Ben's POV:

Cells would never not remind me of Krystal though I would never admit that to either of my pack leaders. As a Beta, I should be able to handle being in a cell without freaking out, without losing focus. But I couldn't not think about my Krystal. The memories always came without my permission, the first time I actually saw her.

I descended into the cells, trying to make myself calm down. I didn't know what to expect when I got down here, what they'd been doing to her. Knowing Alpha Bryce, it wasn't anything good. I still wasn't ready to see her so small, so underfed, shaking and shivering, curled up in the corner with cuts all over her exposed skin, barely covered by a thin nightgown. I just wanted to reach out to her and tell her it was okay.

She would always be safe with me.

I waited until the doors were closed and we were the only ones down there before I approached her cell and crouched down in front of it.

"Hey," I said, trying to keep my voice gentle.

She flinched. It hurt that she flinched. Couldn't she feel our bond at all?

"I'm sorry," I breathed. "I didn't mean to scare you. I'm not going to hurt you. I promise."

She didn't say anything but the shaking stopped. She looked over at me and my heart nearly stopped at the sight of her beautiful green eyes. Those eyes widened before she frowned in confusion.

"Who are you?" She whispered. "What is..." she sucked a breath in, tightening her arms around herself.

Goddess, of course she didn't know who I was. What mates were. Who would've ever taught her?

"I'm Benedict," I said. "I'm just... Someone that doesn't want you to get hurt anymore."

"You're different," she said, tilting her head to the side.

"I'm different," I nodded. "I'm not going to hurt you. I promise. What's your name?"

She paused and bit down on her lip like she couldn't decide if she could trust me or not. After what felt like a very long silence she finally answered. "Krystal."

"Krystal," I breathed. "Can I call you Krys?" I asked, hoping to lighten the mood.

"If you get to call me Krys, what do I get to call you?" She asked. I wasn't expecting that and I couldn't stop the smile tugging on my lips.

"Most people call me Ben," I answered, offering a smile.

She looked at me curiously, her eyes darting up and down me, her arms tightening even more around herself as she rested her head against her knees. "I'm going to call you Benny."

Murmuring from the cells snapped me out of it and I had to remember where I was, what I was supposed to be doing.

I kept my back to the rogue Luna's cell, waiting for Tess to give me new orders. We brought in a water basin and a change of clothes so the rogue leader could try to clean off some of the blood and I was giving her privacy though I hadn't heard her make a single move. I only vaguely heard them murmuring to each other but tuned it out so they could have privacy. It was clear the Luna was on edge. She lashed out right after waking but since then, the silver and drugs had worn off and she was calmer. On edge still, but not as ready to rip my and anyone's throat out who looked at her pack too long.

"It would be easier to clean up without these chains on my ankles, Beta," she said.

I ignored her and stayed staring straight ahead, trying not to look any of her pack-members in the cell across from her in the eye. They were all tense, watching me like a hawk, like they thought I might do something to her. It made me wonder if something happened at another point in time. This was more than just protective. I could recognize trauma anywhere.

This was fear. Real fear. I could see it in their eyes the moment we brought them in. We even briefly discussed not having them in the cells since it was obviously an issue, mostly for the rogues Tess guessed were the Luna's ranked wolves. They'd been uneasy since the moment we stepped inside, and even more uneasy when the Luna was separated from them. The way they watched our every move was so far beyond concern. Their eyes held memories, possibly of another time they'd been in cells. Thinking that made me frustrated we had to keep them down here but until we knew who they were and what the hell they were doing viciously attacking that group of rogues, this was the safest place for them.

"Come on, handsome. You're not even going to grace me with those hazel eyes again?" She tried.

I stayed where I was and tried to keep my expression neutral as her pack's gaze seemed to intensify. Their eyes flickered nervously to her then back to me, like they were waiting for a response. Well, neither she nor they would get one.

"Wow," she let out a low whistle. "Look at that restraint. It's all right handsome, I don't mind staring at your back side. It's finer than most."

Now that, I had a harder time keeping my face neutral to.

"Easy, Red," the one Tess identified as possibly the Beta spoke quietly, as if he thought I might not hear. "I don't think now's the time to push anyone's buttons. We're not exactly in a great position."

"Oh," she sighed. "He's not going to do anything, are you, Benedict?"

The way she said my name told me she was a pro at this. Seduction. Getting her way. I saw right through it, ignoring the way she said it slow, like she was tasting it. No one had said my name like that since...

I closed my eyes briefly and breathed out evenly. I couldn't think about Krystal now. I had to focus. It didn't help that the stench of blood was overpowering since she still hadn't made a move to that basin.

"Look at that, Benedict," she cooed. "That all it takes, handsome? Me saying your name?"

"Red," the Beta admonished. "Cut it the fuck out. We don't know what they're like. Isn't Blood Moon the one with a reputation?"

Now that I couldn't let go.

"I would think as rogues," I growled, darting my eyes to the Beta, "you would know that reputations are often bullshit."

"Oh, look, he has a little bite," Red said. I swear I could feel the smile on her lips. "You just got more interesting, handsome."

