Cruel by nature

Chapter 15

For the first time in what feels like a very, very long time, I don't wake up shivering the next morning. I stacked the fireplace with plenty of logs before I went to bed last night and judging by the faint glow that's still visible in the middle of the fireplace, it lasted nearly the whole night.

I make my way towards the wardrobe to change into yet another pair of Bree's clothes, and make a mental note to try harder to get a hold of some shoes. The working fireplace might keep me from dying of hypothermia inside of this building, but it will do me no good outside of it.

I cast a longing glance at the window. I really do miss being able to roam wherever I want, and make my own choices. I miss being free.

A knock on the door disturbs my spiraling thoughts.

"Come in", I call out while keeping my gaze at the greenery outside.

I hear the door open, but there's no sound of footsteps walking inside.

Confused, I spin around and fixate my gaze at the door. I gasp.

"Wha- what? How?" I ask, looking at the familiar face in the doorframe.

Mila smiles shyly. "Hi."

I nearly pinch myself to make sure that I'm not hallucinating, and then I come to my senses and rush towards her and engulf her in a hug.

"What about the trial?"

"Alpha pardoned me", she says, "I don't know why, but he did."

Relief washes over me, and I feel my eyes turning glossy. He listened.

"Are you staying?"

She smiles. "Seems like it. I have no idea for how long."

I take a step back and gestures towards the room. "Come in."
I can see a guard standing further down the hall, and know that he's keeping an eye on us.

Mila walks past me and into the room.

"Wow", she chuckles, "this is so much better than our house."

I shake my head. "No, your house was perfect. This is just a pampered prison cell."

Mila's smile falters. "Sorry. I didn't mean it like that."

"It's okay", I reassure her as I take in her appearance. I have no idea what it's like being in their actual prison, but Mila doesn't look hurt. It doesn't mean she wasn't, though.

"Are you okay?" I ask her. Her eyes don't shine as bright as they did when we first met.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Awaiting trial wasn't fun, but they didn't hurt me."

I slowly nod. "And your father?"

Sadness takes over her facial features. "He's okay, but he lost his job and his ranking in the pack. It will take him a lot of hard work to get back in alpha's good grace, if he ever will."

I squeeze her hand. "I'm so sorry. It's all my fault."

"No, it's not. We chose to help you, as we have chosen to help many before you. Don't put this on you." Mila holds on tight to my hand. It's warm, and comforting. I've missed her.

"Besides", she says with a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "I think I should be thanking you."

"Me?" I ask back, shocked. "Why in the world would you do that?" I don't mean to sound rude, but I can't see how she owes me anything. I have done nothing but get her and her father into trouble.

"I couldn't for the life of me figure out why Alpha let us go", Mila starts, her eyes shining a bit brighter now, "but then I figured there's one person out there who could change his mind on such an important matter. His mate."

I pull back my hand, disturbed at the reminder that I'm somehow bonded to such a human-hating monster.

"I'm not even sure he listened to me", I admit. "I tried to talk to him. I really, really tried but he only got upset with me."

"Don't think so lowly of yourself", Mila says almost defensively. "You matter more to him than you can imagine."

I scoff. "That doesn't say a lot."

Mila sits down at the end of my bed. "I take it the bond still only works one way?"

I nod and sit down beside her. "I know now that he feels something, but no, I don't feel anything. Nothing at all." I add the last part to clarify that regardless of the mate bond, my feelings towards him haven't changed one bit since Mila and I last saw each other.

"I still can't understand how it's possible", Mila wonders out loud.

I let out a deep breath. "You're not the only one. No one seems to understand what's going on. I'm not even sure they've decided what to do with me."
"Hey", Mila says softly as she understands where my thoughts are heading, "you are going to be okay, you hear me? They'll take care of you."

"We don't know that." My voice shakes, and I can feel a lump building in my throat. I've tried to steer clear of thinking about what will happen to me here, because I'm afraid it won't have a happy ending.

"I don't want to stay here", I admit to Mila, "but I don't see how I'd be able to leave. I'd probably die trying." By now, tears are silently falling down my cheek. Admitting all these thoughts out loud to Mila makes my chest feel a bit less heavy, and I haven't realized up until now how much I actually missed her. She's the last good thing I have in my life, and it feels good to be able to share my worries with someone who actually listens and cares.

Mila wraps her arms around me in a strong embrace, and I collapse against her chest.

"I don't know what to do", I cry out against her, "I can't just accept this, this isn't what I want. I haven't gone through hell just to end up here."

Mila shushes me and rubs her arms up and down my back in a soothing manner. "Don't think like that. It will get better. I don't know when, but it will."

Her words fall on empty ears. I know she's only trying to ease my worry, but the truth is that she can't foresee my future either. No one can, except for Adrian. He holds the power to let me go, but something tells me he'll never agree to that, no matter how much he dislikes me.

I sniffle, and press myself further against her. I cry out all the tears that I have left, and eventually find myself calming down. I needed that. I needed her.