“Said the Big Bad Wolf,” I muttered before my brain could inform my mouth that might not be the smartest move. Travis only laughed.

“Does that make you one of the Three Little Pigs?”

I frowned. “I was thinking more like Little Red Riding Hood.”

Another laugh. “Except in this version Grandma is Maleficent, and instead of the Woodsman coming to the rescue, Red turns into a giant white wolf?”

“I’m not a witch.”

“Sorry, Miss Donovan, but this is the Alpha Pack, not CSI: Boondocks. Here you’re guilty until proven innocent.” When he looked at me, I thought I detected regret in his overly handsome face. “And no one is ever proven innocent.”

***

I’m not exactly sure what I expected my jail cell to look like, but an actual jail cell never crossed my mind. I mean, who puts steel bars in the basement of a deluxe cabin on the Kentucky Lake?

Yet, that is exactly what I found at the bottom of the back staircase. The cell was located in the corner opposite the washer and dryer. It was larger than the cells I’ve seen on TV, something close to a fifteen by fifteen foot square. The decor was very uninhabited dorm room. A twin bed with cheap white sheets was pushed against one wall with a beaten up dresser at the foot. And that was the entire extent of my furniture.

A crappy bed with crappy sheets I could handle. However, what gave me a serious case of do not make me go in there was the bathroom, or what was to be counted as a bathroom. On the far wall was a toilet, which had been relieved of its seat. A cheap shower head stuck out of the wall. The area was surrounded by a track from which hung a thin white shower curtain.

Then there were the shackles hanging off the walls.

Someone needed to explain the definition of “serenity” to the owners of Serenity Shores.

“Cozy,” I said as Travis keyed a code into the door.

“Just in case you get any strokes of genius, you need to know these here are some of the strongest steel bars you can get, and they are hiding beneath the concrete walls, too.” The Texan pointed to a box on the wall nearest the door leading out of the basement. “Once I have you in here, I’m going to flip that switch, which will run enough juice through them to make that stick straight hair of yours look like Justin Timberlake’s white boy fro.”

“The window?” I asked, nodding to the tiny opening a good six inches over my head.

“Double-plated bullet-proof glass. Also, it’s armed with two different security systems, just like all the doors. Both systems run off a generator should we lose power.”

“Not to mention a house full of Dominants, right?”

Travis’s teeth gleamed under the fluorescent lights. “Right, cupcake.” He leaned over to where his nose was hovering scant centimeters away from where my neck and shoulder met and then breathed in deeply. “Damn shame you’re Thaumaturgic,” he said, his breath tickling my collar bone. “I would have really enjoyed getting to know you.”

This time it wasn’t just my face that flushed, it was my whole body.

“I’m not a witch.” Was that really my voice coming out all low and breathy? “I’m a Shifter.”

He didn’t move, which was incredibly rude, completely terrifying, and more than a little thrilling at the same time. “You certainly smell like a Shifter.” He sniffed in again, the hum of noise from the back of his throat causing goosebumps to pop up all over my skin.

I’ve replayed that scene at least a million times in my head since then, and I’m still not sure what would have happened next if Hashim hadn’t interrupted. The most likely scenario involved me pushing him away and telling him to keep his evil nose to himself, and emphasizing the point with my fist.

At least, that’s what I keep telling myself.

“Go,” Hashim hissed as Travis jolted away from me. When I didn’t immediately obey, Hashim pointed at me and then the cage. “You. Go.”

Knowing there was no use in delaying the inevitable, and eager to get away from the weirdness of what just happened with Travis, I went inside. I heard the door slide home and then the hum of electricity. The whole time I just stood there, looking at my prison and trying not to panic. Claustrophobia has never really been an issue for me, but, then again, I was never locked in a cage for weeks at a time before. I didn’t cry, though. I kept my spine straight and shoulders back. The wolf, who still prowled close to the skin with the full moon only being hours behind us, refused to submit in any way to the two men who were now standing just outside the basement door.

Eventually, I felt ridiculous just standing there, staring resolutely at the grey concrete wall. I took my time exploring my surroundings, knowing I had all the time in the world. The bed was small, but the mattress was comfortable. Not too firm, not too soft, and free of lumps or sprung springs. The dresser was filled with dings and stains, but had the regality of a once noble piece of high end bedroom furniture. The odds and ends making up the bathroom were surprisingly clean, the scent of bleach overriding any hint of mold, mildew, or anything even less appetizing.

Once the inspection was over I lay down on the bed and waited.

Chapter 23

It took me five minutes to realize I was hearing voices, and another two to realize they weren’t in my head.

“We are honored to have you with us,” said a female voice with a heavy English accent.

“No, I’m the one honored, my Alpha,” came the reply from a familiar voice. “I am only sorry that the situation wasn’t a little different.”

“Yes, this whole thing is rather… unfortunate. But you have nothing to fear. I can See your nobility and honor. I know you would never intentionally defy your Alphas.”

“No, ma’am. I really wouldn’t.” In my head I could see Talley twirling a strand of shiny black hair around her finger. She was on the floor just above me, I could tell both from the way her voice floated down through the air vent and her smell. The room must have been some sort of living room or family room since the drone of a television set is what kept me from noticing anyone in the room before then. One of the first survival skills I acquired after Changing was learning to tune out background noises. If I hadn’t, I would have been driven insane by the constant stream of marginally talented Disney singers coming from Angel’s bedroom a long time ago.

I closed my eyes and tried to visualize my best friend standing just above me. Was she scared? Were they treating her right? And where were the boys? They should be there with her, protecting her.