Chapter 6: Chiara

Absolute darkness.

All I could see was black: endless and suffocating. The blindfold dug painfully against my eyes. My head was pounding in pain from the pill Adrian forced me to swallow. I felt disoriented, the ringing in my ears going on and on, defeaning despite the silence surrounding me. Other than that, the only thing I could hear was my heavy breathing.

I didn't know how long I was hanging. Adrian dragged me straight to his playroom after meeting with the Rogue. Then he proceeded to tie my arms and hang me from the ceiling, feet dangling on the floor with just the tips of my toes barely touching the ground. My shoulders... my legs... my feet... everything was already aching.

As time stretched on, I could feel the tendrils of panic slowly seeping in. Goosebumps rose on my skin, and I had to continuously bite my lip, using the pain to ground myself. This torture was nothing new. Adrian had done so much worse to me, yet I found myself succumbing to his games again for the first time in a long while.

Just when I was on the edge of hyperventilating, I felt a cold touch against my bare abdomen. The sensation was so raw and sudden that it made me jump.

I gasped, willing my pounding heart to settle down. "A-Alpha...?"

Adrian didn't answer, but I knew he was circling me by the scent alone of ashes. There was a sharp tone of sulfur in his smell, showing just how agitated he was.

His fingers trailed down to my navel until it rested just above my mound. His touch was gentle, a stark contrast to his turbulent emotions. Somehow, his calmness was even more terrifying.

"Chiara," he whispered hoarsely. "Tell me... who do you belong to?"

"I belong to you, Alpha." The words fell off my lips easily. It was a chant I've long since memorized, accompanied by the familiar bile and twist in my gut.

I heard Adrian's footsteps as he walked behind me. With the blindfold on, all my other senses were heightened. His breath against my ear was hot. Stiffling. "Is that true?"

"Yes, Alpha." My heart thudded even louder.

"I don't think you're telling the truth."

The first lash was always the most painful. I didn't even have time to prepare myself before the leather hit my bare bottom. I cried out and lifted my legs in an attempt to get away from Adrian. He simply grabbed me by my waist and pressed me against him as he grounded his hard cock on me.

Adrian grabbed my hair and pulled my head back. The strain in my shoulders intensified. I whimpered and wiggled against his hold, but he just gripped me tighter.

Snarling, he asked again, "Who do you belong to?!"

"You, Alpha!" I screamed back.

The whip cracked again for the second time. It was more bearable, but the sting was still there.

I swallowed my anger— anger at Adrian, anger at myself for my helplessness, and anger at the situation. He didn't care what my answer would be. He knew anyway what the exact words that I'd say. This whole thing was just a means for him to let out his frustration on someone.

It further solidified my theory that Adrian needed the Rogue for something. He's mad enough to dole out punishment because of the Rogue, but he chose not to go against him and instead hurt me.

Adrian continued whipping me, the crack of leather mixing with my cries and his grunts. By the time he stopped, my behind was burning. And when his cold hands caressed my stinging skin, I shut my mind from everything.

Lush forests sprawled beyond my consciousness. Instead of chilling fingers, I felt the soft touch of the breeze. My wolf yipped and barked as she chased butterflies on the winding path through the trees. Silken fur covered my skin, and the thrill of carefree speed accompanied me until the whimpers stopped, the grunts faded, and numbness sunk in.

***

When I woke up, it was already past midnight. Adrian had carried me back to his bedroom. I could feel his naked chest against me, his arms curled around my waist, pinning me in place. Thankfully, he's sound asleep. He finally managed to tire himself out enough to slumber.

I considered smothering him to death. There's a gun stashed in the drawer beside the bed. It was loaded and had a silencer. Could I pull the trigger faster than his wolf's instincts? After that, what then? Could I just walk out of the compound without anyone knowing what I did?

The temptation almost won out, but I knew better. Adrian would have me subdued even before my fingers touched the drawer.

I shook my head and focused instead on my body. It was sore, and my nether regions had a burning ache. My hands, from my elbows down to my wrists, were also covered in welts. I ignored everything, wrapped my chaotic emotions in a neat mental box, and shoved it back into my mind. I found it much easier to deal with what happened this way. At least I didn't have to think about it until I was ready.

