NIYA'S POV:-
Pain erupted in my head, shooting through my skull like a bolt of lightning. I groaned in agony as I slowly opened my eyes to find myself lying on the ground, disoriented and confused.
The ground beneath me was cold and hard, and I could feel dirt on my face as I struggled to get up.
"At long last, you're awake," a hoarse voice said. I tried to sit up, but my head throbbed with pain, making me groan.
"Cassie?" I called out, trying to get my bearings.
I looked around and saw that not only was Cassie there, but she was chained up along with ten other girls. All of them were in discomfort due to the shackles.
"What's going on here?" I asked, rubbing the sore spot on my head.
"Rogues attacked our pack and kidnapped most of us, including Cady," Cassie said in a hushed tone.
"Why am I handcuffed? And why are you all chained up?" I asked, my heart racing with panic. No one responded, and I began to feel more and more anxious.
"Please keep it down, Niya," Cassie pleaded with me.
"Try to remember what happened to you," Cady said, her voice strained with pain.
I closed my eyes and tried to recall what had happened. "Betty held my hand, and we were following the former Luna, but then we got separated. We heard some sounds and went in that direction, but then I felt a terrible ache behind my head, like someone had hit me. Before I fell to the ground, I heard Betty shouting my name. My vision started to fade, and I gradually lost consciousness."
"They attacked our pack and even the place where you were staying?" Cady questioned, sounding incredulous.
"I think so," I replied, but my mind was racing with questions. Why would they attack our pack? And why would they come after me?
As I pondered this, I heard the cell gate open, and two men entered with injections containing yellow liquid.
Cassie and Cady struggled to move away, and I felt a sense of foreboding wash over me. What were these injections for, and why were they being given?
"What exactly is that?" I bellowed at the two men who were about to inject my friends with an unknown substance, but they just stared back at me with a cold and indifferent expression. Cassie, with pleading eyes, begged for my help, and I knew I couldn't let her down.
Without hesitation, I sprang to my feet and attacked the man in front of me with a swift kick, causing him to stagger and lose his balance.
With an air jump, I brought my feet down hard on his face, and he crumpled to the ground. The other man snarled and lunged forward, but I met him head-on with a powerful headbutt, followed by a swift sweep of my leg that sent him crashing to the floor.
As I stood over them, I realized that these men were no match for me in combat. They were weak and untrained, so I kicked them both in the stomach and crushed the vials of yellow liquid underfoot, causing a thick cloud of noxious gas to fill the air.
"What the hell is that?" I demanded, turning to Cassie, whose face had turned red and was gasping for air.
"It's wolfsbane," she choked out, her eyes welling up with tears.
"I'm sorry. Are you okay?" I asked, moving to her side and kneeling down.
"Thank you, Niya. We'll be fine in time," Cady replied with a smile, apparently the least affected by the toxic gas.
As I got back to my feet, I noticed that the two men lay motionless on the ground, and I feared the worst. But when I knelt down to check their vital signs, I felt a faint heartbeat, and I breathed a sigh of relief.
"They're alive, but they've passed out," I informed my friends, who nodded in agreement.
"We need to get out of here, Niya, and fast," Cassie said, looking more composed now.
"But how? I'm handcuffed, and you're chained, and we're all drugged with wolfsbane," I remarked, noting the hopeless situation we found ourselves in.
"Oh, I should have known you'd try to play the hero again," a voice from behind me sneered.
"Amanda?" I gasped, turning to see the villainous woman standing near the cell gate.
"Yes, it's me. Don't you ever get tired of playing the brave knight?" Amanda snarled, her voice dripping with malice.
"Why are you doing this?" Cady demanded, yanking at her chains in frustration.
Amanda's words dripped with callousness as she spoke to Cady, stroking her cheek as if she were a mere object.
"I'm sorry Cady, you're simply collateral damage; no hard feelings for you," she said, her voice devoid of any emotion.
As Amanda's hand trailed down Cady's face, "Fuck off." Cady's response was swift and biting as she attempted to sink her teeth into Amanda's hand, but the ruthless captor was too quick to evade her.
"Aha, no Cady," Amanda scolded, "be a good little girl and stay quiet or you'll be the first one confiscated." Her tone was almost patronizing as if she were addressing a misbehaving child.
