Painful Past Ayla Finish your meal sweetie or you and your sister will be spending your free time weeding the courtyard instead of sneaking off the grounds without security, thinking you will never get caught.
Mom states matter of fact, her attempt at getting us to eat more failing when the realization weve been caught sinks in.
Mom, we didnt attempt to leave them, they just couldnt keep up.
I counter hopeful I will talk her out of being angry.
You two snuck off the grounds by hiding on the roof.
You literally ran across houses, across roofs, Ayla, how were they supposed to keep up with you two hmm? When they didnt see you leave in the first place? mother asks.
Oh yeah, shes angry.
I look over at my sister Ada who is two years younger than me.
At 12&14 we can create our very fair, share of trouble.
Dont forget the fences.
We climbed over those too.
she pipes up sealing our fate.
Yes, how could I forget.
Scaling fences, endangering yourselves by leaving, let alone leaving without your security.
I am dreaming.
Or reliving a childhood memory for that matter.
I cant remember the last time I had a good dream.
Theyre always filled with the abuse and torture I sustain or the words of the men that haunt me.
My eyes are heavy and I am so tired.
I start to fade back into unconsciousness when I am hit with that comforting smell again.
That forest floor.
That comforting pine.
Hes here.
The man that was comforting me before everything went black.
Shes been out four days Eric, is there something more we can do to speed her healing up? Ive got her on nutrition and shes put on a few pounds.
Her blood work showed an extremely high amount of wolfsbane.
She should be dead with the amount that was in her body.
Not to mention she was in renal failure.
Her vitals are stable now and shes been showing signs of arousal to stimulus cognitively.
I think the wolfsbane was used to keep her wolf suppressed.
I dont think her wolf abandoned her.
Her brain scans support that theory.
However, I wouldnt know if shes ever shifted before or how long it will take to get all of the poison out of her system, but I think when its out, we may be able to help her reach her wolf, Thane.
I can hear a conversation happening around me, but I cant get my eyes to open.
Aramana didnt leave.
She didnt abandon me! I knew by the bitter taste of the shitty porridge they were drugging me.
I just didnt know with what.

I want to open my eyes.
I want to ask questions, but I am so afraid.
These are men.
This is an alpha.
He may smell amazing and comforting, but that doesnt mean that he isnt dangerous, but why would he rescue me and take care of me if he was dangerous? I am so confused, and Im not sure what I should do, but I know that I cant make any decision without waking up first.
My eyes hurt and are heavy, but I can feel myself rolling them around under my eyelids.
Its hard, but its progress.
Her heart rate is elevating and I can see her eyes moving, I think she can hear us, Thane.
Little wolf? Can you hear us in there? Can you open your eyes for us? Im sure you have a lot of questions as do we, but we need you awake first.
You are in the clinic here in my pack.
Eric our healer and been taking care of you, but its time for you to wake up for us.
I slowly try to lift my lids.
I manage to get them half way up, but everything is blurry.
Thats it.
Keep going, keep blinking for us.
Youre doing it.
Good girl.
Those words of praise I can clearly see coming for the most gorgeous shifter I have ever seen in my life.
He is leaning over my bed, my tiny hand resting inside his giant, calloused one.
He has short black hair that is longer on top and styled messy, olive toned skin, a short-trimmed beard from a few days of missed shaving, strong jaw line, straight nose, long eye lashes, high cheek bones, and the starkest green eyes that make me feel like he can see right into my soul.
They remind me of the forest he smells like.
He slowly smiles when my eyes are fully open and he has dimples to go with his boyish smile.
It should be illegal how gorgeous this alpha is.
Hello there little wolf.
I am Thane Knight, of the Midnight Pack of La Plata and this over here is Eric, one of our healers.
I slowly turn my head to the left and see a man standing next to my bed.
He has beautiful blue eyes and messy blonde hair and muscles all over.
He too is gorgeous.
Is everyone in this pack beautiful? You gave me quite the scare when you came in here.
Your labs were terrible, you are full of poison and severely dehydrated and malnourished.
Im glad you are awake.
You have been out four days.
he states to me.
What is your name? Thane asks and I quickly get nervous, my mind racing a million miles an hour with thoughts.
Do I tell them? I cant trust them; I dont know them.
Does it even matter if they know? If I start talking again, are they going to hurt me just so they can hear me? If I dont will, they hurt me because I wont? Its okay little wolf, you dont have to tell us right now, but it would make things easier for us.
Thane encourages me, but I stare blankly at him.

