6

We turned right after a long, deserted country road and certainly drove several kilometers along a narrow forest path until I discovered a large wooden gate in front of us that looked well guarded and impassable.

"Pretty hidden", I said with big eyes and turned to the rear window, but apart from trees you couldn't see anything anymore and so I stared at the wooden gate again, in front of which Keno brought the car to a standstill.

He rolled down his window and chatted quietly to one of the two guys standing there, while the other held a gun in his hand and eyed me curiously. I was just beginning to feel a little uncomfortable under his gaze when he abruptly turned away and I too flinched as Keno stared at him and began to growl menacingly.

Heart racing, I watched the gate open and then turned my gaze down to my hands, which I had crossed on my lap.

"You have to know that a pure pack lives here," Keno began to explain as he calmly steered the Mercedes across a large open space that was more grass than asphalt. It all looked really weird here. The few houses were surrounded by trees and bushes and there was only one house that looked quite modern and towered over the others by far. With the large windows and the wide, open front door, it quickly became clear to me that it had to be the pack house. Stories said that was where the Alpha and his family lived and where the council held their meetings.

I looked around curiously for some time, earning curious looks from some people, others looked at me as if I were the enemy personally. The women in particular didn't seem to like my presence...

"So," Keno pulled me out of my thoughts and parked right in front of the big wooden house with the big windows. "Here we are."

Our eyes met briefly, but I quickly turned my eyes back out of my window.

"So this is where you live," I murmured uncertainly and suddenly felt his hand on mine, which made me pull it back and stare at him angrily.

"We live here," he smiled, then got out of the car, which I reluctantly did.

Light rain pelted down on us and even though I was a wolf, I immediately felt the icy wind that blew around me here between the high walls.

"And shopping?" I asked, staring at some older men who were whispering behind their hands while walking across the meadow in front of me.

"Everyone here has their responsibilities, Aria. We have men who take turns guarding us. We have men who buy necessities once a week and the rest take care of the pack."

"That's great," I immediately said snotty and crossed my arms while looking at him and wrinkling my nose.

"Why so bitchy?" he wanted to know with a grin and I knew I would one day jump at his throat for his stupid smile...

"Why so bitchy? Maybe because I'm trapped in a wooden cage with nothing in it but a few huts?" I replied and then turned away from him to stomp across the wet meadow.

"Aria!" I heard him shout, but I didn't stop and walked past some people staring at me, clenching my teeth and heading straight for the gate that got us here in the first place.

I knocked hard on the wood and to my astonishment it opened shortly afterwards and the creepy guy from just now looked at me as intently as he had done a short time before. Only now did I notice his bright green eyes, which he kept on me.

"Yes?" the other asked, but I didn't want to get involved in a discussion and just walked past the two of them until I felt a hand on my arm and turned around, growling.

"Let go of me!" I hissed at Keno, who just threw me over his shoulder and ran back down the path with me.

"You won't be able to guard me 24 hours a day," I said in frustration and then heard his stupid, beautiful laugh that made me roll my eyes.

"Neither do I need it. My pack will still know today who you are and also that they have to take care of you and your safety."

"My safety? What should happen to me here? You can hardly stop death from boredom!"

"Aria!" he admonished suddenly, a bit scathingly, letting me off his shoulder to look deep into my eyes with a warning expression. "My pack doesn't just consist of the nice wolves next door! I want... no... I even demand that you stay near me at all times! There are enough omegas and vampires in the forest around us for that! Promise me, please that you do not leave this area here!"

He looked at me intently, holding me firmly by my waist and probably waiting for an answer, but I just raised one of my eyebrows provocatively and put on a fake smile.

"You want?" I whispered sweetly and took a step closer to him to gently stroke his black, wet hair. As he seemed to enjoy my touch and unconsciously held his breath, I ran my fingers down his warm cheek, then snapped my chin in a flash to pinch lightly and glare at him angrily. "I don't give a fuck what you ask for! I asked for a lot and got nothing from you! I wasn't allowed to say goodbye, wasn't allowed to take my time and now I'm your prisoner! Don't expect favors if you don't give them yourself. Expect no respect and no devotion either! I'm only here because you gave me no choice!"

I growled at him as menacingly as I could and faster than I could react, he quickly grabbed my arm and dragged me to the pack house.

"Keno!" I hissed, trying to free myself from his grip, because even though I didn't feel any pain so quickly, my entire arm was already hurting from his grip. "Keno!" I spoke loudly and decisively again, but he continued to ignore me and, having arrived at the end of the large room, opened a door into which he pushed me without saying anything.

"Keno!!!" I yelled at the door but it locked it and no matter how hard I shook and kicked at it, to my horror it didn't budge.

"Don't expect me to make a dog of myself for you!" he called through the door and after clearly noticing his retreating footsteps, I regretted my snotty rebellion and turned around curiously, not realizing anything but total darkness .

A prison within a prison! Great !!!