Turning her attention to me, Amanda issued a stern warning. "And you, don't cause trouble for others, be a nice human, and sit at the corner, I don't know why she wants you when you're of no help." Amanda's eyes flickered over to Cassie and Cady, who growled in protest, their eyes blazing with anger.
But Amanda seemed unfazed by their display of aggression and instead relished in their helplessness. "I see you've got two guard dogs here," she remarked, gesturing towards the two women. Her words dripped with amusement as if she were amused by their futile attempts to protect me.
Cady's fury boiled over, and she spat at Amanda, threatening her with the wrath of her brother. "If my brother finds out, he will not leave you. I'll make certain you never return to his life."
But Amanda seemed unfazed by the warning, and instead relished in Cady's overconfidence. "Oh, goddess!! Aren't you overconfident about your chances of survival?" Amanda's words were laced with amusement and a hint of mockery, almost as if she were toying with Cady's emotions.
My confusion was palpable as I tried to make sense of Amanda's cryptic words. "What exactly do you mean?" I demanded, my voice laced with fear and uncertainty.
Amanda leaned in close, her hot breath tickling my ear as she whispered her ominous warning. "Red moon," she hissed, her voice dripping with malice.
The hairs on my arms stood on end as her words sent shivers down my spine. As Amanda departed, leaving us locked in our cell, I turned to my companions to try and decipher her meaning.
"Did she say anything?" Cassie and Cady were curious, their voices tinged with fear and apprehension.
"She said 'Red Moon,' what does that mean?" I explained, my voice quivering with dread.
Cassie and Cady exchanged a fearful look, the gravity of the situation dawning on them. "Guys!! What is a red moon?"
With a sense of dread, Cady began to recount a terrifying legend. "They say that when the red moon rises, black magic awakens, and we werewolves will be vulnerable." But it was her next revelation that chilled me to the bone.
"They even say that if a witch sacrifices her 1000th she-wolf on the red moon, she will gain immense power and no one will be able to stop her. She will wield godlike power." The words hung heavy in the air, and a sense of dread settled in my heart.
My mind reeled with the implications of Cady's words. Was Amanda planning to sacrifice one of us to gain unimaginable power?
"Wait!! Does that mean she has you imprisoned here so they can sacrifice you?" I asked, my voice trembling with fear. The thought was almost too much to bear, and a sense of hopelessness settled over me.
The air was tense, and my heart was pounding loudly as Cassie's whispered words echoed through the cell. "Yes, and that's why they're giving us wolfsbane to keep us weak so we don't escape." Her voice was barely audible, and I had to strain to hear her.
My head was spinning as I tried to figure out what to do next. I groaned, feeling helpless, and put my head between my legs to gather my thoughts. "Niya, you're our only h—" Cassie stopped mid-sentence, her eyes fixed on the cell door.
I looked up and saw Amanda standing there with a smug expression. "Cassie, please finish the sentence. Is she your only option? Right? I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but I'm going to show you that even she can't help you." Amanda kicked me, and I fell to the ground as her men trailed behind her, restraining me.
"What are you doing? Let me go!" I kicked out, but their grip only tightened, and I struggled as I noticed two men holding Cady.
"Leave me!" Cady screamed as they dragged her away from us. Everyone was pleading with them to stop.
"Amanda, let her go!" I yelled, but she only waved as a fist slammed into my stomach.
I groaned as another punch hit me in the jaw. They punched me relentlessly until I fell to the ground, gasping for breath. Three more kicks landed in my stomach, and then they fled, leaving me in a pool of my own blood.
"Niya!" Cassie cried, her eyes wide with horror as she took in the sight before her.
"These jerks. Once I'm out of these cuffs, I'm going to kick their asses," I growled, trying to clutch my stomach but only banging my head in the process.
"Stop it, Niya, you're going to hurt yourself," Cady yelled.
"I'm doing it to relieve my discomfort."
"You're strange," she remarked.
"Only pain can relieve pain, Cassie," I said, grinning as she shook her head.
Time passed slowly as we waited anxiously for Cady's return, our eyes fixed on the gate. "Do you think she's okay?" Cassie finally asked, breaking the silence.
