Kacie
“Do not repeat what I just said and don’t respond. The mutt is close by and may be able to pick up what we’re saying. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth and just keep quiet about it,” Clara says.
I close my mouth and nod so she’ll know I heard her. When my hands are freed I grip the burnt flesh that was damaged from the wolf’s bane. I can’t believe she took them off.
How long before she puts them back on? It could take hours for my body to start recovering. Will I have them off long enough for Athena to come back? Goddess, I hope so.
Staring down at me she holds a slender finger to her lips before backing up. Her cautious eyes warn me as she drops her hand down to her side.
“Sit there and relax. I’ve done my part,” she says and takes a deep breath. “I’ll be watching you until your Alpha relieves me of my duty.”
I scowl at that.
“He’s not my Alpha,” I growl.
A laugh falls from her lips as she shakes her head. “You still have the will to fight after the beating you just took? Neither of us is human but we both know a kick from an Alpha, especially an angry Alpha, would not only hurt but leave some serious damage,” she says stating the obvious.
“As I said, Clara, he’s not my Alpha and he’s got another thing coming if he thinks I’m going to go back to being who I once was. That girl is gone,” I whisper yell. “He thinks if he keeps doing this to me that I’ll just bow to his every whim and serve him as I did before. I didn’t know who I was and I didn’t know I could be anything but his slave,” I say shaking my head. “I’ve found a home, a life outside of that box he tried to stuff me in and I refuse to go back into it. I couldn’t even if I wanted to. I’m not her anymore.”
The silence stretches and fills the room. I can’t believe I said all of that. It’s like I had word vomit and I couldn’t stop. The words kept coming and coming but to hell with it. It’s like a burden has lifted from my shoulders and despite the stabbing in my chest and the pain in my body, I feel like I can breathe now that I’ve said my piece.
“Ohkaay then,” she says as she moves to the dresser and hops up. She sits on top of it like she’s a doll on display. “Feel better?” She asks.
I nod.
“Yes,” I say and laugh nervously. The familiar burning from the handcuffs kisses my skin and I bite the inside of my cheek and a blanket of exhaustion covers my entire body and demands that I sleep. The sun is still in the sky but I stare out the window until my body wins and I knock out.
***
The next day, the door slams against the wall with a loud bang as Ken walks through the door. Clara didn’t put the handcuffs back on last night and I was able to heal through the night. I was pretty sure my ribs had completely healed and the cuts had disappeared by the time I woke up.
My body wasn’t sore and I swear I could feel warmth in my palms. I don’t know what she was thinking but I sent a prayer to the Moon Goddess every minute, every hour that she didn’t put the cuffs back on. It wasn’t until early this morning that she walked over to me and placed the cuffs on one at a time just above the scars from yesterday. They had healed but had been so deep they left scars.
Ken walks in and doesn’t stop until he’s by the bed. He leans forward, his eyes hard. His hands drop down and he uses them to support his weight. His lips graze my neck and my body freezes up.
Is it finally happening? Maybe I’m strong enough to fight back now. I could wait for an opening. If he gives me one that can give me a chance to strike him with all the strength I have. My eyes land on Clara behind him and she shakes her head probably seeing or reading what was on my mind.
What did she expect me to do? Sit here and let myself be taken by this asshole? No. I wouldn’t let him and I would put up a fight. Unless…. I let him think I wasn’t going to fight back.
I swallow.
I take a deep breath and let myself lie back against the pillow. His eyes widen and I know I’ve caught him by surprise. A sick smile stretches from one cheek to the other and I pray to Goddess I can wipe it off his face.
“I don’t think she’s healed from yesterday,” Clara calls quietly from behind him.
Ignoring her, he leans down to kiss me but I let my eyes flicker to Clara when I know he can see my reaction. Hopefully, he gets the hint and sends her away.
I’ll have a better chance of getting a hit on him if she isn’t watching. If I can find a way to knock him out long enough for me to figure out a way to escape.
He doesn’t miss my movements and lifts his head up. I watch as he tosses the idea around before he turns his head to look at Clara.
“Go wait with my Beta,” Ken orders. He turns back to face me and I swallow as I now have his full attention.
I have to hold out as long as I can. I need to pay attention and wait for the chance to subdue him if I can, but it’s my only option. I’ll take what I can. When he gets on the bed and presses himself against me, I swallow the bile that starts to come up.
Sick fuck.