I felt strangely comfortable when I came to.

I squirmed, trying to wake myself up, but it only made my head swim. Instead, I concentrated on my surroundings, aware that I was touching something soft, and I was no longer cold and shivering. But there was something stuck in my arm that made me feel itchy.

Groaning, I raised my hand to the itch, my fingers catching on something that sent a strange tug down my arm. I jolted at the contact, my eyes flying open with surprise. Something was stabbing me.

My eyes blurred, and it took a few moments to correlate my surroundings. Everything appeared white, and I frowned at the unfamiliar territory and strange bed I was in. Last thing I remember was Bleak carrying me to a...

I shot upright when I remembered. He had taken me to a doctor! Who knows what kind of sick, twisted experiments they did on me! The absolute traitor.

There was a beeping from beside me, one that had wires. I followed the strange device all the way until it disappeared into my chest. Pulling the shirt from my neck, I glanced down to see the wires were stuck to my skin. More wires came out of my arm, leading to a strange clear bag of nearly empty liquid. There was something on my forefinger too that, once I ripped it off, caused an alarm to sound.

My eyes widened, and I cursed, smacking the machine with my spare hand to shut up. I tried to lift my legs to kick it, but they felt weirdly heavy and lazy, so I continued to smack. When it didn't relent, I pushed it so hard it fell to the floor and smashed.

Beeping ceased!

I grinned, relaxing back into the bed, ripping the sticky things from my chest. Crossing my arms, I debated on what to destroy next. The bandage on my head was quite nice... The itchy thing in my arm was driving me insane, though, so after a close examination of it, I realised it was in multiple parts.

I just wrapped my hand around it, ready to pluck it from my skin when the door opened, and a harsh voice announced their presence.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Harold warned.

I glared at him. "Why not? How am I supposed to know what you are putting in me? It could be poison! Or wolf saliva! I don't want to be a wolf!"

His face contorted with confusion as he walked around the bed. The doctor from my hazy dream followed him, his eyes wide with horror as he stared down at the smashed monitor on the floor.

"What did you do?" He gasped.

I crossed my arms. "I did nothing. It fell."

His eyes snapped to me, narrowing with annoyance. "It did not just fall. It was secure on that table and has been for many years."

"So, it got old and died. Such a shame." I sighed, placing a hand on my heart. "I am sure a younger, fitter model will come around, eventually."

He growled, forcing whatever was in his hands into Harold's chest.

"I need a moment." The doctor said and left without another word.

I watched him leave with a quirked brow. "What's his deal?"

"You just destroyed a highly valuable heart monitor system." Harold sighed, flickering through some papers.

"Highly valuable?" I grimaced, glancing down at the smashed plastic. "Should've built it better, then."

His eyes narrowed, letting the pages fall shut. "I think you are well enough to be discharged."

"Discharged?" My nose crinkled.

"Not that kind." He grunted. "I am going to sign your papers and escort you out of here."

"Oh cool, where is here?" I wondered.

"A hospital... of sorts," He muttered.

"Oh?"

"It's separate from our main hospital. This one is only for cell patients,"

"That's pretty cute." I admired. "Giving all the bad guys little bandages."

He glared. "You are one of those bad guys, remember?"

I scoffed. "First, I am good. Second, I am a girl."

"Yes, of course. Shall I go tell the press?"

I couldn't help but grin at his teasing. "Make me a star? How amazing."

Rolling his eyes, he scribbled something on the paper before putting it on a tray at the foot of the bed.

"What's that?" I asked.

"Your paperwork." He stated.

"No shit." I gasped. "It's paper?"

Still glaring, he ignored me. "I signed it. You are no longer a patient here."

"And why am I even here in the first place?"

"You nearly died."

"Aw, how fun!" I cooed. "What nearly killed me? Rat bite? Fungus on my toenail? Hypothermia from being blasted by freezing cold water? Or is it the strange tasting powder in my food?"

His eyes widened a fraction when mine narrowed, and he awkwardly cleared his throat.

