Chapter Two

“P-please don’t hurt me,” I begged while on my knees. Despite the arctic temperature in the infirmary, sweat began to trickle down my forehead and under my armpits. A bead of sweat dripped between my breasts, reminding me that if I wasn’t wearing a bra that my breasts would be exposed to this man. 

I wanted to run, but my common sense told me that would be impossible. He was bigger than me, stronger, too. I’d never have a chance. He had a gun and could kill me with a single shot. 

I swallowed and raised my hands. “I-I am a student of Eden…please…don’t shoot.”

“Eden’s students are in class right now. You shouldn’t be here. Do you have Dysmorphism?” the stranger asked.

My eyes widened in surprise. “I-I’m a werewolf.” 

Well…I assume I am. I won’t know for another three days. 

His eyes narrowed at me. “I have a badge. It’s on the front of my dress.”

“Show me,” he demanded in a deep, husky voice. I retrieved my badge and my hands shook as I handed it to him. I snatched my hand back when his fingers grazed mine. His top lip curled up into a sneer when he saw the ‘C’ on my badge. His sneer eventually turns into a smirk, and then he laughs. I wanted to be offended that the man was mocking me in my face, but my fight or flight system kicked in, and all I could think about was living. I hadn’t achieved my goal of escaping Eden. 

“Stand,” he instructs as he pulls out his cell phone. I obey, slowly rising to my feet, not wanting to make any sudden movements. He focuses his attention on his phone and taps away with one hand while the other has the gun still trained on me. 

As if my body had a mind of its own, my foot takes a step back. My poorly planned escape was thwarted when he pressed the gun harder against my head. 

“I wouldn’t do that again if I were you. Be honest, Breeder C, are you a Deformation?”

Deny, deny, deny.

I shook my head. “No…I’m not a Deformation. I’m a werewolf.”

“I find it extraordinary that a Breeder C is free of deformations or mutations. You’d have to be a special lady, indeed.”

“If you don’t believe me, then you can call a Supervisor to judge,” I bluffed. 

“What are they teaching you in Eden? It’s a well known fact that Supervisors can’t detect Deformations. Only a Judge can.”

“Then if you can, have a Judge judge me.”

“When is your 18th birthday, Breeder C?”

“Th-three days.”

“So, knowing that you can only be judged by a Judge and not until your 18th birthday, why would you make this suggestion? A Judge’s duties is to judge each 18-year-old as they enter a packhouse or to kill potential Dysmorphisms.”

“Then why are you concerned what I am. Aren’t you here as a request from the Supervisors to assist with our lessons?”

The tension started to leave my body. Now that I was thinking straight, realistically, the man couldn’t shoot me because every woman in Eden was precious. One less female werewolf meant fewer werewolf offsprings. Only a Judge can kill. 

“Hm. You seem not to fear me any longer. Why aren’t you afraid when I’m still holding the gun?”

“You won’t kill me. Only Judges can kill when they’ve determined a wolf deformation.”

He nodded at my revelation. I used that time to pull my dress back up and ignored the way my cheeks heated as he stared at me. 

“I’m going to leave now,” I said, taking a few cautious steps back. “No one has to know about this. I won’t say a word.”

Even though I was moving away, he never lowered his gun, giving me the impression if he could shoot me, that he would. My back bumped against the door. 

But who did he contact? Did he contact a Supervisor?

A new fear gripped me. If he contacted a Supervisor and I was caught, then they’d believe I was running away.

I’d be punished.

The last girl that attempted to run received ten lashings in front of all of us from the youngest child to the oldest. My pulse quickened at the reminder of what they could do to me. The girl, she must’ve been about fifteen, cried with each lash to her back.

By the time they were done, she begged them to end it all and kill her because death would be better than being a voiceless breeder.

That was when the first spark of rebellion lit in me.

I felt a sense of camaraderie with her because for the first time, I didn’t feel alone. Someone else felt my pain.The girl was killed three days later on her 18th birthday by a Judge because of her Dysmorphism. It was a cruel fate that I’d most likely face. 

Maybe if he lets me go, then I’ll make it to the class before it’s over and I’ll be spared.

“If you leave this infirmary…I’ll pull the trigger,” he threatened. 

“You do not have the authority to kill me!”

He tilted his head to the side with a sly smirk. “Is that right, Breeder C?”

The door of the infirmary swung open, propelling me towards the man. He caught me and my eyes widened at our close proximity and his body pressed against mine. His scent was intoxicating, making me melt against hard flesh. He snapped me out of whatever fantasy I was living in when he shoved me away. 

“Imani!” Supervisor Rachel exclaimed. I turned to find Supervisor Rachel and Supervisor Sarah glaring at me with stern looks on their faces. 

“Judge Jackson! We came as soon as we were notified that one of our girls strayed away.”

I slowly turned back to the handsome man with the gun as the color drained from my face. 

It can’t be. 

We faced each other and all the tension from earlier returned. My life was about to end.