17. I'd Do Anything For Love.

"Darling, are you okay?" Mariella heard someone talking to her.

It was Damon, or rather, number four, asking softly as she once again woke up in this wretched cage. Mariella grunted, tasting a metallic flavor in her mouth and feeling sore, as if she had been used, though she had no recollection of anything happening to her. She had been drugged with strong animal medications like romidifine, rendering her completely out of it.

The blonde guy, Dr. Someone, had often looked at her with disdain during the examinations, clearly having some serious issues with women. Mariella had no desire to be his savior or even engage in conversation, especially given his lisp, which made his "S" sounds soft and squishy and his "R" lacking proper sharpness. Damon would imitate him and it would irritate him even more. Mariella had restrained herself from doing the same, but if he dared to come in front of her cage again, parading those lobotomized idiots who would suck his non-functional cock, she would show him.

Several Damons had been placed in the same cage as her, in order to maximize their suffering, as they could witness her scars from the biopsies and other procedures she had undergone. Mariella was a creature of lust, so her energy would benefit from a little show, but Damon had forbidden it, not wanting to give any indication of their cock sizes or functions. There had been females visiting the males, attempting to elicit a reaction, using Viagra and various injections, but the men remained soft. No erections, thanks to Mimi's pheromone.

Damon liked it that way. He couldn't forget what Mimi had looked like when she died. It had been so believable since he had passed out shortly after and woke up much later, missing her. He wanted to be near her, and he realized that this hive connection made him feel this biological need to be close to her. It would be perfect to be with her, and Mariella was completely fine with it. Damon wasn't sure if the other Salvatores felt as strongly as he did, but it was almost a physical ache. 

Adam had been struggling with his temper, and he believed that the best course of action was to escape rather than wait for public rescue. He didn't want to be subjected to scrutiny, manipulation, or mistreatment. It was evident that something unpleasant in Adam's past had triggered his explosive temper. Perhaps once everything settled down, they could have a conversation and discuss how this would shape their future.

Damon desired Mimi to be the center of attention, the quintessential American sweetheart, alongside her prince. They envisioned a wedding like no other, one that would be broadcast worldwide. Their love story deserved the recognition it warranted. However, Damon wasn't solely focused on romance; he also desired those very special and sharp wedding nights and a memorable honeymoon. This time, everything would be perfect.

Furthermore, they planned on extending their family during the breeding season. With the support of their larger pack, there would be helpers for everyone, resulting in a truly beautiful experience. Of course, they understood the importance of taking things one step at a time. Despite Damon's usual impatience, he recognized the need for patience in this situation. He needed to carefully consider and wait for updates from the Salvatore hive, as he was the connection to their network.

The hive had informed Damon about Mimi's treatment, ten days after the mission. Mimi was currently in her office, and her NSA handlers had recently arrived. They were engaged in a discussion regarding the case, excluding the agents who were not yet involved. Damon was initially displeased when he heard Mimi intended to make him and Mariella the stars of the rescue.

However, number ten clarified the reasoning behind it, explaining, "According to Mimi, she needs to maintain some level of anonymity. If she were to become widely known, it would make her an easy target for the bad guys. They would know exactly who she is and what she does, potentially offering money for her capture. While it would have been ideal to showcase her, I understand her perspective. Her safety and the success of this mission are at stake, so we must follow her guidance."

Damon grunted and replied, "Alright, I understand. We're not that wanted by Sarks and others. Plus, it helps Mariella to distract herself with the press. She gets to talk to them, so fine, we'll be the stars of the show. But I won't tell Mariella just yet. It'll be a surprise for her, and her reaction will be more natural."

Number ten remarked, "Wulfe is still out of whack. He's not in the base. Mimi is in her base, but she seems normal from what we can see. So maybe there's no issue. She had a rough time during the treatment, but she's fully focused and invested in this."

Damon replied, "Good to know. Keep me informed about where we're going with the rescue."

Ten had informed him about the blonde guy and his past, so there was something Damon could use to manipulate him, make him make a few mistakes, and other stuff.

A few days later, Mimosa was sore. She lay on a cot, with only Shadow in the smaller cage next to her. She could feel deep bruises all over her body, and her pussy and ass felt especially sore. She didn't even want to think about what had been done to her. Shadow was in a sorry state as well. Damon had successfully provoked the blonde guy with taunts, and the guards had made an example out of Mimosa and Shadow. They had fought back, but the guards had knocked them out, sparing them the memory of the abuse they had endured.

Mimosa slowly sat up, naked and covered in bruises and bite marks. The scientists had studied them enough to slow down their healing, and the drugs they were given didn't help either. She was bruised, used, and sore. Mariella and Damon were still unconscious, and she could see that they were dressed.

Charles, shackled into the wall, who had also been beaten and mistreated, asked in a low and rough voice, "Are you okay? It wasn't pleasant what they did to you, but it was mostly using sex toys for penetration."

Mimosa replied, "I'm sore, drugged, tired, and increasingly pissed off. I don't understand why Mariella wants this rescue to be public. I just want this to end. It's easy for her since she gets to keep her clothes on and isn't used as an example."

Charles grunted and said, "Well, the rescue is on its way, and all we have to do is wait. Besides, I'm not in a state to escape."

Mimosa peered into the darkness. Charles was shackled to the wall, completely naked. His skin bore deep burns and bruises, rendering him unable to stand. Adam, in the same restrained state, was unconscious.

