Page 15 of Blood Pearl
Slow clapping from the rogue Alpha has all his merry band of rogues looking his way. We, however, remain vigilant as to every rogue in the camp. Standing from his ‘Throne’, the Alpha walks over to us with a mocking look on his face.
“That was a good show. I enjoyed it. Beta, have the two idiots taken to the spare room.”
The Beta that I’d been dealing with when handing over the food parcels appears from behind a group of rogues. He nods at two who each pick up an unconscious woman. I’m not sure where the spare room is, but they head to the cottage with the women slung over their shoulders. The Beta following behind.
“Now, let’s just say that was good to see. I enjoyed it, but it won’t stop me claiming one of you as Luna.”
As he is speaking he is looking from me to Wynona and back again. Feeling something sharp hitting my neck, I feel Aztec falling inside the back of my mind. Wolfsbane, and now I’m left as my pack, human until our wolf wakes.
“You two will fight to see who becomes my Luna, and if you don’t fight, one of your she-wolves will die. Each time you refuse, I will select one of your pack members. The competition will start tomorrow. Take them to the cells.”
The Alpha walks away, and we are dragged to cells. Thrown inside with no care for our wellbeing. This is why wolven society will not tolerate rogues, they have no care for themselves, or anyone else.
“Take a minute to rest,” Wren suggests, and leads me to a corner where a filthy mattress is lying on the ground.
I slide down so I’m sitting on the mattress, but leaning against the wall. Placing the back of my head against the wall, I close my eyes for a moment while I digest everything that has happened. Tiredness overtakes me and I sleep, knowing my pack will keep me safe.
Waking I hear whispers, but it’s dark so I don’t know who is speaking. “Alpha, it’s time to wake.”
Opening my eyes, I try to link with Aztec, but nothing. I know they have tampered with the food and water that is given, and we cannot afford to have anything they give us if we are going to get out of here.
“I have something to pick the lock.” I hear and I think it’s Wren.
“Good. Who is the best at doing that?” Wynona, I recognize, asks.
“I can do it.”
Standing, I shuffle over to where everyone is huddled, and I can see who is speaking now as the moon is lighting the outside of the cells somewhat. “Who can pick a lock?” I ask.
“I can. I did it as a game when I was young because my brother kept locking me in the house then going out leaving me to look after myself,” Paige states, shaking her head a little at the memory. We all know that Paige’s brother left her and disappeared years previously. With no parents alive, Paige was left to fend for herself after she rejected her mate on sight, and came to the Blood Pearl Pack.
“Do you think the Alpha will kill one of you?” I ask.
“No, he wants us for his men when he’s gotten everything he needs from our pack. You must have put a foot on his plans as he never expected to get the famous Alpha Aurora,” Wynona states with disgust in her voice.
“Okay. We don’t eat or drink anything. Our wolves will be able to recover if we wait long enough. They are adding wolfsbane to the food and water, so we’ll bury any food when they are not looking, and spill the water. We fight if we have to, and we try to get the times of the guards so we can pick the lock and get out of here.” I’m trying to give my wolves hope, and even if we don’t get away, we need to have positive ideas and efforts to keep us motivated.
“I will get a message to one of our males. They keep making me clean the males’ cells. I can do something, I’m sure,” Wren says with a smirk on her face.
“Should I speak to the other packs that are being held? Borose and me keep having to clean what they call the kitchen. It’s a trench where they throw everything they think is good enough for washing,” Jinny snorts.
“I’ll help with that,” Borose says, and gives Rue a grin.
“All of us need to speak to any hostages we can. Get them onboard and we can make a mass plan to break out of here. The more of us that run at the same time, the better chance of some of us getting away. Then we can organize getting help to any of us they catch,” I state and lean my shoulder against Wren’s, who is sitting next to me now.
“We have tried various ways to escape, but each time we end up chained with silver cuffs or taken to the hold, as they call it. Which is a hole dug into the ground with a metal grate on the top. If it rains you end up swimming amid earth that breaks away from the sides.” Rue says and gives me a look that tells me she’s been in the hole.
“Let’s rest. We are not going to be allowed out of here today.” Borose walks over to a mattress near the cell door and rests on her back, staring at the ceiling. The rest of us scatter and share a mattress the best we can.
As I lay thinking, I imagine Gerry must have got away as he’s not been dragged into the camp. Hopefully, he will be able to bring help, although he’s going to have to inform Flint and the Shifter Council will get involved.
“Oh, I forgot to tell you they caught an Alpha. I don’t know who he is, but they knocked him out fast as he was ready to bring this place to the ground,” Wynona whispers.
“Interesting,” I respond.
“I have a feeling I know him, but I can’t put my finger on who he is, or where I know him from.”
“Don’t worry, Wyn, I had someone with me, and he got away. If we don’t break free, I have all hopes he will bring help.”