9. Kezia

He stayed away as promised,but it was pointless, my heat didn't come. My normal human cycle passed, and then nothing else happened. I endured many tests from Mal, who insisted I call him Doc, and since he was piercing me with a needle regularly, I agreed.

I was in my cell, playing solitaire with the cards that Nikan left, when Royce came in with my lunch tray.

"Got a treat for you today, Kezia," Royce told me with a grin.

"Is it a proper shower with a side helping of freedom?"

He lost a little bit of his smile, but he continued with his positive attitude. He was so different from the man I met when they first took me here. "Rare roast beef, fried onions, thick mustard sauce, and my Hannah's fresh baked bread."

I squinted at him. I had already sniffed out the contents of my lunch tray. "A beef sandwich?" I asked him dubiously, not hiding my smile at his enthusiasm.

"No, girl. Not a beef sandwich, one of my Hannah's beef sandwiches." He saw my doubt and let out a sigh. "Just, trust me. Okay?"

It didn't surprise me when he opened the cell door rather than slide the tray through the opening. Royce had started coming into the cell more and more. It was nice that he had lost his animosity and treated me like an equal.

Sitting up, I held my hands out for the tray and laughed as he removed the plate cover with a flourish. The aromas hit me with full force, and I inhaled sharply.

"Yeah?" Royce asked me knowingly with a sly grin. "Not just a beef sandwich now, is it?" he mocked, taking a step back.

I wasn't answering because my teeth had already sunk into the soft, flavorsome bread, and the first taste of the delicately seasoned beef had hit my tastebuds. "Oh Luna," I breathed as I chewed slowly. "What is this? Is it just beef?"

He looked incredibly smug and proud at the same time. "Yup."

I think I groaned as I took another bite. Royce had taken a seat at the end of my cot, but he was on his feet again, looking behind my makeshift privacy curtain that housed my toilet, sink, and hose that I used to rinse myself with. Royce looked between me and my bathroom, then resumed his seat.

When I was licking my fingers and lamenting my sandwich was finished, he was on his feet again.

"You know why you're in here, don't you?" he asked me suddenly.

The question surprised me, but I nodded slowly. "I fucked up. I killed people. I fought humans and I didn't think of the consequences."

Royce was a big guy. Not as big as his alpha, but still, he had to stand around six three, maybe four, and he was broad. Brown eyes fixed on mine, serious as he considered me.

"If you were to get free, if you were to leave here, would you return to the ring?"

"No." I shook my head vehemently. "I would work the bars and stuff and make do. I would be more careful, but…"

"But you don't want to go back to them?" he guessed slowly.

Lowering my eyes from his, I fixed my gaze on the floor. "No."

"And where would you go?" Royce folded his arms across his chest in a move very similar to his alpha.

"My brother?"

"You telling me or asking me, Kezia?" Royce gave me a small smile as he waited for the answer.

I smiled in return. "I don't know. Kris is my pack…"

"But those backward mutts at Anterrio are not," he finished for me, watching me shrug in answer.

Royce eyed me for a moment and then looked over his shoulder to the door to the room. Looking back at me, he nodded, his lips tightening into a thin line, and he looked me over from head to foot.

"What?" I asked warily as the silence stretched.

Royce suddenly grinned widely. "Up."

"Huh?"

"Up. On your feet, Kezia, let's move it." He gestured impatiently with his hand, and I shuffled to my feet, wondering what the heck was going on. He turned his back to me and headed to the door of my cell. "Put those socks on," he instructed, and I did as I was told. "Come on."

What? "Huh?" I asked blankly.

"You want a shower, an actual shower, or do you want to stay in here with that hose?" He was through the cell door and walking across the room now, seemingly ignorant of the fact I was rooted to the spot as I gaped after him in astonishment. "You forgot how to walk, Kezia?"

I was out of the cell at a run as I hurried to catch up to him. At the main door, he waited, his look hard once more as he assessed me when I came to stand beside him.

"I have a wife and two girls at home. I will not hesitate to take out any threat to them." His eyes were hard and his expression grim. "I am older, stronger, and I've killed more than my share of men. Human and shifter. Are we clear?"

"I would never." The words came out in a whisper. "I can go back to the cell," I added. "If you doubt me."

He watched me, his eyes flicking over my shoulder to the cell. "I don't know if I trust you yet," he acknowledged. "But I don't doubt you either." Royce pushed the main door open. "Come on."

The corridor I had only glimpsed until now was bright and cheerful looking. Cream walls, large round suspended ceiling lights, and a heavy-duty vinyl floor that was immaculate made me wonder how often it was used. Peering out into the corridor, my feet stayed rooted to the floor inside the room.

Gnawing my bottom lip, I looked up from the floor to Royce. "Royce?"

The hardness vanished almost immediately, taking in my hesitation, and he held his hand out to me. "Come on, Kezia. You got this."

