Page 40 of Queen of Vengeance

“Hello. I have a tip about the recent robbery at the Healing Center.” I tilted my head to the side, trying to get her attention.

She glanced up from her paperwork and looked me up and down before flashing a shallow smile. “We are already aware of the situation and are doing everything in our power to find who’s responsible.”

“Well, that’s why I’m here. I have some information on who may be responsible.”

She perked up as soon as she heard that. “Wonderful. We appreciate any information we can get.”

She began siphoning through her desk drawer and pulling out a packet of paperwork. “Just write down whatever you can remember.”

“Thank you… I’ll do that.” I glanced at the first three sheets of paper, all questions about me.

“Where do you live? Does your allegiance align with the governing body of Anterra?” Why would I need to answer these personal questions when I’m just trying to report something?

“Keep it moving, dog!” A booming voice ripped through the otherwise silent atrium.

My head snapped around to see who was making all the commotion.

The guards and receptionists remained unbothered.

I was the only one who reacted this way.

My stomach sank at the sight.

It was a guard yanking at silver chains wrapped around a werewolf. Although, I could hardly call it that anymore.

The poor thing was so emaciated and burned from the silver that it hardly looked like a werewolf anymore. It looked up at me, and its eyes were filled with sadness as if asking me to end its misery.

The werewolf’s eyes shut tightly as the guard yanked on his chain again, causing it to tighten around its throat.

“Stop it! You’re hurting them!” My voice echoed across the room as I lunged at the guard, but he shoved me back with great force.

My body cracked against the cold stone floor and rippled through every bone.

I forgot how to move for a second. I blinked up at the dark ceiling, trying to focus my eyes again. Once I collected myself, the guards shouting and surrounding me took precedence over everything else.

They held their weapons in my face and ordered me to my feet.

I stumbled into a standing position as they asked me my true purpose here. “I was just here to report something!”

I raised my hands to show them I wasn’t a threat.

“Then speak, girl! What information do you have?” One guard demanded.

My line of sight fell to the werewolf that was being tortured and toted around by the guard for sport.

I couldn’t imagine seeing Jax like that. As heinous as his crime was, that was too cruel a punishment for anyone. “I—was mistaken. I don’t know anything.”

The guard holding onto the silver chains looked at the others, exasperated. “Get her out of my sight.”

Three different guards grabbed a hold of me and dragged me out of the building.

I was just counting my blessings that they didn’t drag me into one of those prison cells.

They threw me outside, and my knees bit into the concrete as they broke my fall.

I looked up at them with a burning hatred in the pit of my stomach. I rolled over, sitting on my side so I could take a look at my knees.

They were severely bruised and skinned.

---