A Wolf's Claim

CHAPTER 3

*Stella*

A few days had passed since my whipping, and I was able to walk easier. Solomon had me doing grunt work, knowing it was hard on my body. I'm a petite woman, so strength wasn't my strong suit. I was carrying wood from the forest, back to the house. Chopping trees, picking vegetables and fruit from their garden, hauling s**t from one end of their fortress to the other.

From my calculations, I'd been here for close to a week. I would think people would be looking for me, that Tex would have reported me missing by now. At least, I hoped. I knew my boss would be wondering where I was too. That makes two people. Otherwise, I'm trapped here forever.

It was warm outside today, as the sun beat down on my newly tanned skin. I took a breath of fresh air, before running to collect vegetables and fruit. My basket was getting heavy, soon I'd have to lug it across the yard and into the shed. I piled a few more things inside, and began the long walk to the shed.

Storing the produce, something caught my eye. A glimmer from the light above revealed a garden tool, one that has a sharp point at the end. I looked around the shed, and no one was nearby. My fingers traced along the sharp edge of the tool, a smile flickered across my lips. I took the tool and hit it repeatedly against the work table, until it severed the sharp end of the handle. I took the weapon and shoved it into my back pocket, before exiting the shed.

I walked back through the cornfield, continuing my work from before. I spent hours doing the same thing, until the sun started to set, and I was supposed to head inside. That's one of the rules. I wasn't allowed outside when it was dark. That's not something that bothered me, because honestly, the dark scared me.

Entering the house, I walked past several strangers that I'd seen before, making my way back to my bedroom. I was supposed to wait for further instructions after completing my daily tasks. Instead, I'd be waiting for my attack. I sat in the same bed as before, the one positioned behind the door.

The door opened, and I waited to see who it was, before lunging forward with my weapon drawn. Without hesitation, I drove the pointed tool into Solomon's chest and pushed him onto the floor. He's desperately clutching at the weapon, but is too stunned to react. I leaped across his body and ran through the hallway, again. Loud roars started to echo through the hall, howling and growling.

My heart hammered against my chest, as I felt the floor vibrate beneath my feet. I froze and watched as a pack of wolves came stampeding up the staircase, straight towards me. These wolves weren't just average wolves either, they were colossal in comparison. I stared with my mouth agape, as one wolf snatched me by the wrist, dragging me behind it.

I screamed, clawing at its face, but it didn't change anything. They all fled into the room where Solomon was on the floor, groaning and working the garden tool free from his chest. Before my very eyes, one of the wolves transformed into a naked man! I've seen him before, he seems to be Solomon's second in command. He quickly pulls on gym shorts, and kneels beside Solomon. The man yanked the tool out of Solomon's chest, as Solomon shouted loudly in agony.

"Ziggy..." Solomon pleaded, and Ziggy leaned closer. "Make her pay."

I gulped, as Ziggy, Solomon's second in command, looked at me with a menacing smile. I knew that if I had failed again, it would be my last chance. I just didn't expect a pack of freaking werewolves to show up! It's definitely a surprise I wasn't ready for.

Ziggy grabbed me by the arm, dragging me out of the room, while the rest of the wolves remained in the room with Solomon. I was afraid of what I had got myself into... I fear Ziggy will be far more cruel. There was something about him that lacked any empathy, whereas Solomon had at least the notion of the idea.

"You're going to wish you were dead." Ziggy grumbled, pulling me along, and I don't doubt him.

He took me to a door I hadn't noticed before, and when he opened it to another staircase that lead downstairs, I shuddered. He forced me down the steps, continuously pushing my back. Normally, that wouldn't bother me, but from all my recent injuries, it's jarring. I groaned, stumbling down the stairs and onto the floor.

I looked up and what I saw had my entire body trembling, he was going to torture me! I scrambled back to my feet, turning to find him directly behind me. He was fast, and quickly grabbed my shoulders, dragging me towards a chair in the center of the room. I squealed, kicking and clawing at him, until he finally had me restrained. My hands were tied behind my back, and my legs were bound to the chair I was sitting on.

Ziggy snickered, walking over to a mobile cart. He opened the sliding doors, retrieving several instruments and weapons. I took a deep breath, as nothing was going to save me from this horrendous creature. Tears started flooding my eyes, trickling down the side of my face, and whimpers escaped my lips without permission.

"Ha! Now she cries." Ziggy cackled, turning around with a small blade in his hands.

"What are you doing?!" I asked, feeling my skin crawl the closer he got.

"This is going to hurt." Ziggy said, pressing the small blade to the side of my arm.

He slid the blade across the outside of my left bicep, and I released a blood-curling scream. Ziggy dropped the blade, startled by my loud scream, and sent the back of his hand across my face. He snarled and turned to the cart again. This time he held a baseball bat. I didn't have to guess what he was going to do with that.

He waltzed over and untied my restraints, smiling broadly at me. I felt my eyebrows furrowing. What was he doing? I started to slowly stand away from the chair, and the minute I was on my feet, I felt the bat come in contact with the back of my head. I groaned loudly, crawling away from him, but he didn't let up. I felt another hard force against my back, and I collapsed against the floor. Barely conscious, Ziggy leans down and whispers in my ear.

"You belong to the Midnight Sun pack, now." He snarled, a deep growl from the pit of his throat.

My stomach curled up into my throat at his words, I don't think I'll walk out of this place alive. I wasted all of my chances, failed every time. I felt Ziggy grab my wrist, lifting it up toward his face, but I lost consciousness soon after.