FIFTY-ONE
**-Indy’s POV-**
The moment I walk out of the cave, I blink my eyes. Although it’s almost dark, it’s still a bit brighter outside the cave than inside. I watch my surroundings and somehow it feels familiar. I take a few steps, not knowing where to go. I try to remember why this feels so familiar, but it’s difficult to look sharp in the dusk. I wished I could shift, to use my sharpened senses. To make it easier to mindlink, to be strong and smart. My wolf is all that, she’s strong, sharp-minded and very smart. It seems like she always knows what to say or do, I feel comfortable when I’m in my wolf. Much more than in my human-body, to be honest.
I sigh, realizing my task. I have to meet a person on this side of the cave and bring the back with money back to Jeff. I need to win time, I have to.
“Hello?” I ask, waiting for a response. But it’s not coming. I’m just by myself. Is it possible that the so-called old ‘friend’ of Jeff hasn’t come? I feel hope, maybe I can soon go back to my Alpha’s!
But the moment I’m almost feeling relieved and comfortable, I see a figure stepping out of the shadows. I somehow expected to see a man, but to my surprise a middle-aged woman appeared. She has her head held down a bit, her brown hair tight up in a ponytail. She’s wearing a high-waisted, tight, black jeans and a black vest. Her vest is held open, showing her flat, muscled body and a red sports bra. Her feet are covered in black boots. I’m immediately intimidated by her figure, I can tell she’s a strong woman - her aura is too. It’s not a good aura, though. But it isn’t dark either. I haven’t seen this kind of aura before and I’m not sure if that’s a good sign. Is she another species?
“Hi?” I ask softly.
She doesn’t say anything. I stare at her hands, she’s holding a dark brown sports bag in her right hand and a shiny, silver knife in her other. I gasp and retreat a bit, already forgetting the fact that I didn’t want to show weakness.
Then I hear her voice: “Stand still, girl.”
She sounds demanding, in a… weird good way: almost motherly. I hesitate, but I do stand still as she asked me to.
She walks close upon me, grabs my hands and uncuff them. She holds the knife close to my left hand and with a quick movement, she cuts it. “Ouch! Why did you do that?” I ask surprised.
“He told me you’re Royal. If you are, you should heal soon and we’ve a deal. If not: he and you will be killed.” The woman simply replies.
I grab my hand, watching the blood dripping out of the wound. I bite my lower lip as I feel the sharp pain in my hand. She cut it really deep! “You shouldn’t have cut that deep…” I whisper with a vibrating voice, barely containing my tears. “... it really hurts.”
The woman shrugs, “Oh well, even more impressive if you’re able to heal this wound fast…”
She’s watching my hand, but the blood keeps dripping. I know it will take at least a few minutes to heal this wound completely - but I know that my body will stop the bleeding within 30 seconds, giving me not much time.
“What’s your name?” I ask the woman. I try to sound as strong and confident as possible.
“That doesn’t matter.” She says.
“But aren’t you going to buy me? We’re going to spend a lot more time together, after all this. Aren’t we?”
The woman starts laughing. “You really think I’m that stupid? Hahahaha. No, girl. I know you’re a Luna - well, soon to be. I’m not going to keep you, I’m just the - uuuhhh - call it the delivery lady. I’m not going to keep you, no. So, you don’t need my name.”
I frown. So this lady is going to sell me to another one? “Please, explain to me. That’s the least you can do.. Who are you going to sell me to? And why does that person want me?”
The woman grabs my hand, I’m still bleeding. She sighs. “You’re still bleeding. Are you sure you’re a fast healer?”
I don’t answer. She starts talking again: “Well, if you aren’t, you are dead anyway. Alright, the man who wants you is the owner of Earthblood Arena. He earns money by letting species fight each other in the Arena. He can even earn more money if he has a healer among his Arsenal.” She pauses for a moment. “... do you understand? You’re going to be his healer and probably something else too, if you know what I mean. He really likes girls like you, with a soft and fluffy figure.”
