The Captive

Chapter 7: The Food Delivery Boy

Scar's POV

When I entered the dining room and found my mate standing there, I knew I was hallucinating.

There's no earthly way he could be standing there.

He should be in a cell.

My stomach dropped at the thought that he could be a ghost.

No.

I'd know if he'd died.

I took a deep breath before yelling "Who let you out?!"

He stilled and turned, peeking from beneath that damned cap.

I strode forward as he replied in a flat voice "I let myself out."

I hissed "I can see that. How?"

He reached into his pocket and presented to me a hairpin that had been bent at an odd angle.

My first thought should have been "How did he know how to pick a lock?" Or perhaps "Why did he come here of all places?"

But in reality, my first thought was really "What in the hell is he doing with a hairpin?"

I angrily reached for the pin and flung it across the room. I noticed how a spark of attraction ran through me when our fingers brushed. I also noticed how he stared at where my fingers had been for far longer than could be considered a glance.

I wasn't totally alone in this forbidden attraction.

Not many minutes later, I'd convinced my mate to become my personal assistant and told him about his beautiful eyes. By the way he turned away and blushed, what he'd said next hadn't surprised me. It only served to assure me that he was a man. Women were too good at taking compliments.

It thoroughly enraged me when I began to think about Duran again. V could have died from starvation down there. I'd planned on leaving him there for a week. We couldn't allow him to be the reason for these humans to start becoming unruly.

I didn't intend for anyone in need of punishment, now or ever, to be punished corporeally. I'd seen the effects of a whip on a person's body when the whipper is furious. I'd promised myself never to punish my pack when I was angry, but I might not be able to keep that promise where my mate is concerned, even if he is a boy.

 I charged into his room only to find a lovely young woman beneath him. She screamed and Duran growled at me.

I narrowed my eyes at him. He sat up slowly, watching me warily. His mate hid behind him in a shy manner.

I announced to him stonily "You disobeyed me, Duran."

He pursed his lips "I did." 

I bared my teeth "Your disrespect has gone too far. If we bully the humans here, the more tenacious ones will take it upon themselves to cause an uprising. The reason we came here was to help protect them. Your manner is convincing me you believe it is otherwise."

He glanced at his mate who peeked over his shoulder at me. Her eyes were wide, scared. Humans were affected by the mating bond as any werewolf would be, it was just unusual to them. They were unaware of what it was and so it scared them that they were so attracted to another person, especially when that person was a stranger.

V finally caught up to me and huffed in annoyance.

Duran's mate's eyes flitted to V and widened even further. Then she looked confused.

V froze behind me. I turned to him and lifted a brow. He looked away and shook his head. I decided not to press it for now.

I eyed Duran "You denied your punishment."

He scoffed "And the little bugger didn't? He's out early."

I yelled "You will not talk back to me, Duran! You disobeyed a direct order. This isn't about V, or the fact that the reason he stepped up was because you attempted to grope his sister even though you evidently have a mate. This is about pack priority. You broke it and now you will be punished for it. I'll give your mate a moment to dress and leave. A woman shouldn't see what's about to be done."

He was angry. He was fuming. He was seeing red, but he choked it all down and bent his head in a show of respect. "Get dressed, Mable."

The girl stood with the sheet wrapped around her and dove into the closet. She emerged moments later, dressed. I glanced at V and said "Take her to the hall and wait for me there." He gave a little nod and motioned for Mable to follow him.

She eyed him warily before scurrying after his swaying form. I swear, his ass was too round for a boy.

Vasilisa's POV

Mable kept glancing at me. I could feel her tension; it radiated off of her.

"V?" Her voice asked timidly.

I sighed and she continued "Why are you dressed as a man?"

I shook my head "I just am, Mable."

She bit her lip and was quiet "Have you seen Mary?"

I stopped and frowned "You have not?" 

She shook her head "This is the first time I am out of the room."

I was angered for her, but I said nothing to offend her 'mate'. She filled the silence all on her own, though "Did Duran really try to...to touch Julie?"

Mable was Julie's age. She had been like my second younger sister and it hurt me to be this brutally truthful with her, but I would not lie "Yes, Mable, he did. I, of course, jumped into it and got myself thrown in the cells. Duran was supposed to be feeding me, but he never came. I, uh, broke out."

She gave a strangled little laugh before sobering "I thought he loved me. I mean, it scares me to think that I should develop such feelings so quickly for a man like this as well, Vas, but I can't help it..." 

Tears made her voice crack. I didn't bother reminding her to call me V. I grabbed her arm and pulled her to me. She leaned into me, and even though she was taller by a few inches, pressed her face into my neck "I was so scared, and I still am, but...:

I stroked her hair "Mable, I'll take you to Mary, okay?" Screw Scar and his rules. This girl needed some peace in mind. She nodded quickly, standing and wiping her cheeks furiously "It's okay to cry Mable." I said softly.

She hiccuped as we started walking again and mumbled "I've only seen you cry once."

I swallowed, thinking of the one time I'd cried in front of other people. At my father's funeral, I had been convinced that he wouldn't want me to cry over his death and so I choked down all the tears until finally they built up enough to produce one shimmering little drop that slid down my cheek from my left eye.

My throat had burned painfully and so had my chest as if there were a physical wound there, but still, no more tears came. I made sure of that.

"I'm not normal people, Mable. I think we all know there's something wrong with me. If I'm the general consensus in which you pull your conclusion from, I'm almost convinced there's something wrong with you as well." I told her.

She stared at me and then gave me a watery smile "I'm glad you're not normal, Vas, I just wish that I wasn't as well. Maybe it wouldn't hurt so bad..."

I grasped her hand and tugged her along. I had it in my mind to beat her mate myself. I hope with all my heart that Scar was taking care of that, though.

I was finding Mable's sister whether it got me thrown in the cells again or not.