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I just cant bring myself to do it.
Can you speak? I slowly nod my head no.
Not an outright lie, but partial truth.
Can you write? I stare at him in his deep green eyes.
They have flecks of deep brown through them.
A color I have never seen before.
I have a moment of bravery.
A sliver, but its there and I decide to go for it.
I slowly sit up, and push myself back in the bed, drawing my knees up and hugging myself for comfort.
The loss of his touch when I move my hand has me feeling conflicted, which is confusing itself.
I slowly nod my head yes.
Be right back.
Eric states and he quickly leaves the room, leaving me alone with the alpha.
I look back over at him and he is staring at me.
A neutral, slightly inquisitive expression on his face.
Almost like hes trying piece information together or figure out a puzzle.
He quietly studies me; I do the same to him.
Eric returns to my bedside with a pad of paper and a pencil.
Handing it to me, I widen my eyes in shock.
This is actually happening.
Thane can apparently sense my apprehension, because he scoots closer and places his hand on my knee as I stretch my legs out slowly, preparing to answer their questions and mentally talking myself into it.
Its a light touch, but it comforts.
Take your time, I know that youve been through a lot and you are afraid, but we really do want to help you and we also need you to help us.
His statement confuses me slightly.
What help could that possibly want from me? I take a deep breath, grab the pencil and write My name is Ayla Frost.
Ayla.
He quietly whispers like its a relief to hear it.
He smiles those dimples at me and I feel myself blushing.
There is no way I can hide that, which I see he notices, because he smiles bigger.
Ayla, I want to ask you some difficult questions, only a few right now if you think you are up for it.
We can stop at any time.
There is no right or wrong answers and I will not be upset in any way if you quit answering.
Are we clear? I nod my head yes and with that, Eric steps out of the room.
Ayla, how many months ago were you taken? I look down at my paper and write What year is it? Year? it is still 2024.
I bring that paper back to myself and mentally count.
10 years.
It has been 10 years since I was taken.

That means I am 24 years old.
I cant explain it, but that revelation makes me smile.
I quickly write my answer and show him.
He however is not smiling.
He looks shocked.
His mouth hangs slightly open, his eyebrows I swear, hit his hairline.
You were kidnapped 10 years ago? 10 YEARS? I smile at him and quickly write I am happy to know this.
Ive been wondering how old I really was.
Now I know.
Im 24.
He closes his mouth and stares at me.
His eyes darting back and forth across my face.
He quickly looks down to the floor, his hands now made into fist on his thighs and a low growl starting in his chest.
He looks up at me and his eyes start to faintly flash gold, then back to green.
His wolf must be surging for some reason and I start to panic.
I bring my legs back up and scoot as far back in the bed as I can.
He looks up at me and his expression is a mix of rage and sadness.
Its okay little wolf.
You arent doing anything wrong or could you.
I am just having a hard time wrapping my head around you being in that dungeon that long.
My wolf is not happy at the moment.
I think I need to step out for a while and let you rest.
I know this is a lot for you and you did such a good job.
I will have Eric come back in here and talk with you.
Maybe he can get some real food into you today, but you should rest.
I will be back later to carry on this conversation I promise.
Okay? I quickly nod yes and he follows it up with Good girl and heads out of my room.
Did I make him angry I know he said I didnt but I cant trust that.
Maybe I shouldnt have told him anything.
What if he thinks I am too damaged to stay here? Too much work.
Maybe I should start thinking about how I can get out of here.
I pull the covers up over my shoulder and stare into the corner.
I hear the thoughts like they are screaming at me you are damaged goods.
They dont want to help you; they want you gone.
I close my eyes and let out a shaky breath.
Maybe I need to get out of here.