Chapter 77: Help

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A/N: Song "Eyes closed," by Halsey.

Anna

January 4, Silver Fang Pack Alpha House,

I strolled down to the door to greet Oliver. When my eyes met his warm gentle eyes, I sighed and smiled brightly. I was so glad the holidays were over. The pack had been gloomy the whole month of December, remembering the terrible incident which had taken so much from us – from some more than others.

Today, nevertheless, I was feeling positive. After all, for the last five days, I had been able to walk straight without stumbling, and I could even run a little bit without falling. Of course, I would never tell Oliver that I was racing against Mandy across the halls yesterday.

"You have been naughty. Haven't you?" His gruff voice pulled me out from my inner monologue and I stared at him like a deer in headlights. His eyes were slightly narrowed at me as if studying my facial expressions.

I tried to cover my nervousness with a wide smile. "I made some tea."

He smiled seemingly satisfied. Lately, I have noticed that it does not matter what I do or say, just the smallest act of kindness makes Oliver happy. He wrapped an arm around my lower back. "You should not be walking around just yet. Don't tire yourself from so early. Today is going to be an eventful day. I cannot believe you are doing that without even letting anyone be with you there to protect you."

I leaned against him and sighed deeply. For some reason as we spend more and more time together, my body and my wolf act different toward him. It is almost a pull, similar to the mate bond.

"What I need to ask him is personal, and I do not think I will ever get a chance like this again."

He groaned and tightened his grip on my hips slightly. "I know. You told me but still pisses me off. That guy hurt you and even tried to rape you."

"Yes, he did. But, he is the only one I can ask for answers now."

We got to the kitchen and I poured two cups of tea. I gave one to him and took the other one. He leaned against the counter as we took the first sips. Of course, he can sip without nobody giving him a talk about gases.

He finally looked at me. I felt scrutinized under his glare. He knows there is something off, but I am not giving up that information to anyone. "I thought you had let go of all of that."

"I did, but after learning about my parents I felt that I had to at least try." I gulped down my tea, not minding the slightly burning sensation as it flowed down my throat. I need to do this before I come to my senses.

***

The three males were looking at me with furrowed eyebrows as we stood in front of the dungeons. I shifted my weight, inwardly cursing Oliver for taking me there by car. I really wanted to walk, but more than anything I wanted to show myself to my pack members. I was getting sick of living as a ghost. Soon, I would get better and go back to get my mate. At least my pack should know I am okay.

A warm hand brushed against my arm leaving barely noticeable tingles on my skin. I also need to talk to someone soon, not because I do not know what is happening, but because it is freaking me out and making me confused.

"Are you nervous, Annita?" Oliver tried to smile at me but failed to hide the worry in his expression.

I looked at him. "For the millionth time, I am fine."

He brushed my hair and tucked some strands behind my ear. "I do not want to lose you again."

You don't have me now, I wanted to say. But, it has been a while since I have been able to use harsh words against him. It felt like kicking a puppy - a really hot puppy.

My brother cleared his throat. I looked at him and gave him a sheepish smile.

"You know how much I hate allowing you to do this. Gosh, it irritates me that you are so freaking annoying. I shouldn't have told you about his transferring."

I crossed my arms and stared at him with what I would like to call a fierce glare. It made me mad that he believed that hiding this would have been a better decision. Once Alexander Hunter is transferred to the Mountain Oasis Pack, it will be virtually impossible to visit him. Anthony Maddox had been kind enough to lose the paperwork so I would have more time to visit the bastard.

"If you had not told me, I would probably have stopped talking to you."

He gulped and looked away. Ha! I love to intimidate big bad Alphas.

Aiden gave me a side hug. "You know how I feel about him."

"I know. Trust me; I have a good reason to be talking to him."

He let go of me and gave me one quick nod.

"Yell if you need help!" Alexander said.

"Give me some privacy!"

I walked down the stairs to a barely lighted room. It has been so long since the last time I was here. There were silver chains and other morbidly clever torture devices displayed across the grey room. The smell of burned and rotten flesh immediately hit me in waves, alternating with the stench of human fluids. Charming as ever. 

At the other end of the room, behind silver bars, a long hallway extended with seemingly infinite cells to each side. I attempted to whistle as my eyes landed on the scanner with a numeric pad by the door. "El progreso acaricia nuestros lares." (Progress reaches our lands.)

