Chapter Eighteen

Ellie

I felt a wave of relief wash over me. Zagan wasn’t my father. I’d had a hunch he wasn’t, but there was always that tiny, nagging doubt in the back of my mind.

If he had been, I was certain that despite their promises, I’d be sent back. Back to his cruelty and harsh punishments. This time, though, I wouldn’t have Sammy by my side, and I wasn’t sure I’d make it out alive.

Just when I was starting to feel a bit better, Clayton had to go and ruin it. He reminded me of my punishment—joining his pack.

I told him I hated him. That might not have been entirely true, until he laughed. Then, I really did hate him. Mostly because, once again, my freedom had been snatched away from me. After everything I’d been through.

After all the things people had done to me, I still didn’t have the freedom to choose my own path. I knew I was still young. I didn’t even know my exact age. But that wasn’t the point.

I’d experienced more in a short span of time than most people do in their entire lives.

Honestly, I just wanted to be left alone.

When I woke up again, it was dawn. Clayton was still sitting in the chair, watching me.

I rolled my eyes. Partly because I thought he was being ridiculous—I couldn’t escape even if I wanted to—and partly because I knew it irritated the higher-ranking werewolves.

Maybe if I annoyed him enough, he’d get tired of me too.

But no such luck. He just looked at me and smiled.

“If you’re dumb enough to stay up all night watching someone instead of getting some sleep, that’s your problem!” I taunted.

I watched as he stood up and took a step towards me.

I couldn’t help but flinch. I thought I’d pushed him too far, calling him dumb. He hadn’t hit me yet, but I knew from his size that if he did, it would hurt.

A lot more than the doctor, or even Dante. I just wanted him to be annoyed enough to not care whether I was here or not.

As soon as he saw me flinch, he stopped.

“You had a concussion. We had to keep an eye on you,” he said.

He turned away from the bed and walked over to the wardrobe. It looked like I wasn’t even going to get to choose what clothes I wore today.

I swung my legs over the side of the bed. Despite the blow to my head, I didn’t feel dizzy. Just a bit sore.

Clayton looked over his shoulder.

“Where are you going?” he asked.

I couldn’t help myself. I rolled my eyes.

“I need to pee. Is that okay?” I retorted.

He nodded and went back to what he was doing.

“Don’t shower. You don’t want to get your bandages wet.”

I sighed and headed for the bathroom.

Instead of showering, I decided to run a bath. I was feeling a bit achy, probably from being thrown against the wall.

The water was warm and soothing. It also meant the bandage on my hand didn’t get wet.

It was only when I got out that I realized I didn’t have any clothes.

Then it hit me. At some point last night, between Clayton carrying me and me falling asleep, my clothes had been removed and replaced with a soft shirt.

It was exactly the same as the one I’d found myself in when I woke up the first time.

I grabbed a towel and wrapped it around me. Opening the bathroom door, I peeked into the bedroom.

Clayton was sitting on the bed.

“Finally,” he sighed, “I want you to wear this today.”

I glanced at the dress on the bed and shook my head.

“I’m not wearing that. I’m not wearing a dress,” I grumbled.

Clayton crossed his arms.

“You are, and I’ll dress you in it myself if I have to. Now put it on and then come through, I’ve made breakfast.”

He turned and walked out of the room before I had a chance to reply.

I huffed. Maybe I should have asked him for a beating instead.

I stared at the dress. I hadn’t worn a dress for two years. Not since Zagan took me. I only knew how to fight, not how to be some perfect little girl. I quickly put the dress on.

The material was soft, much like the shirts I’d been wearing. I looked at the shoes he’d left out. I hadn’t worn shoes for two years either.

I walked out of the room and headed towards the kitchen area.

Clayton watched me as I walked towards the breakfast bar.

“You look nice, but you aren’t wearing any shoes,” he observed.

I sat on one of the stools.

“No, I’m not. I haven’t worn shoes for two years.”

Clayton put a plate of food in front of me.

“You won’t always have to wear what I ask, just today. Joining the pack is a special occasion.”

I picked up a piece of bacon from the plate and popped it in my mouth.

I glared at Clayton.

“Special for who?” I grumbled.

Clayton sighed and placed a glass of orange juice next to my plate.

“Everyone. You might not think so now, but it will be good for you too.”

I highly doubted that, but I wasn’t really in a position to argue.

I picked up another piece of bacon and began to eat it. At least now I was getting food. Maybe I should just bide my time. When I got bigger and stronger, I would leave.

I didn’t really belong anywhere. I wasn’t human, and I wasn’t a werewolf. I wondered if there were any others like me.

My thoughts were interrupted by Clayton.

“You should really use a knife and fork, Ellie,” he scolded, “you can’t eat eggs with your fingers.”

I looked down at the plate, then up at Clayton.

“I don’t know how, and besides, I don’t like eggs.”

Clayton reached for the plate.

“I’ll find you something else,” he offered.

I grabbed the edge of the plate and shook my head.

“It’s fine. I’ll eat the bacon and whatever this is.”

I pointed to another piece of food on my plate. It was long and brown. I picked it up and took a bite. It tasted good.

Clayton grinned. “That’s a sausage,” he said.

I studied the sausage and nodded, filing the information away like I had with everything else I’d learned.

Clayton moved behind me, his hands reaching around to take mine.

