Page 10 of Connected

“My what?” Controlling her nerves, her nostrils flare and twitch violently, as the closed-in scent of wolf confuses her senses. She groans loudly as her arm catches on the door and massaging the hurt, she tries to ease the pain that surges through her body.

Again, a large hand shoves her in the back. It’s Luiz pushing her forward towards a large metal cage on the floor. “Your new home.”

“You’re fuckin’ kidding me?” She frowns. Turning she stares at Luiz as he gestures her inside. “No! No, fuck you. We’re not fuckin’ animals, I’m not getting in there.”

She pushes back, and he tugs at the leash clipped to her collar. It immediately pulls the silver band against her skin and sends pain rippling through her body, making her yell in agony.

Zak growls from deep in his chest. Still gagged and unable to speak he grapples with his captor, resisting until the piercing sting of the silver cane smacks across the back of his knees—adding another bright red welt to the many others on his flesh.

“Entra. Entra—I said… get inside,” Luiz gestures Zak towards the cage.

Hearing him yelp and realizing there’s no escape, Kat reluctantly drops to her knees and crawls inside. She glares out through the bars, sneering with eyes focused on Luiz.

“Wha’you look at?” he frowns. “Hm, bitch… you want some?” He grins, showing he also has a mouth smattered with gold teeth. “You pretty…eres bonita.Maybe we have fun later, si?”

“Yeah, and maybe I’ll fuckin’ kill you later,” she hisses back in anger.

Zak drops and squeezes his large frame through the open cage hatch—the metal grate immediately slamming shut behind him.

He closes his eyes and swallows—it’s a struggle, the weighted metal ball in his mouth making him feel like he’ll choke.

As the two mountains of flesh leave, the heavy outer cell door slams shut with a crashing thud. The room goes quiet and Kat closes her eyes.

Taking a deep breath, she turns around and looking behind her at Zak she frowns “Oh, come here… let me take this fuckin’ thing off you.”

Hurriedly she pulls at the leather buckle against the back of his head—un-clipping the gag. He spits it to the floor and wiping the drool from his mouth, he then unfastens the heavy leather cuffs from around his wrists—rubbing the red welts caused by the silver cord used to stitch them.

“Oh Zak… are you all right?” she looks him in the eyes and strokes his face. “Here, let me look at you.”

She grimaces but ignoring her own pain, checks the marks on his body. Her hand gently strokes and caresses the wounds on his flesh. It has an unexpected effect on him. He places a hand on her arm to stop her from touching. “Kat don’t.”

He hangs his head in embarrassed shame. The two of them are here alone—naked. Her hand gently caressing and touching him has an unfortunate consequence—her continued concern inadvertently gives him an erection. He feels awkward as he struggles to cover it and fidgeting, he shifts position to sit with his back to her.

“Zak… Zak what is it?” she frowns. “Are you in pain? Then let me look at you.”

“Kat, don’t. Just don’t all right. Shit. I’m sorry,” he snarls. “This is, it’s just, it’s nothin’… Oh god, this is so awkward. I mean it’s… oh God, it’sfuckin’embarrassin’. It shouldn’t be happenin’. Not here, like this. Fuck!”

She cocks her eyebrow looking him over and then she realizes. “Oh! Ohhh. Oh gosh. Zak…” she smiles—biting her lip trying desperately not to giggle.

This might be the worst situation she’s ever found herself in—but she can’t help but laugh as he pulls away from her.

“Zak, c’mon it doesn’t matter. It’s just a natural reaction. Hey, it’s not like it’s sexual. It’s… oh c’mon please; it doesn’t bother me.” She flutters her eyes and smiles, stroking his cheek. As she does, her shoulder comes into contact with the metal around her neck and she cries out in pain. Closing her eyes, she breathes deeply and works through it.

“Kat, are you all right?” Zak quickly turns and staring at her, he frowns with deep concern—forgetting his awkward embarrassment “Come here, let me see if I can get that off you.”

“Zak you can’t. Don’t touch—”

Before she finishes her sentence, his fingers make a grab for it and almost immediately he snatches his hands away—the sound of hissing as it burns the skin on his fingers. “Fuck!” He frowns with an even deeper concern. “What the fuck…”

“Don’t worry about it. The question is, what are we gonna do?” Tears from the hurt trickle in a stream down her cheeks as she struggles to keep a grip on her pain—placing her own hand to her throat, she’s desperate for some relief.

“Come here.” Zak grabs her, holding her close to his chest while they take a much-needed moment to comfort each other. His huge arms wrap with a tight hold around her, making her feel safe. “We’re gonna get out of here. Trust me, we’ll find a way.”

She nods, sucking back her tears, looking at the pair of them—naked, dirty, covered in blood and silver-burns. “What the hell is this about? Why would someone be doing this?”

He strokes her face, her bright green eyes dulled in the dim red light. The sparkle is all but gone—her wolf strength lost—leaving just a woman; ahumanwoman hurting and in pain.

“Zak, tell me they’re gonna come for us? Darius… Digby, they’re gonna come?”

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