Page 38 of Cruel Revenge (Jacky Leon #12)

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

CAREY

C arey refused to even try going back to her human form as witches wandered around her.

Instead, she spent the lonely time trying to learn what the world seemed like with her new senses.

She could smell different people, the hints of their cologne or perfume, their deodorant, the cleaners used on the floors and the cage she was in.

She could smell someone used to be in it, but it was really soft.

The only reason she could pick it up was that she could put her nose directly to it.

She could also smell the difference between humans and others.

There were a handful of scents that made the image of a big wolf come to mind.

If I trust my instincts, that means there’re werewolves in here. I just can’t see…

She sat up, glad the cage had just enough space for her to do that.

She didn’t know if they would be werewolves she knew or not.

Aside from the encounters she had earlier after her Change, no one was talking to her or even near her.

They would come in, do something, then leave.

She was in a large room with boxes piled around.

It reminded her of a warehouse that wasn’t full, but it wasn’t fully empty either.

She could see other cages around the boxes or just over them, but not if there was anyone in them.

She could hear soft groans and other things, but she didn’t know who was doing those things.

How the hell am I supposed to get out of here?

She waited, not able to see a clock on any of the walls.

One witch came and frowned at her, but Carey hissed, and the witch went along their way, leaving her be.

They knew she was awake and free to think whatever she wanted.

It was probably clear she was looking around and trying to see if there was anything she could do.

Don’t have time to care about what they think about all of that, though.

I just need information. Dad always told me that if I was taken somewhere, to stay in a safe position and take in every detail I could see.

If I’m allowed a call later or anything, I need to be able to tell whoever I get everything I can.

He always thought I would be taken for ransom or something.

Carey knew she hadn’t been taken for ransom, though. She was taken because they wanted to hurt her parents.

At least I’m durable. Not a fragile little human girl anymore! If I get out of this damn cage, I can do some damage. Maybe even escape. Just like I know Jacky… Mom could do it. Yeah, like I know Mom could if she was in my position.

A whimper broke Carey’s train of thought. It was certainly a whimper, but it was from a human mouth. Carey tried to discern where it came from, looking around as a second happened.

“Sir, one of the werewolves is waking up,” a witch said into a microphone on his shirt, coming forward, holding a gun.

A second witch walked in, sighing.

“Thankfully, this room is soundproof enough for the werewolves and werecat, but we weren’t supposed to be here all night with four of these moon cursed monsters.”

Carey snarled at those words.

Four? There are four of us here?

The second witch looked in her direction and shook his head.

“Just let them work the energy out. We can’t safely drug them until they are fully awake, and they’ll be freshly up, so they’ll be able to fight it better. Don’t want to waste the spell components. Maybe we’ll even get that one to sleep soon.” He pointed at her, and she growled again in response.

Then another whimper, and she turned toward it, the top of the cage they were standing next to.

She saw Benjamin’s head lift up over the boxes between them.

Oh, no. Not Benjamin. Wait. If they got the werewolves from the restaurant, there should be five of us here. Me, Benjamin, Arlo, Stacy, and Kody. Who got away? Was someone able to get away and tell the pack what happened?

Benjamin turned toward her, rubbing his face and head as if they hurt. She smelled deeply as he breathed in her direction, gasping when he saw her. She recognized which of the werewolf scents was his now.

She tried to jump a little, to be excited to see him awake, even if she felt the opposite. She hated that he was here. He was too sweet for this. This was too dangerous for Benjamin.

After the witches decided to give us more space again, Benjamin’s face turned confused.

“Am I going crazy? Carey? Why do you smell like Carey?”

She nodded, and his eyes went wide.

It’s me! Damn, I should try to be human again, but I don’t even know how to start that process… and I’m not sure I want to yet.

“Holy shit,” he breathed out. “You’re a werecat now. Oh, no. What happened? I mean… Can you be human? We need to talk.”

Carey huffed and sat down, not liking that.

“This is your first Change, isn’t it?” Benjamin, a sweet guy, was also a smart one. Carey was grateful for that. “Look, you need to focus on your human form. Remember it. Remember hands, fingers, feet, and toes. Remember… your teeth fitting in your mouth.”

Carey tried to chuckle. It was more of a chuffing noise. Benjamin smiled, nodding.

