Chapter 214

Chapter 214
Amanda's POV

That woman said he wouldn't hurt me. The words echoed in my mind as I remained in wolf form, curled in the corner of the guest room. I couldn't trust Margaret's promise, couldn't trust any of them.

We should take a shower, Naomi suggested, her voice gentle in my mind. He offered and I'm tired of being in this form constantly.

I growled internally at my wolf. She was far too trusting, too easily swayed by the mate bond she believed existed between us and that... man.

Before I could stop her, Naomi took control, crawling out from beneath the bed where we'd been hiding. I fought against her, trying to reclaim our body, but she was determined.

Naomi, don't!

She ignored me, poking her head into the hallway and looking both ways. I can hear the TV on downstairs and I can't see him anywhere, she reasoned.

Naomi, go back, I commanded, panic rising in my chest.

I don't think he is like them, she replied, her certainty infuriating me.

We don't even know him, stop being blinded by the bond!

But it was too late. Naomi suddenly shifted back to human form, retreating into my consciousness. The familiar sensation of bones cracking and reforming washed over me as fur disappeared and skin emerged.

We can shift back if he tries anything, she assured me, her voice now a soft murmur in my head.

Finding myself naked and exposed in the hallway, I made a dash for the bathroom, my breathing heavy as I closed the door, locking it immediately. Goosebumps rose on my arms, my skin exposed to the air, making me cold.

I stared at the door, wondering if he would come in. The thought petrified me. My heart raced in my chest, each beat a reminder of my vulnerability. I waited a few seconds before looking around the bathroom.

I found some clothes on the basin and two towels along with some socks. My eyes moved to the shower, yet it didn't have any taps to turn it on. I frowned, confused by the sleek design.

The bathroom was nice and very clean. I could smell the cleaning chemicals—it smelt the same as the basement and made my nose burn and eyes water from the toxic scent. Memories threatened to surface, but I pushed them away.

I approached the shower hesitantly. I wave my hand under the shower head, before turning it, trying to figure out how it worked.

"How does it work?" I whispered to Naomi, but she seemed just as confused.

Hearing footsteps, I tensed. When a knock came at the door, panic flooded through me.

Let me shift, I begged Naomi.

There is a door separating you, and if he wanted to get in he wouldn't have knocked, she replied calmly.

I thought for a second—she did have a point.

Another knock came, followed by his voice. "Amanda is everything okay?"

Answer him, Naomi urged.

Everything slowed down except the fast fluttering of my heart as panic took over. My arms and legs felt like dead weight.

"Amanda?" His voice came again, more concerned.

I gripped the door handle to make sure it was locked, the knob rattling in my shaky hands, yet it was still locked. "I can't turn it on," I finally managed, though my voice sounded so small I wasn't sure if he heard.

"Next to the light switch is a black panel, tap on it," he instructed.

I looked around, finding the panel he mentioned, my fingers shaking uncontrollably as I reached for it.

"You find it?" he asked.

I nodded before realizing he couldn't see me. "Yes," I answered.

"There is a circle with a line through it, press it and a shower head will pop up on the screen then press on it," he explained.

I did what he said before hearing the spray shoot out of the shower head. Relief washed over me—at least now I could clean myself.

"I will be downstairs. I put an extra toothbrush in the shower niche already, come down when you are done for Tea please."

I placed my hand under the water and found the temperature good like he said. Stepping under the hot spray, I closed my eyes, savoring the warmth—so much better than the streams and creeks I'd bathed in while running.

I grabbed the soap and lathered my skin, the water turning brown as it ran down the drain. My hair was a matted mess and took three washes before it was somewhat clean looking. I brushed my teeth and just stood under the water, enjoying the warmth and the feel of being clean.

My neck was still aching, and I don't think it would ever stop from having the chain so tight against my flesh for the last 11 years. I could feel the ridges in my skin from where it sat pressed against my skin.

Getting out, I rubbed a hand over the large mirror, clearing the steam. My hair was still knotted and I couldn't find a brush anywhere. I tried to untangle it with my fingers but gave up.

I looked different. I can't remember the last time I looked in a mirror. I looked like my mother, or I think I did—my memory of her was a little grainy these days. Felt like a lifetime ago that she was here.

Staring at the scar that ran the length of my face, it marred one side of my face. I could still feel the heat in the blade as he held it over the fire before dragging the blade down my face as he tried to get my mother to shift back.

Looking away, I tried to shove the memory away. I turned toward the edge of the sink basin and picked up the clothes he left. I sniffed them and could smell his scent all over them.

I dried myself, my fingers trailing over my ruined body—there wasn't many parts of me that weren't scarred or disfigured in some way.

Don't look, Naomi whispered.

"How can I not, look at them," I replied aloud, my voice bitter.

Everyone has a past, ours just shows on our skin, she said philosophically.

"It's not the past, we are still in the same mess with a new monster."

We don't know that, she insisted.

I pulled the shirt over my head, then grabbed the pants and socks, putting them on, only for the pants to fall to my feet the moment I stood up straight. I even tried to roll them but they were massive on my frame.

"We can walk around like this Naomi, let me shift back please," I begged, tears brimming in my eyes knowing I would be pantsless with them falling down.

No, Amanda. I am tired. I need to rest please, she replied firmly. If he tries anything I will shift. His wolf is nice, I don't think he is like the other men.

It was hopeless—she wasn't going to help until he was trying to kill me. I felt anger at her simmer within me as I reached for the door handle and opened the door.

Something smells nice, better than the rodents we usually eat, Naomi commented.

How could she forget he is a man? I felt her urging me toward the stairs. I looked over the bannister but didn't see him. Clutching the pants to hold them up, I walked down the steps.

The TV was still on and the soft murmurs of voices filled the living room. I stuck my head around the corner to see if he was in the huge room, but turning around, I found him directly behind me—though he didn't move, I nearly had a heart attack.