Chapter 52: Chapter 51

I was in a dark room that I recognized, it was the place Dane always locked me up in for punishments, the basement. I lay sprawled on the dusty floor, feeling my body heavy and glued to it. Although I knew the basement well, I felt my vision shake, all wobbly and blurry, and thing seem to shift in and out of focus. There was no light whatsoever, and I knew it was night time. Was this a dream about all of my time spent here?

I tried to get up but couldn’t, and then I felt it before I saw it: an agonizing pain ringing in my arm. When I looked, I nearly let out a scream at the sight. My arm was wet with blood only oozing from where the hand used to be, now a red garish stub in its place. A moan came from me, whimpering and weak, and not in my voice, it was a lower masculine voice. That’s when I realized my body was not my own. Leaning my chin forward, I peeked down at my chest, a solid study broad pectorals and long muscled corded legs in simple black joggers. Whose body was I in?

Suddenly a terrifying speak rang through the basement, and light filtered in from the small staircase at the entryway. Ominous heavy steps sounded before a large figure of a man came into view, face hidden by shadows as the light form the door behind him highlighted his darkened silhouette. I recognized this form.

“Reilly,” the gruff voice of my grandfather echoed in the silent basement. Reily? Was I in Reily’s body? Horror washed over me as the idea came over my mind; was I having a dream of being in Reily’s body due to the mate bond? At least, I hoped it was that and not the fact that I had did a weird body switch with Reily in the middle of the night. Either way, it didn’t matter since I could feel everything Reily’s body experienced anyway.

“How have you been coping here?” Dane said slowly, a playful lilt to his malicious voice. “I understand it’s not the best accommodation, being that you’re in the Alpha’s house, but given the circumstances, it’s a bit necessary.”

“What-What do you want with me?” my mouth spoke, but it wasn’t me, it was Reily’s voice again, and I had no control over the words. So it seemed he was still in his body and I was in the passenger seat, watching along through he eyes.

“Ah, you poor boy,” Dane shook his head in faux pity. “You look terrified out of your wits. And you’re shivering in cold. Or perhaps from blood loss. Good thing your a werewolf, it’ll definitely keep the shock from coming over you for a while longer. I do apologize, but really, you have to be patient until your girl gets here.”

“Is this…is this about...V-Vera?” Reilly’s voice trembled, as Dane stepped a bit closer.

“Of course, dear boy. I need her to get here quickly and my manpower simply isn’t doing the job. You are my last chance, before I go and hunt her down myself.” He chuckled, his looming figure looking more and more like a monster as he neared. “Although after the stun you pulled at the ceremony, I would be lucky if she had any urge to come save her mate.”

Now less than a foot away, I should only see the sharp glint of his black eyes in the dark, his jaw set in a hard line that could cut bone. With his boot, he lifted it up and prodded my injured arm, not at all gingerly. A scream emitted from my throat, desperate and full of anguish, and fittingly so. The agony was so great, I felt blinding light fill my vision for a few seconds. When I could focus on Dane again, the pain had settled to a dull throb, and Reily’s scream had dwindled to a drawn out moan. His torso shivered n the basement’s frigid temperature, made worse with the injury and no food or water. He was already suffering from the effects of blood loss.

“Sorry about that. I just had to make sure she got the message. It would be a shame if we did all this only for you to die pathetically before she got here.”

’Please...let me go,” Reily begged, words coming out in gasps. “I have never done anything-”

Dane tsked. “Reily, Reily, my boy. This isn’t about you. It’s nothing personal. Just hold on, and ’m sure you little mate will come to save the day. Now you have a good night.”

His cold, uncaring attitude chilled me to the bone. Like an absolute psychopath, he wiggled his fingers in a wave, face revealing nothing but calm resolve. Turning, he strode away to the basement’s exit, leaving my - Reily - sobbing breathily in his wake.

When the door closed behind him, swallowing everything into the darkness, I felt the sensation of falling for a few seconds. Then, I sprang up, eyes fluttering open, taking in gulps of air. Tears streamed down my face, but knew they weren’t mine. They were leftover from Reily’s pain.

I hyperventilated, and something on the bed shifted before I felt Archer’s body spring up from where he’d slept on his stomach. “Vera,” his voice was deep and rough from sleep, but he was alert enough to be immediately concerned. “What happened? Are you okay?”

I could only focus on breathing at that moment. My shoulders shuddered. Getting up into a sitting position, Archer moved closer, taking my shaking body into his warms. My nose met the side of his neck as he embraced me tightly against him, trying to steady me. A hand stroked my back.

