Page 85 of Blood Day: Part Two

I gritted my teeth and nearly shook my head. Could he be hurt? Yes. Maybe. And if he was, then I still only had myself to rely on. So regardless of the reason—hewasn’t coming for me.

Which meant I needed a plan.

A purpose.

Something.

Because this endless sea of depression was going to end up killing me.

You’re stronger than this,I told myself.Stop feeling sorry for yourself, and find a way to survive.

By what? Becoming a breeding slave?

I wanted to scream in frustration.Thiswasn’t the life I wanted. No, that life had been withhim.

Maybe I’ll survive and hunt him down,I mused.Wouldn’t that be a fun surprise?

I started imagining his shock at seeing me on his doorstep—not that I knew where to find him—only for the bell overhead to interrupt my daydream with abing.

Well, I have time to contemplate that idea,I decided, standing and eyeing the food again.But I don’t have a lot of time to make this decision.

I glanced around the room, noting the humans falling into line as we’d done the last however many days.Or has it been a week?I wondered, moving to join them all.

Regardless, it was all second nature now.

Step into line.

Walk back to the cages.

Find your temporary home.

Sit.

Stay.

That line went right by the remaining food.

And from what I could see, there were no lycans watching.

It’s too risky, I thought, only a few feet away from the bananas now.It could draw attention to me, which I don’t want. I’m not ready yet. I need a plan first.

Except I wasn’t sure if a plan existed.

Still…

I swallowed, my eyes falling shut for a long second.

No.

I continued past the bananas and the water. As much as I wanted to help Willow, I’d learned long ago that the only person I could truly look out for was myself.

Sorry, I thought at her, my steps feeling heavier as I continued the trek back to our cell. She might not even be awake yet, but that didn’t stop the guilt from eating at me. She’d suffered last night. That much was clear. And now she would continue that suffering by not being able to eat until—

A lycan stepped into my path, his nostrils flaring in my peripheral view. I quickly dropped my gaze to the ground, my feet freezing to keep myself steady and obedient in front of him.

“Hmm,” he hummed, the sound sending a shiver down my spine.

Interested. Feral. Wrong.