Broken Souls
Chapter 3: Pain

Kay’s POV

“They did what! Are you telling me they went against my orders and attacked that stupid pup Alpha and his bitch?” I could hear the Boss yelling all the way down the hall from his office.

“Yes, Boss, they did. They killed the Luna, but…” John’s thick voice was trying to sound calm, but he was doing a horrible job of it.

“I don’t fucking care! I told them not yet! How many went?”

“Sixty. “

“How many survived?”

“Three, but two were captured.”

The roar the Boss let out could be heard outside the pack house. The floor shook under my feet. “You’re telling me we lost fifty-seven men to that Alpha pup, and he’s still alive? I want the one that made it back locked up, and they are going to wish they had died with their friends for disobeying me. Now we need to get the hell out of here before that Alpha pup decides to come looking for us. Pack it up. We leave tonight! And replace Kay!”

Oh shit, I need to get the hell out of his way. Now is not the time to be found. I get the heck out of the hallway before John even opens the door. I know all he has to do is follow my sent, but I’m hoping he’ll be too distracted with the survivor, and maybe I can mix myself in with some of the trash out back and hide. Yes, hiding in the trash is better than being found right now. That, and since everyone will be getting ready to leave as fast as possible, maybe they will just forget me in the trash.

Well, so much for that plan. I am found in my hiding spot, but I do avoid the Boss for the whole day. It’s now been two weeks since the attack on that Alpha and his Luna. The Boss has split the rogues into several smaller groups to make it harder to track.

We are currently hiding out in some old deserted town. There are a few buildings that look like old factories. The Boss has decided that one of these will work well as another temporary hideout. I notice that the numbers are increasing lately. I also have overheard that we’ll begin retaking some small weaker packs.

For four fucking years now I have been the Boss’s slave. I’m 17 now. In the beginning, I tried to run away, but they always caught me and threw me in the cell all bruised and bloody. I don’t think there is a bone in my body that hasn’t been broken. I’ve since learned to avoid the Boss’ fists

When they finally let me out, I would replace Grandma and help her in the kitchen.

Grandma is the only one here that doesn’t abuse me. The rogue camp is pretty large; the Boss seems to be up to something. Every day, he’s collecting more rogue group and terrorizing smaller packs with weak Alphas. He just took over the territory we are currently in.

The Alpha here was old; his Luna was already gone making the Alpha an easy target. It helped that his pack was small: there were less than a hundred wolves here. The pack house is little more than a large house really. It had been so easy for the Boss to kill the Alpha and scaring many of the weak wolves off. Some even joined with the Boss and his rogues.

I’m sitting in the pack house kitchen peeling carrots for Grandma. I never did learn her name or why she’s here, only that she’s human and seems to like that I call her grandma.

“Grandma, why is the Boss doing this? Why is the Boss destroying these packs?”

“You know I don’t know that any better than you do, child,” Grandma answers. Her voice is old and tired, but it’s still as warm as her careworn face.

“Why are you here with these rogues then?” I’ve asked before, but she just smiles at me, never telling me anything.

“I’m here for you, child. What do you think?”

I have to stop my mouth from hanging open as I gawk at her. That’s the closest I have ever gotten to an answer.

“Well, who else would be here to try and keep you out of trouble? And close your mouth.” I smile at her. She can’t keep me out of trouble. I’m the Boss’s favorite thing to hit when he gets mad, and he’s always mad.

Other people in his gang of rogues like to kick and push me, even hit me, especially John. I don’t think he’s ever forgotten the bite on the hand I gave him, and the beating the Boss gave him after that for being weak.

“I bet you can figure out what he is up to and what he is planning. That is if you can keep out of trouble for five minutes.” Grandma’s words bring me back from my thoughts.

She gives me a wink making me think maybe I should replace out what the Boss is up to. It may help me replace a way out of here, at least. Also, I will hopefully have my wolf soon. My birthday is next month. At eighteen you should have your wolf and be able to shift for the first time. Also, you’ll be able to replace your mate; God, I hope I never replace mine. I just want to be free.

My heart has never healed from losing my parents, and I saw how my father was never the same again after mom was killed. I can’t and won’t give what’s left of my heart to anyone. But, maybe with my wolf running away would be possible. From what I have heard, as well as what Grandma has told me, I should start feeling my wolf stir in my mind and even possibly hear whispers and feel its presence fairly soon. So far, all that is in my mind is my own thoughts and terrible dreams. I dream every night of the beatings I’ve received from the Boss as well as his icy black eyes that love to see me broken and bleeding. These dreams mix with memories of my happy childhood which was shattered by the loss of my parents. I can’t remember the last time I got a whole night’s sleep.

Another terrible thought crosses my mind: maybe I’m too small for a wolf? I’ve never seen a werewolf as small as I still am. I’m only 5” 4,’ and I haven’t grown in a year; I don’t get meals when I’m locked up. All I have to do is look at the Boss or pour his drink too slowly for him to decide I need to be punished, and John is always all too happy to lock me in a cell, closet, a basement, or anything with a locking door and no windows really. But I think I will try extra hard to be careful and see if I can replace out what the Boss has planned. I just need to make it to my birthday, and then I’ll have my wolf and hopefully a way out of here. I only wish Grandma could come with me.

Maybe I can snoop around the office the Boss is using to figure out where we will attack next. If I know that perhaps I can get away and warn them, maybe I can prevent more lives from being lost to the Boss. Or maybe I could run the other freaking way and get help. Just seeing a map and knowing where I am and where the next town is, would be invaluable. I need to be smarter than just trying to outrun wolves that hate me only because the Boss says to hate me.