"Infection. The wound on your head was pretty... stinky,"

"Stinky? Like cheese?" I cocked my head, remembering the dairy stall back in Somerval.

Some days, it would be strong enough to make me heave.

"Sure... whatever. Look, I am just here to take you out of here since you are all better." He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Back to my holiday room? Do I get the suite this time?"

"Do you ever shut up?" He snapped.

My eyes were wide, and I bit down on my lip to stop from snickering. He sighed rather dramatically at my silence and moved closer with some equipment in his hands.

"Where's Bleak?" I wondered.

"Who?" He grunted, pulling the sharp thing from my arm.

His fingers stayed secure on my skin, firmly holding some soft stuff to stop the blood flow. Huh, barely flinched. Bossin' it.

"The grumpy grey eyed wolf-man, you know, Bleak?" I cocked my head.

His eyebrows furrowed. "Emre?"

"Does Emre have grey eyes?" I rolled my own.

"Oh, you mean Diesel?" He cocked his head. "He's not a-

"Diesel?" I scowled. "That is a terrible name."

He actually chuckled, shaking his head as he fiddled with the wires. "It's not his birth name."

"Well, what is his birth name?"

"Jax." He shrugged, raising his eyes to mine.

Dark and light blue gazes collided, and I blinked, confused.

"So, basically, he has a stupid name either way." I stated.

"Oh yeah, and what's your name, human?" He cocked his head.

My eyes trailed across his face, scowling with scrutiny. All of these wolves were rather good looking. It made me feel rather shitty about my appearance, and humans in general. Why did every other creature possess good looks, while humans were left looking pale, greasy, and gross?

"Well, human?"

"My name is a secret." I shrugged. "It's too heavenly to give you."

"You plagued my entire soul with your little name game. Do you want me to do the same? Or do you want me to keep calling you human?" He asked.

"I dunno, I like a game... but human is growing on me," I lazily grinned.

He sighed, exasperated. "Okay, fine, human, you win."

"Yay! Easiest game ever." I snickered.

With a grunt, Harold ripped the blanket from my body, and I screamed with fright.

"Hey! I could've been naked!"

"Who do you think dressed you in the robe you are wearing?" He scoffed. "It didn't just appear."

My eyes widened, dread filling my stomach at the thought of someone seeing my tattered skin. I kept it hidden as much as I could.

Swallowing, I levelled my eyes with his. "You didn't..."

"Not me, you'll just have to guess who." He teased.

I scowled, knowing it had to be the Doctor or Bleak. Neither seemed appealing. Maybe a random person who happened to have a thing for messed up bodies. Possibly a nurse? They were weirdos, too.

"How long have I been in here?" I asked, changing the topic.

"Just over a day. Aiden was the one who reported to Diesel, who brought you in two nights ago."

So, Bleak dragged me here at night, where I passed out for an entire twenty-four hours, and now I woke up and it was...

Wait...

Wait.

Grumpy's name is Aiden?

Oh, goddess. Was I the only one with a cool name?

Oh no, there was Emre. That was a cool name.

"What time is it?" I wondered.

"There is no need for the concept of time where you are going." Harold shook his head, busying himself with something beside the bed.

I scowled, following where his hands touched. There were straps around the bed frame that travelled up to the sheets and to my legs. With wide eyes, I followed his hands and then realised too late that I was tied to the bed. Like an animal.

"Seriously?" I glared as he dropped one to the floor.

He smirked, moving to the other. "You are unpredictable."

"I was asleep!"

And a human!

"You kick in your sleep." He shrugged.

"You were watching me sleep? Perv." I tutted.

He sighed again, dropping the other piece to the floor. "Do you want fresh clothes or are you going to lie here forever?"

"Clothes would be good." I shrugged, hyper-aware of my scarred skin being so close to being revealed.

With Neo, I didn't mind. We had a mutual understanding, and he had seen me naked plenty of times.

"Right. I will get you clothes and then take you back to your single-housed holiday."

I grinned. "Meanie."

Harold gave me the finger as he left the room, rather childishly, and I gasped. "Harold!"

