Haunted by the Mysterious Alpha

CHAPTER 10

Emily’s POV.

Something cold and wet landed all over my body. “Wake up!! Who said you can oversleep here?!” the clatter of two metals that followed keyed me into further panic. I jolted awake, rolled on the small bed and fell with a thud on the floor. A small cry left my lips, but I quickly recollected myself off the floor and staggered. My gaze settled on the scowling face of my host as she continued to clatter the metals to my face and then stopped. “That will be the last time I wake you up, Emily Blakesley. Here, we rise before the sun even hints at the horizon. Am I clear? Have I made myself clear?!” she barked.

“Y-yes, ma’am,” I stammered.

“Good.” She turned and gave the metals to someone else in the room. For the first time, I noticed two women with us in the room, one was holding a bucket which dangled in her hand perhaps to emphasize on what she’d just done. “Strip.” My host ordered.

Without even blinking, I peeled the wet dress off my body and stood, naked, the cold breeze of the morning whipped against my frail skin. I tried to cover what was left of my dignity with my hands, something that didn't sit well with my host.

She hissed and pointed at the bathtub in the room. “Get in,” she commanded. The tub was filled with fresh water. I moved, my footsteps a scurry as I hurried across the room. I put a foot in the water and froze.

“What is that?”

“It's cold.” I cried.

My host walked to the water and dipped a hand in it. “You’re right!” she said and turned to face me. “It is not cold enough.” No! My heart began to thud in a way that it has never before as she turned to the woman holding the bucket and signaled something to her. And she left.

“I-I’m sorry,” I said.

My host moved her gaze back to me. “Oh, you don’t have to be, darling. The sooner you understand the circumstance surrounding your stay here, the better for you.” The woman returned with a bucket full of ice and emptied it in the water.

“Please..." My voice is barely a whisper as I begged.

“You are wasting time.” My host’s face remained emotionless as she glanced at the water. “Get in.”

Dragging a shuddering breath, I forced my body to move, a sigh of despair left my lips as the cold water kissed my skin. The chill cuts through every nerve in my body and aimed for my bones. A cry escaped my lips but I stifled them as my gaze met with that of host’s. “Deeper!” she commanded.

How deeper can I go? The water was already at my chest and stole the breath from my lungs. I didn’t expect it when she grabbed my shoulders and dipped me completely into the water. I gulped a mouthful of water as I tried to scream, my eyes widened, a sharp searing pain hit my head. More hands joined in, keeping me submerged in the water and I realized it was useless fighting it. Every nerve in my body was on fire, the pain spreading through me like poison, just when the world was about to blur, they let go of me. I broke out of the water and wheezed.

My gaze settled on my host. I stared at her, desperate to understand why she was doing this, but there was no mercy in her eyes—only a strange, calculated detachment like I was just another task she needed to complete.

“Please,” I begged, tears burned the rims of my eyes as I looked up at her. “Please, I’m not sick. Stop doing this to me.”

“Resistance only prolongs your suffering. The earlier you comply, the faster your healing.”

The fear bubbled up, and I began to sob, my body an onslaught of helpless shivers as the icy water continued to bite my skin. “I’m not crazy,” I whispered to no one, over and over again. “I’m not crazy.”

A smirk stained my host’s lips. “Oh, you are. Why did you think your parents brought you here? You have disgraced them enough!” she spat to my face. The tears gathered in my eyes and seeped down my face.

“Nothing is wrong with me.”

“Then what happened, why couldn't you shift like every normal werewolf on their eighteenth birthday?” she asked with a smirk.

“Someone killed my wolf, I saw them. A stranger.”

“Yes. And why does your story looks similar to Lydia’s and every shifter who has been brought here for restoration?” I couldn't answer that and her smile grew. “Cathena will cure you, Emily Blakesley. Your parents trust us, they believe we know what’s best for you. It’s only a matter of time before you accept that and stop fighting it,” she said in a matter-of-fact tone.

“There’s nothing wrong with me,” I repeated.

“You don’t get to decide that. That's our decision to make.” Her eyes narrowed slightly for a moment and there was a flicker of pity but it was gone that instant. “Again!”she clamored.

I had barely enough time to react when the other two women grabbed me, and once again submerged me completely in the water. I thrashed but my body felt like dead weight, my arms heavy as lead. It dawned on me I couldn't, I was no match against them. I had to let them do whatever they wanted with me.

The world echoed into a distant facade and just when I was about to give up, they pulled me out of the water and tossed me on the floor. I coughed, vomiting mouthfuls of water. I dabbled on all the air I could breathe but there seemed not to be enough in the room as my lungs burned.

“Get dressed.” My host said and tossed a new dress at me. “You have ten minutes.”

I tried to stand but my legs buckled and I fell back on the wet floor. I winced at the collision and swallowed a sob. With all the strength I could muster, I pushed myself up but my body felt like it belonged to someone else; it was cold and unresponsive. All I could do was breathe, slow, ragged gasps that stabbed each sides of my stomach.

At long last, I stood up, and took a long breath. As I tugged the garment over my head, I caught a glimpse of myself in the small, cracked mirror hanging on the wall of the hut. My hair was now a tangled mess, and my eyes puffy from the struggle.

“Are you ready?” she asked. Her voice was low and dripped with menance. I finished and nodded.

“Yes.”

She tilted her head at the only chair in the room. This was no ordinary chair, what chair has straps and face restraints? I knew better to cooperate with her than fight, and so I moved, my heart thumping as I walked to the chair and sat.

