I was shirtless the entire time.
They demanded to know why I ignored them. The guards didn't earn my voice. I simply couldn't talk, but I responded with my actions instead. I fought back.
I needed to rile them up to get the keys, so I spat on one of them. He was so mad. That was the only time I was strangled.
Riot tried to feed me his food. We got caught one time. It didn't end well for me. Riot is much bigger than I am. He needed the strength more. I saw him swaying a lot and denied his offer of help. I worried that if he got into a fight or stopped eating, he would suffer.
The guards wanted everything from me. I needed to submit and prove I could be docile and compliant before they sold me. I refused.
My vulnerability is meant for those I trust.
My words are for those I trust.
My submission is my pack’s.
I fought as hard as I could.
Riot saved me and I saved him.
"Kade, you need to breathe."
How can I breathe after that? The cliff-notes of Vivian's statement are tumbling around in my mind like every part of my psyche is trying to latch onto it and declare it's theirs to harbor.
I want to murder everyone and anything that hurt Vivian, but I must comfort my omega. Every direction, every possible feeling and thought batters my soul and mind.
I'm losing it.
"Silas, stay with them. Kade, let's go."
I don't fight Jarek as he drags me from the room. Nor do I even fucking blink as he pulls me through the halls and out the back door onto the manicured lawn.
"Scream."
Frowning, Jarek comes into focus. About a yard away from me, he stands, braced for anything. Maybe that's what pulls me back into myself and away from the all-consuming horror of learning what happened to Vivian when we weren't there to protect her.
"What?"
"Shout, scream, kick. Anything. Do it. Get that rage out right now, because Vivian doesn't need that. Riot definitely doesn't because as soon as he feels that energy, he's going to match it."
"They beat her, Jarek. Threw her in a pit. Starved her. Fucking STRANGLED OUR OMEGA!" My eyes burn and my throat lights up with fire as I unleash the demons crawling under my skin.
"They did."
We weren't there. "THEY TOOK HER CLOTHES!"
"Yes."
We didn't protect her. "SHE WAS THROWN AGAINST THE BARS OF HERCAGE!"
"She was."
"RIOT DIDN'T PROTECT HER!"
"He tried."
How could she endanger herself the way she did?"SHE PROTECTED HIM!"
"She did."