"My name is not Harold, it is Harry!" He called from the other side of the door.

I snickered, happy he was biting back, and waited for him to return. When he did, it was with dull grey pieces of clothing. There were black underpants that reminded me of Neo's short-pant-boxer things, grey trousers, a t-shirt and a zip-up jacket.

"For me?" I cooed. "You shouldn't have."

"Get dressed. You have three minutes." He stated, turning his back to me.

If I had a knife, I could just stab him right in the shoulder blades. Too bad I didn't. I guess he got to live another day.

Shrugging off the robe thing I wore, I eyed my body. Other than the usual scars, the arrow wounds had not changed. My shoulder was tender, and I acknowledged the bandages around my wrists and head as permanent fixtures. The ones on my wrist were bloody though. I wonder if they'll get changed.

Sighing at the mummification, I pulled on the shirt and jacket first, unhappy with the insecurity of my breasts. Do they not have bad-guy-girls? Where was my brazier?

Swinging my legs over the side of the bed, I carefully pulled up the boxers. Realising I felt steady on two feet, I dragged the trousers up, too. Only one thing missing.

"Do I get socks?"

"Not part of the uniform." Harold shrugged, turning around.

"So, I have to suffer with cold feet?" I gasped.

"You sure do. You are a prisoner, remember that!" He narrowed his eyes.

I scoffed. "I would rather die than have cold feet!"

"Shame." He tutted, taking me by the elbow.

I pouted down at his hands when he flashed cuffs in front of me. I cocked my head, staring at them in his grip.

"No gloves?" I asked.

"These are not silver." He shook his head.

"Silver burns, right?" I smirked.

"Unfortunately."

"Thanks for confirming." I hummed. "I shall keep that in mind for when I kill you."

He scowled, snapping my wrists in the shackles before dragging me out of the door. As usual, he walked way too fast, and I had to jog to keep up. Reaching the cells, various people seethed at me, raking their eyes along my fresh, pretty face.

I winked at one of the savage ones, but he continued to growl, saliva pooling from his lips. Gross.

Reaching my cell, Harold gave me a cautionary glare before releasing my grip. I understood his warning and stayed glued to the spot. I kept my eye on him, watching where he retrieved his key from; his back pocket. So, cliché.

The door swung open, and he forced me inside. I inhaled deeply, pretending it smelt like roses once more.

"So, same rules apply. One meal a day, except you will have antibiotics to take too."

"They're for the infection, right?" I wondered.

I haven't taken medicine before. Maybe as a child, but I was too young to remember any of it.

"Sure are. We will see how it is in a week." He nodded. "Somebody will check on you."

"Okay, cool."

He unshackled me, taking a step back with cautionary eyes. "You take this rather well."

"It's nothing new." I cocked my head, rubbing my wrists. "Why are you here?"

"To escort you?" He frowned. "You are my prisoner."

"But you are high rank, no? Why not make someone else deal with me?"

"I want you alive. I need my pin back." He shrugged.

I narrowed my eyes, humming. "Sure... that is why."

He rolled his eyes. "No more games. I'm going."

"You like me, Harold!" I sang and he scoffed.

I waited until he shut the door and locked it, the key halfway to his pocket, before I ran toward him. I pressed myself into the bars, reaching toward his chest to grab his shirt.

"Wait, Harry!" I gasped.

His eyebrows rose at his normal name. "Yes?"

"Thank you," I breathed.

Eyebrows furrowing, he searched my eyes. "Okay... Goodbye, Human."

Just as he went to drop the key into his pocket, my other hand dived and caught it before it hit the bottom of the fabric. Securing my hand back between the bars, I was eternally grateful that I was so small. Pretending nothing happened, I took a step away from the bars and smiled at him.

When he was out of earshot, I stepped away from the bars and into a corner. I knew there were some kind of eyes watching me and knew that this front corner was safe from them. Staring down at the key with triumph, I secured it in my fist with glee.

"Thank you again, Harold." I whispered happily.

Freedom secured.