Defiance

06.

Chapter 6

E L Y S I A

I had an enormous headache when I woke up. I pressed my head to my forehead and shut my eyes tightly. When I looked up, I saw the girl - Seline - the medic at the infirmary. She stared at me, watching my every movement. I felt her eyes studying me and I tried not to be as awkward as I felt. 

When I properly opened my eyes, I realized, I'm in a cabin. It was very small with only bed at its center. There were two tables beside the bed. On the right side, there seemed to be a bookcase, half-full of books. On the other side, I saw another small room which I assumed was the bathroom. Other than that, there was nothing else in the room but me and Seline.

I saw that I was covered in three blankets and their weight finally pressed me down. I moved them slightly and look back at her.

"Where am I?"

"A cabin," she answered, matter-of-factly.

"I know that, but -"

"Beta Aldric told me he promised you a cabin, with food, clothing and basically a chance to live if you continue to save our wolves."

I only nodded. I couldn't help but notice most of the wolves referred to the wolf as Beta Aldric but he wasn't my Beta so I couldn't get myself to refer to him in such a way.

"Well, you saved only one before passing out for a whole day so better hurry up and drink that soup. You're not here to sit down and sleep. I need you in the infirmary again." Seline snapped.

There was a huge difference in the way she spoke to me compared to the way she spoke to Aldric. To me, she seemed to be a volcano ready to explode. Like all the wolves in this pack, Seline did not like me. 

Fine. I wanted to snap. I don't like any of you either. I'm just trying to live. And I'm going to leave as soon as I find a way how to.

I took the bowl and finally felt my stomach rumble. I didn't realize how hungry I had been. Back in the village, I would end up days without food sometimes. Other times, all I had were pieces of bread I had stolen from Mother Noora's kitchen. I took the sips as quickly as I could. Seline still stared at me in frustration.

"I'm eating as fast as I can," I muttered. "Please stop looking at me like you're going to claw me out."

Seline didn't respond at first.

"I don't know if you have some master backup plan or if you're playing tricks with all of us - but our Beta is making the choice to let you live. Letting a witch live. I hope you realize the very second you falter up in any single way - he will personally rip you apart into pieces." She finally snapped at me. 

When I looked back at Seline, I knew I didn't fear her by Aldric's words ring my head. It was the same threat.

The beta wolf terrified me but the second he said the threat before I saved Cassandra, my fear was incomprehensible. "If you betray me - you harm any of the wolves in my pack - I will burn you on a stake and feed you to every wolf in my pack." 

I tried to ignore the way my heartbeat at just thinking of those words. I knew he wasn't lying. I could feel his hatred. 

Then why was he giving me a cabin? Why was he giving me proper - delicious - food that I never had back home? Every facial expression was carved to be terrifying, to be threatening. He was so good at being scary.

"I know the consequences -" I started but Seline cut me off again.

"It doesn't matter if you know the consequences if you don't understand them. Every single wolf in this pack will take a bite of you if you messed up, little witch."