Chapter 9

-Skyler-

How could he just ask that? Who did he think he is? What the fuck?

These were the same thoughts that have been running through my head for the last hour. The last conversation between my mate and I was all I could think about. Even as I was hitting the life out of this punching bag, I couldn’t get my mind to focus or my feelings to be anything but anger. With another intense punch, the bag ripped off its hinges on the ceiling and skidded across the floor, coming to a stop when it hit the wall. That seemed to make me come to my senses. I slumped to the ground, with my legs spread in front of me and my head in my hands. Fuck. I have no idea what to do. I was still so angry at Ambrose for the things he did, but the mate bond was making my anger grow softer by the second and my wolf was heartbroken being angry at her mate. She hated this. Hell, I hated this. I wanted him to touch me, to mark me, to mate with me. I craved him. My whole being needed him. It was so fucking impossible! He needs to understand that what he did was wrong. Chaining your mate in silver was not acceptable. I will not cave. He has to prove himself first. He needed to know I had boundaries and he had to respect them, not like he did in his office-

Fuck. Just thinking back to that conversation made me angry. Even though it was like two hours ago, I was still seething with anger. I needed to just calm down and think. I need a plan. I always need a plan. A plan makes everything easier, it makes you feel secure and it helps you to stick to what you want to achieve. Without a plan, I don’t know what to do. I always have a plan. Like, I’m never without one. I have a plan for everything and every situation, always.

I couldn't help thinking about what had already happened between us.

We almost kissed at the lake. I walked away. And he didn’t come after me. I think that if he had, I wouldn’t have been as mad. Or maybe I would have been even madder. I don’t know. After that I went back to the room where I was initially chained up in, to find the chain and the water gone. There was a bowl of fresh fruit on the table, with a mini fridge next to it. When I opened it I couldn’t help but smile.

It had a lot of different drinks, like energy drinks and juice and water. But what made me smile, was the Vanilla Milk. Vanilla Milk was a drink that was discontinued a long time ago, long before I became a rogue. Maybe when I was eight? I couldn’t remember. I only know, that eleven years later, it was still my favourite drink as I grabbed a carton and drunk it heartily. I moved to the open curtains, and out of sheer curiosity I tried the balcony doors. The swung open easily and I stepped out, taking a seat on the swing-like thing that looked like a bench dangling from a metal frame that was on the balcony. I always wanted one of these as a kid, because our neighbours had one on their porch, so I would always sneak out at night to go sit on it while I watched the moon. That night, I slept on the swing-bench, loving how close I felt to the moon and the fresh air. When I woke up at dawn, there was a blue blanket draped over my body. I distinctly remember not bringing this out with me, so somebody must have put it there.

Staying in my room for the next couple of days, eating fruit from the bowl and living off what was in the fridge. When I woke up the bowl was always full and so was the fridge. After two days, I went out of my room, deciding to explore, out of curiosity as to why Ambrose didn’t send Cate in after me every five seconds like he had before. Across from the door to my room, I found a white spiral staircase leading upwards. Climbing it, I came into a gym out of the floor. Like, the staircase opened into the floor of the gym so as you walked upwards you walked straight into the gym. It was beautiful, big and modern. It had 360 degree floor to ceiling windows, so you had a breathtaking view right around of forest and green hills for miles. It was extremely well-equipped, it had everything in it. Climbing back down the stairs through the literal hole in the floor in the gym, I came to another door I must have missed on my way up. Opening it, I found a big pool. Not that big, but big enough to be able to get a workout in. I guessed this must be the ground floor. The room itself was also gorgeous. The roof was crystal, making the sunlight refract on the bottom of the pool and on the walls. There were a couple of chairs, a TV and a minibar. I exited the room and walked back down the stairs to my room. I came back to a meal laid out for me on the table. Roast venison, potatoes, corn and broccoli. I ate my plate clean, leaving only the corn. I decided to take a nap, and when I woke up I found everything was cleaned up. Ot kind of creeped me out that everything happened in my sleep.

That’s how it went for the next while: I would never see anybody, but everything was always provided for me. Clean towels, a made-up bed, food, everything. I quickly fell into a little routine. I would wake up, eat the breakfast on the table, go to the gym, come back, eat lunch, nap, go swimming, eat dinner, shower, sit on the swing on the balcony and then eventually go to bed when I was tired enough. I saw Ambrose once or twice, he had said hello, I just flashed a ghost of a smile and walked past him. Other than those little interactions, it was good. For, well, about five days. Walking down the hall, I found a big staircase. It led me to the kitchen. In there, I found a really nice lady, called Rita, who showed me where Ambrose’s office was. I don’t even know why I was going to see him. Why was I even trying to make the first move at reconciliation? He should. My wolf wanted to make the first move though. She liked that idea. I kind of did too. And as I stood in front of his door, I knocked.

And that led to the shitshow we have now. Back to square one. After the conversation, I stormed out of his office back to my room. Daring him to follow me. I walked in, grabbed a pair of shorts and a sports bra, changed and went to the gym. Then I started punching and I haven’t stopped since.

I already feel calmer. Looking up from the floor, I saw a group of wolves training through the window. Form up here they looked small. I could see Ambrose’s figure almost immediately. I don’t think I’m mad anymore. Hell, I want to be, but this mate bond was really taking its toll, playing my heartstrings like a guitar. Fuck. I sighed audibly, becoming agitated at how I couldn’t stay mad at Ambrose. I already have a plan. Now that running away was no longer an option, as I think my wolf would die if I rejected him, and not that I think I actually could at this point, we had to make this work. I had to make this work. It was time to tell him the truth.

About everything.