“Shh, it’s okay. You’re here, you’re safe. I won’t let anything happen to you,” he murmured, voice stabilizing me.

“Archer,” I choked out. “I dreamt about...Reily.”

He didn’t lean back to look me in the eye. Instead, he kept me close to his body heat, and I realized he had taken off his shirt sometime during the night. “Reily? Was he hurting you?” He pushed me to explain.

“I think it was from the mate bond. I was in Reily’s body, his arm bleeding out... He was in the basement of our house. I could see it as clearly as if I was there. Then Dane came in and spoke to me - or him. I could feel and hear everything, like I was watching it happen through Reily’s eyes. He’s really in danger, Archer. He might die soon if he’s left there.”

“I see.” He didn’t speak for a long time, simply holding me. Which was for the best, since I didn’t really feel like talking more than I had to. And if Archer brought up anything about how he didn’t want me to go back again, I thought I would lose it. After experiencing that dream-like state of being in Reily’s shoes, I couldn’t just forget about it. Clive must have been worried sick.

I remained in Archer’s arms until oblivion fell upon me. I didn’t remember when I fell asleep, but the next morning I awoke to my face pressed on Archer’s bare chest, falling up and down softly with he every breath. Morning light fell on my from the small, dingy bedroom window, making me blink a few times to get adjusted.

My wrist continued to send pangs of pain along my nerve endings. After the dream last night, the ghost feeling of having my hand cut off was more apparent than usual, making me sick to my stomach. To assure myself that I still had it, I caressed Archer’s well-structured chest tentatively, his hot skin feeling smooth to the touch.

Suddenly, a hand shot out and grabbed my fingers.

“What do you think you’re doing, sweetheart?” Archer gruff morning voice made my heart melt and set my lower abdomen on fire, especially with the little pet name. Why, oh why did he have such an effect on me?

“So Archer,” I started after finishing the first bite of my eggs. “About last night...”

He looked up, a wary look in his steel eyes, as though he knew where I was going with this.”

“I know you’re against it, but I have decided. I think I really need to go back, especially if Reily’s life is on the line.”

Archer narrowed his eyes, hand stopping all movement with his fork.

I continued. “Now, before you say anything, I know all the risks. But I also know now what Reily’s really going through. And it’s not about him, it’s about how far gone Dane is. I’m pretty sure Mount Hunter is headed for a worse fate if we don’t go check on them. With most of the men out to find me and him playing torture-house in his basement, it’s all downhill from here.”

I waited for Archer to say something, anything. He simply stared at me thoughtfully, an unreadable expression on his face. He picked up his mug of coffee and took a swig. Stared at me again.

“Well?” I prompted impatiently, wanting to get things settled so i could finish my breakfast in peace.

“Well, what? Vera, it’s your choice. If I’m against it, it’s only because I’m scared for you. But I also trust you, and I will do whatever I can to help you and keep you safe.” He shrugged. “There.”

Eyebrows raised, I appraised him, wondering at the sudden change.

“Oh...okay then. I appreciate it,” I said, stunned.

He smirked. “What am I, your guardian? You’re eighteen, you can do what you want.”

I squinted at him. “You say that now, yet you always manage to taunt me for not running or training hard enough.”

Shrugging, he took a bite of toast. “Hey, I said do what you want; I too do what I want, and that happens to be shaming you into getting stronger.”

I laughed at his logic. “Playful Archer came out to play!”

His expression instantly went cloudy. “Excuse me?”

“Sorry, it’s just, you’re normally so stoic and mysterious. Hearing you crack jokes is like winning the jackpot.”

“You can’t win the jackpot everyday,” he grumbled, and I resented that I teased him out of his fun mood. We continued talking lightly, poking fun at each other like it was our job.

After eating breakfast, we sat at the small rickety dining table, Archer with his coffee and I with my tea - I couldn’t handle any more jitters these days. My body generated enough adrenaline as it is. It was a peaceful morning, and the first we would have together (aside from trainings), considering Archer usually went out on an early run, leaving me to fend for myself when it came to food.

Archer’s phone buzzed in his pocket, the ringtone a simple, generic one. Confused, Archer patted his pocket, slipping the cellphone out.

“I don’t know this number,” he said cautiously, hesitating to answer. After a few rings, he finally answered.

“Hello?” He looked at me as he spoke.

I could barely hear anything, but when a voice buzzed into his ear, Archer seemed to freeze up, his face going stony and dangerous.

“What do you want?” He gritted out.

I tried to mouth out to him, “Who is it?” But Archer simply shook his head.

