Her Cursed Alpha Mate

Chapter 5 – isolation

“Zen are you okay?”

“Yeah, Ann, I am okay, just weak from all the silver. I’m going to rest and try to save my strength. I have a feeling I might need it.”

It has been two or three days, I believe, since I have been thrown in this nasty cell. Isolation has been playing tricks on my mind and I keep replaying my father’s last words he ever spoke to me. With Zena resting to keep her strength, I don’t have anything to distract me, so I have to endure the same scenes playing on repeat in my mind.

I was 14 years old and full of energy as I ran into the living room and threw myself into my father’s arms, who had just got home from training the new recruits. Normally, he trains me in the morning and trains the pack in the afternoon.

My father looked down at me and smiled, but I could see the sadness in his eyes that told me something bad had happened.

“Dad, what’s wrong?”

“Come set with me sweet pea and let’s have a talk.” Dad said as he led me to the couch and sat down.

“I love you more than anything. Since the day you were born, you have been my everything. I must go away for a while, but I need to tell you something before I leave.”

“But why daddy?”

“Shhhhh now and listen. Always follow your instincts. Treat everyone with respect, but don’t let them walk all over you. Don’t ever lose your kind heart. Show love to those who deserve it. Help when you can. Forgive when one can be forgiven. And most importantly, wait for the right time.”

“Right time for what Dad?”

“That will make sense one day, but for now, just promise you will remember my words. Do you want to make cookies before mom comes home from the orphanage?”

“Ok Dad I promise. I love you!” I hugged Dad for the last time that night.

I came back to reality in this damn cell. I wanted to stay in the warm setting with my dad, but I needed to face reality. I am stuck in this horrible pack in this dark cell that smells like death. Dad, I miss you, but I will be strong and get through this.

“Proud of you Ann.” Zen said in a weak voice.

At some point, I drifted off to sleep and was dreaming of running through a meadow with beautiful flowers surrounded by trees and bushes. At the far end was a beautiful woman in a white dress that flowed around her. On her left was a magnificent white wolf with golden tips and magnificent green eyes. On her right was a powerful wolf as dark as the night sky that looked almost blue in the sunlight.

The white wolf's eyes were shining with strength and admiration as she watched me closely. The black wolf had rage in his eyes but also looked at me with love and what seemed like regret. I tried to run to them, but no matter how fast I ran I couldn’t get any closer.

“Soon my child, soon.” She said in a sad voice.

I was pulled out of my sleep by a rat crawling up my leg. I slowly reached down and picked that rat up off my legs and set him down next to me.

“Hey little guy, you should get out of here. This is no place to live.” I must be losing my mind because I am now talking to a rat and I swear the rat understood what I said to him because before he ran off, he tilted his little head to the side like he was thinking about what I said.

I didn’t have long to think about my dream or the rat because I heard the door opening to the dungeon and saw someone coming down the stairs. I couldn’t tell who it was because it was too bright, and I had to squint my eyes to keep them open.

“Oh, Ann, what have they done to you sweet girl?” Landolina said as she came towards my cell. I looked up into her eyes and saw nothing but love coming from her and I have never been so relieved to see another person in my life.

Landolina has been like a mother to me since a couple weeks after I arrived. It was my last attempt at escaping and the Alpha had Dake whip me to an inch of death, but I guess he didn’t want to kill his slave just yet, so he assigned Landolina to nurse me back to health.

Landie lost her whole family in a house fire a long time ago. After she lost her mate and two children, she adopted a young boy, Theodore, who also lost his family in the same fire. She also dedicates her time to taking care of young children who are mistreated at home, which seems like a lot in this pack. Werewolves tend to live a long time, 200 – 300 years, but you can tell Landi has aged a lot after she lost her family. She has light brown hair with gray starting to take over. Her eyes are light brown and full of exhaustion and love when she looks at me. She would never admit to being exhausted, but I know if it wasn’t for Theodore, she would have given up a long time ago.

I know there is more to Landi’s story that she is not telling me, but I never push for answers. If she wants to tell me, she will.

“I’m ok Landi I promise. Nothing I can’t handle.”

“Theodore, please hand me the wet rag and water.” Theodore handed the supplies to Landi and looked down at me with a sad smile.

Theodore has been my anchor and best friend since the day he came with Landi to bring me back to life. He is a couple of years older than me and the biggest wolf in the pack. He is very handsome with his jet-black hair and electric blue eyes. You can tell he never skips a day working out because he is as solid as a rock. I know he is training to be strong enough to take care of Landi and now me because he views me as his little sister he needs to protect.

I also know Theo is not telling me everything either, but just like Landi I don’t push him for answers because I don’t share with him everything going on with me either. We have learned to respect what the other is comfortable sharing.

“It’s OK Theo. I’m okay. I talked back to Asher when he tried to touch me. I knew this would happen. I promise I’ll be ok please don’t do anything stupid.” I said to him as I stared into his eyes, pleading with him not to put himself in danger with Asher, because Landi needs him and so do I.

I saw the rage leave his eyes as he kneeled in front of me and kissed my forehead. He whispered to me. “Ok, Lenie but promise me you will be more careful?”

I leaned my forehead against his and tears started to flow down my cheeks. “But…..But”

“No, Lenie, you need to promise me you will try not talk back to him, okay?”

I could feel his tears mixing with mine when I nodded my head agreeing with his request. “I’ll try my best.”

“Good. I love you little one.”

“I love you too, big one.”

Theo has been the only one to ever call me Lenie, but he will also call me little one. Normally, when someone calls me little for my lack of nutrition, it angers me, but when Theo calls me little one it’s not meant as an insult and warms my heart. I started calling him big one because he can carry me with one arm like a weigh nothing, which I guess I kind of do right not.

Landi pushed between the two of us and said to Theo. “Let me get her wound clean before we get caught and punished. Hand her the bread and water please, honey.”

“That should get you through the next couple of days until we can sneak back down. You have one week left, sweetheart. We must go now, but be strong, Ann. We love you.” They both kissed my forehead and left me alone to my thoughts again.

“Zen, we need to get out of this pack. The three of us.”

“I agree Ang. Something big is about to happen. I can feel it. Hopefully we can escape then,” Ang said in a weak voice.