I put my hand on the scanner and typed in the number of the cell Alexander was in; The bars retracted and I took the key for the cell from a small slid in the wall. It worked like a vending machine, nice. They could invest in Febreze, though.

I walked until I was standing in front of the third cell to the left. I covered my mouth with both of my hands and gasped at the sight in front of me. Alexander Hunter, once all almighty and powerful was reduced to a sack of bones covered in old and new wounds and dried blood. 

He had all kind of wounds on him and they even had left a silver knife stuck in his leg. Silver chains kept his arms above his head lifting him just a little bit above the floor.

I ran back to the other room and got a hand towel and a bucket. I filled it with water and went back to Alexander's cell.

He slowly lifted his head and his now dull green eyes met mine. "Did I die and go to heaven or am I hallucinating again?"

I unlocked the door and walked into the cell, locking the door behind me.

Alexander sniffed the air and a grin spread across his face. "Love! You came to rescue me."

I sighed and pulled out the knife from his leg and dipped the towel in the water. "Shut up." I rubbed the towel across his face cleaning the dirt and dry blood. The towel could not fix his busted lip and black eye, though.

"Could you be a doll and give me some of that water to drink, princess?" He asked with a smirk.

I eyed him. His lips and his skin were all dry and flakey. He must have gone probably weeks without water to look that bad. I lifted the bucket and tilted it toward him allowing him to drink the water, which he eagerly gulped down. 

It must have been over a liter of water. Once he was done I put the bucket upside down on the floor near his feet.

"I know it might not be able to carry your whole weight but maybe you can rest one foot at a time of something."

He looked me up and down as if he was seeing me for the first time. However, he reluctantly lifted one foot and put it on the bucket, lifting his body a little bit. A deep sighed came from him as he closed his eyes in evident relief.

"Better?" I asked him.

He opened his eyes, looking even more confused than before. "Are you going to suddenly stab me in the heart or something? Or are you a masochist and now you will tell me that you love me?"

I shook my head, keeping the blank expression on my face. Love him? So, ridiculous. "None of that. I still hate you very much, promise."

"Then, what are you doing, love?"

I exhaled loudly and ran my hands through my hair, putting it behind my ears. "I came here with the intention of asking you for your help, but when I saw you, I just couldn't don't do anything."

He laughed bitterly. "Are you some kind of saint or merciful goddess?"

"I am just a person." I looked at him in the eye. "A person like you. Just because you could not see it, it does not mean that I can't. I admit that I was happy at the idea of you suffering for all the pain you put me through, but seeing you like this it is not what I wanted."

He scoffed. "Then, what did you want? I know what you are. You are an assassin for this pack. Your hands are as dirty as mine, maybe even more. I am not a killer. Don't talk to me about morality."

"You are right. However, no human being, or werewolf, should be tortured for a whole year just for the pleasure of watching his suffering. I would have either locked you up or killed you. Watching you like this does not make me happy."

"Don't worry. I already accepted the fact that this is how the rest of my life will be." He kicked the bucket away.

I snickered. "Our pride can kill us."

"I am already dead inside without you, beautiful." He chuckled and winked at me.

"Oh! there you are!" I pointed at his face.

"Here I am!" He snorted and laughed.

"Your mood swings are so difficult to keep up with."

He rolled his eyes. "Try not eating in a month and then tell me about it."

There is some of the truth in that. His mask rarely slipped before. It must be difficult for him to keep trying to manipulate me with his fake charming persona in this condition.

"What are you anyway? A psychopath or a sociopath? There is a difference."

He looked shocked for a moment but then put on a jovial expression again. "I am a hopeless romantic. What does the princess need my help for anyway? I would like to apologize in anticipation as you see: my hands are tied."

I rolled my eyes at his bad pun. I so badly wanted to call him out for bullshitting me again, but I just kept a blank face. There is no point in losing my cool with him. He doesn't care. I balled my hands into fists and made direct eye contact. "I want you to tell me what happened twenty-two years ago the night that you saved me. The whole story."

He laughed as if I had said the funniest joke in the history. "Do I feel in a story-teller mood today?" He smirked and stared at me as if challenging me.

A/N: I love you all. 

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