Chapter 16: KIDNAPPED

CHAPTER SIXTEEN | KIDNAPPED

ASPEN

It was time.

This was the day and the time my fate was going to be sealed. If I wasn’t who I thought I was all my life, who I wanted to be, I was going to lose my life. And if I was, I might just be unlocking a new part of me.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Rachel asked as she pushed the door to the room, turning on the lights.

My gaze traveled across the room, stopping at the chair that sat at the center of the room. A metal chair.

“Yes, I'm sure I want to. This is what I need right now. Maybe it's all the answers I need?”

“Okay, since you've made up your mind, go sit on the chair.”

I walked toward the chair, all the boldness evaporating when I was face to face with it. I didn't turn back though. I knew I had to do it.

So with all the courage I could muster, I sat on the chair.

“Are you ready?” Rachel asked, the remote control in her hands.

At any second, she would click on it, and I was either going to die or unlock something.

“Also, I have to tell you something. I did some research and found out that some people's wolves were locked up because they were too dangerous to society. There are levels to rogue wolves, and the highest level leads to destruction, which led me to the conclusion that your wolf might also have been locked up because it was too animalistic to handle.”

I paused, taking a deep breath because of the new plot twist. “And what does that mean for me? If my wolf unlocks and it's rogue, what does that mean?”

“It means you'd have unlocked something that would end up being the death of you. Usually, animalistic wolves are locked away because the rules state that they must be killed instantly. To protect them, their parents lock the wolves away. Are you sure you really want to do this?”

At this point, it was obvious that she herself was doubting if this was a good idea. She must be hoping that I would back out. Maybe she was afraid that my wolf would be released and would maul her to death, or maybe she didn't want to be an accomplice.

And as for me, I didn't care whatever was going on. I wanted answers, and I didn't care what happened on my quest to find them.

“I want to do this, Rachel. For me,” I whispered.

Pity flashed in her eyes, and she nodded, smiling at me a little. Probably the last smile I would see before my death.

I was betting with my life, and it felt so good. I had done nothing but live by the rules all my life. I was sick of it. Now was the time to be reckless.

I didn't expect Ronan to show up, but the door opened, and he walked in, his face blank.

“What are you doing here?” Rachel and I asked at the same time, surprised that he came since he was solely against it.

He said nothing. He only walked over and stood next to me. “Holding your hands like you wanted,” he said quietly so that Rachel wouldn't hear. Then, he spoke loud enough for her to hear, “For emotional support. I'm here to be your emotional support.”

Rachel gushed instantly. “Awwn, babe. That’s so sweet of you.”

And I was afraid to admit that it was truly sweet of him. Maybe too sweet.

I guess he wasn't as bad as I thought he was.

“Wait, how does it work? Would it affect him if he holds my hands?” I suddenly asked, stopping her from pressing the start button.

“Nope, it won't. He's a werewolf. It'll only recharge him. Usually, this is the last test to officially graduate from this school. Electricity can do two things to a werewolf: it can either weaken you or strengthen you, but either way, it can't kill you. Those who understand how electrical current works and are in control of their wolves are able to turn it into power. The rest are subdued by it. But it kills humans instantly.”

Hearing that nothing bad would happen to Ronan was all I needed to know.

“I'm ready. Do it now.” I closed my eyes, bracing myself for the impact.

But instead of feeling excruciating pain, my breath stopped completely. I couldn't breathe the moment she turned it on, and I panicked for a while. I looked to my side, to Ronan who had taken my hands, and he was shaking all over, convulsing. But I didn't feel it. It just felt like I was holding my breath underwater.

Then suddenly, it hit me. Not the pain. Not the convulsing. Not even the shaking. The memories hit me. Not everything, but enough to know that I wasn't an orphan. Alpha Darius kidnapped me when I was a little girl, brought me to his pack, and lied that I was an orphan who he saved from getting killed like my parents.

The electric shocks on my body didn't hurt me; they only juggled my memories. Just as it started, it ended, and I wanted nothing more than to scream at her to do it again, because I was finally remembering things. I was finally seeing flickers of the past that I would kill to recall.

“Aspen?” she asked, rushing over to me to make sure I was fine.

She touched me, her eyes glowed. The current still on my body affected her a little, but it was nothing compared to what would happen to Ronan.

“Are you alright?” She helped me off the chair.

My eyes didn't close once during the whole ordeal, and the shock on her face couldn't be hidden.

“I'm fine. I saw things in my past. A lot of things, Rachel. Alpha Darius took me from my parents. He kidnapped me. I was never an orphan, and I doubt I ever was.”