Abraxas

“Told you she would be afraid of me!”

“But you used Maddie?” Dane cocks a brow at me, though I could see he was annoyed with my actions.

“It was her idea. She thought that if she could connect with Blair over what Cooper did to them both, she might relax a little.”

“And?” He rocks in his desk chair.

“And nothing. Blair didn’t lie like I was expecting her too, she was forthcoming with information. She got on with the job, accepting everything that Madison was showing her. If we didn’t know her past, you would think she was an outstanding member of the pack.”

“Most likely because you were watching her?” He mutters. “She fears you, of course she is not going to step out of line. But you really believe she is telling the truth?”

“As much as I hate her and would gladly use her skin as a flag to warn off other assholes, she ain’t lying. I never thought I would say it, but Cooper broke her in more ways than I could ever imagine. I saw something that I have never seen in her before.” Did I want to admit it? No. Did I really want to tell Dane? No. But it was better for it to come from me.

“What?”

“Empathy.”

“Empathy?”

“Yes.” I answer curtly. “The bitch has empathy.”

He stares at me in disbelief. “I need you to keep that information to yourself.”

“I can do that. Is it Neah you are worried about?”

He shakes his head at me. “Neah can handle herself.”

“Okay, but….”

“It doesn’t matter, Brax. Just do this for me.”

I scowl at him. “It seems like more and more things are being added to our deal.”

He looks me dead in the eye. “Are you going to tell me that you suddenly hate living here? You haven’t been back to your home in months.”

I keep my mouth shut, I wasn’t going to admit that I was getting used to living in the pack or that I didn’t want to be away from Maddie. I still didn’t like ny nine percent of the Lycans, but the Wolves I could cope with.

“Having people to talk to on a regular basis is nice, right?” He pauses for my answer and when I don’t respond, hè continues. “Speaking to others like you every single day Having your mate here in the pack. And don’t tell me you don’t like my mate, because I know you are fascinated by her soul.”

“Alright! Yes, I do like living here.”

A smug smile appears and I roll my eyes at him.

“It just wasn’t how I was raised. I couldn’t ever accept you as my Alpha, but yes, I do like living here.”

“I can accept that for now.” His eyes flicker up to the clock. “Want to accompany me to give the other prisoner some food?”

“You are feeding her now?”

“Need to keep her alive if we want to trade her.”

I follow him to the kitchen where a

tray of food had already been

prepped. Only a sandwich, a carton and some fruit, but it would be.

n

enough to keep Samara arton

Personally, I would have let her starve for another day or two.

In the dungeons, Samara is sitting at the back of her cell. She holds her knees to her chest and rocks. Dane opens her door and gestures for me to take in the food. She doesn’t move as I place it on the ground and step out.

It’s only when Dane turns the key that her head snaps up. “Cooper is going to kill you!”

“Are you talking to me or him?” I ask while pointing at Dane.

“Both of you. You both hurt me. You both punished me. You took away my friend. You ruined everything that I had.”

“Your friend? You mean the one that you lied to? The one you tricked into leading you here?” Dane challenges. “You are an excellent friend.”

I had to keep myself from laughing at his sarcasm because Samara didn’t see it.

“Have you killed her?”

“Does it matter?”

She rests her forehead on her knees and the crying begins. “This is all wrong. This wasn’t supposed to happen.”

“Being thrown in the dungeons?” I ask out of curiosity

“Why are you really here, Samara?” Dane presses

“It doesn’t matter.” She sniffles. “He’s coming for me.”

“I assume you are talking about your brother?”