Kanin

I spent the rest of that day with Cade. We didn’t talk about his pack anymore. We watched movies and ate pizza. I didn’t feel like I’d been kidnapped. With Cade, it almost felt like visiting a friend. Cade was sweet, funny, and open. He always wore a smile on his face. There was always a joke leaving his mouth. I rather enjoyed his company.

“Let’s get you to your room.” It wasn’t an invitation. Cade stood first, ushering me towards the stairs. He was making it clear that I didn’t have a choice.

I suddenly felt like I was a prisoner again.

“Cade, come on, just let me go.” I pleaded, taking the stairs at a slow pace. If I could just get around him, the front door was right behind me.

“No can do, Princess.” Cade said softly, I could feel his breath on my neck from how close he was.

It would take two quick seconds to spin around and get the drop on him. Cade wouldn’t see it coming. I could push him out of the way and bolt for the door. I’d be free. I sucked in a deep breath. I spun around quickly, my hand outstretched to strike at him. Cade impossibly saw it coming. It was like he was ready for it. He gripped my forearm lightly, drawing me nearer to him. He trapped my arm against his chest, staring me down with that same loopy smile on his face. “Nice try, Princess.” His warm breath fanned over my face.

I stood there a moment, unmoving. My chest heaved rapidly. I couldn’t tell if it was from nerves or from the wolf who had me pinned against his chest. If it was Cade, I couldn’t tell if it was a good thing or a bad thing.

Cade let go of my arm, but the heat of his touch remained. I held my wrist where Cade’s hand had once been. For a moment, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. It was weird being this close to something so dangerous, yet feeling so calm.

“Now can we go to your room?” He asked nonchalantly, as if nothing had happened at all.

I groaned, rolling my eyes and crossing my arms over my chest. “How do you do that?”

“Do what?” Cade asked, like he didn’t have a clue what I was talking about. But he knew. I could tell by the smug smile on his face.

“Know that I’m going to punch you before I even do it.”

“You punched me earlier.” He stated.

“You let me punch you.” I was angry, which just made Cade even happier. “So how do you do it?”

“It’s the wolf.” Cade answered, gripping the banister tightly. He was keeping me from running. “Instincts. I can sense it.”

“You can sense being punched?” I questioned.

“I can sense danger.”

“What does it feel like?” I asked curiously.

He seemed to think it over. “Like the feeling of goosebumps.” He reached forward, and lightly ran his fingertips up my arm. My skin betrayed me, sending a chill up my skin where his heated fingers touched me. That’s exactly what he wanted. He moved up a step, coming very close to me. If I moved even an inch, I would be touching him. “Like a chill up my spine.” He whispered into my ear, making me tense against the same feeling he’d just described. “It’s like I can feel your body move before you’ve even moved.”

I hated what he was doing to me. I hated how still he was making me. I couldn’t get my body to move. It was like his words had a control over me. I didn’t like it one bit.

I cleared my throat and shook my head, “stop that.”

His smile didn’t falter, “why, are you afraid?”

Very. “No. I just don’t to be touched by your kind.”

“Ouch, Princess. Words hurt.” He didn’t look hurt. He looked happy.

“Would you stop smiling about everything? Not everything is funny.” I told him, finally getting my body to comply. I crossed my arms over my chest and stepped away from him.

“Oh, I know.” His eyes raked over me once. “I’m very serious.”

I didn’t even know what to say. I was speechless. This wolf in front of me had stolen the words from my brain, leaving me standing slack jawed before him.

“It’s past your bed time, Princess.”

I didn’t argue this time. I turned around, feeling the weight of his stare on my back, and climbed the steps. It took me little time to make it back to my room. Cade stood in the doorway, leaning against the doorframe. He watched me for a moment.

“I wouldn’t try anything, Princess.” Cade warned. “It’s very hard to sneak out on a werewolf. Impossible."

I suddenly wondered if anyone had tried to sneak out on him before.

Cade watched as I made my way to the bed, and took a seat. I was feeling very uncomfortable under the weight of his gaze. “Night, Princess. Don’t let any monsters bite.”

I wouldn’t be sleeping any tonight.

He closed the door behind him and I heard the lock click into place. Great. Now I was their prisoner again.

What was I even doing here?

Why did they even need me?

Why wasn’t I dead?

I groaned, flopping back onto the pillow. I was in desperate need of a shower, pronto. I needed to wash away the grime I felt from being around all these werewolves. But I didn’t have anything that I could use. I didn’t even have a change of clothes. I would demand some things tomorrow. Right now, I was too tired to demand anything.

Even though I was beyond exhausted, I couldn’t close my eyes. I stared up at the empty ceiling, missing my fading stars. I thought about my father, how worried he must be. I wondered if he was coming after me.

