I want to say that I had overcome many obstacles in my life, but the demons that taunt me in my dream tell me otherwise. I could handle pain, hate, and anger. Those are familiar grounds for me.

But confinement?

Walls?

I felt trapped.

No way to see the sun, day, or night.

My fear drove my wolf to the surface. She was eager to protect—to save us both. We both knew that we would never go back to the hole. They'll either take us back fighting or dying. There was no way we would go back willingly.

Snarling like the very Devil had possessed me, I lunged at the nearest being. Some old fart who looked to be a doctor.

White coats.

Doctors.

No!

Pain shot through my wrists. The entrapments were restraining me, but I could hear it weakening under pressure. My filthy raven hair stuck out in all kinds of place. It has been days since Liam and I had a little time to tend to our personal needs. I must reek of days of sweat.

"She's crazy," one of them whispered.

You haven't seen crazy yet.

My eyes were wolfed out. My nails elongated into claws. I was more wolf than human.

"How are we supposed to provide medical treatment when each time we go near her, she bites us?" a female doctor muttered irritably.

Try me, bitch.

"She's more wolf than human. Look at her? The look in her eyes..."

I growled and tugged once again on the restraints. It squeaked in protest but held on. I'm getting sick and tired of these people. I don't trust them with my life. All I want them was for them to leave me alone. Was that so hard? I didn't want to be here.

"She's clearly untreatable."

That's old news to me. Now let me go! I growled menacingly an air of dominance soaked the room. Some of them blinked and stumbled back, unprepared and surprised at the amount of aura saturated the room.

Suddenly, the door opened. All eyes shifted to the door. I didn't need to look because I already knew who had entered the room. My canines lengthened in annoyance. He was the last person I wanted to see. He made me feel things I don't want to feel. I hate that, which means I hate him.

"Alpha," everyone greeted with a submissive bow.

I sneered at the pitiable puppets. My lengthen claws digging into the palms of my hands, fighting back the urge to turn and follow everyone. Blood dripped from my palms. His scent wrapped around me like a warm blanket. Goosebumps crawled all over my skin.

With each step he took closer, my spine stiffened some more. Yet, I refused to look at him. I couldn't afford to lose myself again. Those eyes were cool abysses of water to my burning pain.

Then out of the corner of my eyes, I saw his hand lifted into the air and reached for my injured wrist. I snarled and lunged at him. He would not touch me. That was the last thing I wanted. The tantalizing tingles that erupted from his touch—I craved them, and that was bad.

He didn't pull away from me. Instead, he caught my shoulders effectively and pressed me back onto the bed. I struggled against him, kicking him hard in the stomach and head butting him in the chin. I heard him grunt in pain, but still he held me down.

"She's untreatable, Alpha. The female refused to let anyone near her."

"She's a danger to herself and to everyone. Look at her wrists and hands. She's hurting herself."

I felt him stiffened above me. His entire demeanor changed. Fury rolled off him in waves and mixed with the dominant air. Even my wolf hesitated, unsure to proceed.

"What are you saying?" he said through clenched teeth.

From over his shoulders, I could see everyone exchanging looks. No one wanting to say anything. I tried to push him off me, but he held me down.

"I-we-we think that she's a risk to the pack. We have never treated crazed rogues before. She is more wolf than human."

The male above me, his face transformed into a fiery fury. The heat that blazed the coolness of his eyes enthralled me beyond imagination. He reeked of male dominance, and my body was reacting without my permission. My wolf liked the challenge and dominance that radiated from him, but me? I feared him.

"She will be going nowhere," he growled. "It is not her who needs to leave, but all of you. Bunch of fucking idiots. What am I paying you for? To sit around and twiddle your thumbs?"

"But Alpha Hunter—"

"No! Get the fuck out!" he roared.

Instantly, my ears rang with his loud command. No one disobeyed. They all flew out in a flurry, leaving me in his mercy.

I don't know what I hated more. The fact that he looked so devilishly handsome, angry or the fact that my body was responding in a wanton way.

At this rate, I wanted to open my mouth and ask him to bring them back. I wanted the doctors back. Not him. He was something I couldn't handle. But my protest died at my lips when he pulled back to sit next to me.

I realized I had stopped struggling. Instead, I looked at him with a cautioning look. They called him Hunter.

Hunter.

The male was built athletically like he never missed a workout day in his life. His defined muscular toned body tightened in the navy-blue shirt he wore. His dirty blonde hair a disheveled mess. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he made me feel like little.

Hunter's attention flew from my wrist and then to me. A perplexed look replaced his fury. He didn't look to please to see the damage that I have done to myself. His hands were curled in his lap.