I’m perplexed. I just found out that there are even more werewolves in this area, and this lady confirmed there are even more around the world. I mean, I should’ve known, I almost expected it to be. But she’s confirming it right now, it feels really real now. And is she suggesting what I think she is? I’m ready to vomit, I’m feeling really nauseous right now.
“Time’s up, girl. If you’re really a Royal, the bleeding should be stopped by now. And the wound is probably closed too, it has been 2 minutes already! Show me your hand!”
The woman wants to grab my hand, but I don’t want to. I know the bleeding has stopped, I know I’m almost healed completely too. I know she’s physically stronger than me and that I’m probably not able to fight her. I can’t let her take me, I need to fight for my pup!
I cover my hand behind my back and stare at the woman. “Don’t play games now, girl. It’s not the time. Show me your hand!” the lady starts yelling.
I shake my head. “No.”
The woman stares back at me, probably surprised at my sudden behaviour. She’s still holding the knife in her hand and I’m anxious looking at it. The way she’s holding the knife gives away that she’s used to use it, and that scares me. I’ve practiced some boxing, but I know that you should be careful around knives.
The woman steps closer and I step backwards. She suddenly grabs my right hand and I’m too slow to avoid. “I said: show me your hand!” she yells again.
“And I said NO!”
I suddenly punch her in the face with my left hand. She releases my right hand and stumbles backwards. “What the f…” She wipes the blood of her nose and seems furious.
“You little bitch! You make me bleed! You’re going to suffer for that…” She’s making speed, jumps and longs for my body. I see it coming now, though. I avoid her attack and grab the wrist of her left hand, where she is holding the knife. I did not anticipate her strength, making the first mistake. She has now a contactpoint, my hand. She grabs it immediately with her right hand and turns it to my back, making me scream in pain. She turned my attack into her favor and she smiles closely to my face. “You’re strong, but definitely not a fighter, yet. This was a rookie mistake.”
Yeah, sherlock.
She keeps holding my arm on my back while she puts the knife into the belt of her jeans. She opens my left hand, only to see completely pure and healed skin. “So, it IS true: Royals do exist. Kaching!”
I use this moment to surprise her, not realizing this is the start of my second mistake. I lift my knee and plant it in her stomach. She’s gasping for air and while she releases my arm on the back, I run away. Not into the cave, no. I’m not that stupid!
“Come back, little bitch!” The woman yells behind me. I look over my shoulder and see she’s already close. But this one second was enough for me to trip over the rocks and pebbles I didn’t see due to the dusk. Within 1 second, I’m laying on the ground - head first. I immediately feel the woman sitting on my back, holding my neck and she’s hissing in my ear: “Don’t. Do. That. Ever. Again. Understand?”
“Yes.” I whisper, barely able to speak, tears running freely over my face.
She releases the grip on my neck and I know that will leave some marks. I failed. I couldn’t escape, now she’s going to take me. I try to focus and mindlink again, but it’s like my head is still closed for some reason. What did Jeff give me? Why am I not able to mindlink? *Buwan?* I feel she’s still here, but she’s not responding.
The lady is handcuffing me again and turns me around. She helps me stand up. I see she’s holding the knife again, but the other hand is still empty: the sports bag is probably somewhere near the entrance. She must have dropped it when we fought.
“Now, you’re going to be a good girl and walk back with me to the cave. Then you will grab the bag and give the money to Jeff. He will make sure you’ll come back to me. Don’t make another stupid mistake, understand? No more escapes, no more jokes. I will hurt you.”
A shiver goes down my spine. I know she will. I nod and walk back with her. She pushes the sports bag in my cuffed hands and without saying anything I walk back into the darkness of the cave.
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Author's note: *Hey all! Thanks for reading and following my story. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think! I know a few chapters ago I said I'm planning to write towards an end, but I'm not sure if I will already.. Altough I was not planning to make this story much longer than 50 chapters, I'm not ready to end this yet. Making this story to come to an end now, means I need to rush things and I don't want to write an end that will not complement the story. So you're going to enjoy a bit more of Indy's and her Alpha's adventures... I'm sorry if I fall short on your expectations right now, but I really hope you understand and will enjoy the story further on - together with me! Much love, B.*
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