Rejected Mate and Following Fate novel Chapter 40

I hate being stuck in human form and completely powerless to even get out of this dumb glass. Everything in here is bolted down, probably because they don't want prisoners throwing things at the window, and I am not about to kill myself by hurtling my own body through it to see if it breaks. Without being able to turn, I would probably bleed to death, being that unlucky girl who brought down a shard over my neck or something, and still be stuck down here. A shriveled empty corpse to stink the place up.

That jerk didn't even let me eat like he said and my stomach growls angrily at the lack of having food since god knows when. I don't even know what time it is, morning or night, or how long I was sedated in that room considering there are no windows underground. I last ate in the day before sleeping in that damn tree, where all my possessions are, and I'm starving. It's no wonder I feel weak and shaky. I'm running on empty.

It's weird but maybe it's my years of being bossed around, held captive in a less than caring home, and treated like a reject at the hands of my so-called pack, but I'm not even afraid anymore. Being here held captive, I know that the worst will come with Juan, but even then, what's he going to do to me? He can't kill me or inflict too much pain, because his son will bear the brunt, and lord knows his legacy is always at the center of everything. He could do what he's done to Sierra, I guess, but it's not like she seems aware of anything and maybe that wouldn't be a bad thing. No longer tied to Colton, carrying this burden of heartache while he lives his life with that 'skanky Puta', maybe a long sleep will be better than stuck in a glass box for a lifetime.

I abandon the glass and get up to walk across the cold concrete floor on shaking legs. I need to lay down and finally get rid of the rest of this drug in my blood, so I can at least walk around normally and not feel like I'm on new-born legs. Maybe I'll feel better if I take some time to let it work out and sleep off the rest of it. My body is shaking internally, and I keep having minor bouts of dizziness which remind me I'm in no state to take on the likes of Deacon if I ever get a chance. My first goal before I leave this place, is to knee him in the balls, for shooting me in the back like a coward.

I don't get to the bed before the noise of the elevator whooshing open sways this way and I instantly stiffen, expecting Deacon to come back and grace me with his toxic personality and mentally try to figure out the likelihood of being able to kick him between the legs for the sake of it. I climb on the bed, turn around and sit with my legs dangling off the edge in readiness to give him more attitude and lure him inside to my perfect level of height, as I hear footsteps, and a lot of squeaking noises of wheels rolling across the hard floor, coming my way.

It's not Deacon, it's the doctor, and a female in a white lab coat too, and I frown as he appears in front of the glass door pulling the food cart and carrying a bag in his other hand, while she pushes another behind him. He waves at me before accessing the door and slides it open with a smile.

"My dear, we never fed you, and I couldn't let you go hungry down here in this inhospitable nightmare of a place. I brought you some clothes. They're nothing fancy, just the smallest size from the supply closet that I could find and a fetching shade of military grey." He pushes the trolley inside, the sudden smell of food filling the air, and my mouth starts to water with the reminder I'm near famished. He drops the bag just inside the door but hesitates about coming in, and I sit here waiting patiently. His female companion stays back, arranging some medial implements on a tray on top of her own trolley and avoids looking my way completely. She's young, maybe early twenties, and looks very white girl, medical student, human. Blonde, blue eyed, so definitely not a Santo.

"Thank you." It's a genuine response because this gown is not exactly great at hiding things, or offering comfort, and maybe eating will help straighten me out a little. In human form I'm suffering from the effects of not eating and probably have a low blood sugar to boot. The female seems interested in me but keeps her distance, and it's not hard to tell that my kind make her nervous. She pushes the trolley to near him and then turns and walks away without a word.

"It's nothing too adventurous, just a chicken salad and bread. The cook is normally quite wonderful with our hot foods, but you were an in between meal visitor. It won't be long before lunch is served and it'll be something hot, like it always is. I believe today is carrot and coriander soup, followed by a delightful steak tartar. Fabulous talented chef and we are most grateful to have one here." Despite his overly friendly chatter and enthusiasm over food, he seems awkward now that we are down here and I catch him throw a glance over his shoulder at our sleeping beauty, watching our departed medical student walk into her room and check on the equipment and levels. The door closing behind her quickly and dampening the noise back to a low hum that intensified when she opened it. I catch the doctor pause for a second longer, before a slight sag gives away a little tell.

"You knew her?" I ask brazenly, seeing a sadness as he turns back to me and a fake smile pops up to hide his obvious reaction. His expression clouding over a little and despite my senses not being on form, I can almost taste the change in his mood. He looks at me oddly, eyes narrowing, and it's as though he goes to say something then stops and falters, his mouth opening with no sound before he draws back, looks around once more and leans in a little, lowering his tone. Only too aware of the female across the way.

"She was my friend. This was her project… long before the war. The hybrid research…. the learning about the rare wolves no one talks about. I never imagined she would end up being one of its inhabitants." His face reddens and he shakes his head as though he can't quite believe he told me this. Mentally shaking himself, but I'm not going to let an opportunity pass me by, and I have to show he can trust me.

"He just left her here to rot. Juan, I mean… because she got sick?" I ask innocently, fully aware that upstairs he said there was nothing wrong with her mind at all, but I need to gently draw him into this. I need to win him over slowly.

"Sick! Hah... Her mate has no interest in my research, but we serve a purpose that he needs fulfilled. Keeping her alive and.... Quiet. If that is the sickness to which you refer. So, he pays the facility bills, funds my grants, and leaves us to do whatever as long as she exists here, and we don't ask questions anymore." His low hushed voice signals that maybe he doesn't quite trust either the female across the way, or maybe there are camera's down here. I sit up a little, pushing my hands under the edges of my legs and change tactic. A common ground to show him I'm definitely not about to run to Juan.