I took the offered hand, feeling a sense of stability as his big hand wrapped around mine. "There's showers in the facility," he told me gruffly, walking me down the corridor, ignoring the frequency with which I looked over my shoulder to the open door to my cell room. "I think some fresh air may benefit you first, what do you say?"

My head jerked up to look at him in surprise. "Outside? Like, in the open?"

Royce's jaw clenched but he nodded. "Under the blue sky."

Tears flooded my eyes, but I quickly dashed them away with my free hand, not quite willing to let go of the lifeline that was Royce right at this moment. "I'd like to go outside," I admitted softly.

He made a soft noise but said nothing. Together, we walked hand-in-hand past several doors, and then Royce took me up a short flight of stairs, and I caught the first scent of freshness as we neared two large heavy iron doors.

I watched as his hand rested on the handle, and I spoke before he could. "I will cut my veins wide open before I ever bring harm to your family."

"I know."

He pushed the door open and stood back. I took the invitation for what it was, hurrying past him into the fresh afternoon air. Breathing deeply, I walked a few yards from the door as I took in my surroundings. This area of Blackridge Peak was wide and open space, but there were plenty of trees to be seen too. Turning in a half circle, I saw the roofs of the buildings in the town. They were a short distance from where we were but definitely within hearing range. Curiosity had me rising on my tiptoes to try to see more, but the hint of wildflowers on the breeze had me turning away from the town and taking in the huge clearing.

My wolf was close to the surface, eager to test her legs out on the soft inviting grass.

"Shower first, shift later," Royce suggested from behind me.

My wolf glared his way, but the need for an actual hot shower was trumping running in the grass. "Is hot water limited?" I asked him, hurrying to catch up to him, hesitating when he started to walk away from the place where I'd been captive.

Royce didn't bother hiding his smile. "The girls are in school, and Hannah is out. You can use all the hot water if you need to."

"You're taking me to your home?" I asked softly.

"I am." He cocked his head slightly. "You want to go back into the bunker, or do you want to shower in a home?"

Giddiness overcame me, and I beamed up at him. "A home." He nodded once and resumed walking. "All the hot water?" I looked up at him, pulling my braid over my shoulder and examining the ends. Royce grunted a yes, and I felt like I'd just been given the best present ever. "I think I need to use it all," I confessed with a huge smile.

The walk to Royce's house was quick. We passed several of the pack, and not many of them looked our way too long. The pack went on with their day, a few hellos or nods of acknowledgment, and we were forgotten. I was with their beta, and even I knew I would be hard put to beat the male beside me. Plus, I didn't want to. If anyone was in danger of staring, it was me. No one knew me here, and whether it was that or the fact I was with Royce, I felt free. There were no hard distrustful stares, no whispers, and no judgment.

"Your pack seems friendly to strangers," I commented quietly.

Royce scanned the few pack he could see. "Mm-hmm. Plus, every single one of these shifters could wipe the floor with you." He saw my startled stare and winked. "All pack fight in Blackridge Peak. Every able shifter trains in the art of combat. Some have served their time in the military."

"Like you?" I guessed. "And Doc?" It made sense for the pack to have found a half-breed in the military. Doc was too human to have been born in this pack.

"Yeah." Royce led me up a short path set amongst perfectly maintained gardens, pushing the door to his home open. "Our alpha too."

I gave a huff in acknowledgment. "Explains so much," I muttered, following Royce inside and down a hallway.

The room he led me to had a pale pink coverlet on a double bed. Thick plush carpet that my sock-covered feet sank into caused me to ooh as I looked down at the cream flooring. The walls were cream, the drapes a heavy material that promised to cut out any light, and overall the room was comfortable looking and welcoming. Royce gestured to a door, and I walked into the adjoining bathroom.

"Clean towels are under the sink. Everything you need should be in there."

"Whose room?" I asked, watching him walk to the door.

"Guest bedroom." Royce jerked his thumb over his shoulder. "I'll be in the living room when you're done. I'll get some clean clothes for you and put them on the bed." He looked me over once more. "When the water runs cold, come out," he added teasingly just before he shut the door behind him, leaving me alone.

I didn't explore the room. I didn't run to the window to escape. I was already pulling off my clothes as I headed straight to the bathroom. Flicking the lock, I dropped my clothes in a pile on the floor. Finding the towels, I took two and was relieved to find the shower was a simple setup. Turning it on, I adjusted the temperature, and then with lightheaded anticipation, I stepped under the spray and didn't pay any heed to how loud my moan of appreciation was.

The simple pleasure of a hot shower soothed something within me. As I washed my hair, a proper lather, rinse, and repeat, and then smothered it in conditioner, I found myself humming a tune. Using the towels as floor mats, I went back to the cabinet in search of a razor. Using the creamy body wash, I was soon smooth in all the places that mattered. The water turned tepid, and with great reluctance, I exited the shower. In the bathroom cabinet, I found a comb in its packaging, along with a new toothbrush and toothpaste. I'd already brushed my teeth today, but I was feeling so clean I wanted the whole package, and that meant a clean mouth too.

Drying my hair, I luxuriated in the simple pleasures of feeling normal.

