Chapter 2. Wolves

Elisabeth’s POV

Sometimes, I doubted it—could things be worse than this? But the only thing that truly hit home was: We don’t belong in this world. Even if it was a total ramble, I never felt like I belonged here. There was never any room for me—or my mom, for that matter.

We were scum, a disgrace. It didn’t matter that I was a straight-A student and had almost perfect attendance at school. I would always be scum, something that belonged in the gutter.

Mom’s skin felt damp and cold against my fingers as I tucked her dry, splintered hair behind her ear.

“In the next life, Mom. In the next life.”

These were the only words that stuck with me from when I was a child, back when she still had clear days. When we had to go to bed hungry again, the power was out, or my shoes were destroyed, and she couldn't get me new ones. She always cradled me in her arms, brushing away my tears.

“In the next life, baby girl. In the next life.”

My tummy rumbled, and I cried in hunger. For many years, those words didn’t make sense to me at all. But as time passed, as I saw her slowly disappear in front of my eyes, I understood.

In the next life.

I closed her door, and with both hands along the wall, I found my way to the stairs in complete darkness. I fumbled my way step by step until my foot finally found the cold wooden floor. A door behind me slammed shut, and I spun around. But all that met me was utter silence and more darkness.

“Mom?”

“Hello?”

No answer.

Had she brought someone with her? It wouldn’t be the first time. I cursed under my breath and turned back around. The stairs behind me squeaked, and I froze in place, listening closely. There it was again—someone heavy, slowly making their way down the old stairs.

“Hello? Get the fuck out! The party’s over!” I shouted, my hand sliding into my pocket to grab my pepper spray.

Still no answer, but the squeaking sound filled the air again, like the old wood groaning under someone’s weight.

“Get the hell out! Now!”

“Run, rabbit. Run.” The voice came out of nowhere—deep and carnal. The hairs on my arms stood on end, and a chill crept down my spine.

Rumbling, hoarse laughter echoed in the darkness. I heard someone shouting after me as I spun around and ran straight out the door, my heart pounding in my chest. I stumbled towards my car.

Don’t look back, don’t look back!

Frantically, I yanked at the car door. Fuck! But I didn’t lock it! Fuck, fuck! My hands trembled as I searched my pockets, but nothing! Where is the key!?

The front door creaked open behind me, and I kicked the car in frustration, spinning around and bolting for the road.

“Little bunny, little bunny. Wolf is hungry!”

What kind of sick bastards are these!? That creepy laughter still echoed behind me, but I wasn’t staying to find out! The thud of my heartbeat pounded through my ears, my breath fast and shallow. Just as the road came into view, a hand grabbed my shoulder, yanking me back harshly.

Adrenaline surged through me. I spun around, fist-flying, and landed a solid punch right into some dude’s throat. Goddamn, he’s tall!

He released me, and the little sadist inside me smiled as I heard him cough and gasp for air behind me. I had aimed for his nose, but crushing his throat would do the trick.

But my victory was short-lived. The air was knocked out of my lungs, and I was thrown several meters down the road. The pavement scraped my skin raw, and the sounds around me were drowned out by the pounding of my heart. My vision blurred, and just before the darkness took over, I swore I saw a wolf towering above me.

Great. Just great.

My eyes rolled back, and darkness devoured me completely.

The wolves could have me. I didn’t care anymore.

In the next life, Mom. In the next life.

***

I floated on a comfortable cloud. Birds squeaked around me, the air fresh and light. I took another deep breath, smiling softly as I opened my eyes.

It wasn’t a cloud. I was being rocked back and forth on a hard wooden floor. No, a wagon. It smelled like shit here! Looking around, I realized I wasn’t alone—but I had never felt lonelier. At least eight girls sat around me, one of them quietly sobbing. The others stared blankly at the wooden floor, their hands and feet bound with thick rope.

There were no birds. The squeaking was the sound of the old wood and wheels. It was a horse-drawn carriage.

My side ached, and the skin on my knee stuck to my pants. Great. Torn. They were nearly new! Lifting my knees, I managed to roll into a sitting position.

Green grass, trees, open sky. Where the heck did they take me? At home, it was always damp, dark, and cold. I hadn’t seen this much greenery since I was a kid.

I shook my head. Not going down that memory lane. Those were tough years, but at least I learned a lot.

The wheels crunched over uneven gravel, rocking me back and forth. There wasn’t even a real road here! How long was I out?

“Where are we?” I didn’t ask anyone in particular, but nobody answered. None of the girls even lifted their heads to look at me.

Frowning, I studied them closely. Some were dirty, and all had fresh or old tear tracks on their cheeks. The crying girl had small leaves and sticks in her hair—and something that looked like blood on her chin and sweater.

Human trafficking? Kidnapping?

“Are you all deaf? Where are we!?” I raised my voice, and they all hunched down like they could make themselves smaller than they already were.

“Hush! Shut up! You’ll get us in trouble! We don’t know, okay? Nobody knows! So shut up!” A blonde girl spat the words at me, her intense blue eyes narrowed as she sized me up. Then she huffed and looked away.

No doubt an upper-class girl—long, cherry-red nails, one even glittering with a small diamond. A golden bracelet, an expensive dress, and heels I could only dream of.

But none of that could help her now. The swollen red lines around her eyes and smudged makeup trailing down her cheeks said it all. She had cried, just like the rest of them.

I didn’t like this one bit.

Yanking at the thick ropes, I twisted my wrists. The rough fibers burned against my skin but moved. Rolling my shoulders, I shuffled my hands up and down. Not that tight.

I wasn’t sticking around to find out what kind of nightmare this was.

Looking over my shoulder, I spotted the backs of two men.

My eyes widened. They were massive.