"Why?"

One word.

I didn't answer him. He should already know why. I don't want to be here.

"Are you able to talk?" he questioned.

Would that change everything?

Then he looked frustrated, running his hands through his hair roughly. Before I knew it, I nodded my head.

His eyes snapped to me.

"Then talk to me," he half pleaded, half demanded.

I eyed him. There was no reason to talk to him. All I needed him to do was release me. He sighed and rubbed his face with one hand. Then he stood up, I thought he decided to leave after failing to make me speak up. However, he walked over to the white cabinets and look through them.

He pulled out a few medical supplies before closing the cabinets and walking back to my side. Sitting in the nearest chair to me, he placed the supplies on the edge of the bed.

"If I release one of your wrist will you attack me?"

I debated about it. My eyes measuring the amount of time I would get from hurting him and running to the door.

"You would leave without the boy?" he questioned.

My eyes snapped back to him. He knew the answer already. I ground my teeth in irritation. Hunter was right. I wouldn't leave without Liam. Guilt hit me like a tidal wave. I had forgotten about him. From the moment that I woke up to present, I thought of myself only. Liam was my responsibility. I needed to protect him. I promised mom I would.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and fought back the tears that threatened to show themselves. Hunter watched me for a minute before he began to unravel the restraints. The material rubbed at my wounds and I had to fight to keep my facial expression neutral.

He didn't let go of my wrist. I knew why he didn't. He didn't trust me. With a firm grip on my arm. Hunter started cleaning my wound. First with antiseptic towelettes that stung upon contact. I snarled at him. One corner of his lips lifted.

"Maybe you'll think again before you attack. You won't be able to break out of these restraints. It's made to restrain even the strongest wolf in the world," Hunter informed without looking at me.

Once he was done cleaning my wrist, he flipped my palm over. By now, my claws have returned to normal. He gently touched the inside of my hand and I flinched. Our eyes met and for a minute, neither of us moved. It was like this a strong visceral pull. Reeling me in slowly.

"What is your name?" he questioned.

I broke eye contact then. He sighed and continued his ministration on my palm. For someone who had very big hands, he was being extremely gentle with me. I don't like it and I don't trust it at all.

A rumble of displeasure vibrated in my chest.

"Promise me you won't attack me again and I'll take the restraints off permanently."

These restraints reminded me of the hole. When he would use it on me. A trade. I could do this but trusting him was something I won't give easily.

I nodded my head. He smiled and my heart skipped a beat. Jesus, he was beautiful. Too fucking beautiful. How on earth do I breathe or think in his presence when he looked like that? Jesus.

He dropped my tended hand down onto the mattress without restraining it again. Hunter moved to the other side of the bed and removed the restraint. He treated it the same way he treated the other side. Tending it carefully and gently.

I don't know why I stopped fighting, but seeing him tend to me like this—I couldn't resist but stare at him. A lock of his hair fell over his forehead as he worked on my hand.

"You're a feisty female. I have never seen any normal female werewolf throw around dominant air like you do. I've only seen Alpha females. I don't feel normal Alpha vibes from you, yet you were able to change the atmosphere." He paused in his work and frowned blindly before continuing his work. All the while not looking at me. Adorable and confused were the two words that flashed across my mind. When those words flashed across my mind, I couldn't stop the scowl from appearing on my face. He was my captor, not my friend or family.

"There is something different about you," he mumbled more to himself.

I stiffened. Did he know? Impossible. The only way he knew was if they drew blood. My eyes snapped to my arms, and I found a white tape on the spot where they drew blood. I looked at Hunter again, but at the look on his face. He doesn't know, at least not yet.

He stopped and looked up at me. The way he looked all over my face but not exactly at one spot too long made me nervous.

"I'll make you another deal."

I looked at him. Another deal? Does this deal have to do with letting me go?

"Say something to me and I'll let you see your brother."

See?

I narrowed my eyes at him. Is that all he got?

He seemed to sense my thoughts because he re-worded what he said previously.

"Say something and I'll bring you to your brother. You would be able to be with him."

I needed to see that he was safe. I needed to be with Liam in case anything happens. I didn't argue this time. I took his deal, but what I was going to say, that was the only thing he was going to get from me.

"Let me go."

My voice was hoarse and low. It cracked a little because it was dry. I swallowed my saliva to soothe the dryness. His eyes flew all over my face again. A deep look in his eyes. It made me nervous, and I fought the urge to fidget. No way would I allow him to see how he makes me nervous.

"Never."