Page 23 of The Wolf Moon

I expected him to say something in response to my comment, but he only narrowed his eyes and remained silent. I reached for the food first, eating it in the most unappealing manner, as though I could offend him by not eating his offerings with grace. Then I roughly snatched the clothing offered to me and stood to find his bathroom, where I would promptly find an escape.

Before I could move to leave, Alpha Roman grabbed my wrist firmly.

“You’ll leave the door open,” He ordered, indicating to a door that must be connected to the bathroom. I looked at it and then back at him with disbelief.

“Are you a pervert?” I asked, nervous suddenly.

“I’m a good guess of character,” He answered with amusement, “I know what you’re planning. The door stays open.” He released my wrist, moving away to rummage through his own wardrobe.

I entered the rather large bathroom, frowning as I noticed the shower was indeed in direct view from the bedroom. At least there was a curtain for some form of privacy. A second door was to the left, no doubt leading into the hallway. And to the right was a small window; big enough for me to fit through in my opinion.

I started the shower, looking behind me into the room to see Alpha Roman sitting on the bed, his back to me. I didn’t trust it. So I stepped into the shower and only began to strip after the water was already cascading over me.

After showering, redressing, and otherwise relieving myself I stood silently and stared at the small window wistfully. I did this against my own judgment for far too long and heard Alpha Roman clear his throat pointedly. I turned sharply to find him watching me from the door frame. I was tired. I couldn’t even bring myself to glare at him.

“I can’t go outside ever again?” I asked mournfully, looking away from him and back to the window. I could see the sky just outside of it; those blinking stars and the moon waning like a small smile. Or perhaps a frown.

When there was no following answer, I turned my gaze away from the image of the sky and to Alpha Roman who stood unmoving as he watched me. His hands were in fists next to him, an anger or maybe frustration over his features. Something in the way his head was turned, just slightly to the right, made me feel his anger wasn’t actually directed at me.

“Come on. We’re going to bed,” He finally said sharply, turning away to return to his room. I didn’t follow at first, immediate discomfort flooding me. I finally convinced myself to approach the bed and hesitated once more.

“When you say ‘we’re’, you mean… both of us?”

“I do sleep, too. Yes.” Alpha Roman shifted the still torn sheets on the surface of the bed, preparing it to rest on.

“You mean on the same bed?” My tone was becoming most obviously anxious.

“Do you see another bed?” He responded sarcastically before rolling onto the bed lithely, stretching out in a way that made him seem suddenly more intimidating than he had ever been before. My mouth went dry and my heart stopped momentarily. I took a step back.

“I-I’ll just sleep on the floor or-” I took another step back when his eyes found my form dangerously. He crawled across the bed, approaching me slowly. I stared at him with both wonder and reluctance. Only when I realized that he probably was going to grab me did I snap out of it and turn to run.

His hand caught mine and he roughly pulled me to him, causing me to stumble and fall onto the bed. I yelped in surprise, pulling away and struggling to get free. Roman laughed suddenly and I froze, that sound thrilling throughout me despite my reluctance.

“I have never had a female fight so hard to get out of my bed,” He abruptly teased before shifting against me, using my moment of surprise to better pull me further into his grasp. I breathed harshly as I found myself face to face with him, my arms tucked between us with his around me powerfully; an entirely different cuff.

“So you’ve had a great deal of women in your bed then?” I asked sharply, unsure of why I’d even want to know such a thing.

“I had one recently. She climbed on top of me. She put her legs around me,” He told me, lowering his face to peer into mine easily. I shifted uncomfortably, my body flushed from his being so close to me. I didn’t want to know about his sexual escapades, but he seemed intent on describing them. “And then she tried to drive a knife into my heart.”

I laughed abruptly, my relief easing the discomfort of my situation. I wasn’t sure exactly why I was relieved except that I was glad to not have to hear any descriptions I didn’t want to hear. Roman suddenly tightened his grip on me and I held my breath just as quickly as I had laughed.

“Go to sleep, Milena,” He muttered unhappily. I looked away from him to his chest.

“The only one who calls me that is my mother and only when I’m in trouble. You can call me Mila, you know,” I whispered with a frown. When he didn’t answer me, I looked back to him carefully. “Can I call you Roman?”

“No,” He answered firmly. “Go to sleep, Milena.”

“Goodnight, Roman,” I responded defiantly, smiling only briefly and allowing my exhaustion to take me in spite of my captivity.

Eleven

Chapter 10

Ispent my days and nights captured in the same cycle that Roman demanded of me. When he was there, I was allowed to be somewhat free, as in no longer cuffed to the bed. When he was gone to deal with his and his surrounding packs, which was often and for long periods of time, I was left in that cuff.

The moon faded from that of the waning frown to an empty new moon, pulling me ever so much more closely to my future doom. I didn’t feel any pain or sensations of impending horror, but I wasn’t the type to doubt the dangers of the lycanthrope or their Goddesses. So I spent every chance I had on trying to pull myself out of my current captivity until finally I found success.

The cuff had worn through the wood of the bedpost enough so that with the proper force in my kick, it finally gave with a loud crack. I gasped in both pain and delight, and then hesitated as though Roman would find me out that very moment. When neither he nor any others showed up to stop me, I continued to work through the damage I’d done until my hand was free.

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