Tangled With The Fated Mates

Bayfort

As the heavy cell's door clanged shut, Claudine's heart pounded in her chest. A surge of adrenaline courses through her veins fueled her movement. She lunged toward the bars, hands gripping tightly as she pleaded with her adopted family, their fading figures tugging at her heartstrings.

"Please, Ariella, Mr. Zayender, Mrs. Janey! Don't leave," she implored, tears welling in her eyes. "Wait, I'll behave, I promise. Forgive me. Ariella, you can have Denzel." "Keep quiet," a gruff voice said, striking her fingers with a baton until she recoiled, nursing the stinging pain. "I don't deserve this," Claudine murmured, sinking to the cold floor. "None of us do," a voice, rough with weariness, replied, causing her to scramble away until she reached the center of her cell. Gradually, she became aware that she wasn't alone. In the dim prison cell, she noticed rows of other cells, each housing solitary figures, with nothing but prison bars dividing them. "Who's there?" Claudine called out, squinting to take a better look, but the person didn't move, staying hidden in the dark. "Apologies for startling you," the voice responded. Then, there was banging on the metal bars where the voice spoke from. "Keep it down or no dinner, Kris," a guard barked. "I apologize," Kris replied. "Wouldn't want to miss a meal." A flicker of relief coursed through Claudine at the mention of dinner. With a deep breath, she edged closer to Kris, feeling the ache of her battered body. "Kris—" "Shh, it's time for dinner," Kris interjected. "We'll talk outside." As the guards unlocked the cells, they repeated the same announcements asking the prisoners to fall in line and proceed in an orderly manner to the refectory. Claudine winced with each movement, her injuries protesting. She struggled to keep pace, and was grateful when she saw Kris waiting for her outside his cell. "Get in line," a guard barked at them. "Ladies first," Kris offered, and Claudine reluctantly joined the line. Claudine trailed behind the queue, feeling like a soldier ant on a mission. She wanted to talk to Kris but hesitated, unsure how to start. He seemed surprisingly handsome, too good-looking for this place. She was curious about why he was in prison and couldn't shake the thought that maybe he hadn't done anything wrong either. Approaching the open doors marked "Refectory," Claudine scanned the large hall, puzzled by the absence of chairs. "Where are the chairs?" she asked Kris. "Aren't we supposed to sit and eat?" "You'll see soon enough," Kris replied, his gaze shifting to the balcony where guards loomed, sacks slung over their shoulders. Following his line of sight, Claudine observed guards unloading plastic plates from inside the sac bags which piqued her curiosity. "What's going on?" she inquired, her voice barely above a whisper. "Hey, brace yourself," Kris said, his tone urgent. Confusion knitted Claudine's brow. Before she could ask him what he meant, Kris vanished into the crowd, leaving her behind. Claudine's gaze darted around, taking in the sudden shift in atmosphere. The inmates surged forward eagerly, jostling and shouting various things to each other and to the guards. To Claudine's astonishment, the guards began tossing down the plastic plates. The inmates, with savaged determination, leaped upon the descending plates, turning the dining hall into a chaotic battleground. Fists swung wildly, hairs were yanked, bodies collided in a chaotic frenzy. Claudine recoiled, instinctively seeking refuge from the storm of violence. From a safer vantage point, she observed the melee unfold, shocked at the primal display before her. "Holy moly," Claudine breathed, disbelief coloring her voice. She couldn't fathom participating in such savagery for a meal. The thought of scrambling for food like an animal turned her stomach more than the hunger itself. In the midst of the chaos, Claudine briefly lost sight of Kris. Frantically scanning the crowd, she eventually spotted him, fending off a much larger man while clutching a plate of food. Her heart lurched as she watched. Witnessing Kris effortlessly knock down his opponent with a single punch left her both stunned and thrilled. As she processed Kris's swift victory, Claudine noticed another person advancing towards him. "Look out!" she cried out, her voice drowned by the clamor around them. Instinctively, she shielded her face, fearing for Kris's safety. But Kris moved with the agility of a seasoned fighter, effortlessly evading his attacker's grasp. With a deft maneuver, he redirected the assailant's weight, sending him tumbling into the ground. The attacker tried to stand up, but he couldn't. Too many people trampled over him, keeping him stuck on the