Carefully, I scooted away from him and out of the bed. A low grump escaped his lips, but his eyes remained closed. I breathed a sigh of relief, grabbed a short-sleeved robe, and tip-toed out of his room.

The hallway was already dark when I came out. Only the glow of the moonlight coming from the row of palladian windows illuminated the place. My room was directly across Adrian's since he liked to keep me close. However, a faint pull urged me to continue walking beyond my door.

My wolf was silent inside me, but I could feel her closer to the surface than ever before. I didn't think much of it, though. I was more curious about the pull that was calling me. It's an enticing sensation, unlike anything I've ever felt. The... rightness... of it was confusing. It was as if I was destined to hear and answer its call.

The pull led me towards the balcony overlooking the garden. The full moon casted a blue-white sheen over the red-blooming roses, making everything look ethereal. It would've been perfect if not for the blot staining the otherwise mystic scene.

The Rogue stood on the balcony, eyes focused on the garden below him. He'd cleaned up already. His hair was still wet, likely fresh out of a shower. The faded jeans hugged his legs nicely and showed his well-toned muscles. His upper body was clad in a brown leather jacket. He looked like a blight against the backdrop of the pretty night garden.

The Rogue turned to me as I stopped on the threshold that separated the balcony from the hallway. His lips quirked into a smile, but it fell quickly when his eyes landed on my arms.

"You..." His voice was hoarse as his sentence trailed off. A thunderous expression flashed in his face, and he took a step towards me. I backed up immediately. Perhaps sensing my agitation, he smoothed his expression and raised his hands. "I won't hurt you."

I pursed my lips and kept my eyes trained on him. "Why are you here?"

The Rogue tilted his head, sighed, and brought down his hands. "Why are you here?" He asked me back.

Why was I? I recalled what led me to this place. It was the call— that alluring call... but where was it?

Looking around, I tried to search for its source. I found nothing, and the call was gone.

My shoulders slumped, and I turned to leave. "Nothing. I was just walking by," I answered. "Try not to idle in the halls. You will make the Pack Alpha suspicious."

The Rogue scoffed and approached me. This time, I managed to school my expression and stay in place. "I don't care about that stupid mutt."

A harsh exterior and even harsher words. I couldn't help but wince, my eyes automatically sweeping the surroundings. For a heartbeat, I feared Adrian had heard us and come to punish me again. Despite my efforts, his sadistic endeavors were still fresh in my mind.

The Rogue remained quiet after that, and we stood side by side.

I decided to break the silence when it became too much. "What does the Pack Alpha need you for?"

Surprisingly, my question made the Rogue smile. The gesture looked odd on his sharp face but lightened his severe features. There was a spark in his grey eyes as he looked down on me. "What's your name?"

I furrowed my brows as I stared back at him. "W-what...? I asked you first."

"You can call me Lance," he answered, ignoring my protest. "If you tell me your name, maybe I'll tell you why I'm here."

"You probably already know me."

"Prooobably," he said, elongating the word. "But I'd rather hear it straight from you."

I just stared at him, baffled.

"So?" He raised a brow.

"That's stupid," I snapped.

The Rogue laughed, a tinkling sound that confusingly lifted my mood. I realized that his eyes crinkled almost close when he did so, and he had dimples when he smiled wide enough.

His laughter died down eventually, and he looked at me again with a softer expression. "Kale and arugula are good for surface wounds. Make sure to clean it." Then, he waved and turned around to walk away. "See you soon, Madam. As your bodyguard, I'll make sure to protect you."

I watched him leave after that, my mind running a million miles a second. My hands clasped the welts on my exposed arms. I'd forgotten about them already when I saw him standing on the balcony.

The Rogue—no, Lance—was a puzzling person. Did he mean what he said about protecting me? Could he even, despite his willingness? I doubted it. After all, what were we but simple slaves to our own goals? Adrian needed him. Lance needed something from Adrian, so he accepted his offer. And me? I needed to escape from this hell.

Lance was puzzling, but no puzzle was complex enough for a desperate person. I'd crack him soon, and then I'd pave my path to freedom with my own bloody hands.