Life Arranged

KIERA

“What the hell is this?”

Kiera stared with disgust at the sludge on the tray before her. She placed the tray on the edge of the bed and sat back with an irritated huff. “You should really fire your cook!” she hollered at the guard behind the cell door, receiving only a grumble in return.

We should have never gone on a run… I’m so sorry, Kiera… Poppy whined, clearly feeling terrible.

“It’s not your fault,” she said softly before looking up toward the door of the cell. “They really should have marked the boundary better,” she yelled, knowing the guard standing outside could hear her.

If there was one thing she hated, it was being told what she could and couldn’t do. Being kept in a cell was practically torture and Kiera was losing her patience. She grabbed her tray and placed it on the slot in the door.

“Finished already?” the guard growled.

“There’s no way I’m eating that…,” she replied. “When am I getting out of here?”

The guard laughed. “Never.”

“But King Harrison said—”

“He says a lot of things. Why would he release a rogue? You started this. Crossing our borders without permission is an act of aggression, end of story,” the guard replied before turning back around and ignoring her once again.

Kiera scowled before a thought popped in her head. “I need to speak to the alpha.”

“He doesn’t come here at the beck and call of a prisoner,” the guard huffed.

“Yes, but I have information,” she grinned, knowing full well that she didn’t.

The guard turned to her and eyed her suspiciously. Kiera gave an innocent smile, hoping her ruse was going to work.

“Fine, I’ll call him,” the guard said darkly.

An hour later, the cell door opened and a large, muscular man walked in. Kiera looked up with confusion. “You’re not the alpha.”

“I am Captain Mann, the lead warrior.” He spoke low, his voice laced with irritation. “What do you want, rogue?”

Kiera exhaled in frustration before speaking. “I would like to know when I’ll be released. I’ve been here for three days and it’s obvious I hold no threat.”

The captain stepped forward with a growl. “Is this why I was brought down here? I was told you had information.”

Kiera gave him an innocent look. “Captain Mann, I don’t know what you mean.”

He stepped closer and pulled her up by her collar so her feet left the ground. “Rogue scum. If I didn’t know any better I’d think you were trying to get our king down here and into some sort of trap.”

Kiera struggled in his grip, fury filling her eyes. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were trying to keep me here for no reason at all.”

Captain Mann dropped her and slapped her across the cheek with the back of his hand. “Watch it, little wolf. Talk like that will lose you your tongue.”

He left the cell in anger, leaving Kiera holding her cheek in shock. She could feel the heat and the redness from the blow, and she scowled, angry she was here.

“Get another guard down here and take her to confinement,” he yelled before walking back down the hall.

She stood from the bed and walked to the sink. The small mirror showed her reflection. Her hair and eyes were dull from sitting in a cell, and she could see the mark his hand had left. She touched it gingerly, wincing at the early signs of a black eye.

I’LL KILL HIM!!! Poppy screamed in her head, furious at that man.

“Get in line…,” she whispered before walking back to her bed and curling up in the corner.

HARRISON

Harrison walked from the pack house toward the prison.

Joseph had informed him that the girl claimed to have information. He was pretty sure she didn’t, but he couldn’t risk his pack’s safety on a what-if. He could have just sent Captain Mann, but he didn’t trust him.

The guard standing outside the bunker gave a quick bow as Harrison entered. He walked down the long corridor, stopping at the scene before him.

“Let me go!”

He watched as the girl kicked and screamed, struggling against the two guards attempting to take her somewhere.

“Let me go, or I swear I’ll rip your heads off!” she screamed.

Harrison grinned slightly at her threats. He watched with surprise as she got one of her arms free and used it to punch the guard in the jaw.

She kneed the other in the groin, making him collapse in pain. She struggled as the guard that she’d punched grabbed her again. She yelled at the guards to release her.

Harrison had seen enough. He stepped forward.

“Alpha!” the guard stuttered. “What a surprise, I didn’t know you were—”

“Yes, I imagine you didn’t expect me down here. Release her,” he said impatiently.

The guard hesitated for a moment before doing as he was told.

“You wanted to speak to me?” His deep voice vibrated through the corridor.

“I wanted to know when I’m leaving this place…,” she said quietly, lowering her head.

Harrison stepped forward, surprised at her sudden submission. “I told you we would revisit the subject in a week. You said you had information.”

She shrugged. “I just told the guard that so he would go get you. I want out, I want to go home.”

Harrison narrowed his eyes at her, wondering where all of the fire went. He stepped forward, watching her keep her lead low as he moved.

She’s afraid? She wasn’t before…, Bear muttered in confusion.

Harrison’s face darkened. “Rogue, look at me when I speak to you.”

Kiera raised her head slowly, hate and anger in her eyes as she did.

Harrison growled darkly at the sight of her face. Her cheek was red and bruised, and he could see the beginnings of a black eye. “Who did this?” He turned to the two guards. “Did you—”

Kiera scoffed, clearly angry. “Don’t act like you didn’t send your little soldier down here to intimidate me!”

Harrison stepped forward, furious that one of his men had beaten a prisoner, let alone a female. He was many things, but abusive was not one of them.

“Who. Did. This?” he growled, his eyes becoming an even deeper black as anger pulsed through him.

Kiera looked up at him with fear and surprise. “The captain... he—he came in and talked to me. I thought you sent him...”

He spun around to the guard with fury. “Did you know about this?”

“Alpha... I—”

“Did you know about this?!” he yelled. “Did you watch him hurt her and then say nothing? You know the laws, you know the oath the warriors have taken. Find him. Find the captain and bring him here to me, now.”

“Yes, Alpha…,” the guard replied.