It took us three days to walk from Penzance to Reading - since Samuel clearly didn't to risk us taking any form of transport. Every night, I heard wolves howling, but I couldn't be sure if they were werewolves or just ordinary wolves. Still but the sound brought me no hope; Samuel would never allow me to be rescued, and he took the most obscure route possible, to ensure we wouldn't be spotted. Still, the howls of the wolves dogged our steps, and sometimes a small spark of hope ignited in my breast. But it was soon snuffed out by shame, and I slipped back into despair, reminding myself that I didn't deserve to get rescued, especially not by the Redwoods, not after I'd gotten their Alpha killed by my stupidity and lies. Soon dark thoughts took over, and I wondered if instead they were tracking me so they could enact revenge on me for the death of their Alpha. I hoped so, if by doing so I'd get a swift death.
But then I remembered; I didn't deserve death. I didn't deserve anything. Not after the way I'd betrayed Simon, when he'd been so kind to me.
By the time we reached Reading, I was footsore, and suffering from several burst blisters. Wet socks and shoes did not make a pleasant combination, but I made not a word of complaint. Samuel made no move to try and help me with the pain in any case, and it wasn't as if I deserved it anyway.
The sun was shining brightly in the midday sky as we approached the city, but Samuel would go no further, at least not while it was daylight, and he made me set up his tent a mile away. My back ached, my fingers were as blistered as my feet, but again I kept silent, reminding myself this was my punishment, and once the tent was set up, Samuel went inside and shut the flap behind him. The sound of the zip told me he wasn't to be disturbed, so I sat on a nearby log and let the sunlight thaw my frozen body. I was near nauseous from hunger, and so dehyrdrated I couldn't even spit or pee properly, but Samuel, as per his declaration, hadn't offered me a single bite of food or a drop of water to drink. As for clean clothes, a shower, basic hygiene... those were privleges he deemed me unworthy of, and as a result, I was even more filthy than before. I was sure I was a walking biohazard by now, but Samuel had not offered me one chance to dip my face in some water.
Again, though, as I sat on my log, I reminded myself that he was doing me a favour by letting me live. Everything else was a courtesy, and I knew he felt it an affront for me to be allowed to even breathe in his presence.
Eventually, the tent flap opened, and Samuel stepped out, dressed in an elegant black shirt, black pants, and smart black shoes. His hair was combed back, and the faint smell of colonge caught my nose. I kept my eyes lowered as he required, trembling as those black shoes approached, until they stood directly before me. Then a hand seized my hair and hauled me upright, the pain causing tears to fill my eyes.
"I didn't say you could sit, bitch," Samuel snarled. "You have no right to rest." He let go of my hair, before turning me around forcefully, until the gnarled grey-green bark of a tree filled my vision. "You're going to stand there," he said, "and you're going to stay there until I come back. If you move, so help me god, I will break every bone in your stupid, worthless little body. Understand me?"
"Yes, Gamma," I whispered. "I'm to stand here, and I'm to stay here until you come back. If I move, you're going ot break every bone in my stupid, worthless little body."
"Good." Samuel then walked off, and as the sound of his footsteps died away, I let the tears come, sobs wracking my body until I had no tears left to cry. Silence, save for the distant sounds of the city, crept over the small forest patch where we'd stopped, and the sun slowly crept across the sky. I had no idea what the time was, but the shadows had lengthened by the time Samuel came back. The first I knew of his return was a sudden blow to the back of my neck, sending me crashing into the tree and making me see stars. I had no time to recover; I was then thrown to the ground, the air leaving my lungs in an explosive gasp. By the time I could breathe again, I became aware of a heavy weight on my chest and legs, but as per my harsh indoctrination, I kept my eyes averted, staring instead at my assailant's chest.
Then the breath left my lungs in a second gasp. Whoever it was, it wasn't Samuel. Samuel had been wearing a black shirt. My assailant was wearing a grey shirt.
"Who the hell are you, and what the hell are you doing on our turf?"
The angry voice caused me to flinch. He reminded me too much of Samuel, and the fear came back in a wave that almost choked me. "I-I'm... St-Stephanie," I said in a small voice, keeping my eyes averted all the while. "M-my Gamma i-is v-v-visiting your c-c-city."
The unknown man barked a harsh laugh. "You mean Samuel, of the Whitewater pack?" He laughed again. "He's not welcome here, you stupid girl. Whitewaters are not allowed within ten miles of Reading. And since you're a Whitewater, you're subject to the same punishment he got."
So saying, he got off me, hauled me to my feet, and threw me over his shoulder, before setting off for the city, and as the ground swayed crazily underneath, I knew I'd gone from one peril into an even greater one. The Windsong pack ruled Reading, and since I was now a Whitewater... I was as good as dead.
Even so, death was welcome, and as my new captor entered the town, I prayed for that death to come swiftly. Anything to finally end this neverending cycle of pain and humiliation was welcome.143Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZdgrpPDGM
