Filed To Story: Secret with Betas Daughter: Skylar Story Series
I tilt my head sideways on the scratchy pillow. “Where am I this time? And why does it hurt to talk?”
That hurt far more than it should have. I must be really messed up. I blink over at Warrior Osiston standing next to a door that, I assume, leads to the hallway.
I take a good look around and assess my situation, my eyes seeming to be the only thing that work without pain, still moving slowly through the stiffness. I’m covered in IV’s and wires, but none of the awful beeping sounds are coming from the machines.
“I turned all the damn sounds off.”
Osiston says, noticing where my focus is. “Eight days of that sh*t is torture in itself. Speaking of torture, when you regain the full ability to speak, I want to know who put their hands on you.”
The absolute menace in his voice made me gulp. He was terrifying without trying, this was a whole new side for me.
“I I d-d-don
“If you finish that lie I will have Doc Sylvia dose you with something that will help you loosen your tongue. I prefer you just tell me the truth though.
I took a deep breath, deciding what I was going to do. He was going to get the answers he wanted whether I was willing to give them or not. Which made me angry. I let the anger melt away the pain in my face and stared him in the eyes, challenging his authority openly.
“You want the truth? The truth is, I have had a bully for far too long.”
I take a second to scootch up in my bed and clear my throat then carefully grab a water cup that is next to my bed. I take small slow sips, my teeth hurt and moving my jaw reminds me how many hits I took to the face. Osiston just waits. “The story is long and painful, I don’t really want to go into it, but my bully is rarely the one who puts her hands on me or anyone else. She has people for that. She directs her punishments’ and supervises to make sure they are carried out. As for this time, I didn’t see who tortured me and they broke my nose early so there wasn’t a way for me to catch their scent. She did speak to me though and informed me that I will stay away from the twins permanently, they are hers and I am just in the way.’ As for her, no one believed me when I brought it up originally, it’s been going on for years, it’s allowed behavior that actually gets rewarded when I get punished based on the manipulative lies she tells. She preys on the weak and I tend to step in, no one should have to go through this, especially innocent children. I won’t allow it. So that is all the information you will be getting on that subject. Next question?”
I continue to look him dead in the eyes.
“The scars on your back. They are not from this round of torture. Was this done by the same she’ you were speaking of? When was this?
I take in a deep breath struggling not to wince at the pain in my ribs and let it out slowly, trying to rid myself of my irritation. I choose to ignore his question and ask one of my own. He didn’t answer me when I woke up and I want to know who is waiting beyond that door. I take another slow drink to stall for time. I don’t recognize this room, but that doesn’t mean anything, I never stayed long in the pack hospital the few times I did actually go and I was usually too angry or disoriented to pay much attention when I was leaving.
“How about an answer for an answer? I answered your question, I have some too. Where am I and why are you guarding me? Has it really been eight days?”
I try to keep my face neutral and as blank as his.
“That is three questions, but I will let it slide due to mental exhaustion. You are in the hospital of the Royal Pack. It was decided that this would be the best place for your healing. I turned the sound of the machines off eight days ago, you have been here for 14. Your turn.”
He raises an eyebrow at me.
My eyes go wide, two weeks, my injuries were so bad I was out for two weeks? This is going to be a long ass interview if I have to work this hard to get basic answers out of him. And I didn’t miss the omission of him guarding me.
“Both sets of scars are from an interaction with her, but I don’t think she did the whipping herself. The silver powder on the second set, I believe, she did herself. I have no proof and was strung up in a way that I could not see anyone behind me. I only knew her from her voice, I could not detect any scents. Not even hers and my nose wasn’t broken that time. Your turn. Who decided this was the best place for me?
“Several people were involved in that decision. You were going to come to us eventually and given the situation, it was deemed necessary for you to come sooner than planned. Your turn.
“You know that isn’t a real answer to my question right?
“And yet, still an answer.”
His face does not change from the emotionless mask he’s had the whole time we’ve been talking.
I sigh again. “You are giving me a headache.”
He lets out a huff that might be considered a laugh. “What happens now? I am technically too young to do warrior training, I still have a couple years left of school. What has everyone else decided is best for me?”
I let my irritation show.
“That is three questions in a row. It is my turn to ask a question, Little One.
“But ”
I groan and roll my eyes. He raises his eyebrows at me. “Fine, shoot.
“If Doc Sylvia can get rid of your scars, would you want her to?
I still for a moment and then shift uncomfortably in bed, looking down at my hands folded in my lap. I’m sore, but not nearly as much as I should be after that beating. I guess that makes sense if I’ve been unconscious for 14 days though. Do I want to get rid of Kaley’s daily reminders that she thinks I’m worthless and just someone in the way? Proof that the truth doesn’t always win out and really ambitious and resourceful people can get away with multiple attempts at m*rder.
“I don’t know. I’ve never thought about that. Scars are just something that stay with you forever. I do know that sometimes the ones that have silver in them will open up if I take a hit too hard, like they are fresh. I never understood that, they are a year old now, they shouldn’t still open up, but maybe that’s the silver, maybe I am too weak to heal from them properly. They are a reminder of one of the worst situations of my life, but at the same time, I am still here with them so they also show that I survived. I don’t know if I want them to go away, but I would love for them to not be a weakness.”
I look him straight in the eye.
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.