Chapter 11
1210 Words
I look around the large room trying to remember what happened.
Home? My new home? I must have fallen asleep in the car. Due to the warmth of the heavy arm
draped over my side and the sweet smell of mate, I know Axe must have carried me up.
My eyes drift to the clock and it reads seven. Holy crap! I missed dinner. The thought of food
nearly makes my stomach growl, so I shuffle onto my back and try to slide out and get to the
kitchen before Axe wakes up.
Unfortunately, his arm only tightens and a soft growl leaves his throat before I notice his stormy
grey eyes open.
"I hope you aren't trying to go anywhere without me," he grumbles.
I shake my head and turn back on my side, facing him this time.
"I just thought I'd get dinner. We slept through it."
Axe laughs lightly and sits up, running his hands through his messy hair.
"You missed dinner my love. You slept through it and then all through the night. It's seven a.m.
and time for breakfast."
That explains why I'm so hungry then. I can't believe I slept this long.
"Come on. Mason usually cooks something."
When Axe pulls the soft covers back, I notice I'm now in a short white silky nightgown. He must
have changed me. Now again, he continues to take good care of me as he lifts me off the bed and
stealthily descends the stairs before we turn into the kitchen.
The smell of bacon and pepper unmistakably surrounds the air and my taste buds water. Axe sits
in a tall chair at the bar end of the counter and adjusts me onto his lap accordingly. It's quite
comfortable if I do say so myself.
"There's sleeping beauty," Mason jokes turning around with a huge plate of bacon, eggs, and
grits.
I stick my tongue out as Axe takes the plate and drags over some silver wear.
"Good morning Road Hog," I say referring to the couple minutes of the drive over that I was
awake. I remember how he took up both lanes and rolled over curbs when turning.
Mason gasps and points dramatically. "I'll have you know that I was only driving recklessly
because that Jackson boy gets road sick. You're welcome. Speaking of... What should we do with
him Alpha? Should he get food..."
My eyes widen at the thought. Are they going to torture him? It's so inhumane I'd rather they just
kill him. At least that way he can't treat anyone the way he did me.
"Keep him alive. There's a very specific punishment I have in mind. It'll suit him well," Axe says
darkly as he brings a bite of eggs to my mouth.
Despite the overuse of pepper on them, I don't taste it. I think I might be a bit worried. For my
almost rapist? Yes.
"Where is he?"
Axe shrugs swallowing his bite of bacon. "The dungeons. Don't worry. I'll return him after I'm
done. In fact, the sooner the better. I can tell having him here makes you uneasy. I'll have him
out by the end of the week, love. Just let me get to it."
He scoots me off his lap and stands, picking up a piece of bacon to go.
"Give her a tour Mason. Don't let a hair be out of place when I return," he says darkly.
He places one lingering kiss on my lips before heading off and I look at Mason who just put the
pans in the sink.
"We're following him, right?"
I'm not sure why I thought this would be some kind of spy movie where partners mutually decide
to make a bad decision, but Mason denies the offer quickly.
"Yeah right. He'll have my head. You heard the man. Touring. You might want to change,
though."
I sigh and walk upstairs to put on a crop top and spandex before trudging down the stairs.
"Okay. Ready."
Mason eyes me warily as hesitates, almost like he's going to tell me to change, but I lift a brow
and he turns around quickly.
"Okay! Let's go."
We head out and walk away from the pack house that seems abandoned.
"Everyone's still eating breakfast. Nobody really comes out until eight," he explains.
It's a little late in my opinion, but if it works for them...
"So, you cook," I say trying to start conversation.
Mason nods. "Yeah. I went to culinary school for a year, but I had to come back to fight in the
Alabani Tempus War. Now cooking is kind of a hobby, but sometimes for gatherings and
meetings I cater."
"Wow! That's cool."
He agrees and points to where lines and rows of houses stretch along the hills. Each house has
about 1 acre separating it from the neighbors, which is actually a lot of room. My pack might be
more spread out, but that's only because we don't usually leave the grounds. I know this pack has
a habit of taking over other packs and adding to their land, so I suppose that explains things.
"This is where most people live. Families, mates, friends. Over there are a few restaurants. Over
here is the pack Infirmary," he says pointing as we walk along in a big octagonal shape.
"This is the training room. Alpha Axe will probably take you in sometime. And over here is the
weapons room..."
I pause walking and smile a bit at the building next to the gym.
If I were a dungeon, I'd be beneath all the weaponry and dangerous torture devices.
Smelling the faint scent of spice, oak, and manly musk confirms my theory. Axe was here. I bet
he's in there now.
"Hey, Mason..." I decide to take a long shot. Thinking of the most basic name I can, I start my
plan. "Is there a Maddy around here?"
Mason turns around and nods with a furrowed brow.
"Maddy Pines or Maddie Jackel?"
Pines sounds nicer, so I decide to go with that one.
"Pines! We're actually old friends! Um... do you think you could go find her while I check out
the training room? I promise I won't actually work out yet," I say teasingly.
Mason nods quickly and smiles.
"Yeah! Wow. Maddy sure doesn't have a lot of friends. It'll be good for you two to reconnect.
Just check out the gym and stay in there till I get back okay? It'll only take three or four minutes
to get her."
I smile and thank him as he runs off before turning away from the training room and going to the
weapons room.
Opening the old door, I walk into the dusty room and frown. This is a sad way to keep perfectly
good weapons. I'll fix this later.
Following the trail with the least amount of dust, I come to a door and open it to reveal a
staircase. The lights are on below and I can hear voices. This is a bad idea. I can't help it, though.
You know what they say: Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back.
Gathering my courage, I descend the stairs and make my way to the dungeon...
- Writer
