Titus

Cody

I bit off the cucumber that the prison guards had thrown at me a while ago. I hadn't eaten properly for days. This was one of Liam's ways of torturing me. To be honest, I felt immune to it. There was only one thing on my mind - Anna and Emelia's safety.

I saw someone walking towards me but my vision was slightly blurred. But as she got closer, I began to recognize the red hair and similar features.

"What are you doing here?" I asked her. I felt betrayed. How could I blame her though? The mate bond was stronger than one could realize.

"I want to help you," Serena murmured as she knelt down in front of the bars. Her fists closed around the metal poles as she gazed directly at me.

"I don't think you can,"

"Cody, you have to trust me,"

"Really? I can see that claim! I'm not blind, Serena."

"I'm not on his side," she sighed, "I can't help it. You should know that!"

"He's a horrible guy,"

"But I still believe in everything I said. I still believe that your daughter is the one. And I truly believe that the rightful heir to this pack is Lily, Max's daughter. I think that by accepting Liam I can make a difference."

"He's just going to use you as a pawn in his game,"

"Don't you want to meet Anna? And your sister?"

I looked up at her. I felt baffled. Did she really know where they were?

"Do you know where they are?" She asked me. I shook my head to tell her no.

"I know," Serena whispered, "Your sister is safe. She found her mate. And Anna is in Alaska with the Torino pack but they also need you to fulfill the prophecy."

"Wait a second," I was shocked, "who's my sister's mate?"

"Michael Titus,"

"The Alpha?"

"Yes,"

"And Anna? Is she safe there?"

"Absolutely," Serena smiled warmly, "and Cody, they need you. So please, let me help you."

"How will you get me to Alaska?" I asked. I felt a growing anxiety in the pit of my stomach.

She pulled out a tiny glass bottle from a bag that was slung across her shoulder and held it out to me.

"Drink this,"

"What will this do?"

"You need to trust me," she said earnestly.

I reluctantly took the bottle from her. But there was something about the entire scenario that I could not quite believe. There was something wrong. I could feel it.

"Go on," Serena murmured, "drink it."

I screwed off the cap and held it up to my lips. I could see the pink liquid swirling and I felt that something wasn't quite right. My gut was warning me.

"It's gonna be okay, Cody," she whispered.

I felt entranced. There was something inside me that warned me against it. But there was also something compelled me to drink it.

I raised the bottle and let the bitter liquid trickle down my throat.

"What exactly will this do?" I asked Serena. She looked at me apologetically.

"What's wro-"

There was a bolt of pain that ran down my entire body. My legs felt like they were on fire and yet I felt like I was breathing water. I was convulsing in a pain that I had never imagined I would experience.

"I'm so sorry," Serena said as she stood up.

I tried to open my mouth but it felt like someone had sewn it shut. I felt like yelling and writhing but my body wouldn't allow me to do so.

I watched Serena walk away and I felt the pain for a time that felt like years and it all blacked out.