"What crawled up your butt?" Collin asked. Gage didn't show for class and neither did Mac so he figured something must have gone down. Especially when he saw Gage's face.
"What do you want?" Gage sighed.
"What the hell happened to you yesterday?" Collin said.
"I went to see Mac, but then I ran into Allen." Gage said, "He looked good, I think. I don't know, all of it is kind of foggy." He half smiled happy to see him well, he brought his hand up to his head. His headache from yesterday coming back.
"I'm glad to hear that," Collin said.
"I tried to talk to her this morning, but she just told me to leave," Gage said his head dropping slightly.
"How was breakfast with your dad?" Collin asked trying to change the subject.
"Really Collin why did you ask that?" Chloe said.
"It's alright, Chloe, and I guess it was alright. Apparently, he wants Sandy and I to get engaged soon. But I told him we are way too young for that."
"Plus she is a bitch," Collin said.
"Hey, don't say that," Gage said.
"Why not you did yesterday," Chloe said. Gage looked at her with a strange look almost like he was lost.
"I did?" Gage asked he couldn't remember much. He remembered what happened in the cafeteria, Mac leaning over him, her legs touching his, her hand seductively running up and down, he pressed his head it felt like it was on fire but not in a good way.
"Are you okay?" Collin asked. "I mean you have always had a bad memory but this is as bad as it was when you were a kid."
"I just....have a headache you know." He clutched at his head remembering this morning, her so close to him. She smelled like pears and he wanted to take a juicy bite. But then he remembered Sandy, his mate Sandy, and her dark green eyes. But they were so different than Mac's bright brown eyes or blue eyes, he couldn't remember. He shook his head slightly trying to get the thoughts out of his head.
"Here," Chloe said handing him some Advil. "Where is the bitc....I mean your supposed mate?"
"She finishing up breakfast with my Dad, Derrick is with them too. But she should be back before third period." Gage said.
"How is she going to pass school if she keeps missing it?" Chloe asked.
"I don't know, my dad talked to the council about her doing Alpha female business so she gets to miss," Gage said.
"What Alpha female business does she do?" Collin asked the only thing she ever did as their supposed "Alpha female" was boss them around. He wasn't even sure if she has even bothered to look at the pack bookkeeping or roll sheet.
"I'm....not sure," Gage said hearing the bell ring and shrugging. "We guess we should go to class."
"Sandy and Derrick hanging out with Gage's dad definitely can't be good for any of us," Collin said to Chloe when Gage was out of earshot, she nodded her head in agreement.
"Where is Mac?" Jason asked, it was lunch time and he hadn't seen her all day. He finally found Katie who was still smiling and winked when she said: "Mac was with Gage." However, when he saw Gage across the cafeteria he was with his pack and Sandy.
"Hey, have you seen Mac?" Jason asked, not happy that he had to asked Gage.
"We haven't seen that bitch," Sandy said holding onto Gage's arm like he was about to float away.
"Katie said you were with her this morning. Where did she go?"
"I was?" Gage said out of confusion.
"Yes, you said she didn't want to talk to you," Collin said looking at Gage.
"Gage are you okay?" Chloe said placing her hand on Gage's arm.
"Do not touch my mate," Sandy said glaring at Chloe's hands, she takes her hand away and sat back down.
"Where did you last talk to her?" Jason asked Gage.
"I think it was in the parking lot?" Gage questioned, he couldn't remember this morning and his headache was starting up again. Jason just gives him a questionable look but heads out a second later.
"Gage where are you going?" Sandy asked when he pulled away.
"Away from you," Gage said following Jason out of the building, Collin and Chloe followed. Sandy staying behind to make a phone call.
"She isn't here," Jason said, but he could still smell pears with a hint of vanilla. He followed the scent to find a small puddle of red liquid next to a pile of shattered glass and a giant dent in the truck's door.
"My truck," Gage shouted running over to the dented door. "My window," he said, it was the backseat window that was shattered.