“What do you want with Vera?” He practically barked into the receiver. The person on the other line said something and Archer seemed reluctant to reply. Then he acquiesced, “Fine.” Pulling the phone away, he looked up at me.

“It’s Dane,” he said grimly.

“No way,” I said, my heart sinking into my stomach, getting burnt up by acid.

“He wants to be put on speaker.”

I nodded through the well of anxiety bubbling within me. “Do it, let’s see what he has to say.”

He pressed a button on the phone and placed the phone on the table between us.

“You’re on, Dane,” Archer spat out.

The horrid voice of Dane came through, jolting me, even though I’d heard him only recently in my dream. It felt like he was with us in the room, the ingrained feelings that I associated with him rising up.

Hello there Vera,” his snide voice came through, disgustingly arrogant. “I hope you’ve been having a fun vacation.”

“Dane,” I growled, not hiding any of my abject disdain from my voice. I was done being his goody two shoes granddaughter. He never treated me like one anyway. “What the fuck do you want?”

“Oh, some time out of the pack and you’re already a rebel, I see,” he chuckled darkly. “I just wanted to inform you that your little trip is nearing its end. I’m sure you must have received my message.”

“Yes, loud and clear. And what makes you think I’d care enough about my ex-mate to return for him? You know me a lot less than you think you do.”

He laughed out loud this time, a maniacal tinge to his voice. “Oh Vera, I know that you’re stupid enough to fall Reily’s trap. Did you really think he loved you? I knew all the things he did to you, and frankly, you should have seen it coming.”

A bloom of humiliation spread through me, the hot red shame being echoed back to me. These were the same thoughts I had been having seen the failure of a ceremony. Yet to hear them said aloud by my abusive grandfather was heart-shattering, and I squeezed my eyes in a wince, trying to keep tears from getting out. I was more angry than despairing, knowing that even Dane thought I was an idiot even as he happily announced the event and got it organized.

“You knew all along,” I accused.

“Well, I didn’t care either way,” he said carelessly. “The point is, I know you’re a sentimental fool. Even if you hated Reily here, you’d still come back before he bleeds out all over my basement floor. I would really hate to be the one to clean up the mess.”

I met Archer’s eyes with a horrified look.

“Why is he in the basement, Dane? What the fuck are you doing?” My voice had risen to a hysterical edge.

“Oh, getting interested aren’t we?” He cackled once more.

“And what if I don’t return? Answer me, what will you do to him?”

“Well, if he dies, it’s out of my hands. But if you think that’s all I have up my sleeve, you’re a fool once more. You really didn’t believe I didn’t have a backup? After all, I have another dear friend of yours in my clutches, your small fairy one who always insisted on defending you. Look where it got her now.”

A thousand ton weight fell right onto my lungs, taking the breath out. Absolute terror filled me, and I couldn’t help but slam my fist against the table so hard it creaked under the force.

“What have you done with Thelma, you disgusting monster!?” I shrieked, hoping he could hear the power of my fury from miles away.

“Why don’t you come here and find out, hmm?” He sounded like a slithering snake form the depths of hell. I wanted to wring him.

“I swear if you lay a hand on her, I will destroy you with pleasure,” the threat tore out of my throat as tried to keep tears to myself. Now wasn’t the time to cry.

“I can’t wait. I hope to see you soon, you little bitch,” he jeered, and then the line went dead.

I put my face in my hands, elbows leaning on the table. A pounding headache was coming on fast.

“Oh my goodness, he has Thelma,” I gasped, dry sobbing into my hands. “I can’t believe I didn’t consider what he’d do to the people I cared about most. This is all my fault.”

A hand fell on my shoulder, clutching firmly. “Vera, no, keep it together. It’s not your fault, all of this was Dane’s actions. Thelma knew the risks and yet she stayed, and even if she was given the choice between her pack and you, she would pick you in a heartbeat.”

I wasn’t sure how Archer was certain of Thelma’s character, despite having known her for only a short time, but I didn’t question it. I wished it weren’t true; I’d rather my best friend be safe than risk her life for me.

I lifted my head up, focusing on Archer with watery eyes. “I have no choice now. I must go soon. Clive could be next. I can’t let anything happen to Thelma, I would never forgive myself.”

Archer got up from his seat to embrace me tightly. All I could think about was how I couldn’t get enough of his comforting hugs. “Don’t you worry Vera, we’ll get through this. We’ll make sure Thelma is safe, and get that douchebag Reily out of there.

I prayed with all of my heart that his words would be set in stone.