The Mark of a Queen

Chapter 2

Sitting up, I realized I passed out as Jamie was dealing his punishment. Grateful that my shirt was still off, and I wouldn't have to peal it off my body to tend to my wounds, I head over to the sink with the bottle of rubbing alcohol and cotton balls. The stench of dirt and blood mixed filling my nose. 

He did not go easy on me this time. He lost control, like usual. He hated when I passed out while he was dealing a punishment, and would always give me more consequences to wake up to. I brush my fingers over the slashes, still oozing blood. These will take a long time to heal. He had made the slashes cross over my spine and shoulder blades where my skin stretched the most to ensure that they would reopen again, and again. 

Unfortunately I am given wolfsbane twice weekly to keep my wolf from coming out. I have never actually met her, but sometimes, I can feel her stirring in the back of my head waiting for the wolfsbane to leave my system. Just when I get excited about being able to meet her, the guards come in with the injection, and she goes away again.

But I can feel her getting stronger as times goes on. It may just be a splintering hope that she is able to come out and get me away from this mess. I should have lost her completely by now. Why is she still here? Why can I still feel her fighting? How can I get out of here to keep me from being wolf less? Werewolves who are unable to shift are banished to no mans land, where rouges are able to pray, and feast on them. They are an abomination.

I have heard of some packs taking the shiftless in, and giving them a job to be an integral part of the pack, but its hard to believe that someone would take pity on those and allow for them to live. They have no purpose. No enhanced sense of smell, or strength, they cannot protect themselves or others. I find it hard to believe that a pack would take them in and they could be a useful part of society. 

I hope if I lose her permanently, Jamie will make it a quick and painless death, but knowing him I would be sent to no mans land, or I would sit here and suffer, and I will not be staying long enough to find out. Even if that means risking my life to find out.

Feeling the stinging sensation of the alcohol soaked cotton ball, I wince and pull myself out of my thoughts. The smell making me cringe. I should be used to the smell by now, but I was never a fan of the smell of alcohol. 

Cleaning away the rest of the blood I can reach, I slip my shirt back on and look up into the mirror and sigh. I need to come up with a plan to escape.

As I am about to walk through the cell doors, I am stopped by the sound of shoes filling my ears. walking back I sit on my bed and wait for them to fade, however they seem to come closer, stopping in front of my cell. My eyes widening, I look into Alpha Stone's eyes with a guard next to him holding a syringe holding the yellow tinted contents I know too well.

"Good morning. I have very important orders for you today." Alpha Stone states and he bends down to be eye level with myself.

"Yes sir." a squeal errupted through my throat, having not used it in quite some time.

"We will be hosting the mating ball tonight. Typically I would not allow you to participate in preparations for such events, but we have 5 packs coming including the Royal Erebus pack. We need all hands on deck to prepare the rooms, and make sure that everything is to their liking. We cannot mess this up. Is that understood?" 

"Yes Alpha. Understood." I agree with him.

"You will be in charge of the guests quarters. They are to be sparkling clean, I do not want a speck of dust left in the room by the time you are done. You are not to be seen today, I do not want you approaching any guests without my okay. Especially in the condition you are in. I don't know what you did but that is one hell of a punishment."

"Yes sir, I will get started right away" I hurried and sat up, getting everything together to start working on the rooms when I noticed something. Alpha had left but the guard was still standing in front of me with the syringe holding my wolfsbane. That was injection #3 this week. This is getting really bad.

Standing in front of him, I pull my head to the side to show submission and allow for the needle to enter in the base of my neck, but only this time, I did not feel the knot of the fluid entering into my system. The only sting was from the needle still inside my neck.

I pull my eyes over to the guard as he assessed my situation. The edge of my ribs showing through my shirt, my arms the circumference of a 5 year old childs. He flinched as my dull eyes stare back at him. He was obviously new at this. No other guards would take a second glace and contemplate pushing the plunger.

He took the needle out of my neck. Furrowing my brows confused, he looked at me, compassion in his eyes. "I'm sorry Omega, but I cannot do this to you. They told me that you are a risk, but I cannot give this to you without imagining you as one of my daughters in this situation." He went to the sink and pushed the plunger into it, running the water for a moment to clear the stench that must be illuminating from it.

"why are you showing me such compassion? No other guard has ever blinked twice?" I asked very softly, surprised he even heard me speak. 

"I do not know why you are down here, and what you have done, but from what I have heard, you haven't actually committed any crimes, and I will be damned to allow this to happen to you under my watch. I cannot help you escape, but by the looks of you I would hurry up and find a way out, because it may already be too late." He looked at me in hopes that I will make it. I hopes that I will be able to find my way out of this place and be able to feel the sunshine on my skin for the first time in years.

"I hope its not too late, but thank you for giving me hope, and showing me kindness, kindness I have not had since my mother has left to be with the goddess. She would be happy that I have someone like you"

He turns and exists the cell, allowing for me to collect my thoughts, and collect my energy for today. This guard gave me an inch of hope. Hope to leave this place, hope I can find a different, better pack. Hopes that I can know who my wolf is, and to see what she looks like. 

I will make it out of my prison for good, but right now I need to keep my calm, and begin cleaning the guests quarters while I come up with a plan.

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Walking out of the cell I go to the guest quarters, and begin cleaning and changing the sheets, and I get to cleaning out the rooms. Thankfully no one comes down here unless we have balls or guests staying with us and these rooms are all currently empty, so there is no chance that anyone will come over here and disrupt my mood. Realizing that I can now have hope I hum away to my mothers lullaby and pray to the moon goddess that I can make this happen.