VIKTOR.
Coward.
Pathetic, sniveling wretch.
Any man who would gang up to beat a woman should not be allowed to live.
And he even has the audacity to come here.
To ask for her.
How dare he?
Who the hell does he think he is?
Just what kind of backing does he have that he thinks he can walk in and demand to see the woman he almost killed?
What kind of men do we even have in this world?
On and on, the thoughts circle in my head, urging me in and fueling me with rage until all I see is red.
My steps are purposeful as I head to the cells.
Just five minutes.
That is all I need.
Five minutes with him to see how he can hold up in front of a man.
When he has no one to back him up
No entourage to surround him.
Just five minutes is all I need for him to regret his birth.
I arrive at the cells only for Gaines to block my way.
“I am going in,” I tell him.
“No you are not.”
“You can’t stop me.”
“Maybe, maybe not. If you get past me, you are just going to have to get past four others inside. Do you really want to puss off the Guia, like that?”
“I just need a moment with him,” I try
“The Guia has first interrogation before anyone else. You are just going to have to wait for her to get here.”
“You are a pain in the ass, you know that right?”
“I don’t care.”
“And I don’t like you at all.”
“Still don’t care.”
“Fine!” “I will wait,” I say before turning to lean on the wall.
Why are almost all the wolves in this place so damn annoying?
“They are just doing their job,” my wolf says. “You know what that entails. You have a pack of your own, remember. They are just following orders.”
“Well, it is bloody annoying!” I snap.
“Hmm, maybe. But it is what it is. You wouldn’t want your own wolves bending the rules for someone else, would you.”
“Fine, fine. I get it. Doesn’t mean I have to like it. I am just annoyed and frustrated.”
“Hmm, I know. I feel the same way. I don’t understand how men can do that to women. Her wolf is even more confused by it.”
“Her wolf??”
“Hmm. I talk to her. I kind of pity the man if he ever comes face to face with her again. She will rip him to shreds.”
“Why didn’t she do anything then?!” I demand. “Why did she wait so long for her to come up? Why leave her alone and defenseless in the hands of that monster?”
“Why are you shouting at me?”
“I am not! I am just…”
“Annoyed. Yes, I get it. And I can’t answer your questions. I don’t know the answer either.”
Great.
More unknown variables.
“I hate this. Being… useless. Unable to do anything. I hate it!”
“Then tell the truth,” he advises. “This lie has gone on long enough.”
“Do you think I don’t know that? I do. I just don’t know how to. When I started this, I thought I could control it, handle the repercussions, but now… now, I can’t risk losing her.”
“And then what? Will you continue pretending to be something you are not? You know the longer you keep silent, the harder it gets for you to tell her the truth.”
“I know. Goddess! I know. I just don’t … know how to.”
“Guia!”
At Gaines, respectful greeting, I turn to see Rowan heading towards us while flanked by both Lisa and Rina.
“Gaines, how is our prisoner?” She asks.
“Still as irritating and abhorrent as most pack wolves,” he answers.
Whoa .
That was mean.
“Hmm. Viktor, what are you doing here?” She asks with an exasperated tone.
“I just wanted to have a chat with our guest, nothing serious.”
“Right. You really expect me to believe that?”
“Hmm,” I hum with a shrug. “How are you?” I ask. “Are you… better?” I continue, not wanting to give anything away to Gaines that is standing right over there.
I am not aware of how much he knows or if he even knows anything.
“Better, thank you. I am good and you can go now.”
“What?!”
“You two Gaines, as well as those inside. I will handle this myself.”
“Yes, Guia,” he says before going in.
“You can’t do that!” I exclaim at her.
“I can’t?” She asks with a raised eyebrow. l, daring me to affirm the question.
I quickly recalibrate myself at the look.
“I mean you can, but I don’t think that is… advisable. What if he… what if he hurts you? Again?” I ask, my voice considerably lower.
“I am not the same girl I was five years ago,” she says. “I am Rowan, the leader of the coalition. I won’t be cowed by a glorified bully.”
“Rowan…”
“I will question him, on my own. Find out all I need to and then I will carry out my justice. You don’t have to fret so much about me,” she says as she reaches for my cheek. “I am a big girl, I can handle myself.”
“I know you can,” I whisper to her as I reach for her hand on my face, covering it with mine. “I am just saying you don’t have to. You don’t need to upset yourself with this. Anyone else can do it, why should it be you?”
“I know I don’t have to, I want to,” she responds. “And it has to be me. It is time I stop hiding from my fears and take them on, one by one, in any form they come.”
“Don’t worry, Louis,” Rina calls out. “We will all be here if she needs help.”
I nod at her, sighing before finally stepping back.
“Fine, do your thing.”