Alpha’s Black Furred Slave Mate
Chapter 54

My body was numb as I watched Mateo disappear with Bob. Letting him go was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. I could hardly contain my heartbreak for I wanted to fall to the ground and begin wailing like a child. I had to maintain a strong stance though; I needed to be strong for my son. I knew Marlon made some good points about keeping us hidden. I didn't agree with the tactics, but at the same time I didn't have any other options myself and I definitely didn't have a better plan. If the duke was approaching with an army, we needed to be as prepared as we possibly could. Marlon wasted no time in taking me into the dungeon area; I didn't even realize he had a dungeon at the manor. Although, I expected as much.

It smelled of mildew and old bodily fluids; I could still smell the lingering odor of some of the wolves he had kept down here at some point. I could feel my wolf stirring uncomfortably as we made our way through a couple of cells he kept in the dungeon. In the distance, I could hear the dripping of a water pipe and splash on the concrete floors.

I felt uneasy being down here and Marlon looked just as uncomfortable bringing me down here. He finally stopped in front of a cell; I noticed there were bloodstains on the ground and parts of the concrete walls were broken off as though someone was trying hard to escape from the cell. My body was trembling in fear as I stare at the chains that hung on the walls.

It took me back to my days on the farm when I was shackled from my neck and my limbs; they nearly cut off my air supply but if I complained I would get beaten. My breathing was shaky as Marlon walked me into the cell and towards the chains.

I stopped eruptive; he turned to face me, a timid frown upon his face.

"You aren't going to put me in those chains, are you?" I asked, my voice growing weaker with each word I spoke.

He was hesitant; I could already see the answer clear on his face.

"We have to make it look real," he answered.

I took a step backward.

"You can't," I argued; I could feel the tears burning in the back of my eyes. "Anything but that. I can't be shackled again..."

Tears were running down my face; he looked so sad for a brief moment but then his eyes hardened. For a moment, he became unrecognizable. But then I remembered who he was.

He grabbed onto my arm with force and pulled me towards the chains; I struggled at first but realized he was much stronger and faster than I could ever dream of being.

"Please," I begged him, panic clear in my voice. "You can't do this to me!" I cried.

I was about to hyperventilate; I could feel my heart beating heavily against my chest. It was growing larger with the more worry that filled it. My breathing was coming up short and I thought for a moment that I was going to pass out. Memories of the slave farm came rushing through my head. The way the guards forced me against the wall much like Marlon was doing currently; the way the metal shackles felt around my neck as they enclosed me and made it impossible to move. I was so young and at that point I want, ed so badly to die. I thought nothing could be worse than that. I didn't think I was ever going to get out of those shackles; I thought that's how I was going to die.

My whole body felt weak, and I no longer felt like my own person; I knew I was bottom of the barrel trash, even when I was living in the commoner's village with my parents. But they never made me feel like less than them; but once I reached the slave farm, the harsh reality of what really hit me like a ton of bricks. They silenced me; they silenced my wolf.

At this point, my wolf was at a loss of words. She trusted Marlon; she loved him even. I couldn't understand it myself, but she truly loved this wolf. But now she wasn't sure what was happening, or I wasn't sure what was happening.

The metal shackles closed around my neck, and I gasped out for breath. It was too late; everything was too late. There was no escaping this hell of a dungeon. Mateo was gone and I wasn't going to see him again; Marlon was locking me up and leaving me to die. He shackled my legs and arms too, pinning me to the concrete walls. I couldn't move. Tears ran down my face and all I could do was just stare at him with such dismay and hurt in my eyes.

For a moment, a flash of guilt went through his eyes as he stared back at me. He was starting to look like the same Marlon I've come to know and admire over my time here. But his actions were proving otherwise.

"I'm sorry..." he whispered; he was hardly audible, but I could hear him just fine in the enclosed cell we were in. "This is the only way I know I can protect you."

"By leaving me to die?" I asked; my voice came across as raspy because it was hard to speak with my neck shackled and my airwaves being cut off.

As I spoke, I coughed trying to gain a little bit of hair.

He looked surprised at my words; his eyes widened, and he shook his head slowly.

"Of course not, Deonna. I'm not leaving you to die," he said, defensively. "It's only until the duke and his army come and go. If they think you are our prisoner, they will leave you alone. A true nobleman would never touch another nobleman's prisoner. It's dishonorable."

"What if they don't believe you and they come in here to kill me? I'm defenseless like this," I told him.

"I'm not going to let them hurt you," Marlon promised. "I need you to trust me."

"How can I when you're keeping me shackled like a prisoner?" I cried; I coughed again as I used all the air in my lungs.

"Deonna, please," Marlon pleaded. "Just breathe slowly and try to relax."

That was easy for him to say; he never had experienced being shackled by his neck before. He didn't understand how hard it was to breathe in these things; how much PTSD came with being shackled once again. He had no idea what it was I was going through, and I don't think he ever will know what it's like for me.

After a long pause, Marlon began to turn and walk away from the cell.

"I'm sorry, Deonna," he said slowly as he closed the cell gate behind him.

I heard the latch of the cell locking; I winced at the sound and watched how he disappeared. Leaving me in the gross dungeon by myself. It was dark enough that I had to squint to see around my surroundings. I had to just look around with my eyes considering I couldn't move my head. I could feel my entire body trembling as I stayed against the wall, unmoving.

I listened to the dripping of the water down the broken pipe; counting each drip as it hit the floor. My stomach growled lightly because I hadn't eaten yet. My wolf was stirring as she woke up, eager to get out of my body and roam free at last. She wanted to go off with Mateo and make sure he was okay; she wanted to stand by Marlon's side and fight in this war with him.

I had to keep shushing her because that was the most ridiculous thing she said. We weren't strong enough in this war and we didn't have enough willpower. That's exactly why we were shackled to the walls of a dungeon. We were nothing more than prisoners. My tears fell from my eyes as a sob escaped my lips; I guess now was a good time to actually start crying without holding back. There was nobody in this dungeon that I needed to be strong for. Mateo was God knows where; Marlon was upstairs somewhere living his normal life. I was completely by myself, and I was completely vulnerable. My heart was completely shattered knowing I was defenseless.

How did I get myself into this mess in the first place? I never asked to be a part of this mess. I didn't want to live my life with a target on my back. All I wanted was to finally make a difference. To allow those slaves on the farm, those children, to break free from those chains. I just wanted to stand by my word and protect those who are like me. But it didn't look like that I was going to be possible where I was at.

It looked like I was going to die here in this dungeon.

It looked like I was done for.