Chapter 15: Nightmares

"Time to eat Female", the guard laughed coldly as he spoke. He grabbed meat from the bucket he was holding and threw it on the ground in front of me. My chains scraped the floor as I crawled towards the food. My wrists and ankles burned with every inch from being rubbed raw by the manacles. I ate the food off the ground making sure every last piece was gone. My stomach still felt empty and a loud growl escaped it. The guard came closer and I could smell his rancid breath as he spoke, "you know I could give you more food if you had something to offer". His eyes moved up and down my body and he licked his lips. I felt bile starting to rise in my throat with the thought of his nasty hands touching me. If he ever gave me the chance I would bite them off.

I backed away into the corner of my cell and pulled my legs to my chest. In the beginning I was taught to stay quiet and sometimes they would leave you alone. The guards face twisted in anger as he spat, "Bitch". He went to the other cells throwing in the meat.

"Smart girl", I heard the guard say as he started to unlock the cage across from me. He looked back before entering and caught my gaze. His eyes were a dark void that made me shutter. When I looked into his face all I saw was absolute evil. He blew me a kiss and stepped inside her cell. The girl must have taken him up on the offer he had presented me just moments before. He locked the cage door behind him. Other guards circled around the cage ready for the show. His belt clanged as he took it off. I covered my ears with my hands and pressed down firmly. I could still hear the girl screaming no matter how hard I tried to stop the sounds. The guards cheered and clapped and I clamped my eyes close.

I woke up in a cold sweat shaking violently. My knees were against my chest and my hands over my ears like I had done in my nightmare. I was terrified to open my eyes. What if I was back in that cell? What if James and his brothers had all been a sweet dream? Silent tears soaked the sheets around me as I grasped for reality. I pushed my senses outward and smelled something familiar. Someone was standing at my door. Door, door, door.... not a cell... I was in a room. I did not want to open my eyes in case my mind was playing tricks on me.

"Little Wolf", a voice spoke soft and gentle. Little Wolf... that's the name they gave me. If there is a God please tell me it wasn't all a cruel joke and my sweet dream was reality. Footsteps came closer. "Little Wolf, it's Michael", he took another step as he spoke. My inner wolf felt the alpha bond reaching out. "I'm here and I won't let anything hurt you", he was right by the bed now. Bed there was not a bed in my cell. I could not move. I could not do anything but shake in fear. I felt the bed dip and arms come around me. I wanted to fight but the familiar smell washed over me again. "You're safe. I've got you", Michael soothed. He pulled me against his chest and I took a deep breath. His scent was washing away the horrible memory.

Michael rocked me softly and hummed a soothing song. My shakes began to cease and the tears slowed. He paused only for a second to pull me towards the top of the bed so that he could lean against the head board. He then pulled a blanket around his shoulders that covered my body as well but was loose enough I did not feel claustrophobic. When all the terror I had felt earlier had finally left I hugged his neck. His body stiffened and then relaxed. "I'm broken", I whispered in his ear. "We are all a little broken, Little Wolf", he replied. I relaxed into his arms again and he rocked me into a dreamless sleep.