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“Upstairs. I can’t be caught down here, but I brought you food.”
“The key is around his neck,” she sobs.
I nod, already knowing that. “I’ll find a way to get you out. Quick, take this,” I tell her, passing the bottled water through the bars before trying to push the bag of food.
Alisha snatches the bag and bites into the meat patty that I know is sizzling hot. Tears stream down my face seeing her in such a state, and I want to get her out.
“No, Elena, we haven’t got time,” Lexa warns, and I stand.
“I’ll come back soon,” I tell her. I am about to turn around when a hand grips the back of my neck, and I freeze.
“Pet!” Jake sneers in my ear.
My hands shake as I clutch the empty paper bag. Alisha whimpers, moving to the back of her cage with her food.
“I just wanted to see her,” I whimper as his fingers dig in.
“Did I say you could?”
I shake my head.
“Please, she is pregnant,” Alisha sobs, clutching the bars.
Jake steps closer and rubs his other hand down my belly. “Yes, she is. But she disobeyed me.”
“Jake, she is my best friend. She was yours once, too,” I whisper.
“Go back to the apartment and wait for me in the bedroom,” he snarls and lets go.
My feet automatically move despite not wanting to leave her.
Sitting on the bed, I feel nothing but panic. I struggle to breathe as I wait for him, my entire body shaking with fear. I know what his punishments entail, and I try to avoid them at all costs. They are degrading and humiliating. Yet no matter how much I want to leave the room, I can’t go against his order, not without being able to shift. And if I shift, I will kill my sons.
Hearing the door open, I flinch, listening to his footsteps on the floor get closer. My heart rate picks up, and I am sure it will jump out of my chest as I turn to face the door. Jake steps in, and his scent is menacing.
“Alisha?” I blurt in panic.
“I would worry less about her and more about the situation you’re in. You disobeyed me,” he snaps at me, his fangs protruding. His face twists in anger as he starts removing his belt.
My eyes widen, and I jump up from where I am sitting, backing away from him as he snaps his belt loudly.
“Jake?” I plead as he stalks toward me, letting the belt hang from his hand.
The next minute, he hits me with it. Lightning slices through my side and arm as he whips me, and I gasp before dropping to the floor to cover my stomach, each lashing hurting more than the last as he whips my back, legs, and arms while I lie on my side trying to protect my babies. With each blow, Lexa snarls, and fur sprouts up my arms as she comes forward, only for him to start whipping me harder, beating her back and, along with it, any hope I have left that we will ever get out of here.
Chapter
Twenty-Five
Another week later
I have given up. My life is a routine now of Jake and not Jake. Depending on his mood, he hardly lets me leave the apartment. Bruises lace every part of my skin, the belt has caused deep welts, and I haven’t slept properly for days; even now, certain positions still hurt where the belt’s torn through my skin. Yet he was careful not to mark my face, for the few times he let me out for an hour or so.
Getting up, I cook his breakfast, cringing as I hear him move around and get ready to go open the general store and cafe when I feel his hand wrap around my body. His fingers trace over my belly gently as I flip his egg.
“I will finish cooking. Go get dressed,” he tells me, and I look over my shoulder at him and nod.
I slip into the room to find warm tracksuit pants and one of his sweaters. I pull them on while Lexa paces in my head.