Of course, he was.

I must’ve slept some, because next thing I know I’m being woken up by my door clicking open. I pull my covers over my head to drown out whoever is coming towards me. There’s a shift in the mattress as someone sits down beside me. A hand comes to pull down the blanket. I come face to face with the hazel eyes of none other than Cade. He’s smiling like usual which makes me instantly annoyed.

“It’s probably way too early for your happiness.” I groan. “Let me guess, werewolves don’t need sleep.” I flipped over onto my back and ran my hands through my hair. “Well, I’m human and this human needs loads of sleep.”

Cade scoffed, a laugh bubbling from his lips, “right.”

“I need a shower.” I inform the wolf.

“Okay.”

“I have no clothes or even shampoo.” I told him. “I know you’re keeping me prisoner here, but can I at least be a clean prisoner?”

“For the sake of everyone, yes. Werewolves have heightened senses. So that means if you smell, we suffer twice as badly for it.” Cade scrunched his nose up in disgust.

“On second thought, maybe no showers.”

“No. You’re taking a shower.” He told me. “I’ll loan you my shampoo until we can get you your own things.”

I didn’t like that idea. Smelling like him wasn’t going to be fun. He was my enemy. I didn’t need something else to like about him. But I needed a shower, desperately. “Fine.” I groaned.

“Don’t act too disgusted, Princess. I smell good.”

He did. That’s why I hated the idea so much.

“I’ll go put it in the bathroom for you.” He stood to his feet. “I can also probably find you some clothes.”

That’s where I drew the line. I didn’t want to smell like him and be wearing his clothes. I bolted up in bed, “girl clothes!”

“You’ll get what you’ll get.” He opened the door and stepped through the threshold, but then paused. “Or there’s an option of no clothes at all.”

I picked up my pillow and sent it flying towards him. Of course, he saw it coming so it went nowhere near him. I heard his laugh as he rounded the corner. I managed to fall back asleep in little time. But once again, I was woken up. I didn’t open my eyes for a moment. Someone’s hand came to squeeze my shoulder lightly. My skin prickled.

“Everything’s ready for you to take a shower, Princess.” Cade’s voice floated towards me, drawing me out of my sleep.

I nodded. Without opening my eyes, I sat up. I placed my bare feet to the shagged carpeting. When my eyes did open, Cade was watching me closely. There was a light smile on his face. I felt my own smile creep onto my lips.

“Hi.” My voice came out soft.

“Hey, Princess.”

He was supposed to be my kidnapper, but I couldn’t help myself. I liked being around him. I mentally slapped myself. I had to try harder to hate him. I crossed my room and found the bathroom easily. I locked myself inside, placing my back against the wooden door. I closed my eyes and covered my hand over my face.

These were werewolves. My father killed them. He swore they were evil. But for some reason, I couldn’t bring myself to understand it. I couldn’t bring myself to hate them like my father could. Was there something wrong with me?

There had to be.

I stood before the sink, looking down at a pile of things that Cade had put there for me. There were clothes, girl clothes. I wondered if they’d come from someone in the pack, another werewolf. There was also shampoo, a brush, and a tooth brush. Everything I needed.

I turned around, away from my ratty appearance in the mirror, and started the shower. I ran the water as hot as I could take it. I instantly remembered the gauze at my wrist. It hasn’t been bothering me, so I’d forgot it was there. When I peeled the gauze away, I was surprised to see that the four claw marks weren’t that bad. They’d barely left a scar. I peeled off my old, dirty clothes and stepped under the water. The aches in my muscles eased away.

I was careful with the bump at the back of my head. The mark had scabbed over, matting my hair. I had to detangle it with my fingers. It took me several minutes to get my hair tangle free.

After too long in the shower, my fingers resembled prunes. I stepped out of the shower. I pulled on the pair of black shorts and T-shirt that laid before me. The black shorts were a little big, but otherwise fit nicely. The T-shirt was big as well, but I liked it that way.

I ran the brush through my hair, scrunching it with my fingers and leaving it alone. I drew in a deep breath and stepped out of the bathroom. There were no wolves around, but I knew they were listening closely for me. I knew once I stepped away from the bathroom, Cade would come find me.

Sure enough, as soon I started down the hallway, Cade came up the stairs. He stopped before me, his eyes taking in my body. “Well, well. Look what some good old fashioned soap will do.”

A faint smile crossed my lips and I gave a short nod.

“Jax wants you to watch training.”

I wondered if by training he meant fighting. I wondered if their training was anything like mine had been. I doubt it was though. They were werewolves.

Either way, I was in for a real treat.