I let out a heavy sigh and moved closer to Cassie, trying to comfort her as she trembled with fear. "Let's hope and pray for the best," I said softly, hoping to ease her anxiety.
"How do you think they're treating her?" Cassie asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I can't say for sure, but I believe they won't hurt her," I reassured her, hoping to convince her that everything would be alright.
"Niya, please save us! You saved me once before, and I don't want to die," Cassie pleaded, her voice shaking with emotion. Tears glistened in her eyes, threatening to spill over at any moment.
"I'm not as strong as you think, Cassie. I'm just a human, and they're werewolves. I'm no match for them," I admitted, my apprehension clear in my voice.
These creatures had supernatural powers and could transform into animals. They could heal quickly and were difficult to kill. But what about me? I was just a vulnerable human, and the thought of going up against them filled me with dread.
"Oh, goddess!" Cassie gasped, her eyes widening.
"What is it?" I asked, moving closer to her to hear better.
I could tell she was mindlinking someone, but then I heard a bloodcurdling scream, and my heart sank.
"What's happening?" I demanded, my voice rising in panic.
"They're torturing her," Cassie sobbed, tears streaming down her cheeks.
For what seemed like hours, we could hear Cady's screams and cries of agony. I didn't know how much longer I could take it.
I closed my eyes and listened to Cassie's desperate pleas for them to stop hurting her friend. It brought back painful memories of my own torment, and I shuddered at the thought.
Finally, the sounds of Cady's screams and Cassie's begging stopped, and the only sound was the clinking of chains and the dragging of feet as they brought Cady back to us. She was unconscious, and they fastened her to the wall next to Cassie and the others.
"It was a lot of fun, but I wanted it to be you," Amanda sneered, pointing at me.
"So why not?" I asked coldly, my voice laced with defiance. I wasn't going to let them break me.
"Because someone else wants to play with you," she grinned, her eyes glinting with malice.
It was clear to me that Amanda was enjoying this, and I knew exactly what message she was trying to convey. It was a warning, a threat, and a taunt all rolled into one. But I wasn't going to back down, not now.
All of these werewolves were just pawns, and the real mastermind was someone else. And I needed to discover who that was.
I vowed right then and there that I wouldn't leave this area until I found the true culprit. I had to protect Cassie and Cady, and I couldn't let anyone else suffer.
"What gives you that look?" Amanda swallowed, her bravado slipping for just a moment.
"How does it look?" I gave her a kind grin, trying to appear nonchalant, though inside I was seething with anger.
"You're insane," she stomped her feet, her claws clicking against the floor.
She avoided my gaze, and for a moment, I saw fear in her eyes. She knew I was a threat, and she wasn't sure if she could handle me. But I was determined to prove her right.
I chuckled at Amanda's reaction, feeling a sense of satisfaction that she couldn't intimidate me with her threats anymore. I knew that I had to be strong and not give up, even in the face of danger.
****
As Cady slowly regained consciousness, she croaked out, "Water," her parched throat aching for a drink.
Cassie breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Cady awake, exclaiming, "Thank Goddess!! You are awake."
Cady's lips trembled as she whimpered once more, "Water."
Frantic, I yelled out to the passing guards, "Hey, someone fetch her water!"
But the guard barked back at me, "Shut up," and continued on his way.
I grumbled in frustration at the guard's callousness, muttering to myself, "Stupid man."
Thankfully, another guard soon arrived with a bottle of water, passing it through the gaps to Cassie who then handed it to Cady.
Cady drank greedily, relief washing over her as she looked around her surroundings.
"How are you feeling?" I asked, relieved to see her recovering.
"I'm alright, I've already healed," Cady replied with a smile, and I nodded in understanding.
Cassie then interjected with a question, "What about wolfbane?"
Cady shrugged, unfazed, and replied, "Most of it is out of my system now, because I was bleeding excessively while they tortured me."
I couldn't help but complain, "Wow!! I wish I could recover like that. God, my body, stomach, and head hurt so much."
The girls chuckled at my comment, breaking the tension in the room.
Curiosity getting the better of me, I asked, "By the way!! How did you know they were about to torture Cady?"
