Falling For My Cruel Mate
Chapter 42

"I said no, Octavia."

"Excuse me, sir, what was it that you just called me a few moments ago?" I smile sweetly toward the guard who had been standing off to the side, trying his best to not eavesdrop our conversation.

"Luna. You're our Luna." He says wearily, not sure if that was the answer I was looking for.

"Thank you." I smile and give him a small nod, before turning back to Ajax. "Did you hear that big boy?" I ask teasingly with a wicked smile on my face. "I am Luna and also have Alpha blood running through my veins. I'm coming along with you and there isn't anything you can do to stop me."

I turn swiftly and ask the guard, I believe his name was Joseph but I didn't want to call him that, and it not be his name. So to save myself the embarrassment I referred to him respectfully as "sir".

He began leading me out of the gym and towards the cells where they had kept prisoners. Cipher showed me the entrance a while back but I had never been inside of it. There was really no need.

Ajax fell into step beside me as the guard led the way. I could tell he was annoyed with my stubbornness and how I insisted on coming but I simply didn't care. This involves the safety of the pack and as Luna I believe that I should get a say in situations like these.

It was dark and musty as we descend down the stairs. I gripped the railing, hardly being able to see where to place my foot next. Once we got to the bottom there was a window in the ceiling allowing natural light to shine in the center of the large room that held multiple cells. The walls were a crumbling red brick and the steel bars seemed a bit rusted but still sturdy.

There were a few guards littered throughout the room and one in specific caught my attention. He was standing in front of a cell door, a hard expression on his face as he simply stared straight ahead. She must be in that cell.

"Alpha, Luna." The guard said breaking his state to bow his head respectfully. Ajax gave him a simple nod before gesturing to open the door.

I squint my eyes trying to get them to adjust to the darkness of the room. There was a figure, curled up into the corner of the cell. Her shivers had made me realize how cool it was down here. I was still sweaty and probably a bit smelly but I couldn't help but shiver as well. The thought of being trapped here with no warmth or food made me feel sick.

Ajax stepped into the cell and I followed behind him closely, not wanting to miss anything he or she said.

"What's your name?" Ajax asks, his arms crossed across his chest and a blank expression on his face. It was almost as if he were bored.

I look over at the girl, my eyes had adjusted to the darkness allowing me to see her better. Her brown hair fell lifelessly around her shoulders and covered her face. She was wearing a torn up and dirty dress that I'm sure would've been beautiful, when clean.

But why was she here? Why is she dressed like that? As if she had just come from a party but decided to roll around in the dirt and possibly violently rolled down a hill. There was something about her that was calling to me, I just couldn't tell what.

"Don't make me ask you again." Ajax says impatiently as he shifts from one foot to the other. So rude. This poor girl was covered in dirt, her dress was torn and she had been captured by one of the meanest men I've come to know. She clearly wasn't a threat..... So what was the need to be so rude? To keep her locked up in a dirty cold cell?

"My name is Siren."

Octavia:

"My name is Siren."

The familiar voice echoed through my mind, over and over again. I could feel the blood in my veins run cold and my heart nearly stop. Siren? It couldn't be. Was my mind playing tricks on me again? Or maybe it was never really a trick...

What if I had truly seen her at the party? I must have considering that she is wearing a dress. I could feel my legs weaken as I drop to my knees in shock. The tears began to spill past my eyes silently. Ajax immediately reached for me pulling me back up.

"What's wrong? Are you okay?" He asked a hint of worry and concern lacing his angry tone. I look up at him and he wipes the falling tears from my cheeks, his hard blue eyes almost softening at my saddened state.

"Siren." I whisper out to myself. Ajax caught on quickly as realization hit him. He loosened his grip on me and I pulled away.

I kneel in front of my best friend and reach for her causing her to flinch and hide her face. More tears spilled at the action. My once bright and obnoxiously loud best friend was cowering in a corner, trying to avoid my touch.

"Siren, it's me. Octavia." I whimper out trying to hold back the sob that climbed my throat. Her head snapped over to me immediately, her big brown eyes taking in my face.

She reaches out to me and caresses my face, it seemed like she had to make sure I was real. Her eyes glossed over with tears as she threw her arms around me pulling me into a hug. I couldn't hold back the sob as the tears spilled faster.

"I thought I would never see you again." She says, giving me a tight squeeze. I sigh in relief at the sound of her voice. I had missed her so much, her and the rest of my family. Having her here in my arms gave me a dangerous feeling. A feeling of hope that I would see my family once more.

"Siren, what happened to you?" I pull back slightly and take in her dirty and distraught appearance. When I saw her at the party she look afraid. Had she been running from someone?

"It's a long story." She shivered as cool breeze swept through the room and it's then that I realized that I should allow her to get cleaned up.