Chapter 7
I flinch as the ruler comes down on my hand for what must have been the thousandth time. I take a deep breath and will myself to endure the sting as yet another blow lands, this time on my cheek. Tears stream down my face as I wonder, not for the first time, what I had done to deserve this life.
I start to wonder how much time has passed since I had first entered the room. There is no clock on the wall and I will only be punished further, if I pull my phone out in front of my punisher. I start to measure the passage of time by the rhythm of the strikes against my skin.
Finally, I hear the final bell ring and relief floods my system as the wolf tasked with my punishment sets down the ruler. I take a step toward the door, but it opens before I can reach it. I flinch as I see Vedant standing there, smirking.
He looks me up and down cruelly. “Had enough yet, Chirara?”
I keep my eyes on the ground, unable to look at the person who put me here. If my punishment had fit the crime, I would have held my head high, but I had only asked for something that would benefit us both.
“I thought so. All you have to do is admit you were wrong and you’re free to go. If you refuse you are to report back here tomorrow morning for another day of punishment.”
My face heats at his words and my stomach twists at the thought of apologizing to this monster. I set my jaw as I look up. “No.”
Anger flashes across Vedant’s face at my words and I do my best to prepare myself for whatever may come next.
“No?” He looks at the other wolf, “Not only has she not apologized, but she has also chosen to talk back yet again. She will not be reporting to you in the morning. Instead, she will remain here for a day’s confinement with no food or water.”
My heart drops at his words. It was one thing to send me to the discipline room for the remainder of the school day, but to ask for me, his mate, to be left in pain and without any food or water for twenty-four hours was a kind of cruelty I didn’t know Vedant was capable of.
The pair leave, and I hear a click as the door is locked from the outside. I press my back against the cold tile floor deciding sleep will be the best way to pass the time, but despite my best efforts, it alludes me.
After my stomach rumbles for the eighth time in an hour I push myself off the floor, accepting that I won’t be able to sleep on an empty stomach. I pull out my phone hoping to distract myself and see a string of messages from Felix.
Felix: Is everything okay?
Felix: I waited for you last night, what happened?
Felix: I’m not mad, I just want to make sure everything’s alright. Why didn’t you come online to celebrate your birthday?
Regret fills me as I read Felix’s messages. I should have come online after meeting Vedant in the park, but I couldn’t bring myself to face Felix after Vedant refused to reject me.
Iris: I’m so sorry that I couldn’t make it last night. I don’t want to get into it right now, but it was a hard night.
Felix: You don’t have to apologize. I just wanted to make sure that you are okay. I’m sorry it was a hard night for you. Maybe a little surprise will make you feel better.
A few seconds later my phone buzzes again and I see a voice message pop up on the screen. I smile for a second before hitting play.
There’s a pause and then a deep male voice starts to sing. “Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Iris. Happy birthday to you.”
Despite the chill of the hard floor beneath me, warmth begins to spread inside my chest at his kind gesture. I hit play on the message again, unable to keep the giddy smile off my face.
I listen to the message a few more times, noting that he must have been outside when he recorded it. Despite his best efforts the sound of wind blowing in the background had slightly distorted his voice.
I listen to the song one more time, this time noting that despite the distortion, his voice sounds really similar to Vedant’s. I freeze at the thought, thinking about the matching shirtsleeves in the picture Felix had sent. Before I can give it anymore thought another text comes in.
Felix: You there? I hope I didn’t scare you off with my horrible singing voice.
I shake my head. The Felix I know would never treat anybody the way Vedant had treated me. I quickly tap out a reply.
Iris: Of course not! You have a wonderful voice. I didn’t reply because I couldn’t stop myself from listening to it over and over again.
Felix: Really? I’m glad you liked it so much. I’ll have to sing to you in person when we meet. Now that you’re eighteen we finally can! When do you think we can arrange it?”
Guilt claws its way back into my chest as I realize I am going to have to lie. I want nothing more than to finally meet Felix face to face, but until I can get Vedant to reject me and break our bond, it wouldn’t be a good idea.
Iris: You know that I want nothing more, but a group of rogues was spotted traveling not far from my pack’s lands. Until they move on or have been brought to justice I don’t think it would be safe for us to meet.
Felix: It’s okay. Your safety is what’s important. I will wait for you, no matter how long it takes.
As I read Felix’s message the last of my suspicions vanish. There is no way that Vedant would be this kind or this patient.
I think of the sweet boy I used to play with, the one I used to dream would become my mate one day and sigh. He had let Owen’s death kill that boy too. The boy I used to know is gone and a horrible brute has taken his place.
Felix is kinder than Vedant could even dream of being. I smile at my phone, trying to ignore the guilty feeling in the pit of my stomach. I don’t like lying to Felix but at times it has been necessary.
I shift my weight, feeling a bit woozy as I do. It must have been my hunger making me crazy enough to even compare Felix to Vedant in the first place. The two couldn’t be more different.
I lean back against the wall of the room, moving slowly to avoid losing consciousness. As I do I hear footsteps and then the lock on the door clicks once more. I blink as the door is pushed open and I am exposed to the bright light of the hallway.
