Chapter Six

The man was trying to get himself killed. He was practically begging me to do it with that command and air of arrogance around him. So I simply tried giving him what he wanted.

"Tried" being the key word here.

I had lunged, ready to feel the coppery liquid of his blood stream inside my mouth, but suddenly, my air supply was cut short as someone jerked me backwards.

Someone had grabbed my collar, the thick chained one Tamer had taken the pleasure of putting around my neck after applying the taser to me. They'd also taken the liberty of clipping a thick, chained leash on to match the collar while I was gasping for air.

I growled, turning my attention to the guard responsible for chaining me like a mutt. I wasn't an animal who belonged on a leash. I belonged in the forest where I should be able to roam freely. I shouldn't have to worry about looking behind me after every step I took or worry about getting captured by fragile humans.

I was going to attack, but suddenly I was tensing, staggering as an electrical current ran throughout my body from the end of my tail to the tip of my ears.

"Take her upstairs. Clean her up, feed her, then send her to me," the cocky man said, and I sent a murderous glare in his direction. No way in hell was I going to let any of them close enough to touch me, much less bathe me.

He seemed to have enough of his brains still intact to realize that because he said, "On second thought, let her shift." I think I can safely say that everyone's eyes widened, mine being the widest.

Then I snorted, cutting the silence. He couldn't possibly be that stupid. He had to know I'd find my way out one way or another. So he either had a flawless plan up his sleeve, or he actually was that stupid. I was hoping for the latter.

"Sir, she's dangerous as a human too-" one guard tried, but the man waved his hand and the guard grew silent.

"Have someone bring her food. Take her to a room on the top floor somewhere. Let her clean herself, then I want the food to be sent up to her. She'll eat, then sleep. After, she is to be sent to me immediately, no pitstops. Is that understood?" he questioned with a raised eyebrow as he looked around.

If I was in my human form, I would've laughed and smirked at the defeated expressions the guards all wore.

One guard spoke, trying to branch out from the rest: "But no one resides at the top of the building. That's only your section-"

"Is that understood?" He snapped, clearly annoyed with the guards because he had to repeat himself. The guards mumbled, not at all happy with his command, but they could do nothing but obey it.

I, on the other hand, couldn't have been happier. Within the next day, I would be back home, laughing and joking around with my friends again. All because of this man's oblivious tendencies. But it really couldn't be that easy.

Right?

Suddenly I felt the thick trap around my neck being jerked again. I snarled, my ears flattening against my skull defensively as I whirled around to find the person holding the other end of the leash.

The meek guard's eyes met my own and I saw enough hesitation in his to snarl louder and bare my teeth to increase my menacing look. I figured the longer I stalled them, the more time I had to think of a decent escape plan that wouldn't have the unfortunate ending of me trapped once again.

"Don't just stand there; do something!" another guard hissed but made no movement towards me himself. They all stayed put, refusing to come closer to me.

The guard holding my leash gulped, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down, revealing how nervous he was. His eyes widened as I lowered my head and started advancing slowly towards him.

"No!" A stern voice snapped, and I paused to locate the owner of it. It was the same man who'd been stupid enough to try commanding me before.

I just snorted at him, my eyes filling with immense amusement and slight suspicion. Was he really dense enough to command a werewolf who could easily overpower him?

The stance he held was lazy, but those calculating blue eyes of his gave away that he was watching my every move. If I so much as twitched, he'd notice. But just because this man was watching everything didn't make him a serious threat.

He walked over to the guard holding the leash, his eyes trained on me the entire time. When he finally reached the guard, his eyes flickered with annoyance as he snatched the end of the leash.

"I hired all of you to obey me, not to stand there like a bunch of mindless idiots!" he snapped, both of us watching as all the guards lowered their heads with either shame or guilt.

"I do not want to hurt you, but I am going to have to discipline you somehow if that is what it takes to get you upstairs," he tried reasoning, his attention directed back to me.

I just bared my teeth in response, thinking how much easier it was going to be to escape one ego-fueled man than five highly trained guards. But I saw his eyes narrow the slightest as his hand tightened around the end of the leash right before I felt the trickle of an electrical current run through me, my whole body tightening. The current wasn't enough to injure me, but it was enough to distract me from my surroundings.

"It could be worse than that," he murmured, his silkly voice sounding apologetic, but I refused to let it affect me. I closed my eyes as my body relaxed and exhaustion hit me like a freight train.

I wasn't used to being in my wolf form for so long and the unsanitary conditions here weren't helping. But if I followed this man willingly, without so much as a fight just so I could sleep, it might be harder to escape.

But if I slept, I could gain all my energy back and I'd be less distracted, more determined to leave this hellhole of a place.

His blue eyes were on me, waiting for any sign that I would lunge at him. We stared at one another until his eyes flickered and left mine.

"Open the door. I want you to divide up and stay in front and behind us. Do you think you can handle that?" He asked, irritation leaking into his voice. His eyes landed back on me as I heard the guards shuffling around, finding a position to stand at.

Suddenly he pulled slightly on the leash, shortening it. I growled, pulling it the other way to show my dislike towards his action. He was lucky I was actually going to the castle. He couldn't expect me to obey him like a damn dog too.

He sighed with irritation, showing his growing impatience with me. "You cannot honestly expect me to leave this leash hanging. The less of the leash hanging between us, the less free movement you have," he recited, seeming like he'd gotten his information from a book.

I just growled, not liking his reasoning. Trust was a two-way street, and if he wasn't going to trust me, I sure as hell wasn't going to trust him. Of course, he didn't just give in and loosen the leash even the slightest.

"Don't be stubborn just because you don't want a bruised ego," he snapped, no longer using a soft tone with me. This made me bristle and jerk the leash harshly.

He was yanked forward with surprise written all over his face and I lowered myself to the ground, watching with great amusement as he stumbled and fell to the ground face first.

He looked up after a few seconds, his eyes wide with disbelief. I opened my mouth, letting my tongue roll out and hang down the side of my mouth. I don't think he'd have been as angry if the guards hadn't let out low snickers around the room. His eyes darkened with a violent storm as he shoved himself off the floor, dusting off his clothes.

"Who has the dart gun?" He asked calmly, his eyes never leaving mine. I could feel my heart rate increase rapidly at those words. I shot up, my ears flattening against my skull again as I growled weakly, finding a wall to back up against.

I watched with carefully concealed fear as a guard moved closer with the weapon. I'd have taken the taser over the dart gun any day. I didn't want to be forced to sleep and have dreams of being trapped in the cage with Tamer's sick eyes looking down at me the whole time.

"Someone has to teach you discipline. I promise never to lay a hand on you, but if I have to use a sleeping dart now and again, I will," he said softly, his pity trying to comfort my fear. But that wasn't going to make the fear ease away.

Still, I kept my eyes on his soft ones even after I felt a slight pinch. I could feel myself staggering under the effects, but I kept standing until I could no longer feel my legs. My vision was soon to follow, along with my hearing. But not before hearing his melodic voice in my ear whispering,

"I've got you, Snowflake."