My host walked to me and fastened the straps around my wrists and ankles, securing my head with the face restraints. “You will undergo a series of exercises throughout your stay here, to help you face your fears. You understand that, don’t you?”

I swallowed hard as fresh anxiety pooled in the pits of my stomach. “Yes, ma’am,” I breathed. But I wanted no part of this. Why do they believe something is wrong with me? I needed no fixing.

But what choice do I have? Who was going to save me? I closed my eyes, trying to calm the chaos inside my mind. My breath was still coming in short bursts though the pain at my sides have abated.

“The first session is over,” my host said and I reopened my eyes. “In this session, I’ll ask you about your memories, your fears and you will answer with no hesitation.”

“Okay,” I managed to say, though my heart was hammering behind my ribs. Nothing seemed as easy as they painted them to be here.

“First question: What is your greatest fear?”

I hesitated, my thoughts racing. The truth clawed at my throat, but I pushed it down. “I... I don’t know.”

“Lying already?” she said and raised an eyebrow. “You know, you don't want me pissed. And if you want this session over quickly, you need to be honest with me.” She dragged a breath. “So, I will ask again. What’s your greatest fear?”

Gulping, I stared at her. “I’m afraid of losing myself. I-I feel like I’m disappearing in this place.”

For a moment, silence stretched between us, so thick and heavy. The eyes of my host was like a hawk’s as they twinkled down at me. She quirked her brows.

“And why do you think that is?” she pressed on, leaning closer, her gaze bored into me. “Why do you feel so?” she asked.

“I-I don’t know,” I replied and looked away, my heart racing with panic. I sighed and brought back my gaze on her. “Because... I don’t belong here?”

Her lips curled into a malevolent smile and she touched my forehead. “Ah, so you admit you feel lost. This is progress. Let’s see how deep that feeling runs.”

Wait, what? When did I say that?

Straightening, she shuffled across the room to the drawer and came up with a fully loaded syringe. My eyes widened as she stepped back, her steps slow and predatory as she turned around and walked back to me.

“It’s okay to feel lost, to want to get out of here. To taste the freedom that comes with madness.”

“What is that?” I breathed, my throat going dry.

“It’s just a light,” she replied with mock sweetness. “We'll use it to help you focus, to shine a light on your darkness.”

“Please don’t...I have no darkness.”

Before I could protest, she grabbed my shoulder and injected whatever that was into my arm. I screamed as the black fluid coursed through my veins. “Stop!”

“This will help stimulate your mind and enhance your memories.”

“No!”

A searing pain clawed at my heart. “Somebody help me!” I weakened as the last word left my lips.

“Focus, Emily. You’re going to experience some discomfort. Just let it happen.” Her voice seemed distant though still dripping with authority. My chest tightened, and all I could do was groan as the pain intensified. Somebody help me.

A strange sensation rippled through my skull, it throbbed and brought forth memories long buried; beautiful memories. Images of my parents’ faces flickered like a slideshow, overlapping with moments of laughter and love, somewhere around my fourth birthday, only to twist into darker memories—of that night of my eighteenth birthday ball as the stranger appeared behind my wolf and stabbed her. A deafening scream escaped my lips and just like the other night, I writhed from the pain.

“You have to confront these feelings, Emily. You can’t hide forever. You need to see what lies within.” My host’s voice cut through the haze. I tried but, I couldn't.

“Make it stop!” I begged with all the strength I could muster. Somewhere around there, I gave in. The darkness enveloped me and I was lost to the void.

*******

I jolted awake. I was no longer strapped to the chair but was now lying down on my bed. The room was without the slightest hint of the atrocities that took place today. It was dusk, golden rays of the evening sun filtered through the open windows and illuminated the room.

“You’re awake!” the familiar voice of my father's gamma cut through the atmosphere. I tilted my head to the side and saw him sitting close to my bed.

Gulping, I stared at him. “How long have I been asleep?” I asked.

“Twelve hours and some few minutes,” he replied. Slowly, I glanced around the place.

“Where is everyone?”

“Madame Severine is attending to another patient.” Madame Severine, is that her name? Her name befits her malevolent nature. I looked up and my gaze met with father’s gamma. “How was the treatment?” he asked.

I kept quiet and continued to stare at him. “I overheard you screaming. I’m sorry there was nothing I could do.”

“You promised to keep me safe.” I stared at the man who was more than twice my age. “And yet you stood by and watched me suffer.”

“This is what we signed for– all of us under the sworn authority of His Majesty, your father. We’re here to keep you safe and not to interfere in your treatment.”

“Do you believe I am sick?” I asked and watched as my question destabilized him. “Do you also believe I need fixing?”

He hesitated. “I saw you– I was there on the night of your ball, you were unable to shift.” Randolph straightened on the chair. “Your parents believe bringing you here will bring about the solutions to your problems. They are my alpha and luna, and so, I trust them. However, I think yours is not as bad as the others I have met here,” he said.

“You bit around the bush and still come to the conclusion that I need fixing.” I bit down on my lower lip and glanced away.

“Are you hungry?” he asked and jerked to his feet. “Your food was ready a few hours ago. I will have them rewarm it and bring it to you.”

“I am not hungry!” I blurted.

“Princess Emily?”

“I want to be left alone.” I dragged a breath and continued to stare at the wall. At his receding footsteps, I brought back my gaze on him and watched him exit the room.

I fought back the tears and squeezed my eyes shut, hoping to block out the world around me, but the door creaks open and that familiar footsteps that knows how best to thwart my sanity echoed into the room.