Chained

Chapter 9 - Child's Play

Winter's POV

I once again woke up on the cold, dead, concrete floor of my cell. 

Although my shoulder still throbbed, as I opened my eyes, the world was no longer spinning and I was able to make sense of my surroundings. However I still wasn't sure what was real or fake. The pain in my shoulder told me that the fight was real and I was free from Markus, but my head told me not to be stupid and it was just a trick by Byron to torment me.

The latter was definitely more likely.

My eyes widened as I looked towards my shoulder to see it was bandaged. Markus never did that, and the other wolves were not here to do it.

So who did?

They were clean, proper bandages too. Completely different to the rags we would use that did more harm than good. Perhaps I was so close to death, Markus was forced to save me?

No.

He would never do that.

Markus was a strong believer of the survival of the fittest. If someone was about to die, then they were too weak to work for him, no matter what he had just put them through. I looked back towards the bucket of water which was on the other end of the cell. This definitely wasn't my normal cell, it was at least twice as big and even had a window which shone through the mid-day light. Markus never would have allowed this.

I lifted my nose up into the air. There was no scent of him, not even an old one.

He has never been here before, but that could only mean that –

The door at the end of the corridor swung open and I jumped out of my thoughts. The alpha from what I thought was a dream stepped inside and began walking towards my cell.

So it wasn't a dream.

My heart began to race as he pulled a key out from the pocket of his jeans and unlocked my cell.

"Good. You're awake," he said. The cell door creaked loudly as he swung it open and stepped confidently inside. "I've just come to check on your shoulder."

I didn't dare move as Zayn walked towards me and knelt down beside me.

"You seem a lot more calm than last time," he said reaching for my shoulder and I flinched in back instinctually.

He pulled back his hand before seating himself properly on the floor. Surprise washed over me. Markus ever did anything like this. He always ensured that he was above you no matter what, it was how he demonstrated his power, whereas Zayn looked totally calm as he sat down next to the panther that almost destroyed his pack.

"Richard told me you became panicked the other day and you would have trouble remembering what happened." This time as he reached for my shoulder, he reached slowly and with more caution.
My heart thundered in my chest but I didn't move an inch as he gently unravelled the bandages that were firmly tied around my shoulder. His movements were calculated and steady, as if he were analysing everything about the situation around him. Just as I had learnt to do when I was captured by Markus.

"It's not infected," he said as he lightly ran his hand through my coat to inspect the wound. "but it is deep so you must be careful. I am guessing you heal quickly but rest and nutrience is something I think you haven't gotten in a long time judging by the state of your fur."

He was right.

Although I was able to physically heal from the injuries I gained from Markus, Byron and training, my wounds never healed well. My fur was gritty and falling out. Where wounds had healed, jagged scar tissue formed. My body survived Markus, but it was now falling apart.