“Let me show you,” he offered.

He placed the knife in one hand and the fork in the other. His grip on my hands was gentle as he used the fork to spear a sausage, then cut the remaining part with the knife.

“Now, put the piece of sausage on the fork into your mouth,” he instructed, releasing my hands.

I followed his directions. It was easy, really. Why didn’t I know this stuff?

He moved back around the breakfast bar, standing across from me. I focused on cutting up the sausage, my gaze fixed on the plate.

Clayton’s hand reached over, brushing a stray hair from my face.

I looked up at him.

“Don’t feel embarrassed, Ellie,” he said gently. “It’s not your fault. You were never taught. That’s one of the reasons I want you to join us. So we can teach you.”

I sighed, picking up the glass of juice. Damn him for being so kind. I wasn’t used to it. No one was ever kind, at least not for long. My thoughts drifted to Gabriel. He had been kind, too.

I pushed the thought away. Had been. Then he had left me. I didn’t doubt for a second that Clayton would do the same. I couldn’t let my guard down just because someone was kind.

I had to be strong. Stronger than before, because this time when he left me, I would be alone.

After I finished eating, Clayton took me to the hospital. It was a sort of compromise, I guess. I had to wear the dress, but he didn’t make me put on the shoes.

The woman from the night before was waiting for us. She smiled when we walked in, though she seemed a bit flustered.

Clayton immediately raised his hands in a playful surrender when she looked at him.

“I promise, Veronica, I haven’t forgotten. I’ll get on it after the ceremony today.”

She huffed but nodded.

Clayton guided me to an examination bed. Before he could lift me up like he had yesterday, I hopped onto it myself.

He looked slightly disappointed, but I didn’t care. If I couldn’t even climb onto a bed, how would I ever take care of myself when I left?

“Let’s take a look, shall we?” Veronica suggested.

I just sat there. I knew I didn’t have much of a choice.

She examined the wound on my head after removing the bandage, then unwrapped the bandage on my hand and looked at the bruises on my face.

She hummed thoughtfully.

“Is your wolf still sleeping?” she asked.

I nodded. That was the only thing that worried me. I couldn’t seem to wake her up.

Veronica looked at Clayton, worry etched on her face.

“Can I have a word, Clayton?”

He nodded, and they walked to the other side of the room.

I tried to listen in, but I couldn’t hear what they were saying. I wondered if Nix was awake, if she could help me hear. But she wasn’t, and I couldn’t wake her.

After a few moments, they both walked back over to me. I eyed them suspiciously.

“I just need to take a little blood,” Veronica said gently.

I wrapped my arms around myself. The dress was sleeveless, so I couldn’t even cover my skin. Memories of Erik and my first hospital visit came flooding back.

I shook my head.

“Please don’t,” I pleaded.

All thoughts of being tough and strong vanished. I realized once again that I was small and they were big.

I could fight as much as I wanted, but in the end, they would do what they wanted anyway.

They didn’t seem like the type to enjoy making me suffer. Not like Dante or the commander had. But what did I know?

Clayton walked over and sat next to me on the bed. He reached over and gently gripped my shoulders. I couldn’t help but stiffen. I closed my eyes, wishing I was anywhere but here.

“We just want to find out why your wolf won't wake up, to make sure you haven’t been given anything,” he whispered.

I shook my head, knowing it wouldn’t do any good. I looked at Clayton, trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall.

“She’s just tired,” I mumbled, looking at the floor. “She’ll wake up soon.”

I tried to sound convincing, but I could barely convince myself.

Clayton stood up. He gently lifted my chin with his finger.

“Give Veronica your arm,” he ordered.

I could feel the dominance and power behind his command. It was just like when Gabriel had ordered me to come to him, the night I was planning to run away.

I hadn’t obeyed then, and I wasn’t going to obey now.

“No! I won’t,” I shouted.

I glared at him, my eyes narrowed.

He looked surprised. Veronica looked shocked. Now they knew.

Gabriel had called it an Alpha command. It had surprised me a bit, too, because Nix was sleeping both times. Unless it had nothing to do with my wolf, maybe it was about me.

I was distracted when the door opened. Seth walked in. He winked at me. What was that about? Maybe he knew, too. I glared at him.

Clayton smirked at me.

“I’m going to talk to Seth. Try to behave,” he said.

I watched him walk over, glaring at both of them as they occasionally glanced my way.

“Listen, Ellie,” Veronica started.

I stopped glaring at Seth and Clayton, focusing my glare on her instead.

She just smiled.

“I know this is hard for you, sweetheart. I think the other doctor, Joseph, might have given you something to make your wolf sleep. I just need to find out so we can fix it.”

I frowned. The only thing I could think of was that he had given me Wolfsbane, like Zagan had.

“What are you going to do? Is that how he...” My voice faded, a lump forming in my throat that made it hard to finish the sentence.

The thought of Sammy was too much to bear.

Veronica gave me a gentle smile. There was something in her eyes, not pity, but something else I couldn’t quite place.

“Maybe,” she said in a calming voice, “that’s why I need the blood sample, to confirm. It could be Wolfsbane, or it could be something else.”

It wouldn’t bring Sammy back, but it might help Nix wake up. God, I missed her.

I extended my arm and turned my head away.

“Just get it over with,” I muttered.