Unwilling Acceptance

Cellmates

She wakes with a throbbing headache. Caroline has no idea where she is or what time it is. She unsteadily stands up and looks around and notes she's in a small cell, accompanied with a metal cell gate. Caroline feels slight hope fill her chest as she pulls on the door. That hope deflates at the bleak realization that it's locked. Looking around the remainder of the room, all she notes are a dingy, dirty bed and a toilet.

Remembering bits and pieces of what happened, she starts to recount the fact that she managed to trespass on the Redwood Pack's territory. She berates herself for being so stupid and careless. How could she have let her guard down and listen to instinct instead of reason. She's heard countless stories of what cruel torture they inflict upon rogues. She suddenly remembers that her assailant thinks she is a rogue. That's when the panic starts to set in.

Her eyes frantically move all around the tiny cell she's locked in as she looks for a way out she may have missed. Already knowing it's hopeless, Caroline leans against the wall and tries to calm her breathing. That's when she notices the young man in the cell next to hers. He appears to be in his mid-to-late 20s. He's dirty and she's unsure whether his hair is brown or blonde considering it looks like it hasn't been washed in weeks. He turns his head towards her and as she desperately tries to avoid making eye contact, she knows she's been caught.

"How long have you been here?" Caroline asks in a quiet, timid voice. Silence fills the room as minutes pass and she assumes he either didn't hear her or is choosing to ignore her. She's thinking it's the latter, sighing heavily as she leans back against the wall.

"About two months, maybe more. Having no windows in here makes it hard to know whether it's day or night or how many hours have passed," he replies in a steady voice.

Her eyes fill with unshed tears and a tightness forms in her chest. All hope that Caroline has is officially gone. She knows it's just a matter of time before they either keep her to use or kill her. She doesn't know how long she can handle the feeling of not knowing. She's never had a knack for being patient. Her parents could vouch for that. An overwhelming sadness fills her. Just thinking about her parents and the very real possibility that she may never see them again leaves her feeling somber. Before Caroline can further dwell into melancholy, her thoughts are interrupted.

"How'd you manage to be stupid enough to wander around on their property and get caught?" he snorts in amusement.

She seethes at the question. She sure as hell is not stupid. Sure, she managed to get herself in a dangerous situation that could've been otherwise avoided, but she knows how smart she is. In a panic, most tend to make rash decisions instead of rationally thinking. She refuses to be judged by some guy who is currently stuck in the same damn position as she is. She glowers at him.

"Sorry, I forgot to check Google Maps while I was running away from the rogues that were attacking my pack," she says sarcastically.

His eyes widen and he pales. He's taken aback and stutters out a response. "I-I'm sorry. I thought you were a rogue. They're always getting caught for trying to start shit with this pack and I thought you were one of the stupid ones to go along with it."

"You thought wrong," Caroline snaps.

Silence looms over them as Caroline seethes. Who does this guy think he is? How fucking insensitive. They're wrapped in stillness for at least five minutes before he starts to speak.

"I really am sorry about your pack. I tend to speak without thinking at times. Really most of the time. Sorry, I'm rambling. My name's Collin," he says with an apologetic smile.

"Caroline," she curtly responds.

Collin gives up trying to talk to her after that. Frankly, Caroline's still pissed. To be assumed as a rogue is a heavy insult in their community. She doesn't look like the "lone wolf" type, so why would he assume she's a rogue? The longer she sits down here, the more she's itching to know about what to expect being here. Caroline figures they're probably going to be stuck here alone with each other for at least a little while, so she might as well try to learn all that she can about this place.

"How did you end up here?" she asks in a quiet voice, hoping to calm the tension in the room.  He's her only option to get any kind of information and she's gonna try to not screw that up.

He breathes out a heavy sigh as he answers. "I was walking around outside of their territory searching for the beta of my pack when I caught a mouthwatering scent. I recognized instantly that it was my mate and all thoughts were gone after that. All I was concerned about was reaching her.

"I failed to notice that I entered the Redwood Pack's territory as I was too intent on finding my mate. I didn't even reach her. Before I could make it another step further into their territory, someone tackled me to the ground and held me down. I felt a prick and knew they had injected a sedative. Next thing I knew, I woke up in this cell. Been here ever since," Collin says with a distant look in his eyes.

Caroline fills with sadness for him. "Oh, I'm so sorry. That must've been so hard for you." She knows nothing she could say would make him feel better. Mates are the most treasured aspect of werewolf culture. They're tailored just for you and, once found, it feels like any problems you've ever had have simply dissipated into background noise. They're your other half, your soulmate. You're meant to be. Only death can separate you.

Caroline has yet to find her mate. Having recently turned 18, it's pretty common to recognize them around this age. The most exciting thing about turning 18 for her was the prospect of finding her mate and falling in love. Reflecting on her current predicament, Caroline's starting to lose hope of ever finding her mate now.

Collin nods his head in solemn acknowledgement at her sentiment. She takes that as the end of their conversation and lays her body on the cold, hard bed. Her mind won't stop running rampant with thoughts of hopelessness and despair. She's trying not to cry as she lays there, willing sleep to come. She can't tell if minutes or hours pass by, but Caroline finally drifts off into a dreamless sleep.

Some time later, Caroline is woken up by the sound of heavy footsteps and jingling keys. Her bleary eyes take a minute to adjust before they fall upon the man currently opening her cell. There are two men behind him, their eyes directly locked onto her. Paralyzed with fear, all she can do is watch and wait for whatever they're going to do to her.

"You're coming with us," the large man in front of her gruffly states once he's opened her cell. The two men behind him come burst through and each grab an arm as they drag her out of cell.

At this point, Caroline's screaming and kicking in protest. One of the men slaps her across the face and she's stunned. She ceases her kicking as they continue to drag her. Her cheek is throbbing and she can already tell a bruise will bloom as the hours progress.

Caroline looks back before she's dragged out of the room and the last thing she sees is Collin fearfully looking at her, probably wondering if she'll be the first to die.

As always, your comments and feedback are very much so appreciated! Please let me know what you think!