don’t hold your breath because that’s not happening.”

I forced an air of nonchalance into my demeanour as I leaned back against the wall behind me. “We’ll see about that.”

“You can mock us all you want, but let’s be clear; you aren’t getting out of here, especially because we blocked that other side of you.” My anger spiked again at his words; he had no right to speak of my wolf.

Before I could respond; the man who had shot me walked through the door; a satisfied smirk on his face as he saw me chained in the corner. At the sight of him; I wanted to rip his throat out. “Darryl, Gregory, I want you both at the monitoring centre now.” He commanded; the two men standing before me nodding at him once before they compliantly left the room.

Once they were gone, the man approached me. “What the fuck are you doing with their kind, you sick bastard?!” I shrieked; pulling against my restraints again.

He smirked at me; watching my struggle with satisfied eyes. “I take it you know what I’ve done in the past?”

I continued to fruitlessly yank on my shackle. “Damn right I know, Alpha Jackson. Or do you just go by Jackson now seeing as you are posing as a Seeker.” I spat viciously; recoiling in disgust as he crouched down to my level. I smirked bitterly. "Wouldn't it be a shame though if I were to tell them that their member was a shifter?" I sneered.

An evil smirk of his own tugged at his lips. "And who are they suppose to believe, exactly? Their leader or a werewolf bitch who's already threatened three members of our sacred brotherhood?" He chuckled darkly. “Don’t you find it ironic though; how a whole unit of werewolf hunters couldn’t tell that there was a werewolf among them?”

I gave him a scornful look. “Well it’s hard to see past the fact that you’re a sickening piece of shit.” I snapped; not flinching as he grabbed my neck.

He studied my face; like I was something that needed to be appraised. “I would watch what I say, because unlike you; my wolf is still fully functional.” He threatened; tightening his grip slightly.

At the mention of my wolf; my already overwhelming amount of anger spiked. “What did you do to her?!” I shrieked; not being able to keep my agitation in.

He looked amused as he met my eyes. As he did, I noticed the resemblance he had to Logan; the only difference between them was that the man before me looked like an older, less attractive version of my mate. At the memory of him; my heart ached, clenching tightly.

“I injected Wolf’s Bane into your bloodstream. The plant normally kills wolves but seeing as our kind of wolves are part human, it doesn’t take them out completely but will put them out of business for as long as the Wolf’s Bane stays in your system. So don’t worry, she isn’t dead; just unavailable, for now. After all, I can’t have you escaping; I need you here.”

I swiped at him; my fist flying out. Without my wolf’s speed; he easily caught it. “You have no right keeping my wolf from me!” I snapped; my voice, venom.

“Feisty and beautiful; I can see why my son cares for you.” He said; unaffected by my attempt at hurting him.

I internally scoffed at that statement. “Your son doesn’t give a damn about me.” I growled; the reminder conjuring up everything except for positive emotions. I ripped my fist out of his hold. “He made a point of telling me that himself.” I spat. “And frankly, I don’t care anymore.” I lied.

Alpha Jackson chuckled darkly. “Did he do such a good job that he made you that angry?”

My eyebrows furrowed. “What?” I asked quietly; confusion overcoming me. “What did you make him do?!” I demanded; kicking out at him. Despite my best efforts, I still cared about what happened to my mate. “You fucking bastard, what else did you do to him?!” He decided that it was probably safer a few feet away as he stood up and moved back; out of my reach.

“I just told him that he had to get you to leave him if he wanted to keep you alive.” He explained with pure happiness shining in his eyes.

“What?” I muttered; my mind trying to comprehend what he was telling me. “You ordered him to cheat on me?!”

Alpha Jackson seemed to find that funny; his chuckling grating at my nerves. “I never gave him specific demands. But I do have to say that that was a good move. Especially considering his track record with that sort of thing; which I’m sure you already know of.” He started to laugh again; like he had told a very funny joke as he looked practically ecstatic.

I shook my head as I clamped my free hand to my forehead. “Why would he do what you told him? You’re the last person he would ever take orders from!” I argued; my heart clenching from the thought of what Logan must have been feeling when he had done what he had done.

The man before me pretended to ponder over something for a second. “Since you’re not going anywhere, I guess I might as well tell you.” He exclaimed; looking contented as he began his little explanation. “He knew that I had been keeping tabs on you ever since you two found each other and he demanded that I stopped. I promised him that I would, but only if he could get you to hate him.

He wasn’t exactly happy with it at first. He insisted that I couldn’t get to you; especially because you were on pack territory. I proved him wrong with that little head banging exercise in the woods. After that, it was quite easy to sway him into doing anything that I wanted, especially when I mentioned that I would make sure your death was painful and slow if he didn’t comply or if he decided to tell you.” He watched my reaction intently; waiting for the moment I would crack. “Of course, I would never let him have it that good, though.”

I didn’t let it show as I kept all of the emotions I felt within me. Logan sacrificed his happiness for me. I said to myself; my heart beating fast. I knew how much it hurt to inflict pain on your mate and now I realised just how much agony he had been through when he was saying all of those things to me. I cringed as I thought of what I had said to him. I was amazed that he had managed to hold that in; keeping it from leaking into our bond, especially considering how strong that bond was.

