The Silent Alpha novel Chapter 7

***Jane*** 

My father orders two guards to unchain me and I collapse onto the ground, my open wounds burning as I hit the cold pavement.

The guards force me to walk down the dark corridors, both of them pushing and shoving me when I walk too slowly.

As we make it out of the dungeons, the bright light of the day burns my bruised eyes and I wince, the guards laughing at me.

They lead me out to the main road where Gamma Wyatt and Agnes are waiting for me by a pick up truck.

Anger boils in my veins when I see Agnes’ bruised face, her cheeks swollen and her lip split open from a beating.

Agnes bursts into tears as I collapse onto my knees before her and I brace myself for her anger for getting us both exiled from Scarlet Haven.

She, however, takes me in her arms , gently cradling my head and sobs into my bloody hair.

"I thought they killed you," she signs as she pulls away.

"I thought you left me."

Gamma Wyatt dismisses the guards and instructs Agnes and I to get into the pick up truck.I notice two backpacks in the truck and I nod towards them.

"They let me pack a few things before we left,"

Agnes She begins examining my wounds as we drive to the edge of the territory, large tears streaming down her face.

"It’s okay," I sign, wincing as she dabs a cloth to my torn back.

"I-it’s not as bad as it looks."

She frowns but makes no comment as she continues to clean the wounds with her small cloth.

At the edge of the woods, Gamma Wyatt orders us out of the car and hands us the bags Agnes packed.He then hands me a small Manila envelope.

Confused, I open it and find a wad of cash inside.

"A gift," he says quietly.

"Your mother was my best friend...not a day goes by that I don’t regret not finding her sooner." I stare at the money, unsure what to say.

Gamma Wyatt had never treated me poorly but he had never done anything to help me either.

Why help me now? As I stare at the envelope, I notice a small picture inside and pull it out, tears threatening to fall down my cheeks when I realize it was a photograph of my mother and I taken just a few days before the attack.

"Your father kept this picture hidden in a drawer" Gamma Wyatt explains.

"I figured you may have better use for it."

Before I can react, he pulls out a map, hundreds of red dots scattered over the state explains.

"Stay clear of them and you should avoid getting yourselves killed."

He points to the few small towns with no dots near them.

"These are your safest bet.They’re perfect for two rogues starting over.Try Poulsbo first.It’s about 100 miles south from Maple Falls and is small enough that it wouldn’t be a target for any packs."

He rolls up the map and shoves it in my hand.

"You better hurry before it gets dark. A deaf wolf and mute one are two perfect targets for a desperate rogue looking for a meal." I nod and stuff the map into my backpack.

"Moon Goddess be with you Zane,"

Gamma Wyatt murmurs, turning on his heel and jumping back into his truck.

Agnes and I watch as he drives off back towards the pack, a bit of dread settling in the pit of my stomach.I feel a warm hand interlock with mine and I squeeze it back for comfort.

Agnes tugs at my hand and I look down to her smiling up at me.

"We'll be okay," she signs, picking up her bag and slinging it over her back.

"Pll carry you," I sign, mentally preparing to shift.

"I can walk," she huffs, turning towards the woods.

I try to carry her bag but she once again refuses, determined not to be a burden for me.

Of course, I’ve never seen her as one to begin with.

injuries but we finally make it as the sun sets over the horizon.

Afraid people would ask too many questions about my gory state, I hand Agnes some money and have her book a small motel room for the both of us.

The room is small and dingy but would do just fine for the night.

There’s only one bed and after a small argument, we agree to share it.

Worried about my injuries, Agnes goes to a nearby pharmacy and grabs some supplies for me.

I jump in the shower to rinse the blood off from the several cuts on my back.

Normally the wounds would have healed by now but the silver chain had slowed my healing process significantly.

My cuts and burn will scar permanently due to the silver and I will forever be reminded of what Caine and Sara did to me.

It takes everything in me not to shift and let out my frustrations on the furniture of the room.

Agnes returns from her trip, finding me in a state of near panic and anger, and tries to calm me down.

"Sit down," she pleads.

"Let’s talk." I shake my head at her.

"I’m so tired of this s**t! Why can’t I just talk? Why am I so broken?" She shakes her head at me and forces a smile on her face.

"You’re not broken."

"Then why are we here!"

I nearly growl at her, pulling away from her arms.

"Face it! My own father disowned me because I’m worthless! She bites her lips, her eyes full of hurt.’

"Am I worthless then too?"

The blood drains from as I realize I’ve just insulted the only person who had ever loved me since my mother died.

"No," I sigh, hanging my head in shame.

"I’m sorry.I didn’t mean “ She holds her hands up and sighs.

"Come," she gestures to the bed.

"Let’s get those wounds dressed."

I sink into the bed, holding perfectly still as she tapes me up.She whimpers to herself as she cleans each wound and I realize she’s crying.

"I’m sorry.I don’t mean what I said," I apologize and she forces a smile.

"No, it’s not that," she wipes her eyes.

"Just look at what that...that monster did to you..."

"I’m fine," I reassure her.

"It was just a few cuts."

She points to the s-shaped burn on my hip.

"He branded you." I stare at the raw skin, still red and burning from the silver.

Caine had marked me as a Scarlet Haven wolf but it pleased me to know my father had done the same to him.

"It’s okay.Caine got a matching one too," I laugh awkwardly.

She doesn’t find it very funny and continues cleaning me up grocery bag and heats up the food in paper plates.

We eat in comfortable silence and I thank Moon Goddess I’m not alone on this journey.

My body still aches in the morning but at least the bruises on my face and chest are gone.

Agnes redresses my hip and a few of the cuts on my back before we check out and head downtown for the bus station.

I buy two tickets to Edmonds just outside of Seattle and we board the large Greyhound bus, Agnes glued to the window to watch the scenery outside.

The journey is long and tiresome but after nearly a day of traveling by bus and ferry, Agnes and I arrive in Poulsbo in the late hours of the morning.

It was a small town nestled on an island just off the shores of the state, surrounded by trees and water.

Exhausted, Agnes and I find a small motel on the outskirts of the sleepy town, both of us eager to rest for a few hours.

I, however, struggle to get any sleep, my mind reeling over our options.

We were still good on the money Gamma Wyatt gave us and it would be plenty for a deposit on a small apartment.

I just needed to find a job soon if I wanted to give Agnes a warm comfortable bed to call her own.

Grayson stirs in my head and groans, wanting to go out for a run.

It had almost been two weeks since my last shift and he needed to stretch out his legs.I roll over onto my side and find Agnes wide awake, staring silently at the ceiling.I throw a pillow at her to catch"Want to go for a run?"

I grin and she nods eagerly.

We make the short walk to the nearby forest and after a quick survey of the area, I guard Agnes while she undresses behind a tree.

After a few minutes, a snout brushes up against my back and I turn to see a small light brown wolf bow playfully at me.

Like Agnes, her wolf, Cynthia, is deaf and mute.

Cynthia’s senses, however, make up for the hearing loss.

She could see and smell far better than I could.

Her green eyes twinkle with delight at being set free and she tugs at my shirt to join her.