Page 25 of Fate Awakened

Cain

I’mtiredofbeinga prisoner.

My wolf is back, fully awake and furious that we’re still stuck here and not out looking for our Mate. My conversation with Dante occurred a few hours ago, and I’m still reeling from the bomb he dropped on me.

They have Keith.

They have Keith, and he’s here, in the same fucking building as me, and I can’t walk in there and beat her location out of him. I imagine the whole “beat him to death” possibility is probably why I’m still chained to a wall in the medical wing instead of doing my job.

I’m failing her.

Every minute she’s away from me verifies my deepest fears. She’s being hurt, tortured, Awakened, beaten, or raped. The possibilities all play on repeat while I sit immobilized. Helpless.

In times like this, I wish my imagination was less vivid. The stories my grandfather would retell from the war about the women that had to be rescued from breeding camps are burned into the darkest recesses of my mind. The things less civilized packs not only condoned but celebrated, makes my stomach turn. Everything that happened to those women replays in my mind with Bri’s face, Bri’s body, and Bri’s screams.

I clench my fists, staring at the clock for the millionth time—November 19, 2023, 19:32. Bri has been gone for 17 hours.

She could be anywhere by now.

My heart aches. The guilt I feel for failing her shreds my insides. I lean into the silver harness, enjoying the burning sensation on my skin.

I deserve this.

I deserve so much worse than this. Dropping my head, I squeeze my eyes shut, hoping the pain I feel inside will subside with the new pain I'm inflicting.

“Never took you for a masochist,” her words lack their usual snark.

I look up, surprised I didn’t hear her arrive, to see Presley standing in the door frame. Her customarily loud appearance is muted by darker black clothing and the absence of her hot pink, cat-eared headphones I’d become so accustomed to her having on at an unreasonable volume.

Though I can’t say I miss hearing her music from across the room.

Her ice-blue eyes scan my harness, wincing at the scabbed flesh beneath it. She purses her lips before bringing her stare to mine. The warring emotions she feels are written on her face. Anger. Guilt. Sadness.

Pres was never very good at keeping her feelings in check. It took her years longer than those her age to control her wolf when her emotions ran high. She always claimed she had a stronger wolf than the others being an Alpha herself, which may be accurate, but Pres feels deeper than others.

“You can’t blame yourself, Little P.” I use her old nickname, hoping she will see it as a peace offering between us. I don’t blame her. I may have given her that impression, but the reality is that I blame myself.

“Logically, I know that. Realistically, I keep going back through the moments at your door wondering if I could’ve said something, anything, to let her know who I was….” She trails off, and I see her mind spinning back to the hallway outside my door.

“You couldn’t have predicted what she would think, how she would respond, or that Hudson would be at her apartment waiting for her. You’ve no way of changing the events that happened any more than I do. We need to focus on finding her now. Tell me you're here to release me from the chains so that I can help.” My eyes plead with her, but I can see the answer a moment before the words are out of my mouth. Her eyes drop to the tablet in her hand.

“I’m sorry, Cain. He says we can’t. Not yet. I’m just here to update you, but he said you would be at the council meeting at nine, so not too long.” She finishes adding a meek smile.

“Update? Have you found her? Where is she? Is Hudson alive? If so, I’ll kill him, and that's my right. He stole her. I get retribution.” I begin rambling questions off rapid fire without waiting for her response.

“No. We’re still looking. So far, we know he hasn’t contacted any of the allied packs for permission to cross their borders. That only means he’s still in the state, which we assumed anyway. The good news is Deacon isn’t in Reno at the moment. He’s at the LLC regulation trial in Fort Collins. That’s at least one less Alpha we have to worry about finding out her Unawakened status,” she continues with a bit more enthusiasm.

“Their Second isn’t an Alpha?” I ask, trying desperately to remember who took that role after Vinny went to jail for the pack's more white-collar crimes.

“Nope, it’s Antonio. No relation to the Marlos by blood. He was Deacon’s enforcer before taking the role in Vincent’s stead.” Pres rolls her eyes and shakes herself, almost as if something disgusting touched her.

Big Tony’s a vile wolf. Rumor has it he enjoys slicing off body parts while his victims are still alive and then eating those parts in front of them.

No way Hudson agrees to meet with him. He grew up hearing the horror stories that man produced. He’ll try another option or wait Deacon out.

“How long do we have before the trial completes?” I ask, hoping for a bit of luck.

These trials can take days or weeks depending on the severity of the laws broken and which packs send their delegates. Not everyone is required to attend in person. Some remote in through a live stream, but everyone knows these trials are often a front, allowing packs to talk new alliances and garner support for takeovers, turf wars, and regime exchanges.

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