In the bedroom, Royce had left me a pair of black cotton shorts that came to mid-thigh, a black tank top, and plain underwear. The underwear was folded too neatly to belong to anyone, and I suspected they were new.

Feeling like my old self again, I left the room to find Royce.

I found his wife first. Her back was to me as she busied herself setting up a tray of what looked like lemonade and sugar cookies. Her light brown hair sat on her shoulders in soft waves. A plaid shirt and shorts like mine, but white, complimented the golden tan of her skin.

Not wanting to alarm her, I took a step into the kitchen. "Hello."

She turned to me with a friendly smile, quickly running her gaze over me from head to toe. "He always forgets boots," she muttered, wiping her hands on a towel and walking to the back door of the house. "What size are you, Kezia?"

"Size?"

"Feet?" She was already walking back in with a pair of slippers.

"Eight?" She handed them over and I nodded. "My children also never wear shoes, thanks to their father, but I think you may feel better with something on your feet." Light brown eyes watched me. "Hannah." She offered me her hand.

"Um, Kezia." I shook her hand, the slippers held tightly in the other.

"They don't wear themselves you know," she admonished, pointing at them. "Shower good?"

"The shower was amazing."

"I can't believe they've had you in that bunker without one for so long." Her frown was directed over my shoulder. "Come, you must be thirsty." Picking up the tray, Hannah walked past me out of the kitchen.

"I used things," I blurted. "A razor, toothbrush, toothpaste, a comb…"

"It's why they're in there…to be used."

"Thank you."

Hannah walked in front of me. "You coming?"

Leaping forward, I followed her to an informal living room.

My eyes landed on Cannon's immediately as he stared at me from the comfy-looking couch. "Ah, shit," I grumbled, awkwardly lingering as I waited for his anger.

"Good afternoon to you too," he snarked back at me, looking me over, his face giving away nothing as he took in the borrowed clothes.

"Take a seat, Kezia," Hannah instructed. "No one stands on ceremony in my home." She was sitting in the only other chair, and with great reluctance, I made my way over to the couch, perching at the edge of the seat as far away from him as possible.

Cannon snorted at my lack of subtlety. "I don't bite."

"Liar." My eyes flew to Hannah's as my face went bright red. "Sorry."

Hannah was chuckling, looking between the two of us. "No need to apologize to me," she said with a laugh, turning to pour the lemonade. "Royce said you were fun to watch together, just let me get comfy."

Looking at Royce in confusion, I jumped when Cannon reached forward, causing me to sink back into the couch, rolling clumsily towards him as the seat dipped.

He looked at me, pausing in mid-reach for his glass of lemonade. "What are you doing?"

"Getting comfy," I lied, shuffling backward.

Narrowed green eyes watched me for a long moment, and then he was sitting back himself, effectively ignoring me as he took a bite of his cookie.

"Kezia?"

Looking at Hannah, I took the offered glass and sugar cookie. "Thank you."

"Manners?" Cannon snorted. "Since when?"

"Since always," I bit out, trying to remain polite so Royce's wife didn't think I was everything horrid Cannon claimed.

"Bullshit."

Giving him a wide-eyed stare, I flicked my glance to Hannah. Cannon grinned at me.

"What? I don't need to impress her. I've known her a long time."

"You could try to impress me," Hannah grumbled good-naturedly. "Luna knows, it's long overdue."

"You know what's long overdue?" Cannon retaliated as he popped another cookie in his mouth. "Your husband explaining why my prisoner is out of her cell."

While my stomach dipped with anxiety, Royce merely sipped his lemonade calmly. "Your mate is out of her cell because she was filthy. And, Alpha, you should have let her out weeks ago."

"You told Hannah?" Cannon asked flatly.

Royce rolled his eyes. "I'm not answering such an inane question." He set his glass on the tray. "Kezia," he spoke to me, ignoring his fuming alpha. "Hannah works with Doc here in town. She's been studying your bloodwork and has some insights into your heat?—"

"You've been doing her bloodwork?" Cannon demanded. "Since when?"

"Since Doc took the first vial," Hannah answered with a wicked grin. "You know I'm better when it comes to blood."

Cannon looked between them. "You," he said, pointing to Royce. "Outside. Now."

The speed with which he got up and left the room made me worry for Royce, but the beta merely sighed loudly before getting up and following his alpha.

I watched him leave the room and looked at Hannah. "He'll be okay?"

"Cannon?" She reached for a cookie. "Nothing a good punch in the dick won't sort out."

"I heard that!" Cannon shouted from outside.

"You were meant to!" Hannah shouted back playfully.

I didn't correct her that I was asking about Royce. I kind of wanted to see Cannon get punched in the dick, to be honest. He deserved it.

"Now, Kezia, while they're out there being silly peacocks, why don't we talk about you?"

Shifting slightly in my seat, I looked to the open door, wishing Royce would come back. Or Cannon. Right now, I wasn't fussy. "What do you want to talk about?"

"Everything."