Ash's POV
My eyes flew open as a loud siren-like sound rent the air. While I'm still lying on my hard brick bed, trying to get used to this new development in my life, I hear a flurry of activity come to life as the other inmates around me begin to wake up. I guess the siren-like sound is a kind of alarm to wake all inmates.
'I wonder what the time is' I thought as I forced myself up from the bed, walking toward the space between the brick bed and the wall where the bag Ella gave to me was kept. I search through the contents of the bag and bring out a toothbrush and toothpaste before moving to the sink to brush my teeth.
I yawn loudly as I stand by the sink to apply toothpaste to my toothbrush. I couldn't fall asleep the previous night since my mind was occupied by the thoughts of Martha. The scene where she lay dead on a carpet that completely soaked her blood kept on playing like it was on repeat inside my mind.
It took me some tossing and turning on the prison hard bed, and I also lost count of the number of sheep jumping over a fence that I counted in my head before I was finally able to fall asleep. I promised Martha I would be strong and I know she would want me to move on and focus on my present and future but I don't know if that would ever be possible.
I don't know how I would ever find peace and joy to continue living without her in my life. Not when the image of her dead body is engraved into my brain. Not when Miranda, her killer, still roams around freely.
As I brush my teeth, I wonder about Thor. I wonder how he's doing. Even though I was told Miranda used sorcery to have him pick her as his new mate, I wonder if he's happy with her. I wonder if they already made love and if they slept in each other's arms as we did on the eve of my eighteenth birthday.
I've always fantasized about sleeping and waking up in my mate's arms, now another she-wolf has taken my place, enjoying what belongs to me. Even though Eric promised the issue would be for a short while, I couldn't help but wonder if my fantasies would ever turn into reality. It's just a month, right? I will wait.
After I'm done brushing my teeth, I wash my face and return the toothbrush to the bag. I bring out a hairbrush and quickly brush my hair before putting it in a bun. When I'm done, I take a protein energy bar out of the lots that Ella brought. I'm munching on the mixture of chocolate chips, dried fruits, and nuts when my cell door automatically slides open.
'What's happening?' I wonder, panicking.
I see the inmates opposite my cell step out. I turn my back to the door and immediately take a swig from the bottle of water I had hidden under my bed for the night. After I return the bottle, I peek through the entrance and see the other inmates apart from the ones opposite mine are also standing by their cell doors, waiting. I wonder What they are waiting for as I shove the rest of the energy bar into my mouth.
The inmates are all wearing the same orange jumpsuits and I wonder if they'll also bring mine. Even if they bring it, am I supposed to wear it?... Well, they better not bring it because I won't wear it. Even if they're about to kill me, I won't. I promised myself with the warning Ella gave me never to use, eat, or drink anything they bring ringing in my mind.
I look up and notice the two inmates, directly opposite my cell, are staring intently at me. Maybe because I'm dressed differently from them or because I'm still sitting on my bed, I don't know which it is. But am I supposed to step out too? I wonder briefly before I also get up from the bed and step out.
I look to my right and then left and see rows of she-wolves of all sizes in orange jumpsuits standing upright like they were waiting for some kind of command as to what to do next. I look out of place amongst them. A slip of a girl in a pretty blue dress among these she-wolves in orange jumpsuits. So so out of place.
They look at me in wonder and I look back at all of them with interest as they're looking at me. The woman beside me with her dull eyes looks like she's bored out of her mind and tired of living, while the one next to her, who must be her cellmate, grins at me lasciviously...
"I'm not gay pervert!" I murmur under my breath before directing my gaze away from her.
I hear a growl and my eyes turn far to my left towards where the sound is coming from. This one is the second cell before mine. She reminds me of the phrase, 'larger than life because of her size. She is huge, more than six feet tall I'm sure, looking at me menacingly with her mean eyes.
'What the fuck's her problem? I don't even know her so why is she growling and glaring as if she can't wait to kill me?'
I don't belong among these shifters. I feel like a misfit amongst them which indeed I am. I wonder if I should just step back into my cell. Not like I'm scared of the big she-wolf, even though she looks so scary. I just think it's unwise to walk into trouble when Sif has not spoken to me since we lost our mates. How do I know she'll back me up?
Just as I'm about to retreat into my cell, my heart thumps hard with the loud clang of all the cell doors as they all automatically slam shut, shutting me out of my cell. I feel so afraid now and alone. I silently cry for my mate even though I know he can't hear me.
"Get moving!" A loud voice almost startles me out of my body. I looked up toward where the voice came from as all the inmates started moving down the long passageway. I see the guard who shouted the command standing on the second floor. For a moment we looked into each other's eyes. He smiles at me eerily before shifting his gaze away.
'What was that about?' I wonder, feeling a chilling sensation all over my body.
Apart from the guard upstairs and the inmates who paid special attention to me with questioning looks on their faces. All the guards I pass by treat me like air as if they didn't notice I stick out like a sore thumb the way I dress differently from the rest. We haven't taken more than four steps when I suddenly feel a very strong hand wrap around my neck in a choke hold from behind, dragging me into a nearby cell.
"Your life is mine. It is my ticket out of this shit hole!" The person whispers coldly.
AUTHOR'S NOTE
Thank you for reading. Please, kindly vote and give your review if you enjoy this book.🙏🏽