He’s currently in the small office upstairs. He’s been on edge, and I’ve tried to stay clear of him, but I’ve gotten backhanded or kicked at least once a day. It’s getting worse if that was even possible.

“Kay, get your lazy ass up here!” John yells from upstairs. I get to my feet and move it to the office as fast as I can. If I make him wait, it will only be worse.

I reach the door, and John already has it open for me. I walk inside; the Boss sits at his desk looking at some maps. “I want a drink.” The Boss’s cool voice still makes my blood freeze. His eyes glance up from the map as I move to pour him a glass of bourbon.

I pour his drink and take it to him. As I go to set it on the desk, I look at the map. I can see where we are, and I can see there is a pack to the East. I don’t know how far it is. I set his drink down and back away slowly; he never looks at me, only waves a hand for me to leave.

I bolt from the room and make a beeline to my sleeping place, well away from the rest of the rogues in a far corner of the empty room. I sit on my mat, an old piece of foam I found. I need to think of a plan. If I head east and replace that pack, will they just kill me on sight? I do somewhat smell like the rogues just because I live with them and all my clothes are ones I replace.

I currently have two pairs of leggings that are too long, one tee shirt that’s three sizes too big, and a dark blue hoodie sweater that’s just as big as the shirt. I look like a child. I let out a long breath and leaned against the wall. What am I going to do? I ask myself this over and over, but I can’t seem to think of anything helpful. I pull my knees to my chest and burrow into my giant sweater. Please, someone, help me.

I must have fallen asleep because I wake up in a panic. I was running in the woods of my childhood being chased by the Boss’ giant black wolf; the Boss’ wolf, Cain, is big with black fur and eyes. He has an even worse temper than the Boss. I think Cain is always on the surface. That’s why Boss has black eyes. I shake my head, trying to clear the dream from my mind, and then I notice it’s the middle of the night.

I get up and leave the tiny room. I start to look around. Everyone is asleep, and I know the Boss doesn’t sleep in his office. I’m struck with an idea to go see if I can look around. I start moving to the stairs as quietly as I can.

Starting up them, remember to skip the second step from the top because it squeaks. I make it to the office door and replace it unlocked. I open the door so slowly, trying to sniff and peek in. I don’t see or smell anyone, so I slip inside and head right for the desk.

The moonlight shines brightly through a window, and I can see the same map from earlier, along with some other maps and papers. I start looking through them and can quickly see all the packs he’s destroyed along with a ledger of all the rogues he’s gathered. There are well over a thousand names as I look through the filled pages and count how many names fit on a page.

I start looking at the maps again and see notes about target packs. They note the size of the pack, who the Alphas and Lunas are, how many warriors they have, and some even have patrol schedules written in. I’m so lost in what I see I fail to notice the smell of bourbon until the light flicks on.

I blink a few times and freeze in place. “Learn anything useful?” the Boss’ voice is so cold. How can anyone have a voice that cold? I look up, and there he is, burning into my very soul with his black eyes. It is like frost burn. A slight grin plays at the corner of his mouth. I put the papers down slowly and stand up. “Oh no, Kay, sit back down.” He orders me.

I do as he says, and he walks to the desk to stand next to me. He puts his hands on the desk and leans down, so his face is next to mine. I shiver in fear. “You know I can smell your fear. You’re even more beautiful when you’re scared.” He turns to look at me, and he is still smiling.

The next thing I know, he grabs my hair and rips me from the chair. I’m being dragged from the office by my hair. I scream and kick and try to pull his fingers from my hair. I only had three weeks ’til my birthday. For some reason, that’s all I can think: just three weeks. The Boss pulls me down the stairs, and when we get to the bottom, I see John waiting for us. The Boss rips me up to my feet and keeps pulling me. Tears are running down my face. We finally end up in a windowless basement, and he throws me into the wall. God please let him just lock me in and leave.

Nope, the Boss and John enter the room. “You know Kay, you really are beautiful.” The Boss sounds so calm as if nothing was happening. “John, did you bring it?” I look up. What’s it? What did John bring? He hands the Boss a syringe full of dark purple liquid.

“Yeah, I got it, but does she even have a wolf Boss? And won’t that just kill her or her wolf if she does?” John’s questions have me back on my feet, staring at them both.

“Oh, she has a wolf, and no, John. I’m not going to give her enough to kill her or her wolf, just enough to make her wish for death. Now, John, restrains her.” John starts toward me, and I try and dodge him, but the room is too small, and he grabs me around the waist. I thrash and claw at him as well as try to kick him. Finally, I my nails make contact with his face. He is startled for a moment and loosens his hold on me; it’s all the opportunity I need. I get enough room and kick him as hard as I can right between the legs. He drops me and falls to his knees, but the Boss is already there next to me.

He punches me in the face, and then kicks me three times in the stomach. Finally, his boot connects with my head. I’m surprised that I’m still conscious. “Get up, John, and chain her up!” The Boss is mad now. His black eyes look like they are burning. John rips me up from the ground and drags me to the back wall. There he wraps a chain around my neck and padlocks it in place.

The Boss walks over and punches me again in the face. He rips off my sweater and tee shirt and injects that purple liquid into my arm. “That my dear Kay is wolfs bane.” With that, he turns and leaves. John, however, stays and beats me ’til all I can do is lay crumpled on the floor in my now torn leggings and bloody sports bra. My mouth and nose are bleeding, and I can feel both eyes swelling closed, but that is almost nothing to the fire burning under my skin.