Page 16 of Pack Kasen, Part 1 (Caught #1)

15

KAT

T here’s no exhilaration the morning after my successful clash with the Wolf King.

My head is almost too heavy to lift, and I can’t remember the last time a wolf growl filled my mind.

My wolf is quiet. Too quiet.

“You’re an animal.”

Quiet forceful words make me yank my eyelids open and I twist to face the front of my cage.

A beautiful blonde with bright green eyes, in a knee length pink dress with thin straps and bare feet stands on the other side of my cage, glaring down at me.

I’ve seen that look before.

Back in high school, in my final year. I’d been counting down each day to graduation knowing that after, I would no longer be Trash Girl.

“Excuse me?”

“I said you’re an animal.” She studies the bars trapping me. “Without this , you’d be killing every man, woman, and child. I’m surprised you're not smearing shit all over yourself, to be honest.”

“I’m saving the shit smearing for when I’m more bored,” I say as I sit up. “I assume you don’t like me.”

Her scent, sharp orange and wild jasmine, snakes toward me.

It’s not the first time I smelled it, and now I’m smelling it again, it serves as a warning. My wolf might be quiet, but I’ve seen that cold look in a person’s eye before. Anyone in foster care learns to spot trouble fast if they don’t want to remain a victim.

Trouble is what she is, and she has decided she does not like me. Given who I had in my cage the day before, I can probably guess why.

“This is about the Wolf King.”

Her eyes flash from bright green to a jade green, feral intelligence peering back at me. “This is about ferals like you needing to have your throats slit open.”

That seems a touch dramatic.

“Look, lady, I’m not sure what you think I’ve done exactly.”

“ Lady ?” she hisses.

If my head wasn’t pounding and an icy chill wasn’t invading my body, I’d have thought of something better. But I’m tired and I’m cold. I just want to lie down and not have to move again. That’s all.

“Would you prefer vengeful woman bristling with keep your hands off my man energy? Either way, I’m not interested. Your man is a tool. My world was a damn sight better before he entered it. Keep him .”

A male voice rings out from outside.

She whirls around and halts at the doorway to peer back at me. “You’re not leaving here alive.”

She walks out, slamming the door behind her.

I don’t know what happened to my guards, if they only guard me sometimes or if she sweet-talked her way in here, but today I miss them. I don’t have the energy to deal with shit like this if it’s going to keep happening.

The moment she’s gone, I squeeze my eyes shut and massage my forehead as I lie back on the ground.

A second later, metal chinks.

I force my eyelids open.

Angling my head to the right, I take in the small bottle of water just outside my cage. Beside it is a salami sandwich wrapped with paper.

Both are inches away.

If I had to guess, I’d say it was Finan, since I can’t see the Wolf King doing me any favors.

All of which would be fine. I mean, I’m not about to turn down water and food I don’t have to eat off the floor, but I didn’t hear a damn thing.

Worse, shadows stretch across the floor

Hours must have passed, maybe even an entire day, and I have absolutely no awareness of it having done so. It felt like I just blinked.

Which means whatever is wrong with me is getting worse.

A lot worse.

Maybe bad enough I close my eyes and don’t open them again.

“Shit,” I breathe.