Warning: Fragile (on hold)

Chapter 1: Caged

Chapter 1: Caged

Several years later...

I ran down the aisles of cages that were stacked ceiling high, my hands pressed tightly against my ears. I ran until my lungs burned, pulse raced and the beating of my heart was almost loud enough to dull the frantic warnings.

"Run," the voices hissed at me from their cages, metal bars clanking as they shook.

"Don't let them take you!" another creature warned desperately. Its nails biting into the metal bars that confined it, drawing blood as its broken nails sliced into its skin. "You must run!"

I stumbled down the aisle, wincing when my hip came into contact with the edge of an examining table. Moving my hands away from my ears, I pushed off from the table and ran towards the door.

"They're coming," warned a high pitched squeak. "Hide yourself."

I ran not from the warnings of those caged, but from the faint human voices in the distance begging me to stay. I sprinted through the jared open door and down mazes of corridors, head whipping left and right in search for an opening. I followed the same path of my partner searching for the open doors that marked her own escape route.

It took seconds before the shrieking alarm sounded and the doors around me began to automatically pull shut with a thud. In panic, I lurched forwards and slammed against one of the doors, twisting the knob desperately. Nothing. I spun quickly and raced towards another door pulling on its handle. Locked.

I was like a trapped animal and the realisation of this caused waves of nausea to wash over me. But, to date sheer fear was keeping me alive. If I stopped to think of the consequences of being caught I knew my body would fold. Adrenalin was coursing through my veins, heightening my senses to full survival mode.

I looked blankly at the door before me. The white of the door and walls reminded me of the white coats that they wore. Salty tears rimmed my eyes as I looked through the glass pane in the door and saw the green illuminated sign that was practically hidden behind the crowd of people.

"Keep running, for they are coming!" the creatures warnings ebbed through the concrete walls. "It's not to late. Run!"

With renewed determination, I smashed my elbow through the glass, barely noticing the sharp zapping pains that ran up my arm. Reaching through the new opening I unlocked the door, pushed it open with all my might and started towards the exit. I shoved through the crowd of people who were gathered in the foyer of the building. Ignoring their gasps and shocked looks, I propelled myself forward.

My vision snapped in and out of focus, but never once wavered from the exit sign. Through the doors I saw a flash of red disappearing between the pine trees that surrounded the Council buildings. My partner in crime, my ally, my friend had managed to make her own escape. Seeing her fuelled my determination to be free.

I could almost taste the freedom, but suddenly the large wooden doors that framed my escape, slammed closed. I couldn't slow myself down in time, watching helplessly as my body flew towards the wood. Every bone in my body felt like it had smashed upon impact as I instinctively let out a high pitched scream in pain.

Lying on the marble floor, I stared through half lidded eyes at the ceiling, watching as people gasped and pointed at the broken body that lay before them. The pain seemed to start at the base of my neck, ripple down my spine and rest at the pit of my stomach, only to expand and grow more intense. It was rather saddening knowing that everyone surrounding me was too afraid to help. They all knew the consequences of messing with the Council's "property".

I heard the white coats barge into the foyer yelling at the people to disperse, making up some lie about a hospital patient who had a fear of needles and who needed medicating.

As I lay on the floor I listened for the voices of the creatures that I had left behind, but heard nothing. It was as though they knew the threat and had retreated back into themselves, preparing to remain silent until another brave soul had the courage to attempt escape.

Slowly, the crowd dispersed allowing the white coats to advance. Please. I wanted to beg. Don't move. Don't let them take me. But my voice failed me as I lay waiting.

A vicious snarl sounded from behind the blur of white coats. As people scrambled towards the edges of the room, I caught sight of a pitch black wolf standing crouched, teeth bared and ready to attack. The white coats froze, their backs turned to the animal. Lucky for me, years of history proves that men's greed overtakes their logic when in stressful situations, this theory was proven when a white coat made a dash towards me, hand gripping at my ankle harshly, dragging my body across the marble and towards him.

Within seconds the man was ripped from me and thrown across the room, blood splattered the crowd and painted the room in red.  Snarls emitted from others in the crowd as the sound of ripping material and small screams sounded. Several wolves ran towards the black one who remained crouched in front of me, shifting every time one of the white coats did.

I watched in astonishment as the remaining men who had tortured me for years raised their hands and retreated from the wolves who had formed a protective shield around me. The shift in power had changed. The growling pack of wolves were now my newest threat. The black wolf turned towards me, his yellow eyes flashed with some unknown emotion.

Oh God, please no. I was too tired to think, too emotionally, and physically drained to fight. My energy was spent. Squeezing my eyes tightly shut I waited for the inevitable. I heard the sound of bones cracking back into place, but felt no pain. Surprised, I opened my eyes and watched as the wolf shifted, his body changed from beast to man. My mind was numb. I winced as he wrapped his strong arms around me and lifted my broken body from the floor. Sharp bolts of electricity erupted over my skin. No, no, no. I didn't want to hear the word that was nagging at the back of my mind. I don't want this! Please! No!

"Mate."

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Authors Note

Hey fellas,

I am so so so sorry for taking soooooo long to update. I know, I know...I am a horrible person! BUT!!!! I have teachers who hate me and gave me tonnes of homework, exams and assessments! When I started this story I had no homework and then as soon as I post the first chapter...BAM! I'm practically breathing the stuff! I actually wrote this while in English and Tech because I felt bad for not updating in like forever. (I hope my teachers don't have Wattpad accounts....awkward...)

So this chapter is dedicated to the one and only @CaptainHope for her smoking hot cover! (It had Alex Pettyfer on it O.o) This gurl is AMAZING! Seriously guys go fan her! She makes the meanest covers!

Questions about this chapter:

Who's the mysterious red head/partner in crime/girl who managed to escape?

Why doesn't Hailey (eg. crazy, psycho, 'fear of needles' girl) want a mate?

Hope you guys liked it! Apologies again for taking so long! Tell me what you think?

Vote! Comment! Fan!

I will try to re-comment (did anyone find out if that was a word or not? 'cause I got no idea.)

Dat's me peeps! Over and out!

-Ash