Chapter 221

Robert’s Pov

My eyes are swollen shut. Not that it matters much anyway, even if I could open them fully there isn’t much to see except four stonewalls and a leaky ceiling and even that is poorly lit.

I don’t know how long it’s been, days at least. It’s been long enough that I’ve lost any resemblance of hope that the Pack would be coming for me.

They’ve been trying to get rid of me for years now and this just happened to fall perfectly in their lap. I bet Almara’s comment about me being a traitor was preplanned between her and her beloved fated mate.

The thought makes me laugh out loud and then the realization that I probably look crazy makes me laugh harder. Whatever. It’s not like anyone can hear me anyways, or if they can they pretend that they can’t.

Maybe I should’ve been a traitor, that would’ve worked out better in my favor. I certainly wouldn’t be stuck here that’s for sure.

The sad thing is, I can almost guarantee that I felt them howl for me. Something inside me picked up a calling, like an antenna trying to connect to some kind of wave in an electromagnetic field, but unable to spark. Maybe that was wishful thinking.

If they did call for me, that could mean they're dead which would explain why they haven’t come for me, but I don’t think they're dead either. I can’t explain it, but that doesn’t feel right.

I’ve had a lot of time to think this through and my conclusion is this: they planned for me to be in here, and they aren’t coming for me. Maybe the first part of my conclusion stems from bitterness, but then again maybe not and maybe I’m right.

I blow out some air, I’m tired of thinking about this. I need to get out of here, and seeing that I’m on my own for that all I’m doing is wasting precious time.

The guards come in sporadically and usually, it’s to torture me by binding me up and throwing freshly cooked meat on the ground before stomping on it, throwing it at the wall, or spitting on it. Only after they leave do I lick the juices off the wall.

My stomach growls at the thought and my mouth begins to salivate. This is why I need to think of a plan, pretty soon all my thoughts are going to be focused on food. Maybe they’re trying to slowly starve me to death.

Other times they come in with the intent to beat a confession out of me. Despite my conclusion, I stay loyal. I think I’m experiencing that profound, almost sickening, bond to a pack that wolves are so inclined to. I’ve never felt it fully considering I was both vampire and wolf and I never belonged to either side, let alone a pack.

Through my starvation, bruised body, and conviction that the Hurricane Pack is against me, I still tell the guards what I’ve been saying since I got here. That I want to join the vampire side. I’ve said it so much, that I’m starting to believe myself.

Delfino said I would have the chance to prove myself, but I’m beginning to believe that less and less and until that moment comes, I need a plan.

Once the guard comes back, I could attack. I haven’t done that yet because I’m still trying to prove that I’m here in peace. Maybe I could still prove that if I attack, I can blame it on instinct I mean I am going to die in here. Delfino would understand that, right?

There’s also the issue of lack of food. I‘m definitely still stronger than the two guards, but can my endurance keep going? What if they call for back up?

I’ve already tried telling them I have to use the bathroom and they threw a bucket at me and said they didn’t know a dog cared much about where it did its business. I was ready to clamp my jaw down on their neck right then. Even remembering their comment causes my blood to boil.

This is good. If I can hold onto this anger, then that can be used as my endurance. Just as I start to plan the fight scene out in my head, mapping out how I go in for the kill, a commotion ensues outside. I almost yell at them to shut up, I’m trying to focus. But my ears pick up a familiar voice.

I scurry over towards the door, though it’s not much of a distance from where I was. I press my ear up against the thick cool slab of metal. I hear growls and snarls, then a hard smack that causes me to wince. “Shut up,” one of the guards says.

There’s a moment of silence followed by the high-pitched squeal of another heavy metal door being swung open and then a loud bang of it being slammed shut.

“You can’t keep me in here!” The familiar voice growls back and I recognize it as Cathy. So, I was right. They did howl for me and they were in trouble. If Cathy is brought here, what does this mean for the rest of them?

Oh, don’t tell me that she’s my rescue plan. I debated saying anything at all. Maybe I should just focus on getting myself out of here. I wait it out, going back and forth in my head about what to do as Cathy drones on and on about how subhuman this all is.

She’s banging on the walls, running around like a crazy wild beast. It’s driving me nuts. “Save your energy!” I holler at her through the damp rocky wall. Finally, the insufferable noises stop.

“Robert?” She says, almost inaudibly which makes me think she’s whispering. The only reason I can hear her is because of our sense of hearing.

“The one and only.”

For a moment Cathy doesn’t say anything. “Great,” she eventually huffs out. I roll my eyes.

“Right back at you,” I tell her. It’s not like I’m thrilled we’re the ones caught prisoner.

“I’m not the one who cheated,” she fires at me. I imagine she’s facing the wall and has both paws up like she’s attempting to break it down. A smirk plays on my lips. They’re never the ones to cheat.

“Is this the time and place?” I ask. Then again, I don’t know when else we’ll be trapped next to one another to hash out our differences.

“No,” Cathy says to my surprise. “Almara and Arthur need us.” So, they are alive.

“What about the others?”

“Only Roman, Cody, and Zack were still alive when I was taken. I don’t know if they still are,”

A chill runs up my spine. Maybe I did have an easier task.

“Any luck with Delfino?” Cathy asks. I want to tell her I wouldn’t be in here if that we’re the case. It dawns on me that these rooms could be recorded. I select my words carefully.

“Not yet. His Honor has yet to be appealed to. As for Arthur and Almara, I hope they’re dead.” Cathy doesn’t say anything for a while. I try again. “I think he should watch me day and night so that I can prove myself to him.”

“Well, he won’t see the Hurricane Pack coming that’s for sure,” Cathy says and I can tell she understands my hidden message to be careful about what she says. “As for you Robert, you’re a traitor”

That one stings, especially because I know she’s referring to the whole cheating incident. “That I am,” I say leaning back against the wall.