The Girl He Marked by Laila Callaway novel Chapter 4

Paige's POV.

When I wake, it is dark. The sun has long set, and night has fallen. I can feel that the temperature has dropped dramatically, but my body is so hot. If you put water on me right now, it would probably turn to steam.

I groan and manage to sit upon the forest floor.

Everything hurts.

I reach for my handbag, which is lying next to me. Some of my things have fallen out and I put them back into it.

I pull my handbag under my head and lay back, so my head is resting on it.

I can barely move my arms, but I manage to pull the pieces of leaf and twig out of my hair. I brush down my clothes and check myself with my phone torch. Any cuts are already healing. I look surprisingly good for someone who just took the quick route down a hill.

Pain floods through me again and I shove my phone back in my bag. I lay back and close my eyes, hoping to sleep this off.

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'Oi, wake up.'

A gruff voice disturbs my sleep. I scrunch up my eyes as sunlight invades my sight. I roll over and peer at the two blurry faces leaning over me.

'State your name,' one of them orders.

'Paige Moretti,' I mumble and rub my eyes.

'State your intentions on the Ash Mountain pack's land.'

I wince and slowly sit up.

'I thought this was No Man's land,' I reply.

I glance up at the two men standing over me, and the one watching from against a tree. They're wearing matching navy uniforms and hard expressions.

'Our territory starts at the bottom of this hill. You are trespassing.'

I groan and slowly get to my feet. All three of them tense up, anticipating an attack.

'I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, I fell down that stupid hill,' I tell them.

I stretch my arms above my head and pick up my handbag.

'You're coming with us,' the patrol guard closest to me, snaps aggressively.

I protest as he grabs my handbag from my hands. Another yanks my arms behind my back and clips handcuffs onto them.

'This isn't necessary, it was a simple mistake! I'm sorry,' I blurt out.

One of the guards carries my handbag. The three of them ignore me and lead me through the trees. They threaten to gag me, so I stop protesting.

I can't believe that I'm in the same situation that my twin was in two weeks ago. I guess lives are linked more closely than we think.

We reach the pack grounds. They march me past the pack house, where curious pack members stare at me. They head straight for the prison cells.

'You will meet with the Alpha this afternoon and you can plead your case,' a guard tells me as he shoves me into a cell.

They check my handbag to ensure I don't have any weapons, and then throw it into the cell with me.

'Please, let me out!' I shout after them, but they disappear down the corridor.

I look around and see that the other cells are either empty or are holding people that I definitely do not want to associate with.

I turn around and look at the cell. It's actually not that bad. There's a cot—bed, a sink and a basic toilet tucked into an alcove. There's no door, but at least there's some privacy.

Feeling desperate, I quickly use the toilet. I sip some of my water and check my phone, no signal. I find a cereal bar in my handbag and eat it.

I take my book out of my bag and try to pass the time by reading.