Page 28

Chapter 28

MADELINE

The first thing I notice is a warm, soft bed. The mattress feels like a cloud, almost like I'm not lying on anything at all. I open my eyes and jolt up immediately.

“What's happening? Where am I?”

I look around at the unfamiliar room. It's completely white, with furniture the same pristine color with gold accents. The room looks welcoming and homey like a very fancy hotel.

I see a dresser with a robe on it. Then I realize that I'm unclothed beneath the blanket covering me. I rush to get the robe and tie it around me donning a pair of fuzzy white slippers.

“What is all this?”

I stand, slightly lightheaded but other than that I'm completely fine. There's no pain at all. I wrack my brain, trying to remember how I ended up here, but every memory is fuzzy and just out of reach.

I have no clue how I got here or where I am, but strangely it feels like I've been here a long time. I move away from the bed and go toward the window.

There's a pretty yard with two small bicycles, one blue and one pink. There's also a small swing. That's weird.

The scent of eggs wafts under my nose, drawing me in. “What's that delicious smell?” My legs take me forward before my mind catches up. I step out, take another deep breath, and follow the aroma to the kitchen.

I stand at the door, unsure about looking inside. I hear someone using utensils in the kitchen. Slowly, I gather my courage and peek through. The sight makes my jaw drop.

Nate is working at a stove, turning eggs with a wooden spatula. He’s topless, providing an amazing view of his beautiful body. Rivulets of sweat run down his chest until they reach his abs.

You'd think he was performing surgery on the eggs given his serious expression. He looks relaxed and incredibly sexy.

“Nate?”

He turns to meet me. “Hi you. I didn't realize you were awake.”

“What's happening? Where are we?”

He gives a light chuckle. “What are you talking about, babe?”

Babe?

He turns off the stove and turns to the kitchen island to pick up a small bowl. He dips his pinky in it and nods. He moves about the kitchen, cleaning up after himself.

I look around. “What is this place?”

“Are you sure you're okay?” he asks. “You're acting weird.”

“ I'm acting weird? You called me babe a second ago.”

Nate glances my way, uncertain. “Sorry. Darling? Sweetheart?” Realization slowly descends on his face. “Oh … you're mad at me.”

“Huh?”

He drops everything and comes toward me. “Look, I'm sorry I took the kids to school without letting them tell you to have a good day. I didn't want anyone bothering you before your big case today.”

Kids? I must be losing my mind. “I need to sit down.”

Nate helps me to a stool, staring at me, worry in his eyes. “What's wrong, my love?”

“That—that right there. When did you start being so sweet to me? Where are we? What kids?”

“My love, you're starting to scare me. I'm your husband, so of course I'm nice to you.”

I jump out of the chair. “What? You're not my husband.”

“We're mates, so of course I'm your husband.”

My eyes widen slowly. “Y—you’re not my mate. Who are you?”

I hadn't noticed it before, but I don't feel a bond. The joy and excitement I feel whenever Nate is near—that fiery feeling—is gone. I feel nothing, and it scares me.

Nate looks absolutely hurt by my words. “What's gotten into you today?” he asks softly. “Are you alright? Did you hit your head? Should we call a doctor?”

I feel even more lightheaded than before, forcing me to sit yet again. “Whoa …” I mutter, grabbing my head. Ugh …” The lightheaded feeling I had turns into a full-blown headache. It's like my brain is trying to escape my skull, and I can't do anything to stop it.

“I think you're just hungry. Let me get you some food, my love.”

Nate leaves but returns in a few seconds with a plate of eggs. He loads a fork and feeds it to me. “Here you go.”

I open my mouth, and the second it touches my tongue, I spit it out and knock the plate from his hands. The bitter taste starts to travel down my throat and I scramble away from the man in front of me.

“Madeline!” he calls out. “What are you doing?”

“This isn't real. This isn't—none of this. You're not real.”

“And what if I'm not?” he challenges me. “You really want to go back to what you just escaped from? Stay with me.”

“No!” I scream. “This isn't real! Wake up, Madeline! Wake up! Wake up!”

My eyes open and I throw up instantly. Bile and blood mix in my mouth, making me vomit even more. I look around as darkness and cold surround me. The only light I see comes directly from the moon.

I place a claw forward, realizing I'm stuck in wolf form due to my weakness. The bitter taste in my mouth is awful and I can't shake it.

Memories come with the headache. Now that my hallucinations are over, I'm confronted with the grim reality that I may be on the brink of death.

There's barely any strength left in me and from the look of things, I must've fallen into a ditch. I try to claw my way out, but I'm far too weak to save myself. Instead, I pull myself along the ditch, looking for a shallow place to crawl out from.

The air is cold, and I barely sense the moon above me, even though it seems close enough to touch.

My head continues battling against me, holding me down in the dirt. I feel my stomach starting to grumble from both hunger and the urge to retch again.

The smell of gasoline and gunpowder hits me. Maybe it's always been there, and I just didn't notice. It becomes so pungent I can almost touch it.

I hear heavy footsteps coming at me from the side. They don't sound like they're in a hurry, but I already know this isn't someone who'll help me.

I look up and see the face of Henry, my old friend. He dresses in layers of leather, holding a long-barreled rifle in his hand. The only part of his body that isn't covered is his head. He smiles at me, but there's no friendliness in that grin.

“Madeline, Madeline. How I've missed you.” He leans down, placing the gun beside him. “Have you missed me?”

I'm far too weak to utter words of response. All I can do is long for breath and lie helplessly waiting for my fate to be determined.

“Of course you haven't,” Henry answers. “You've been too busy running around with that boyfriend of yours. I don't see him anywhere around to save you.”

Nate, please … I need you.

“You shouldn't have eaten the rabbit,” my former friend says. “I loaded that thing with wolfsbane and let it hop around. I knew the wolf in you wouldn't be able to resist. Now, look at you. Too weak to even talk to me. You're pathetic; I’m disappointed.”

Henry gets up and cocks his gun. He swings it around, clearly enjoying himself. He doesn't seem to be in any hurry to kill me, but I know already that I won’t survive whatever he has in mind.

“To be honest, I had no idea we were hunting your pack all those years ago,” he explains. “I was young, you know? Just following the family business. My uncle was all I had, so of course I learned from him.”

Henry kicks dirt around before continuing his monologue. “When he told me about your kind, I was sick to my stomach. I happily took up this rifle when we came for you. But look where that brought me.”

He gestures broadly, like he's part of a show. “You animals killed my uncle!” he growls. “He died from his injuries, injuries you inflicted. You injured me too, by the way. I still have the scar.”

Henry lifts up his sleeve, revealing a bite mark. “Before I kill you I want you to see what you've done. No hard feelings, I was going to torture you until tomorrow and then kill you when the rest of your wolves arrive. It's clear this is where you all come to transform."

At least he doesn't know about the IronFangs land. They're safe, that's what matters.

“I'll handle your pack when they get here. You on the other hand ...” The hunter levels the gun at me. I already smell the silver loaded in the weapon. “Say a prayer, won’t you?”