I wish I could see him one more time, just to tell him that I understood and that I still loved him. God, I love him so much. The memory of my mate brought tears to my eyes as my heart swelled with my feelings for him. I’m so sorry for what I said Logan. I’m so sorry I hurt you. I thought to myself desperately; as if he could actually hear me.

I couldn’t help the tears that began to fall as I realised just how much I must have hurt him when he only ever had the best intentions in mind. We could have worked it out some other way but he really was trying to protect me, and I loved him for that.

I clutched my chest as it twisted with grief. I hurt my mate and now he’ll think that I hate him for as long as he lives. I concluded; my emotions shattered at the thought. I wasn't an idiot, nor was a blind. Even through the love I felt for my mate, I knew that he hadn't exactly been a saint during the time we've spent together. Nonetheless, he was trying to change now and I'd be damned if I let the scumbag in front of me fuck it up.

“How could you do that to him?” I choked out weakly; my voice barely above a whisper as I silently sobbed. The emotions within me transitioned from being defensive to offensive.

I pushed the grief back as I focused on all of my anger, which was now directed at Alpha Jackson; loathing the very space he occupied. I shot up to my feet as I tugged painfully on my chain. “You sick motherfucker how could you do that to him?!” I shrieked; my voice quivering with anger as I struggled to get to him. “You will suffer for this! I swear you will!” I growled; wanting nothing but to feel his blood on my hands.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?! Don’t you think you’ve done your son enough damage as it is and you think he needs to suffer even more?!” I demanded; envisioning the sight of Alpha Jacksons innards smeared all over the bland walls of the room. My vision was slowly becoming red as I fought to make what my mind presented, a reality. “He is a good person, who had been scarred because of you! He didn’t deserve your anger!”

“He told-” He began. I cut him off with an irritated scream.

“No, he didn’t have to!” I yelled; my voice raising a few octaves. “I saw it through the bond. I saw his pain! I felt it! I saw you torturing an innocent little boy who had just lost his mother! He blames himself for it because you made him believe it was his fault when it clearly wasn’t! He was broken emotionally but you were supposed to be the one to fix him! You are his father for fuck’s sake!

But you never did your responsibility; you just continued to break him, both emotionally and physically! Yes, you lost your mate and I know how much it hurts but she left you with someone who loved you! Who you should have loved in return! He needed you Jackson, but you were never there!

When we found each other, I was the one to slowly pick up every bit and piece of him that you and the rest of his life had put so much effort into smashing! I suffered, I really did, but it was worth it! He was even almost whole again! He could finally be happy! And that you just had to interfere! Like all the other times in his life all you ever do is make him suffer!” I finished; my throat raw from all of my yelling.

His eyes were cold as they snapped to mine. “You think you know how much it hurts? Well guess what, you fucking don’t. You’ve had your mate for a few months, but I had mine for more than ten years. Logan didn’t only steal my mate; he took my everything away the day he sat idly by while he watched his mother being massacred!”

My anger boiled over. “He was a child!” I defended. “Where were you when your mate was being killed?! Maybe you should have fucking been there instead of trying to pin it all on your defenceless son!” Jackson had my throat in a tight grip faster than I could take a breath. “If you want someone to blame, blame the fucking Seekers outside that door that have devoted their lives to killing our kind! They were the ones that murdered her! And now you’re prancing around as a part of them!”

“They are humans, they should have never been able to overpower us. You even did it yourself, you took on seven humans at once and you weren’t even fazed! What was Logan’s excuse?! He couldn’t even take on one!”

“He was a child!” I articulated for what felt like the fifteenth time. Of course, it was of no use, trying to make him see sense was about as effective as punching a brick wall, I could never get through. “And again, where were you when you beloved mate needed you the most?!”

“Don’t you dare try to patronize me! My mate was the reason I lived; the reason I breathed, the reason I treasured my existence and I will do anything I must to avenge her!” He growled; his nostrils flaring in anger.

“I might be young but that is the way I feel for Logan!” I choked; pulling at his fingers around my throat as I stared down at him defiantly.

He smirked. “I know, and that is how he feels for you; I can see it. That’s why I have to take you away from him, the way he has taken my mate away from me!” He uttered; a satisfied smirk playing on his lips. He released me; my body dropping to the hard floor.

“What are you planning to do?!” I demanded; his smirk unsettlingly gleeful.

“Oh, that’s all part of the surprise.” He mumbled over his shoulder. “What I will tell you is that he doesn’t deserve happiness after he stole all of mine!” He snapped harshly as he stalked out; slamming the metal door behind him.

I flinched at the sound; pulling my knees up to my chest as my anger faded for now, leaving the sadness. Logan, please be okay. I need you to be okay. I repeated to myself; letting my tears soak my hands as my heart went out to my mate.

Please realise that I still love you Logan, and I'm sorry for what I said. I pleaded in my head; knowing all too well that he couldn’t hear me anymore through our bond thanks to the Wolf’s Bane. The muscles in my stomach screamed in protest to my position but I didn’t care as the agony poured out of me.