Shattered Soul

Chapter 4: Conditions

Kade

The fear in this girl’s wide eyes had my wolf snarling in my head. What had been done to her to have her fear me this much? I knew she was lying. There was something about the set of that soft jaw and full lips that said she held secrets she wasn’t willing to share, or rather was running from nightmares she was barely able to keep away. She had a head injury, and I wouldn’t be surprised if there were holes in her memory of her escape, but she must remember her time there. Something told me those wounds wouldn’t be healed in a simple matter of days.

This might take months, and I don’t have that kind of time. Hell, years if she had spent over a decade with them, doing God knows what-

No, I knew what. I saw it in her eyes. It was brief, a quick flicker of fear, pain, and shameful humiliation, that she hid behind a defiant fury I had to admit I admired. When I landed on top of her and had her completely at my mercy, her eyes told me that hadn’t been the first time a man had her in such a vulnerable position. I had scrambled off of her and away from that look of fear as quickly as I could, as if it was the fear that had sent a slow building of heat, almost like pins and needles, in my fingertips.

I wanted to hit something. I didn’t know why but this girl’s pain had me wanting to lash out for not being able to help her. She stood there before me in that ugly hospital gown, gazing up at me with wild eyes of amber, daring me to try and do the things those men had done to her.

“You’ll be my guest.” I tried to assure her. She snored and rolled her eyes.

“Then that means I can decline the offer.” She scoffed. I wanted to growl at her stubbornness and the wolf did.

How dare she speak to an Alpha like that?

I don't think she's seeing us as an Alpha but a man.

What does that matter? He snarled in my head. It was nearly defining.

Did you forget why she's most likely here for? I snapped back. The beast was silent for a fraction of a second.

Then doesn’t she see this was for her protection? He snapped with feral jaws.

We know it's for her protection, but to her who knows if any guy is a protecting image? Isolation might be safety in her mind. I reasoned with the animal. It growled but settled back down into a quiet slumber in my mind.

“Think of it being more like the type of guest Belle was in Beauty and the Beast.” Her eyes shot daggers at me. “I’m not giving you a choice, but you will be well taken care of with many others around.”

“Don’t think you’re the Beast. You’re definitely falling under the lines of Gaston.” I chuckled at her as I stepped back, giving her back her space. She breathed a sigh of relief before continuing her death glare.

“So, you’re calling me handsome then?” I teased. Her eyes widened as a blush colored her cheeks.

“Conceeded.” She retorted.

“Alluring.” I chuckled. I could see the insults in her eyes that she was preparing to throw at me, but I continued before letting her have the chance.

“Your injuries aren’t healing like how they should. It would be irresponsible of me to let you go knowing you’re on the run from whoever hurt you.” She crossed her arms over her chest. I didn’t miss that small flinch she made. Should she be making movements like that? Actually, she just got done attempting to escape. I looked at the cast on her arm. It was a soft cast, not a plaster one yet so she was still at risk of injuring herself. I noticed bandages on her upper thigh, right about where I had sat to pin her down. They were starting to turn a slight shade of pink, and the stiff way she crossed her arms tells me something is wrong with her side. Possibly a broken rib? Maybe even multiple. Did I hurt her in my attempt to restrain her?

“So, when I heal, you’ll let me leave?” She asked. Her eyes dared me to tell her no. I have a feeling if I did, we would have another fun game of cat and mouse and I wasn’t trying to get kneed in the groin like Wade. I also don't think whatever that wound on her leg is could take it. I can already smell the slight tang of blood. I thought carefully about that condition. I’d rather her stay until we capture whoever did this, but keeping her locked up will only make her fight harder, and that will only get her, and others hurt.

“If you lay back down and let the Doc check you over, we can discuss the specifics of you leaving.” I finally agreed. I can feel the anxiety building as I looked at that bandage. She eyed me carefully before her eyes flickered toward the bed.

“You’ll agree to me leaving though. Of my own free will?” She pressed, wanting a solid answer.

“With certain conditions,” I re-stated.

“What conditions?” She snapped. I gestured towards the bed.

“Please let Doc check you first?” I asked, hoping she would drop it until after she was checked out. She stubbornly shook her head. Her delicate chin lifting a notch up as her brilliant amber eyes narrowed on me, daring me to force her to follow my directions. If she were a pack member, I never would have let her defiance get this far. Somehow though, her blatant defiance was annoying, but not throwing the wolf over the edge. Sure, I could feel him glaring at her behind my eyes and could almost hear the string of curses he was throwing at her, but there was no overwhelming drive to make her comply. Even though the wolf was pissed, I was impressed and part of me enjoyed her will, even admired it.

“No. Tell me the conditions first.” She demanded. I sighed.

