Reclaiming Her Heart

Chapter 7 - Caught

Jadea

I was pretty sure I narrowed down what meal the dose of toxin was being given to me. It had to be during breakfast. I just wasn't sure what they were hiding it in. The logical choice would be one of the drinks. As much as I did not want to drink, to see if my assumptions were correct, I knew even a slight change would throw red flags. And so, I continued on as usual. The brain fog, and slight impairment to my mind and magic, continuing.

I kept my need to run the perimeter to the nights I was most desperate. I knew I needed to take care of myself, especially if I was going to somehow make it out of this alive. Whatever this was. I still hadn't been able to piece anything together. There were no whispers in the pack, no gossip, no little bread crumbs hiding in Silas's study to indicate there was foul play. Either they didn't know anything, and Silas was telling the truth, or they were all masters at this game.

Every night, my mind mulled over what the Lykaios alpha had shown me. Especially the little tidbit about me being a councilor. If I had indeed been in such a position of power, I could have upset some very powerful and evil immortals. I could have placed myself on Cerberus's radar depending on what I had been doing.

It was important, now more than ever, I did my best to stay healthy. To keep up my strength and faith, even in the face of such adversity. I replenished my body with the nutrients it needed. I said daily affirmations to myself in the mirror. And, I tried to sleep as much as I could, though that had always been the hardest task for me to accomplish. Especially when my dreams were filled with terrors. Of dark shadows haunting me.

I really wanted to assume the worst of Silas and his intentions, but it was so difficult. He never gave me any reason to question him. He was always so level-headed and calm. He was reasonable. He was loving toward his family, and his pack mates. They were a team. They took care of each other. I had grown fond of them, if I was being honest with myself. It wasn't the same type of deep, intimate connection I was used to having with my pack. Though, it was rare to find such trust and love within a pack dynamic.

The days blurred together. Thanksgiving bled into Christmas. Then New Years. Silas made sure to include me in their family traditions. He even bought me a few small gifts. A rather large squishmallow and a necklace. The necklace was an intricate pendant of sterling silver with a jade center. It was the same necklace I'd seen in a few pictures hanging from the walls. Sitting prettily around the neck of a teenager with platinum, straight blond hair and sage green eyes. She looked identical to her father. Ethreal.

As much as I wanted to ask Silas about her, I could never bring myself to. Something, somewhere, in the back of my mind warned me not to start that conversation.

I watched Silas be a father. Love like a father. He was a mentor to the others in his pack. He knew how to be a leader and was a fairly darned good one. He reminded me of Lucien, for the most part.

If life was simple, and I believed everything Silas told me—that my mate rejected me and my pack abandoned me—I could see myself being happy here.

It would be easy to fall prey to the very simple life and routine here in this pack.

It was a tempting notion.

But I knew better.

"Jadea! Wait up!" Mateo called out one afternoon in early January before I could leave the training arena. He ran up to me, his vibrant eyes gleaming. I knew he was crushing hard on me. It wasn't that hard to see. His platinum hair cut short, those blue eyes of his sparkling, his gleaming chest on display. When we stood next to each other, he stood a few inches taller than me.

However, he was my cousin. And that was just weird.

"Yes?" I asked when he'd caught up.

"There's a few of us going out tonight to bowl. Would you like to come with us?" he asked, trying to keep the shyness out of his tone.

I was taken aback by the question. Would I like to? Yes. Maybe I could figure out where I was. I still hadn't figured that out. There was no address anywhere. And I was afraid to ask, to draw attention in such a fashion. I had to pretend I wasn't concerned with where I was, or make it seem like I wanted to leave. I didn't want Silas to be tipped off before I had a chance to escape. "I would love to go, but... I don't know if Silas will allow me," I stated truthfully.

"I don't think that will be a problem. I'll go ask him."

He bounded off before I could get another word in and shrugged. With Mateo asking the questions, it wouldn't be as suspicious. And it hadn't been my idea either.

After showering, I sat in my room in silence, staring down at the picture I had taken from Silas's study. I couldn't stop staring at Adam. In the picture he looked like he was laughing, while my face hovered over his. At this angle, you couldn't see my face. Just his. He looked so happy. He stared up at me in adoration and joy. There was so much love in that single photograph I could nearly feel it seeping out of the ink and into my veins.

How much I wished I could just talk to him, to understand where it all went wrong...

My eyes narrowed on a detail I missed. There was a tattoo on my left shoulder. A gorgeous one with a large paw print and dates that were too blurry to read. Hmm... I looked at the shoulder in question and did not see the tattoo. That was odd. Had Silas removed it? And why?

There was a sudden knock at my door, jerking me out of my thoughts. Luckily, I had locked it so no one could just burst in unexpectedly. Tucking the photo under my mattress, I answered. Mateo's blinding smile hit me first, and I knew what he was going to say. "Father said you could go with us."

It was weird, getting Silas's approval. All of us, except for Malik, were adults. If there was one thing I could complain about this pack's dynamic was the constant feeling of being treated like a child. We had to get Silas's approval for almost everything we wanted to do. If we wanted to walk to the creek, we had to talk to Silas. If we wanted to go out horseback riding, you had to run it by Silas. It was a bit frustrating to say the least. He was overbearing in that way. "When will we be leaving?" I asked.

"In about an hour."

Okay. That gave me some time to get ready. Not that there was much I could do. I had a limited wardrobe, no make-up or jewelry. "Jadea?" Mateo's voice was barely a whisper, and I could hear the nervous energy in it.

