The Twisted Links

Chapter 48

Author's Note: I'm very hesitant to post this because I haven't full finalized this particular storyline and might need to add/change something later. I'll let y'all know if I do.

CHAPTER 48

Location Unknown...

A hard bump jolted Carrie awake. Her head was still fuzzy from whatever she had been drugged with. The constant rattle and motion of the vehicle she was in did nothing to soothe the stabbing pain behind her eyes. Forcing down the panic she felt when her wolf did not respond, Carrie looked around for something she could use.

The knots were really tight and even though they were just rope, without her wolf's strength she was powerless to break them. Feeling around the carpeted floor, she felt something hard protruding slightly. Wiggling the object around it came loose from the crack in the rug's overlay. It was a 3 ½ inch decking screw. Beggars couldn't be choosers and finding nothing else, Carrie immediately started picking at the binding.

She tried to recall her last memories before she was taken. After packing her things and sending them via moving van to Cub Creek, Carrie spent time with her father and Shade. They talked for hours, catching up on everything and letting them know her plans. They were happy for her and her decision to be brave and start a new life with her mates despite everything she's been through. They had wanted to cancel their plans of going to Midway Pack to re-sign a formal peace treaty and discuss swapping warriors for training. Carrie told them to go and they could stop by Cub Creek on the way home.

Carrie planned to take a taxi back to Cub Creek earlier than expected. She had wanted to surprise her mates. Feeling the need to let her wolf, Faye, out for a run before the journey to her new home, Carrie headed towards the Indigo Sky Pack boarder. She knew that Beta Talts was out that way training a new group of patrol guards. The Beta was like a second father to Carrie and his daughter, Suzie, was her best friend. Suzie had left some time ago to go with her mate, Prince Barak, to the High Court since Barak was the son of the Alpha King and would one day take over for his father.

Reaching the edge of the territory, Carrie's wolf sniffed around for Beta Talts but didn't catch his scent. The lack of fresh scent told her that he hasn't come this way yet. She decided to wait a few moments and shifted quickly donning a light dress. Sitting on a fallen log, a sudden change of wind alerted her to the presence of an intruder. Before she could raise an alarm, she felt a pinch in her leg startling her. Looking down Carrie saw a fluff of red sticking out from her leg. Pulling out the object she saw that it was a dart. She had no idea what happened after that moment.

The van lurched to the side a little Carrie rebalanced her body so she wouldn't fall over. With less pressure on the knots, Carrie used her teeth to finish pulling them apart. Shaking her hands to ward off the tingly feeling, she quickly undid the rope around her ankles they weren't tied as tightly as her wrists. Crawling to the side door then the back door she was disheartened to find that they were both locked and there was no handle to either door. The only window was in the panel that separated the front from the cargo space she was in. It was also her only source of light.

The occasional muttering let her know that there were at least two people up front. The bumpy uneven terrain they were driving on meant that they were definitely off road. A few minutes later the vehicle pulled to a stop and Carrie hoped that her captors were really slow and lazy.

As the door's handle was pulled, Carrie kicked it open. A man lay on the ground groaning clutching his face. Carrie didn't wait but took off running, blinking at the harsh sunlight. Hearing the sound of flowing water in the distance she raced towards the source hoping to use it to cover her scent.

Her flight was halted when a large wolf crashed into her. Carrie groaned softly in pain as she rolled on the hard rocky ground.

"Feisty one, aren't you?" A male mocked. "Bet you'd be interesting in bed."

He grabbed her roughly and pull her over his bare shoulder. Returning to the van, he threw her on the ground harder than necessary out of spite. Carrie bit her lip to hold back the pained moan and stared him dead in the eye, refusing to look away. "Run and I'll put another of those darts in you." He threatened. "One more in a 24 hour period and it'll kill you wolf or at least make it so that you won't be able to shift again." He snickered and walked away.

Carrie looked over at the other man who silently leaned against the van. The man looked rough like he hadn't taken care of himself. His blonde hair was greasy and string. Dark bags sagged under his dull blue eyes. They were both rogues but if Carrie had to guess she would say that this man was more recently cut off from a pack. There was an intelligent insanity in his intense gaze.

"You're going to do me a favor." He said. "And I'll let you go."

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Cub Creek Territory...

"I said to fucking let go!" Asya growled snapping her elbow back towards her captor's rib cage.

Night blocked another of her hits as he held onto her waist. "No! Not until you listen to me."

"I don't owe you shit." She said trying to stomp on his foot which he moved at the last second. Using his powers to see a small way into the future was draining him quickly. He didn't care.

"Please." He asked as Asya twisted in his arms. He caught sight of her eyes. Asya's fox, Layla, watched him sadly. "Please?" he begged softly.

Asya wrenched away and this time Night let her go.

"You have two minutes." She ground out begrudgingly.

Night nodded. "I fell in love far too young and not for the right reasons. I was desperate to have something, someone to hold onto. Tonya seemed to be everything I could possibly want. When she broke it off, it felt like it was the end of my life. I was a kid with no real understanding of how things worked. When I saw her again, I was torn." He took a deep shaky breath. The past was a pus filled wound, cutting it open and cleaning it was more painful than they could imagine. But it was their only way to heal.

Night continued as Asya closed her eyes trying to hold back the tears. "I knew that you were my future. But I selfishly didn't want to let go of the past. I went to her room hoping to find an answer." He sighed. "When I kissed her but it wasn't the same. I no longer loved her. She was a part of the past. A destiny that was never meant to be mine."

Asya's eyes remained close but the tears flowed freely. Night gently wiped the tears away. The sparks from his touch caused her to open her eyes quickly as a gasp left her lips. He smiled gently meeting her gaze.

"I can never give you an apology thick enough to cover my wrongs but I want you to know that I am so fucking sorry. I wasn't mature enough to realize that I was being careless with a precious gift. I wasn't smart enough to let go of the past and to look after my future. I wasn't man enough to confess how I felt." Tears blurred his vision. "I'm not going to ask for a second chance because I don't deserve it. But if you could one day find it in your heart to forgive me..." He caught the sob in the back of his throat knowing that this was his goodbye. "Let me know. Even if you jot it down on a sticky note and put in the mail." Both sniffed, vainly brushing away the tears that wouldn't stop flowing. Night leaned down and placed a tender kiss on her forehead. Turning away, he left. Partly relieved, partly hopeful, but mostly heartbroken.

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I don't know if I'm going to put Asya and Night back together. I've been playing through different scenarios. For the time being we'll leave them alone to wallow in misery for a bit.

Meanwhile... now Carrie's gone. Another half baked plan in progress. But I think it should turn out just fine... maybe?

Ugh next chapter is going to suck writing... get the tissues out. I'll post it on Saturday.