Escaping Rogue

twenty

"Lena."

I groaned, my head heavy against the hard wall it rests on. My body ached horribly, the pain from my back, feet, and head all mixed together in a horrendous discomfort fest. It actually was almost as bad as the prison I occupied not even a year ago.

"Wake up."

I didn't want to. My eyes were too heavy to open, nor did they have the will to do so. It was pointless after so many days in the dark. I had lost count of all the times I searched the darkness for something familiar, the millions of times I found myself disappointed I wasn't in Christian's arms, resting in our pack house and preparing for the baby.

"Alena."

Forcing my eyelids to lift upwards, I glared at whoever interrupted the quiet. When I did, the room was no longer dark however; a short ray of light emitted from a doorway, which now was cracked open. It stung after so long in pitch black, but when my eyes could finally adjust to the light, I could only feel the pain begin to spread even strong.

Theo hovered over me, holding a plate of food I was desperate for. "I want your decision."

For days he would send his men to ask if I was ready. For days I ignored them all, only eating the small pieces of bread and drinking water I was given at every meal. It wasn't enough to satisfy neither me or the baby, and yet here he was, still demanding I answer in hopes that I'll comply.

"Eat shit." I groaned.

"Fine." He dropped the plate to the ground, the glass shattering with a sharp crack that made my head Dave even more. Food splattered all around the room which only hurt my stomach.

I swear, the second I escape this prison I'm eating a feast and then starving this bastard.

"I want to see Mario. And Lucas."

Theo only stared down at me, a sneer now lingering on his features. For someone who so wanted to convince me to join him, he wasn't the most convincing person.

"Give me an answer and I'll bring them to you right now."

"Bring then to me and I'll give you an answer." I bit back, not wanting to ever have to make this stupid decision. But, if it means finding some way out of here, even with the smallest chance, then I might just have to. There's no way I'm not doing it on my own terms however. "You want me to decide. Give me those two or we'll be in this cellar for a lot longer."

Theo hissed some very vulgar terms beneath his breath, before turning back and slamming the door behind him. It was a long shot, having him bend to my will. Then again, he wanted me to have that type of power, to be next in line to a pack that commanded strength and leadership. This was just me showing off my skills.

Minutes later the door creaked again, making me jump. The light from the outside bled into the room, where both Mario and Lucas were led next to my body. A torch was placed on the wall, and a plate was heavy in my brothers hand.

Instantly I jumped up, limping over to the two and wrapping both my arms around them.

My voice was barely a whisper and Theo's men shut the door once more. "Oh thank god."

Lucas kissed my forehead and Mario pat my back. It was nice, seeing them again after so long. I hadn't seen my beta since we arrived, and my brother since he told me the truth. I missed seeing familiar faces, friends, and family. I missed everyone, but they were just as appreciated.

"He told us you weren't eating." Lucas said, pulling back and waving the plate in my face. Happily I grabbed a piece of bread and shoved it into my face.

"Not from his plate, no."

"Lena, the baby needs food." Mario said, shifting away from me as I scarfed down every last ounce of edible items in the plate. I was still starving, but for once I could feel slightly satisfied.

The baby did need food, and I tried to eat whatever I could once Theo was gone. It wouldn't be enough anyways. "I know, but I can't take anything from him. I won't."

"Not even the pack?" Mario spit the last word, as if disgusted by the idea of this little rogue group being considered a pack. I agreed with him, but it was a pack in some sorts, if only in name.

"Especially that. He wants me to choose the pack. Wants me to kill Christian or everyone else. Wants me to surrender solely to him."

My hand raised to my stomach. A slight pouch formed at the bottom. It was barely noticeable, but it was there, if only I knew it.

"How does he expect you to kill Chris?" Mario asked. "Nobody would kill their own mate."

I could only shrug in the dim light. Both of their faces were filled with confusion, and mine only matched theirs. There was not logic to Theo's request. Why would he want his own daughter to live without her mate, just as he did? To become as ruthless as he is? No. Because he's bitter. Nothing more.

"Christian won't answer me. I tired to show him a field, but there's nothing else I could show him that could give him any idea as to where we are."

Mario nodded. "I spoke with him once a few days ago. He said he had something to do, and that he had the pack searching for us."

Lucas only glanced between us. Hopefully Gabe could help out too, even if he did have less of a pack than us. Anything to get the three of us out.

"He needs to come soon. Theo won't hold out for much longer; he'll want answer."

My brother perked up from his silence. "If anything, say yes. Maybe he'll take you right to Christian and we'll have some shot of getting out of here."

"Either that or he'll force me to strangle my own mate."

Mario sighed, shaking his head. I could only see the bad in all of this, and I knew he could too, despite how much he tried to hide it. "It won't come to that, Lena."

Maybe he was right. Maybe I should look for the chances I have to save us, not the situations that will get us killed. Maybe I should just put all my trust in Christian, I'm hoping that somehow he'll figure out where we are and we'll be fine.

Or maybe, I should prepare for the worst.