Chapter 39
Samira inspects the wound on my head, apparently the skin is split open but has finally started to close after a week of healing untreated at a human pace. I’m so grateful for her help and her company, that I vow to help her out of this hellhole and avenge her son and mate.
“Being the Alpha heir, I’m shocked they were able to take you. What happened that day?” Her voice is curious as she tries to clean the wound, trying to avoid infection knowing it could be a death sentence in this state. The memories from that day are like vague flashes, I was announced to take over my fathers position, there was a blast, there was smoke, the boy we were questioning was taunting me then nothing.
“I don't remember much, a few days before I was taken, we were attacked by Dark Claw, we took in a few of them for questioning. Most died but there was this one young boy, he was maybe my age but his brain had been filled with hate from this damn pack. There was an explosion, he was hiding in the smoke then I blacked out” I chew on the dried skin on my lips in frustration. There’s this gnawing feeling that I’m missing an important fragment. Like it's behind a pane of frosted glass but I’m too weak at the moment to shatter through it and remember.
“Wasn’t your mate or father with you what about any warriors?”
“No, my Pa was trying to help the pack, they were all quite panicked when the blast sounded, still on edge from our previous attack. Most of the warriors were in attendance at the assembly so they joined in on crowd control, probably unaware that everyone at the prison had already been killed. Adam was right behind me coming to help but…” I ran off stage, he started trailing behind me, I remember that much.
“But what?”
“I’m not sure, he must have been held up by something, he tried to mindlink me but I was so focused on the situation that I don't even remember what he was saying” pushing the palms of my hands into my eyes hoping that if I rub them hard enough I’ll be able to see the memories that are hiding from me. My head is still throbbing and all this thinking is just adding to the pressure building in my skull. “I can’t remember, I don’t know why Adam wasn’t with me, what if he got hurt, I don't remember them taking me, I don’t remember”
“Ssshh Roman it’s okay. Rest your mind for a bit and tell me about things you do remember, tell me about your father?” She sounds intrigued as she pulls my hands away from my face and rubs soothing circles in them.
“I love my father, he was the best you know, loves me and my Ma more than anything in the world, He would give up anything to keep us safe. One time when I was like seven we were away on some pack business and the daughter of that pack’s Alpha shoved me, calling me a freak because I wanted to show her the cool bug I found in the garden. I ran to my pa with grazed knees, in tears and he threatened to break their allyship unless the Alpha’s daughter apologised to me” my eyes sting wanting to make little tears but I’m still too dehydrated for such bodily functions. The resurgence of that memory though makes my heart ache, I miss my parents, I miss my Adam, I miss my home.
“Give up anything for you, you say?’’ Samira’s tone makes me feel a little uneasy but I try to brush it off. Samira has been nothing but kind to me since waking up, like now she is refilling my cup with water to hydrate me as she hears me choke back quiet cries.
“Sorry, I just miss everyone, I can’t imagine how worried they all are right now. I've only been awake for maybe two hours but it feels like I’ve been away for a lifetime. I can imagine how much you long for your family. What were they like” I ask, trying to shift the conversation to her.
“They’re all I ever think about. My mate was stubborn and impulsive but our love ran deep, then one day he came back from battle, mortally wounded. That night he died in my arms and I grieved so hard, my body could not handle the trauma and I miscarried that week and suddenly I was alone” the she has on my hand tightens as she talks about them.
“I’m so sorry, I don’t think I could survive losing Adam, I hope he can survive if I don’t come back though. My angel has already lost so much”
“Is he still grieving the loss of his parents?”
“Ye- wait, how do you know that they were killed? I never told you that!” alarm bells start flashing in my mind, I want to continue interrogating Samira but a blinding light floods the room from the door in the ceiling being opened, highlighting her black hair and striking hazel eyes. Samira looks to be maybe thirty with beauty that could make even our goddess envious.
I expected a woman who has been in an underground cell for three years to look a little worse honestly. Her skin is a rich shade of tan not pale from years of no sun and marred with scars, her cheeks instead of hollow, are full and her eyes are not sunken in with dark circles they are bright but with a deep coldness in them. The hair on the back of my neck stands up, as her lips curl into a smile.
A tumbling sound pulls my attention from her, a body is thrown down the stairs and I see a very broken Greta, she is covered in blood, her dark red hair cut roughly, so short that in some places it’s right down to the scalp and bruises covering most of her flesh. Following behind her is the boy we were questioning at Silver Eclipse. With a groan Greta lifts her body from the ground and sees me chained to the wall with Samira holding on to me, her grip having tightened like a vice on me, so tight her nails have begun to break through the skin.
“Willa!” she coughs out before charging at the silver bars of my cell even as they burn her skin. “Willa don't let this Bitch touch you! She is the damn Luna of Dark Claw”