Chapter 31: "Interrogation"

Chapter 31: "Interrogation"
Calina

“I was initiated into the Jade Cape pack a while ago. But these… people captured me a few days after I had transformed into this… half werewolf, half human thing. I can’t even transform the way they do,” Erin said. We were both busying ourselves with a meal of dry bread and water. She’d slowly started warming up to me, and when our captor left, she’d started conversing with me. So far, her conversation had been enlightening. She was from the Bluewood district, led by Caleb Winston, Jenna’s father. Apparently, her mate had never really been fond of her and hadn’t made an effort to search for her since she went missing.

“You said your name was Calina? What district were you from?” she asked before stuffing her mouth with more bread. I felt the exact same way, completely ravenous with hunger.

“Maverly.” Immediately her eyes brightened and she nodded to herself.

“Luca’s stepdaughter? I thought your name sounded familiar…” then she frowned and her face softened, “such a pity what happened to you. None of us from the Bluewood district believed a word Jenna told the LHS. She and her father have always been… awful people. We’re actually grateful she chose to stay in Maverly with her mom. She and her dad would have tormented us all.”

I was grateful that someone seemed to believe me. But the fact that she knew about me only drove home how badly my reputation had been damaged by Jenna. Nonetheless, it was good to talk to someone about hunter things, and I quite liked being here with Erin. I felt less lonely.

“What do they want from us?” I asked after we’d both finished our meagre meals.

Erin shrugged and said, “I’m not sure… but I think it has to do with the way we are. Apparently, it’s the work of the Moon Goddess.”

I almost scoffed at the mention of the werewolf deity. Though it was evident that she had to exist, hunters paid her little regard. All she seemed to do for us was create more problems, my current situation proving to be a testimonial to that notion.

“Great. So, we get turned into some freaks of nature and now we’re captured for what? Interrogation or something?” But I knew already, judging by the time that had passed between Erin’s disappearance and my own recent capture, interrogation was clearly not what we were here for. Nonetheless, I deluded myself into that possibility, not quite equipped for the possibility of anything else more sinister.

“Or something…” she said, unfortunately only confirming my fears. I took a look at her, trying to prepare myself for what was to come. But it was in vain. She had no marks on her indicating her struggles. And so, I could only conclude that she, like other werewolves, could heal rapidly.

“Do you think your mate will come and get you. He’s an Alpha right?”

I was surprised she knew. I hadn’t told her about Vander. The only way she would have known this was if our captors had already mentioned it before. And if that were true, it meant this entire thing was premeditated. But how would they have known that I wouldn’t take well to the transformation and that the Moon Goddess would need to intervene. Someone on the inside had to be responsible for all of this. And the more I thought about it, the more I came to the conclusion that only one person would have the power to set everything in motion so perfectly.

“Do you know a man named Brutis?”

Erin tilted her head, as though familiar with the name. After a moment or so of silence, she shook her head, seemingly unable to remember whether or not she knew him. I sighed.

“As for your question… he is an Alpha yes. And I’m not sure whether he’ll come looking for me.”

Who was I kidding. Of course he was looking for me. Knowing him, he was wreaking absolute havoc. I was, however, not quite sure about whether he’d be successful. His impulsiveness blinded him at times. I wondered, however, whether he’d reached the same conclusion I had. That Brutis had to be involved in this in some sort of way. Perhaps I’d ruffle some feathers by asking about him the next time my captors arrived. I didn’t have to wait long though because in the next moment, he arrived, almost gliding into the room. He came with someone this time, a young woman around my age. Her hair was a deep shade of scarlet, and her eyes were a beautiful emerald green. He seemed fond of her, his mate perhaps.

“I’m glad you filled yourself up. You’re going to need it,” he said menacingly. It was now clear to me what was about to happen. Torture. But I stayed as brave as I could be. I was trained for this… sort of. And soon they’d be thoroughly disappointed by the amount of information I had.

The woman with red hair entered the prison cell. I could now see that she held in her hand chains, similar to what was around Erin’s leg. I was too weak to even fight back and they knew that. The woman picked me up, dragging me out, while her partner grabbed the plates and shut the gate behind us as we left. He gave Erin a wordless stare, chuckled and then followed us to another room. My senses were immediately overwhelmed. It was a brightly lit room with a chair in the middle and a small table next to it, a bag of all sorts of torture tools sprawled out atop it. It also smelled strongly of bleach in here, stronger than I was used to and it burned at my nostrils. Just being here alone was torture already. But I could now see my captors a little clearer, clear enough for me to notice how familiar they were.

“Nova…” I uttered out as I was led to the chair. Immediately the man’s ears perked up and he gazed up at me almost caught by surprise. “I remember you from the bounty board. Nova Brookes.” Then I cast my eyes towards the woman and said, “And you’re Lana Tourmane.”

They had been recent entries on the board. Although their pack affiliations were unknown, they were presumed to be rogues. However, I was beginning to doubt that very much.

“I heard you were quite a talented hunter. Unfortunately, however, you are going to wish you’d killed us a lot sooner. It would have prevented all of this from unfolding.”

They strapped me to the chair and Lana handed Nova a pair of gloves which he slowly placed on his hands. He smiled at me. It was like a dark, sickening snarl. And as he neared the table of torture devices I couldn’t help but agree with his words. Although their bounties weren’t very impressive, I should have killed them a lot sooner.