Hers Freely

53. Unheard Cries

*Mature content in this chapter. Discretion is advised.

"I said, who?" he demanded, his fingers digging into my hip so hard it hurt, as if he was trying to keep me from slipping away. Feeling the tension in the air, I hesitated to respond; I didn't want him to notice the absolute terror in my eyes or my voice wobbling when I said their name.

The floodgates of memory bursted open—the pack's howls, the sudden flare of despair, the bitter flavor of betrayal. I found myself wildly shaking my head, trying to keep the overwhelming memories at bay. "Why does it even matter to you?" I murmured, my voice quivering as I fought to hold back the emotional storm consuming me.

He harshly flipped me on my back and grabbed me by my neck. "This—this is the mark of the beasts. You belong to them." He bellowed, his voice brimming with rage. "You're a whore to those mutts." I flinched at the words, cutting deeper than any dagger could.

"No-no no, it's not like that!" I protested, my pulse quickening as I strained against his relentless grip. As I fought for freedom, each fearful breath escaped me in rapid, desperate huffs. "You don't understand." I twisted and bucked, desperate for his weight to loosen so I could flee from here.

His face, a mask of fury, loomed over me as the shadows flickered on the wall of the dim room. I looked into his eyes, hoping to find a glimmer of humanity or at least a hint of compassion, but all they revealed was pure anger and a warped sense of possessiveness.

"You let those dogs fuck you but refused me.... acting as if you're better." He spat the words at me like they were venom, as his hand swung at my face with so much power, it left me stunned. I could feel the sting of the slap bloom across my skin; hot and painful.

"Please," I whimpered, tears streaming down my cheeks as I realized he was going to kill me.

"What! Are you begging for it now." You're a disgusting traitor." and he back handed me. This time the copper taste of blood flooded my mouth when I licked my lips. It mixed with the salt from my tears that were spilling out.

Summoning what little voice I had left, each word trembling with the weight of desperation. "I'm not theirs! I'm not a traitor! You don't know anything!"

He laughed bitterly, the sound laced with cruelty. "I don't care what your story is, your damage goods, ruined for the taking?

I pleaded again for him to listen as the urge to explain overpowered my fear. "I was an orphan, sold to them as a child." But this man had zero empathy. His mind was set, and his heart, a block of ice.

In one quick, rough move, he jerked me up, pulling on the thin strings of twine I had stretched across my room to hang up my clothes to dry. "Bet you went along with the branding thing, took those mutts' mark so you could fuck them," he spoke through gritted teeth, his voice slicing through my protests like a frigid gust of wind. Shame and fear gripped me like a vice, making any hope of escape feel impossible. It consumed every inch of me so much that I barely felt the pain of the coarse twine cutting into my skin as he dragged me down the dimly lit corridor of this run-down building. My legs felt like they were made of lead, as he yanked me, stumbling every other step surely bruising my legs. He proceeded to drag me out in the rain. No one would dare do anything if I were to scream. Here, everyone looked out for themselves. 

I stifled my instinct to scream. I could feel the tide of dread rising within me and it got even worse when I got a glimpse of a dark cloak. His friend, his partner in crime, waiting in the shadows. A fresh wave of terror washed over me at the sight of his partner. " What took you so long."

I knew there would be no mercy from either of them. I had to get away, but I couldn't. It was too late now.

"We got ourselves a beast whore." Jake explained, lacing his anger with a mocking tone. His friends eyes widen, as Jake turned me to face him. " Take her before I'll do something I'll regret, Zeke." I looked over and met Zeke's icy eyes, his friend was as  devoid of any shred of human kindness as Jake was.