A Wolf's Honor

Chapter 3

The car ride seems to take longer than I anticipated it to. I sit shoved between two lions in the back seat of a luxury car. It's uncomfortable and filled with much more contact than I'd like. By now I don't care. I'm just thrilled to be away from the crowd and the bull. It's night and I don't dare look past either of my co-passengers or try figure out where we are heading.

Alder sits in front staring straight ahead in the passengers' seat as another lion drives. He looks older and keeps adjusting his glasses. There is no music playing, only the soft sounds outside the car and its engine to fill the silence. I sit and stare at the ceiling of the car and hope the drugs wear off by the time we get to our destination. I need to clear things up and get home as soon as possible.

***

It feels like close to an hour before the car finally comes to a stop and everyone proceeds to get out. I'm ushered out and test my legs one at a time to see their durability.

"Come on dog. You should be fine by now." One of the younger lions says, grabbing at the leash.

"Free, have him prepared for dinner." Adler says without so much as a glance my way. He walks past two more lions standing guard at the front entrance and into the large estate.

The lion with my leash nods and looks back. "Yes sir. Not a problem" He replies and tugs on the leash once again.

"Be a good dog and listen to the boss. Be thankful he took you." He continues and guides me in.

𝘋𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳... 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘐 𝘢𝘵𝘦? 𝘈 𝘥𝘢𝘺?

I walk past the two guards and into the estate with Free, still on edge. It's only now hitting me how serious the situation is. What does he want with me? And why would he spend 𝘴𝘰 much money on buying someone?

The estate feels as big as it looks on the inside. The foyer has marble flooring and opens to a matching grand double staircase on either side, a large balcony connecting them on the second floor. Between the stairs leads farther back into the estate and to either side are more halls. A large crystalline chandelier hangs overhead as you enter. Large portraits line the deep green walls of the staircases.

I don't have time to closely study any painting before being yanked up the right set of stairs and down the hall. He's moving too fast for the remnants of drugs in my system to keep up with.

The doors on either side seem endless as I try count them. Two, four, six, how many rooms does this damn place have? Free opens what looks like a random door on the left to a bathroom. He motions to the shower.

"Bathe. And don't try shit, dog." He says, flashing a gun at a holster on his belt.

I glance at the gun and tense up. A gun. Ok. Calm down. Just do what he says right now and he won't hurt you. Just listen and then you can get home faster.

Unable to get a word out, I point sheepishly to the muzzle still on.

He looks at me confused for a moment before sighing and nodding.

"Go ahead and take it off. Keep your hands visible." He assures me and doesn't move.

I reach slowly to intentionally show what I'm doing. First, I feel for the buckle and push the length of leather out from it, undoing them strap before sliding it off my face and setting the wire cage onto the counter.

"So.. are you going to stand outside?" I say, uncomfortable with his presence.

"You want me to leave?" He asks, tilting his head.