"Is it Mac's?" John asked reaching them, the rest of the group followed when they saw Gage and Jason head out together. Jason bent down and took a whiff, it was her blood.
"It is," Jason said sighing out. He picked up a bullet casing, it burned and he dropped it. "Wolfsbane."
"Fuck," Trent said.
"Alright, you guys know what that means. I'm in charge until she gets back, everything will be normal and don't worry she will be back soon."
"Until she gets back?" Chloe asked.
"Where did she go?" Collin asked Gage turned from his truck hearing the concern in people's voices.
"Um, we don't know," Jason said his head dropping a bit.
"You were supposed to be there for her," Katie said coming over to shove Gage. "Why didn't you protect her?" She shoved him again, his back hitting the truck.
"Katie," Trent said grabbing her back.
"He was supposed to protect her," Katie shouted but she turned into his shoulder crying her eyes out.
"I...I...." Gage didn't know what to say. He wasn't sure what he had to protect Mac from but he also felt like he was to blame all at the same time.
"Katie, relax Mac will be back by the end of the month," Trent said gently trying to calm her down.
The bell rang signaling the end of lunch.
"Come on guys, Mac wouldn't want you missing class," Jason said pushing them.
"Is she alright?" Chloe said looking at the puddle of blood.
"We don't know," Jason said, he pulled Maddy closer needing her comfort.
"Who shot me?" Mac asked sitting up, this place was different than the last. It was much larger and completely up to date. She even got a chair to sit in rather than be tied against the wall.
"Oh Silver, we both know I won't tell you," Zane said.
He brought her usual breakfast in, waffles with a smiley face. Mac pulled against her cuffs but it wouldn't break only sear her skin. "I laced them with Wolfsbane this time, now that you are immune to silver I can only keep you locked up for so long." He said when he caught her looking at the cuffs. "Don't worry you're IV drip is secure as well." He patted her on the head before pulling the tray up to serve her. She was knocked out all day yesterday and she was finally awake once again. "Here comes the choo choo train." He made the sound and everything bringing a bit of the waffle to her mouth. She opened her mouth taking the bite. "You know, you are really are special." He said playing with her hair. He just twirled it in her fingers, his other hand feeding her. "I believe you and I will break the world of science. Just think you can handle silver, vampire blood, I mean you are by far the most interesting specimen I have ever dealt with." He said feeding her, her last bite. "What are you though?" Zane said.
"What do you mean?" Mac asked finished eating.
"You aren't just a werewolf I know that, but I'm not sure what you are," Zane said.
"I don't know what you are talking about," Mac said.
"Of course you do, but I get it we all have your secrets," Zane said. "Boy, get the kit." He shouted over his shoulder. All of a sudden a guy ran in, but he had a ski mask on, both Mac and Zane were giving him a quizzical look because of this. "What are you wearing?" Zane asked not taking the tray from the guy.
"I don't want her to know who I am." The guy said, his voice muffled, but it did sound familiar.
"It doesn't matter, I will find you and I will kill you. Both of you." Mac said.
"I liked that movie," Zane said talking about the movie Taken. He grabbed the tray from the guy placing it on the stand. Mac couldn't see what was on it Zane in the way but she could see the guy staring at her. "Go away," Zane said not happy with his assistant bothering Mac. The assistant glared at Zane but left the room locking the door behind him.
"What are we doing?" Mac asked.
"I am so happy you asked," Zane said, his smile growing. "Today I am going to see how fast your body can grow back parts."
"I'm sorry what?" Mac asked in alarm.
"Don't worry, I will first start with the pinky," Zane said turning over to her with pliers and a knife in his hands.
"No, no, no!" Mac shouted trying to squish back in the chair.
"Here." He said pressing a button on her IV drip. Mac could feel the fogginess start to surround her. "Morphine, yum," He said licking his lips. "Now this shouldn't hurt....so much" He put the knife right about the knuckle. "One, two."
Mac screamed out in pain.
"Three." Was the last thing she heard before she passed out in pain.