Shadow cursed under her breath as she sat up, expressing her frustration with the situation. "These brutes are unbearable. I despise being here. I need to talk to Mariella about her decisions. She must learn to consider all of us, not just herself. Damn princess."

She was just as annoyed as Mimosa. This was an unpleasant place to be, especially since their tests had revealed their infertility. Shadow and Mimosa had become examples of Mariella and Damon. Surprisingly, Mariella had not been subjected to the same treatment as them. Perhaps that blonde guy saw her as the less suitable victim, not feisty enough. Number one would be affected more than the others. Shadow thought back to their attempts to fight back, their defiance, while Mariella remained calm, refusing to retaliate. They were wolves, and she was a lamb.

Shadow muttered to herself, "We should have acted sooner and escaped. It's too late now."

The scientists had tried various methods to stimulate the males' sexual responses, but nothing had worked. They were useless for their intended purpose, which infuriated the blonde guy. He had a long list of clients in need of a good-looking stud, but all he had managed to acquire were freaks, impotent, and infertile creatures. The science team wanted to continue studying them.

He had handed over a few females to the guards for their amusement, except for the one that those clones seemed to protect. He wasn't sure what use this group would be, and he had already forgotten about the freak he ordered to be killed. His mind was already on the next power move, more money, and becoming even more ruthless.

He saw himself as a monster, but he took pride in it. He didn't want to be good because, in his view, being good equated to being weak. He was no longer the weak boy he once was. His parents had been wealthy, and he inherited a substantial amount of money when they died in a tragic fire that claimed the lives of everyone in his family, except him. Paramedics had managed to revive him after some time, but there were signs of brain damage. However, he refused to let that hinder him. 

The social workers had taken him in to live alone when he turned 17, allowing him to be himself. Despite the damage to his personality, his IQ remained unaffected. During his time at school, there were a few incidents when he was just 13 years old. One incident involved him bashing a girl's head against the wall, resulting in her death. His parents took care of the problem, but a few years later, the girl's parents sought justice. However, his parents protected him once again, and, the girl's family was killed in a car accident. From an early age, he learned that only the strongest survive and do whatever it takes to survive in this harsh world. This was a lesson taught by his family.

Number two sat on the cot, observing Mimosa and Shadow waking up, feeling sore and abused. He couldn't help but feel anger rise within him as he looked at Mariella sleeping peacefully in the arms of number one, protected and cherished. It was unfortunate that they had to go through such a terrible ordeal, even though they were now out of it. That state was not pleasant for them.

He also questioned Mariella's decision to make this rescue public. He remembered a similar situation where Mimi had exposed others, resulting in her being in an awful state, but still helping Ruby with all her strength. This current situation felt like a parody of that, and number two couldn't help but scoff softly. He saw Mimosa and Shadow waking up, abused, sore, pissed off. They reminded him more of Mimi.

He tried to ease their suffering with his telepathy, but Mimosa said, "Don't bother, we can handle it. I have been in this situation before, after all, I was quite a long time inside Mimi. We're not weak like Princess. If we have to go through this, we'll get through it." Her voice was filled with determination.

Number two responded, "I'm sorry. I'm just so frustrated that I can't do anything. And that damn blonde guy. I wish I could kill him. But since this will be public, he will be apprehended and put on trial. It's not up to me to end his life."

Charles grunted in agreement. "Damn, all of this. Next time someone wants to make a public spectacle, they better make sure I'm not involved."

Mariella found herself awake once again, but this time, she was filled with confusion and uncertainty. The effects of the various drugs they had given her left her unable to make sense of her surroundings or even her own identity. Fear enveloped her as she realized she was in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by others whose intentions she could not discern. Her mind was too clouded to function properly.

Despite feeling sore and noticing stitches on her body, she mustered the strength to stand up and cautiously make her way through the room. She was naked, as were a few other men lying on narrow cots, seemingly unconscious. But amidst the chaos, Mariella desperately sought safety. She was drawn to a particular man, tall with a hint of Native American heritage. Despite his bruises and stitches, Mariella instinctively gravitated towards him, seeking solace in his presence.

She had no concept of how long she had been trapped in this nightmarish place or where exactly she was. All she longed for was an end to this torment, a chance to regain her clarity and understanding of her own identity.

Charles was awakened by Mariella as she pressed herself against him, seeking his protection. Despite his earlier gruffness, he couldn't resist wrapping his muscular arms around her, providing whatever comfort he could. In his mind, Charles cursed at how much weaker they were compared to Mimi. She never needed anyone to protect her in situations like this.

They, once strong creatures, had been reduced to desperate messes due to drugs, experimentation, and cruelty. Charles had developed a newfound respect for Mimi, seeing her almost as a goddess who was much more capable than they were. In Mimi's life, she had always learned to cope on her own, never having anyone to rely on in situations like this.

Charles wasn't sure what it would take for them to recover from this ordeal. The publicity and everything else had taken a toll on their mental state. It would take time, probably a long time, for them to return to normal. And where would that leave Mimi? Most likely, she would continue working, keeping her mind focused on saving others. Charles hoped that, at some point, the entire pack would prioritize Mimi's well-being.

However, the harsh reality was that Mariella and the wolves would remain the center of attention for quite some time. He couldn't help it; that's just the way it was. Overcoming and healing from this trauma wouldn't be easy for them, as they weren't as accustomed to it as Mimi was. Only time would reveal what their lives would be like once they finally left this place.