“I want you to meet three conditions first.” I started as I kept my eyes firmly on her face. Her fill lips twitched but remained straight. Her face was perfectly composed and devoid of any reaction other than that slight twitch. She is good at hiding her thoughts.

“First, you need to heal, completely. That also includes getting your weight back up and strength back in injured limbs.” I watched her face and her eyes narrowed for a moment.

“Only until I heal fully.” She tried to negotiate. I shook my head.

“Weight up too. No wolf is at full strength malnourished and you’ll only be an easy target.” Her eyes darkened as her hands balled into fists but then she nodded, accepting that condition grudgingly, or so I thought.

“We can discuss that one later.” She grumbled irritated. “What is the second one?” I grinned as she thought any of my conditions were up for discussion.

“You tell us whatever you can about what happened to you.” She frowned and was about to open her mouth when I held out a hand to stop her. “I’m not saying you have to tell us everything that has happened to you and I understand that some of it you probably never want to relive, but if, and this is only when you are ready to, if you remember anything of value or anything that can help, please tell me.” This time, she looked more cautious. She crossed her arms over her chest and this time kept them there, even against what had to have been the pain in her ribs. Her eyes held mine for a few minutes before she turned her gaze away and towards the floor.

“What if I never want to talk about it?” She suddenly asked. Her voice was soft and barely over a whisper. Her eyes bored holes into the floor as she refused to look up at me. I had the sudden urge to hug her, pull her close and comfort her as she turned from a fierce hellion, defiant to the core, an unbroken and untamed wolf daring me to try what others failed, to a fractured, broken woman, barely holding back tears as she continued to beg for her freedom. I felt like a damn villain standing here and telling her she can’t have what she obviously fought unyieldingly for, dangling it in front of her like a piece of meat to a starving dog.

“Then you don’t have to. As I said, it’s when you’re ready. If that never happens, then it never happens.” Her eyes flashed up to me quickly as her firm hold across her chest loosened as her eyes grew wide. At least I can give her her secrets.

“Why would you do that?” I gave her a humorless smile as I thought about my older brother. The real alpha.

“The third condition,” I said, ignoring her question. “is, you let us clear out the area we found you and possible areas you washed down to see if we can find where you came from.” Her amber eyes lightened, almost like they were glowing for a brief moment as her shoulders tensed. Something about the reaction though told me that it was…off, but I couldn’t place why. She was obviously agitated about that idea, understandably.

“If you don’t find that place, or I’m not ready to say anything and I heal, you’ll still let me go?” I nodded as I watched her reaction. She was unsure as her perfect teeth chewed on her full bottom lip. Her eyes were still scanning the room and stopping every so often on different items or locations. The door behind me, the window, a vent on my right. Escape routes. The chair just a few feet to her left, the blanket on the floor, the cords on the monitors. Weapons. She is on high alert and still looking for easy escape routes or some way to defend herself in case I attack.

I casually looked around and saw I was standing in her way of the door and the windows were still covered by the curtains. I backed away from her, throwing the curtains open so that anyone walking by could see us, then very slowly made my way back to my chair on the opposite side of the room. She stiffened as I got closer, but I kept my hands raised, trying to soothe her.

“I’m just going back to my chair,” I informed, pausing to let her decide where she wanted to go. She pressed herself against the bed, waiting for me to pass before moving, so she was between me and the door. Her eyes watched me carefully, following my every movement, especially my feet and hands.

“Just like that?” She asked, looking from me to the door.

“Just like that. I’m serious. I want to prove to you I can be trusted if you’ll let me. I can’t let you walk off injured, but you can go as soon as you’re able.” Her amber eyes softened as she looked at the bed.

“All right.” She admitted after a long moment. “I’ll stay until I’m better.”

“And until we at least clear the area to make sure you’re safe.” She set her lips hard with that but nodded.

“Fine.” She snapped. I let out a sigh of relief as I relaxed more in my chair.

“Thank you. Now, can you please get back into bed so that Doc can take a look at you?” The girl sighed but carefully settled into bed and sat on the edge. I raised an eyebrow at her but she shook her head.

“If he’s going to look at me, I'm not laying down.” She snapped. I frowned at that as a soft growl slipped from my mouth. I quickly stood up, startling her as she reached for her IV cord at the foot of the bed. I stopped, giving her an apologetic smile as I slowed my pace to the door. I opened it and leaned out to Wade who was just around the corner listening to everything.

“Go get the Doc,” I told him. “And tell him no man is to come in here alone unless myself or a female nurse is with them.” Wade glanced in the room quickly before locking eyes with me again.

“She’s a tough one. I can’t even be mad about before,” He muttered. I glanced over my shoulder and nodded.

“She’s not one to mess with.” I agreed. Wade grinned and looked down at me.

“I think I’m gonna like her.” He chuckled before walking off.

"Yeah, me too." I murmured as I re-entered the room to wait for Doc.