Chapter 4 - The deal
1146 Words
Jax POV
My crying had gone down to soft sobs and my thrashing had stilled. The chains weren’t budging and I realized that there was no way out of here. I was too tired to do anything about the situation now, and I was trying my best to accept my fate.
I thought about what the man said, and I didn’t really know if there was any better way to die. Maybe they had some sedatives I could overdose on, but since I was in the middle of the forest and I didn’t really know where I was, I didn’t know if I had unlimited options here.
A sound outside the door woke me from my thoughts, and I felt my anxiety rise again.
I started hyperventilating when the guy from the forest walked in. He wasn’t naked anymore, but was wearing a white t-shirt and basketball shorts.
His blue eyes met mine and I froze, gasping for air.
“Please don’t kill me.” I whispered while the tears started rolling down my cheeks again.
He held up his hands in surrender.
“Relax.” He said softly. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
His voice was soothing and there was a softness in his eyes, and for some reason I felt myself relax a bit.
It didn’t seem like he was here to hurt me.
“What do you want?” I asked in a small voice.
He walked up to me and wiped my tears away with the back of his hand.
“I have a proposition for you.” He said.
I frowned.
“I’m listening.” I replied.
“As you probably already have guessed, we are a pack of werewolves.” He said. “We live out here on our own, and if the humans came after us, it would be catastrophic. People would die.”
I nodded silently.
“That’s why we can’t let you go.” He continued. “Usually we’re dealing with human poachers coming up on the mountain to illegally hunt animals. They’re protected up here and you need special permits and you can only hunt in very limited areas. They don’t care about that, so they’re usually easier to get rid of. You however…”
He trailed off.
“You’re different.” He whispered.
I stared into his eyes, the blue orbs drawing me in until nothing else existed. I gulped and tore my gaze away.
“Are you going to kill me?” I croaked out.
“That depends.” He replied and I looked up at him in confusion.
“You see, I’m supposed to kill you, but I’ve come up with another solution.” He said. “I won’t kill you if you give me something in return.”
“Do you want money?” I asked. “I don’t have much, but there’s a college fund…”
I stopped myself when he shook his head.
“I don’t want money.” He replied with a soft smile on his lips. “I want you to give yourself to me.”
I stared at him.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
He stepped closer to me.
“This is what I want.” He whispered.
I shivered when he trailed his hand down my stomach and grabbed a gentle hold between my legs. I yelped in surprise and tried to clamp my legs shut, but since my feet were chained to the wall behind me, I couldn’t.
“Okay, I get it.” I panted, trying to ignore the feeling that bubbled up in my stomach when he touched me.
He smiled at me and I studied his features, looking for any signs of deception. But he didn’t even seem cocky or patronizing in any way. He was watching me with a soft expression on his face, waiting for me to make up my mind.
“I’m not going to lie.” He said. “I’m a werewolf, and I have no idea if a little human like you can handle someone that’s so much stronger physically. If you can’t, death might be less painful for you. But I promise I’ll be careful with you and not hurt you intentionally.”
I thought about what he was suggesting. Sleeping with a werewolf to stay alive. It sounded better than dying, and maybe there was a way for me to escape if he got me out of this cell.
But that also meant sleeping with him.
My eyes involuntarily trailed down his body, and I couldn’t deny that he was really attractive.
“And what happens if I can’t?” I asked. “What if I can’t handle you? What if you grow tired of me or want someone else? Will you kill me?”
He smirked.
“I can’t guarantee anything.” He replied. “But if I feel like I can trust you, there might be a bigger chance for you to get out of this territory alive.”
That settles it.
I nodded and took a deep breath.
“I accept.”
He grinned.
“Great.” He said. “I’m Julian by the way.”
“Jax.” I replied. “Thanks for not killing me.”
He shrugged.
“No sweat.” He smiled and reached up to undo the cuffs on my wrists.
He frowned when he saw my bloodied hands and bent down to release my feet too.
“This way.” He said.
I heaved a sigh of relief when I saw my backpack sitting outside the door, and I pointed at it awkwardly.
“Can I take that with me?” I asked.
“Of course.” Julian replied, and to my surprise, he grabbed the backpack and slung it over his shoulder. “Let’s go back to my house. I need to look over your wrists.”
He took my hand in his and for some reason I felt butterflies in my stomach.
He’s probably just guarding you.
The thought made me stiffen, but I let Julian lead me out of the cellar and out of a large house. I looked around and saw a village of small wooden houses scattered throughout the forest.
“I didn’t even know people lived out here.” I mumbled as we started walking.
“We try to keep a low profile.” Julian replied.
“Can all of these people become wolves?” I asked.
“Everyone that’s over the age of eighteen can shift into wolves.” Julian said and looked down at me. “I’m surprised you’re so curious about this.”
I shrugged.
“Well, if I’m going to die, at least it’s nice to know why.” I replied.
Julian chuckled.
“Good thinking.” He said and walked up the steps to the largest of the houses.
- Writer
