Liam stirred as he slowly awakened. He groaned as his head pounded violently, as if his fever wasn't enough already. He slowly sat up, darkness swallowing everything in front of him. He couldn't tell at all what was in the room, aside from the very uncomfortable mat he was laying on.
"Devan..? You here?" He asked in uncertainty. Part of him was glad that he was alone in the room. He knew Devan had basically kidnapped him, so having him near wasn't really a comfortable idea in Liam's mind.
He slowly stood up, his body raging at his action, sending a wave of heat and pain throughout his body. He really needed some sirup or antibiotics to combat this horrible thing that was inside of him. He managed to slowly walk around, hands against the wall to keep himself somewhat situated. He gasped when his hands felt a different texture rather than the cemented wall. If was soft yet rather rough, like wood. He quickly tried to touch around, finding what he was looking for, a doorknob.
"Got ya!" He said before twisting it, his face paling as the door refused to budge. He tried with more force than before despite his week grip, pushing with his shoulder before his eyes started to water.
"Son of a bitch..." He cursed under his breath as he tried to pull instead, his sweaty hand ended up slipping off the doorknob. He stumbled backward, too dizzy to catch himself, and crashed violently against the floor.
The room became quiet, his slow breath the only thing confirming his survival of the fall in this dark room.
-
Narcia stood there, bitting at her nails as the pack members rushed around. Her father had told her to stay put until news of a scent track would be received. There was no point in losing another person to this monster, which was what he had said to her and she agreed.
"Narcia, stop bitting at your nails. We will find him, okay?" Tammy said as Narcia nodded, not able to calm herself down whatsoever. It's not like Tammy could understand the stress she was under. She hadn't found her mate yet, after all.
Tammy tried to put her hand on Narcia's shoulder, but the girl flinched and stepped away, going at her nails again. Her friend sighed and sat down at the nearby table, watching over her friend from a distance. Matheo walked into the room soon enough, a smile on his face as he rushed over to his future alpha.
"We found a scent! It led us back here. We're trying to see where the source comes from." He said as her father walked in, his eyes now full of worry.
"The scent led them back here?" He asked as Matheo nodded. He had no idea how, but the scent trackers had been brought all the way back to the pack grounds.
"He could be here to either feast... Or he knows about him being your mate." Her father said before she frowned and looked at her father with anger.
"What does him being my mate have to do with any of this! Liam doesn't know anything about us, even if he did... He wouldn't rat us out. He isn't a shifter either and we know that monster feeds off OUR people! Why would he take Liam!?" She yelled in anger, her claws growing as her eyes glowed a silver grey with her fury.
"Maybe he wants to do a trade, your life for your mate's. I do not know, sweetie. But I know your mate definitely can't have been captured for nothing." He said as she growled and stormed out the room. She needed some fresh air and some distance from the whole situation. She walked up the stairs to her room, slamming the door behind herself before opening her window wide, taking a deep breath. She immediately coughed, covering her nose from the stench that reached her nose. She quickly looked down in hopes of seeing this monster, but what she saw was even worse.
A blood curdling scream escaped her lungs as she witnessed the scene bellow, tears swelling in her eyes as she covered her face. Her father burst into the room, her mother and two best friends quickly following behind him. His face softened as he saw his daughter cry. The others sighed in relief, glad she hadn't been attacked. Narcia didn't waste any time on words and quickly pointed towards the window.
"Oh god... How atrocious." Her mother exclaimed as she watched the scene outside, wolves howling near their graveyard that were now covered in fresh holes. Something had dug up the corpse of recently lost souls.
"How did this happen!? Who did this!" Her father roared as he walked towards the door. He wanted explanations, and he wanted to them now. Tammy quickly rushed over Narcia, embracing her tightly as she sobbed. Her mother had recently miscarried her little brother, so seeing the graves bothered had caused her a lot of pain for that matter specifically, but also because these were dead pack members, they were like family to everyone who belonged in it.
"Did that cannibal do this!?" She asked as her mother gently petted her hair, tears falling down the older woman's cheeks. She wasn't sure what to say anymore. If she could avoid any more worries from her daughters mind, she would keep quiet.