I sighed and stared ahead, away from them. She finally went quiet. I heard shuffling and the water shifting. I stared ahead and tried to think about anything else but the smell of the blood. Just like that day with Krystal. There was so much blood. I could still see it pouring out of-

Shit. I closed my eyes briefly and breathed in and out. I couldn't let that moment take over me right now. I had a job to do.

"What's wrong, handsome? Fighting the urge to turn and watch me bathe?" Red taunted.

Goddess, she had nerve. I would never do anything to her but her Beta had a point. Other packs weren't as good, other packs would take advantage of the situation. It was a good thing we were the ones to find them and not someone else.

"Don't give me the silent treatment," she sighed. "Come on, Benedict, give me something here. You really know how to make a girl feel bad about herself."

I didn't answer. I was determined to ignore her taunts but there was something eating at me. Red. What kind of nickname was that? She didn't even had red hair. I doubted it was her real name. I told myself to let it go. It didn't matter and she probably wouldn't answer anyway.

"Why do they call you Red?" I asked.

Well shit, that's not what I just convinced myself to do.

"Because, handsome," she said, her voice going low and raspy. A bedroom voice. "I look damn good in red."

I couldn't stop myself from snapping my head back at her, frowning in confusion. She'd changed out of the bloody shirt and put on the fresh one. I could actually see her face better now. Dark brown eyes, golden skin that seemed flawless other than the occasional scar. That was strange. We didn't scar unless it was silver. It wasn't the first time she'd seen a silver blade, it seemed.

"Want to see?" She asked, her lips quirking up in a half-smile. "I've got red on underneath. Why don't you come take a look and judge for yourself?" She asked, spreading her legs, and sucking in her bottom lip, giving me a wink and running a hand down one of her inner thighs towards her...

My eyes widened at her bold statement and I faced forward again, feeling heat rush to my face. Goddess, she was bold.

"Awww," she cooed. "He's shy. I'm sorry handsome, did my bluntness scare you off? Come in here and I'll make it up to you."

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I agree with your Beta," I snapped, glaring back at her. Both she and the one I referred to as a Beta snorted in amusement. I wasn't sure why. "Lesser wolves would take advantage of you being chained up like that and unable to shift. Where's your sense of self-preservation?"

"I don't mind being chained up, handsome," she said, a smirk forming. "That just makes it so much more fun and my..." she said, her eyes going up and down me like she could see right through my clothes, "you are something to look at."

I shook my head and tried to ignore her. She was completely insane. I was half-tempted to ask Tess when she was coming back but I didn't want her to think I couldn't handle this. I could handle this and I knew she was just flirting with me to try to get out of her chains. It shouldn't even matter. Girls had flirted with me since Krystal but I never felt anything from it. I didn't exactly feel anything from Red either except concern over someone being so damn reckless.

"Stop teasing me, Benny, at least let me look at you," she taunted.

Benny. Only one person in the world had ever called me that. That broke my patience.

"Do not," I growled, turning to glare at her. "Fucking call me that again."

Her pack members sent out warning growls in response to my aggression but I ignored them, slightly enjoying the surprised look on her face.

"Goddess," she said, raising an eyebrow. "I didn't think you had it in you, handsome. You pull off the good little Beta so well," she said, tilting her head to the side. "If you want me to shut up, I can think of plenty of ways to put my mouth to good use. Just bring your cute ass over here and I'll show you," she said, licking her lips.

"Are you flirting with the prisoner?" Zach asked.

Goddess, she had me so riled up I didn't even hear Zach come in.

"Of course I'm not," I said, snapping my head towards him. "She's insane. I think the tranquilizers haven't worn off yet."

"I'm not insane, Benedict, I'm just not shy," Red said.

I willed myself to not look at her and Zach glanced between us curiously. "Uh, okay. Well, Tess wants you. There's uh..." He looked over at Red again then back to me.

There's a kid we pulled from the house. He needs a gentle presence and the empaths are overloaded with everyone else. They really messed with him. A little Fae boy. Will you talk to him? Zach linked.

I frowned in confusion because Zach was just as good at that as I was. Why not you? I asked.

I can't, Zach answered, pain flashing across his face.

Shit. It must've been bad. Zach never turned anything down but clearly something happened that was triggering him. Our whole pack was so full of trauma we had to be kind to each other about it or we'd lose our minds. I patted his back and nodded.

"I got it. Don't worry about it," I assured him.

"Thanks," he said, offering a smile. "I'll uh..." he glanced over at Red curiously then back to me. "Keep an eye on things I guess."

"I'd put my headphones in if I were you," I said seriously, refusing to look back at her. "Because she will not shut up and it's really annoying."

"I told you, handsome," she taunted. "You're more than welcome to come in here and fill my mouth with something else."

Zach's eyes widened and I sighed. "That's the kind of shit I'm talking about. Don't let her get to you. Just put your headphones in and ignore her."

"Oh come on, Benedict," she said, drawing out my name. "You're the only one I want to flirt with," she smirked. "I like making you blush."

I shook my head and ignored her, going down the dungeon hallway lined with cells and ignoring her laughter as I walked away. 

A/N:

Heyy loves, I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

This book and the next two are complete on Patreon, and we're over 50 chapters into Dean and Mia's story. Link in my bio 💜

Poor Ben and his memories of Krystal 😭

lol Red doesn't know the meaning of holding back, apparently

Take care, loves 💜