Cassie hesitated, stumbling over her words before Cady reassured her, "Don't worry, Cassie; she's our female beta and has every right to know the truth."
Cady then explained, "They were questioning me about a bowl, so I opened my mind connection for Cassie so she would know what to answer if she was asked."
As the absurdity of the situation dawned on me, I burst out laughing, "Hahaha. So you were tortured for a bowl?"
But my laughter quickly died down as I saw the looks on Cady and Cassie's faces. They were deadly serious.
"It's not just any bowl, Niya; it's 'the bowl,' which grants our alpha, beta, and gamma powers. It's the bowl that links you to Cedric, the bowl that contains moon goddess blood and is the wellspring of power," Cady explained angrily, emphasizing her point with air quotes.
I was taken aback by the gravity of the situation, "Ohh!! But why do they want that bowl? As you mentioned earlier, on red moon they are going to sacrifice you guys and wield godlike abilities."
Cassie nodded in agreement, "The witch will wield the power, but she will require formidable soldiers as well. Even with god powers, she is unable to create her own creations."
"Let me get this straight, the soldiers will obtain abilities from the bowl, and the witch can summon her own pack of werewolves, correct?" I asked, seeking clarification.
"Correct, except for the last part. She can create her own monsters using the blood of the moon goddess, the first witch, the lycan, and a few other gods," responded my companion, causing my eyes to widen with surprise.
"Wow, this sounds like a supernatural apocalypse!" I exclaimed, itching to throw my hands up in the air, only to be reminded of the handcuffs restraining me.
"Kind of," sighed Cassie and Cady in unison.
Great!!! I'm currently trapped in a supernatural apocalypse.
It was as though I was trapped in a real-life TV show, and the thought made me feel restless and uneasy.
We sat in silence for an hour, during which I found myself doodling on the dusty ground. It was so dull in there that I wished I had my phone or that they had at least cleaned the cell.
"Perfect!" I declared as I looked at my artwork. However, when Cassie caught my eye, she quickly looked away as if I had something unappealing on my face.
"Why are you avoiding me, Cassie?" I prodded, sensing that she had been dodging my gaze for some time.
"Me? No, that's the wall behind you," interjected Cady, looking puzzled, as Cassie pointed to herself.
"What's your name?" I asked Cassie, annoyed at her lack of engagement.
"Sorry, I was lost in thought," she mumbled, hesitatingly. "You were intimidating earlier when you spoke to Amanda. Your voice gave me goosebumps."
I chuckled, remembering my aggressive behavior. "Yeah, when someone threatens me, I go into psycho mode."
Cassie shuddered at the memory. "You looked like Blake when he's about to go to battle or kill someone."
"Sometimes, I think Blake and Niya have more in common than you and Blake, Cassie," observed Cady, and Cassie nodded in agreement.
I gazed out of the barred window at the moon shining brightly, casting light into the cell. "Blake, I hope you find me. Cedric, I hope you're okay. Please come and help us."
"Cassie, we need to figure out who's behind all of this," I said, turning to her.
"I don't know if we can," Cassie replied, looking defeated.
"We have to try. We can't just sit here and let them torture us," I urged her, determined to find a way out of this mess.
"You're right. But how do we start?" Cassie asked, her eyes searching mine for answers.
"We'll start by gathering information. We need to find out everything we can about these werewolves and their operations," I replied, my mind racing with ideas.
"But how do we do that?" Cassie asked, still looking unsure.
"We'll start by listening to their conversations and watching their actions. We'll observe everything and try to piece together the puzzle," I explained, feeling more confident with each passing moment.
"That's a good plan," Cassie said, nodding her head in agreement.
"Okay, let's get to work," I said, determined to find a way out of this nightmare.
As we began our plan of gathering information, I couldn't help but wonder who was behind all of this. Who had the power to control these werewolves and make them do their bidding?
I knew that finding the answer would be difficult, but I was ready for the challenge. I would do whatever it takes to bring down the true mastermind behind this operation and save us all.
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Author's Note:-
Dear readers,
I just wanted to let you know that this chapter has been edited since its original posting.
I hope the changes have improved your reading experience and made the story more enjoyable.
As always, thank you for your support and for taking the time to read my work
If any mistakes please let me know
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