"We don't know... Clearly something... Ate the corpse we freshly buried." Her mother said with tears in her eyes as she held her daughter. Both of them cry in each other's arms. They all sat their in silence, tears falling down the wolves cheeks. It took a while before her father came back, a sinister grin on his face as he kneeled next to the 2 women of his life.
"We found a track, I sent my best men after that monster... As soon as they find its hideout, we will join them. Please rest at home for now. We will alert the university of a family passing... That way, both of you can also be excused." He said, looking at Tammy and Matheo, who both nodded.
Narcia sighed, moving away from her mother, and sat on her bed. She covered her face before pushing her hair back with her hands. How did this happen to them, more specifically, how did this happen to Liam? She leaned back on her bed, signaling everyone in the bedroom to leave. They all obeyed and left one by one, leaving her to her thoughts. She closed her eyes, remembering that scent of his. She would get him back, no matter what the cost.
-
Devan walked in his yard, taking the clothes that hung on his fence. He felt much better already, though he regretted it every time. He hated the creature he was, but unfortunately, because his parents had become cannibals before his conception, he became one at birth. He groaned as one of his last bones snapped back in place, dressing himself and walking back into the house. He took a deep breath, enjoying the new pine smell that had invaded his home now.
"This is a nice change..." He whispered to himself before he froze, the smell of blood reaching his nose. His eyes widened in terror before he dashed through his house, desperation clear in his eyes. He kicked his door open, running down the stairs and unlocking the door with speed. His heart was pounding hard in his chest. He quickly pulled out his cellphone and turned on the flashlight.
"Oh god! Liam!?" He yelled as he dropped down next to the immobile boy, blood near his head where he seemed to have fallen. Liam's body was so hot that there was steam just barely coming off his skin to the cold air of the room.
Devan quickly closed his flashlight and picked up the boy, cursing to himself for having not chained him. He knew that a pitch black room wasn't safe, but he had only tried to keep the boy's temperature down, and this was the only quick solution he had found. He made it up the stairs and rushed to the bathroom, dropping Liam gently into the tub before pulling out an alcohol bottle. He took a towel and dabbed it in before gently pressing it around the wound on Liam's head.
"I am so sorry, little human... It wasn't my intention for you to get hurt." He said as he moved some of the wet hair out of Liam's face.
Little did he know that Liam was conscious, very conscious. The second Devan started washing the bloody rag, Liam jumped out of the tub, stumbling a bit as he ran towards the door with all his might. Devan was taken a bit by surprise but quickly caught up, closing the semi open door that Liam had pulled. Anger was clear on the cannibals face.
"What do you think you're doing, mate." Devan asked in an angry tone. He was not happy at Liam's attempt to escape.
"You can't keep me here! You kidnapped me!" He yelled, his chest rising and falling rapidly. He needed to find a way out and quickly at that.
"Listen, I did not kidnap you! I don't live at the dorms, and when I saw you collapsed, I didn't know your room, so I brought you to my home. We're just a 20-minute walk from university, okay?" Devan said as he let the door go, crossing his arms before putting his finger on Liam's chest.
"Maybe next time you collapse or need my help. I'll just watch you!" He said before turning around, Liam quickly catching the guy's arm.
"Why did you lock me up then!? If you just wanted my safety, why in a basement?" He said as Devan sighed and looked at him with sadness.
"Because I am not loved around here... I wanted to keep you safe, plus you are burning hot, It's pretty fresh in the basement. I'm sorry it had to be like this, but I didn't want to risk you running out and getting hurt." Devan said, making Liam feel suddenly guilty for missgudging the guy.
"Alright, I understand. But please dont lock me in that room, I just want to eat and rest on a soft bed." Liam asked as he grabbed his forehead, the world starting to spin around him. Devan gently lifted Liam arm over his shoulder and smiled.
"That I can do no problem." He said as he walked him to the table, pulling out some ingredients to make some nice meal for Liam to feast upon.
At least he wasn't trying to run anymore.