“Think of those things.” Benjamin looked around and glared at the witch near the door, who had come to see him wake up. Carey began wondering why, but it was quickly answered.

“Hey, can you at least bring her a blanket or her clothes?” Benjamin said, puffing up. Carey could smell his anger, his indignation for her, because he remembered something she hadn’t.

Oh, right. Another reason to stay as a werecat.

“Benjamin? Why are you yellin’?” someone mumbled.

“Arlo!” Benjamin startled, looking in the direction of Arlo’s voice. “Arlo, we’re in cages! Carey is here, and she’s a werecat, and…” Benjamin trailed off. Carey saw him pale. She could smell so much in just his scent now and didn’t know what any of it meant.

What’s wrong, Benjamin?

“Fuck,” Arlo groaned. Then louder, an exclamation as he must have opened his eyes and seen where they were. “Fuck!”

“You’re near another cage over there. Is that Kody?” Benjamin called out, his voice shaky.

Carey saw his eyes well up before looking at the witch, who seemed unmoved by any of the talking. She was worried he would come over and try to silence them, but he didn’t move. He didn’t even look in any of their directions.

“Yeah,” Arlo said, still coming to, but his anger was noticeable in his voice. “Kody is still out. What the fuck do you mean Carey is a werecat… Fuck, never mind, I can smell her.” Arlo growled. “Where the hell is Stacy? Is she in here, too?”

“No,” Benjamin said softly. “She’s dead.”

Carey sat back, her chest rumbling with a growl, but all she felt was pain. Her chest hurt. She looked up to Stacy. She was the best, the human daughter who did it all. Helped her dad, became a werewolf for the pack, immortal and smart.

I looked up to her for a long time. And she’s gone… because of me. Because I wanted to meet Courtney Lane, my egg donor.

“They shot her when she saw them grabbing me from the truck,” Benjamin said softly, in the quiet of the room.

It’s all my fault.

“I’m sorry,” Arlo said gently, the anger having fled him or being better hidden.

She had seen her father make the switch the same way, from anger to compassion. From hard and violent to soft and gentle.

“But now Carey is a werecat, and I am trying to convince her to Change into her human form, but she doesn’t have any clothes or blankets, I think,” Benjamin continued, his words wavering, but he was on task. “And I don’t even know how she’s even a werecat now.”

“Hey, get her something,” Arlo growled, and metal started to rattle. “Now, you fucking asshole! It won’t hurt anyone to make sure she can cover herself!”

“Animals don’t need coverings,” the witch finally replied.

Carey’s heart sank into her stomach as anger rose in her throat. The rumble in her chest grew louder and more violent at the words.

We are not animals!

“Fuck you, asshole!” Arlo yelled. “At least we’re decent! You’re the real fucking monster in the room!”

“Yeah, fuck you!” Benjamin yelled, clearly riled up and encouraged by Arlo’s aggression.

Soon, it was a riot, both of them yelling until a couple of other witches walked in, shocked by the loud, obscene statements from the boys. Kody was lucky he was still out for all of it, somehow.

“Just get her a damn blanket,” one of them finally snapped. “Human forms are easier to work with, anyway.”

It was shoved through the bars with a metal pole, and only enough so Carey could grab it in her mouth and with her claws to pull it all the way through. She tried to bury herself under it.

“Good, now that you have that, focus on your human form and what it feels like,” Arlo said loudly from across the room.

She did and felt things begin to do exactly what being a moon cursed meant.

She Changed.

It hurt. She felt it from her fingertips to her toes. It was less awful than the first time, now that she had an idea of what it was like, but it hurt.

As she panted on the bottom of the cage with the blanket over her, she remembered something important that other werecats and werewolves said.

“It’s a curse ,” she whispered to herself, a reminder that she knew she should never forget. It was a curse her dad was hoping to save her from. It was a curse that destroyed families, ended lives, and meant an eternity of pain and violence.

She still couldn’t help but feel glad she was finally one of them, though.

“Yeah, it is,” Benjamin whispered softly, and her ears could still pick it up. “Who Changed you?”

“Jacky,” she answered. “I’m Carey, daughter of Jacky now, I guess.”

“So, you got everything you always wanted, and you never even had to ask for it,” Arlo said, a little teasing. She had never told Arlo that she was one day going to ask Jacky to Change her, but clearly she didn’t keep her intentions quiet enough for Arlo to miss. “But why right now?”