floor. Seizing the opportunity, Kris slipped away from the fray, rejoining Claudine's side with a sense of calm. Kris opened the plate of food to eat, but he handed it over to Claudine instead. Claudine hesitated, her stomach growling, but she refused, saying she didn't deserve it after seeing him fight so hard for it. "It's not about deserving," Kris said, his voice firm. "It's about survival. You need to eat." Claudine reluctantly took the plate, her fingers trembling slightly as she did. "Thank you," she murmured, her eyes scanning the chaos still unfolding. "But please, join me. You fought for it." Kris shook his head, his expression resolute. "I can't. I need to stand watch while you eat. There are some desperate souls here who wouldn't hesitate to take it from you." She sighed, understanding his concern. "Alright, but I'll leave some for you." Kris nodded, his gaze scanning the bustling crowd. "Okay, okay. Now eat quickly, before things escalate further." Claudine nodded, hastily nibbling on the food despite its unpleasant taste, resisting the urge to complain or retch, mindful of the difficult circumstances that led to this meager sustenance. It was hard to believe this was what they were sacrificing life and limb for. She managed through halfway of the meal before passing the remaining portion to Kris. "Hey, I'm done. Your turn," Claudine said with a weak smile. Kris snatched the plate and devoured it in two spoonfuls. "Don't worry, you'll get used to the meals," he reassured her between bites, though his eyes betrayed a hint of resignation. Just as Kris finished the meal, a loud buzzer sounded throughout the hall, and the guards' voices boomed over the chaos, ordering everyone back to their cells. They shot warning shots into the air, scattering the inmates, dissolving the frenzied scene. Back in their respective cells, Claudine and Kris sat with their backs against each other, the cool metal bars separating them. "I'm still reeling after what went down at the refectory," Claudine said, quietly. "Yeah, welcome to Bayfort," Kris whispered back. "It's a hellhole, mixing werewolves, humans, guys, and girls all in one pot of misery." Claudine shuddered, feeling a chill creep up her spine. "Are you... are you one of them?" she ventured, her voice barely above a whisper. Kris hesitated before nodding slowly. "Yeah, I am. And you, you're human," he observed, his tone tinged with concern. She nodded, feeling vulnerable in her own skin. "I don't know how I'll survive in a place like this, especially as a human and a girl." Kris leaned closer, his voice soft. "You'll make it. Stick with me, and I'll watch your back." Claudine swallowed the lump forming in her throat. "But why? You don't even know me." Kris smiled, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I said nobody deserves this place, but you least of all. Ever since those wolves dragged you in here, I could tell. So, who's Denzel?" "The reason I'm here," Claudine confessed. "He's my mate." "What does that have to do with you being here?" Claudine chuckled softly. "Denzel's an Alpha, and my sis—Ariella, their daughter, wanted him as her mate." "Wait, Alpha Denzel is your mate?" Kris's eyes widened in disbelief. "Yeah. Do you know him?" Kris let out a heavy sigh. "Well, yeah. How did he let you end up here?" Claudine's body tensed. "He didn't. He was supposed to come back for me, but my foster family brought me here instead, making sure we'd never see each other again." "Damn, that's messed up." "I'm terrified, Kris. Isn't there any way I can reach him?" Kris scoffed. "If there's a list of impossible things, contacting the outside world from inside Bayfort would be at the very top." Claudine's shoulders sank. "So, this is where my life ends?" "No, it's not. There are humans who have been surviving in Bayfort long before I arrived. Trust me, you'll learn the ropes." Claudine laughed bitterly. "Trust me there's no learning the ropes for me. After what I saw in the refectory, I'm not sure I'll make it through another day." "I give you my word," Kris paused, attempting to recall Claudine's name. He had heard it from Ariella when she informed Claudine that this was her new home. "What's your name?" "Claudine," she replied. The sound of a guard approaching doesn't deter Kris from responding. "I give you my word, Claudine. I'll protect you, and I'll help you become strong." The guard paused and banged on Kris's cell door, the sound reverberating through the cramped space. "Silence in there!" the guard barked, his voice a harsh rasp. "One more peep outta you, and you're heading straight to the pits, got it?" Claudine got a sickening feeling in her stomach, wondering where the pits were and really not wanting to go there ever.