The broken and fragile

Part 9: Inner battle

Scarlet's POV

We were soon going down some steps to what seemed like a basement. I could hear the light sound of chatter going on through the room. Jared did warn me that there would be other people here with us, but now being so close to them I could feel my heart slowly start increasing.

I inched closer to Jared for protection. He glanced at me probably noticing my movement but I was glad he didn't speak of it.

We stopped once we reached the bottom of the steps. There were about a dozen men down here all in a few different groups. It took all but two seconds for them to notice our presence. When they did they all lined up in a straight line and slightly bowed.

A course of "Alpha" resounded throughout the room from the group before us. I looked up at Jared at my side. If he's the Alpha what happened to Kane? Is he dead? No one has really attacked me here besides Duncan. I'm also aloud to sleep in a bed, not a cell. And I have clothes.

Is it possible that I was wrong all this time? I wasn't brought to be used and played with. Is it possible I'm not even on Kane's territory anymore? Did Jared come and safe me? I looked around at the men before me.

None of them looked to be threatening to me. Although the all obviously had the strength to hurt me and take advantage of me if they wished. Not one of them took a step forward, not one of them had that evil glimmer in their eye that I was so used to.

And all this time that I've been here I haven't seen a single one of the men that have hurt me before. All these people I have met are new. There's no way that Kane could of gotten so many new people so soon. Jared said I'm safe here, that no one would hurt me.

That's because here, it's not there. I'm not at Kane's anymore. I looked up to Jared a new glimmer of hope and happiness in me that hasn't been there in so long. He saved me, Jared came and he saved me from my torture. I'm finally safe, no more pain.

I could see Jared's lips moving, he was speaking. But I couldn't pay attention to the words. I was to focused at marveling at him. My happiness and excitement of having my freedom, of being safe, over took my body making me fling myself onto Jared.

He stumbled back a step being caught off guard at my weight being thrown at him. My arms were wrapped tightly around his waist while I clutched the back of his sweater in my fisted hands. My head rested on his hard chest. My hair covered my face as a few lone tears slipped down my face.

I held him tightly as if I let go I would be back there. I felt his arms slowly circle around my shoulders. He held me softly yet firmly. As if he was afraid he would break me. I looked up at him, his face held one emotion that I could make out clearly. He was shocked, surprised. There was something else there but it wasn't something I have seen before. Something I couldn't name.