The Alpha's Mate Who Cried Wolf novel Chapter 25

"Why are you doing this? You have your mate. You have Amelia!"I yell. 

"You're so beautiful. I might need to help myself to a bite," John says. His wolf's fangs protrude, and his face lingers near my throat.

I scream as he is about to sink his teeth into my neck. His eyes were full of hunger. Then a flash appears out of nowhere. James pulls John off me. 

"Are you fucking crazy?" He yells at John. 

"Not only did you almost mark my mate, but you would also have killed Amelia for marking another she-wolf!"James yells. 

"I'm sorry. I couldn't help it. Don't tell Amelia," John begs.

"I will not tell her anything. It's Astrid you need to worry about with Amelia."

I let them discuss their issues and run again. They shift, catch me again, and James knocks me down. He holds my arms behind my back in human form.

"Enough, Astrid!"He snaps, lifting me with my arms still restrained so I can't hit him. He holds me closer to his naked chest and carries me back to the packhouse.

"About bloody time! Bring her downstairs!"Zenith growls, walking down the staircase. 

"To the cells?" James questions. 

"Do you expect her to stay in her room obediently?" He asks.

"No, but-' he says. 

"She'll keep in the cell until you have marked her. Then, she won't be able to escape." John and James follow Zenith downstairs to the basement. It's dark and eerie, and I can hear water trickling in the walls and the squeaking sounds of mice. Our exhalations are misty in the coldness. I'm shivering. James pulls me closer to keep me warm.

Zenith unlocks a cell door. James walks in and places me on a stone bench. Chains with silver cuffs adorn the walls, and I'm thankful James doesn't cuff me. 

He kisses me on the forehead instead, making me shudder.

"It'll be okay, Astrid. We have some things to sort out. The sooner you let me mark you, the sooner we can get you out of this cell," he says, cradling my face in his hands. I jerk my head out of his grasp.

James leaves and stands beside John. Zenith comes into the cell and strikes me aggressively across the face. 

"John isn't your fated mate?" I ask in disbelief. 

"No. And I haven't been able to leave the packhouse since. If I found my true mate, he wouldn't want me now. I'm marked and mated by another," she sobs.

"Oh Amelia, I'm so sorry," I empathically say. 

"I overheard James and Alpha Zenith arguing about you upstairs. Instead of down here, James is begging him to let him chain you up in his room. That's how I knew you were down here," she whispers. We hold hands through the bars. 

"I don't want you to have the same fate as me, Astrid. So, I will do everything to help you out of here," she says, as her eyes go glassy with tears.

"I have to go now. I'll come back when everyone is asleep tomorrow night. Don't let him mark you, no matter what," she says as she walks away.

I examine the cell and rattle every bar, hoping to find a flaw so I can break free and escape. But, to my dismay, none of the metal bars moves or budge.

The ground is mainly dirt. I scoop dirt away from the back of the cell. After an hour of digging with my hands, I hit a large stone.

I'm left defeated with no way out. I curl up on the cold stone bench and hug myself. Even with my hoodie, it's still freezing. My teeth chatter, and I eventually fall asleep.