My focus zeroed in on him again. I saw him shift anxiously and noticed one hand was behind his back. What on earth?

He licked his lips and found the courage to keep going. "Last time I was in the city, I grabbed something for you." Oh boy. I wasn't sure if I really wanted his attentions lavished on me in such a way. "It's a simple outfit. Nothing extravagant... I know you don't have any clothes of your own yet. Just the usual uniform. Anyway, here," he shoved the bag of clothes into my hands, his cheeks flaming red, his eyes unable to meet mine. "I hope you like it!" As he turned to rush away in embarrassment, I reached out and caught his wrist. This was a very kind gesture, and I wouldn't feel right without at least thanking him, even if I didn't like the attention.

"Mateo," I said softly, and a bit emotionally as well. "Thank you. This means ... a lot." My small smile seemed to breathe air back into those sails of his. The embarrassment seemed to disappear. "I'll see you in an hour."

In the bag was a beautiful emerald green tank top. It was ruched at the bottom with lace on the back. It was gorgeous and made my green eyes pop. There was also a pair of dark, slim jeans; black ballet flats; and a black bow with green lace for my hair. It was a very nice, thought-out gift. I quickly changed and put my hair up in a half-do so I could pin the bow into place. When I met him, and the others, for the evening out on the town, everyone seemed taken aback by my appearance. Mateo snapped out of it first. "You look beautiful," he complimented before opening the passenger door of the SUV we were taking.

The night was fun and filled with laughter. I inconspicuously paid attention to the roads and signs, trying my best to figure out where I had been secreted away to.

A sign for Lake City popped up.

I recognized the name. We were in Florida. My pack and I had traveled through the area before on a hunt.

It didn't take long to get to the bowling alley. We ordered pizza and drinks. I allowed myself to let loose a bit. To have fun. I participated in the shenanigans, and we were all laughing and carrying on. Mateo's gaze was on me the entire evening. It was a bit intense, and I wasn't sure how I felt about it. Other than I knew I wasn't ready for any type of entanglement.

When we got back to the den, Mateo walked me to my bedroom door. It was late enough, everyone else was asleep. Except for Silas of course. The light from his study could be seen at the very end of the long hallway.

"I had a lot of fun tonight," Mateo whispered as he backed me against my door.

"I did too," I smiled. "Thank you for inviting me." I said reaching for the knob so I could distance myself from him. He caught my hand so I couldn't escape. My heart rate spiked and I fought the knee jerk response to not react negatively. To just allow this to happen so as not to create a scene.

Mateo leaned in and gave me one tentative kiss, his hooded gaze watching me. I froze. I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do. I wasn't sure how I was feeling, other than none of it felt right. He felt wrong. This whole thing felt fallacious!

"Jadea!" Silas's stern voice called out from the study, interrupting us.

Saved by the bell! I thought to myself. Though, I wasn't too sure I liked the tone in Silas's voice.

Mateo sighed and let me go. "Have sweet dreams," he whispered against my ear before disappearing into his own room.

Straightening my backbone, I made my way to Silas's study.

"Close the door." He growled firmly.

I knew I f****d up somehow. I did as told and then sat down, bowing my head in a show of obedience.

"You have something of mine, don't you?" he asked after several moments of tense silence. On the desk, I saw the pictures of Adam, my pack sprawled out across the surface. I sighed, knowing I had been made.

"Yes," I affirmed, not giving an explanation to my actions.

"Go get it," he growled. I obeyed and handed the picture back to him. He looked at it briefly before throwing them all into the fire. As much as I wanted to cry out and steal one of them back, I refrained. "I am disappointed in you child," he stated right before he struck. He moved so fast I didn't have time to react. He had me by the back of my neck and was dragging me through the house. I didn't make a sound. I knew it could only add fuel to the fire if I fought or drew attention to myself in the dead of night.

He took me out to a spot beside the stables, where a lone, metal pole stood. "Take off your shirt," he ordered as he threaded an enchanted rope through the hook at the top.

I wanted to refuse. I didn't like how this looked. I didn't want to be tied up here.

Swallowing hard, I steeled myself. I suffered worse abuse. I survived worse atrocities. This instance would be no different. I would take my punishment and learn from it. I did as asked and then stepped up silently beside him. He seemed a bit shocked I wasn't trying to talk myself out of it. That I wasn't fighting in some way. "I am going to whip you, Jadea, for your own good," he stated right after he secured my wrists. "Face the pole," he ordered. I did so.

The whip hit hard and unforgiving. I felt it break my skin on impact.

"How many?" I breathed through the pain.

"Twenty," he growled. The whip biting into my flesh once more. "I love you, Jadea. Almost like a daughter," he said through gritted teeth. It almost sounded like he wasn't enjoying this at all. As if it was just as painful on him as it was on me. "I don't want to see you hurt again."

Crack!

"You need to forget about Adam."

Crack!

"You need to forget about your pack."

Crack!

"You need to forget everything if you are to heal and move on with your life."

Crack!

"They don't want you."

Crack!

"They don't love you."

Crack!

"We are your family now."

Crack!

"Say it!" he snapped.

"You are my family now," I whispered brokenly.

Crack!

I listened to him, tears leaking out of the corners of my eyes. I counted the lashes in my head. With each one, I felt more blood oozing down my back. I felt my heart shattering. I felt how utterly alone I was out here, playing house with Silas and his family.

I didn't want to be here anymore.

I just wanted to go home.

But, I didn't know where home was anymore either.