The Defiant Luna
Chapter 43

Jay-la POV.

Jay-la woke up, feeling groggy and not at all herself. The ground underneath her was hard and cold, and smelled rancid to her. She frowned as she tried to get up from the ground and found herself feeling weak and out of sorts ‘ Kora?’ she asked her wolf.

She got nothing at all, there was no connection to her wolf, felt panic start to set in, her eyes snapped open as she realised she was disconnected from her wolf. Looked around her properly and found herself in a dimly lit cell, bars all around her bar the back wall, there wasn’t even a mattress, she was just lying on the cold hard concrete floor.

She could see the old stains in here, got up from the floor, took a moment to steady herself on her feet, used that wall to hold herself up. The cell was only small, maybe nine by nine feet. She could see the door across from her, a large panel with a lock on it. ‘Kora.’ She yelled into her mind, trying to rouse her wolf. She was not bound by silver.

Stood there and tried to recall what had happened, how she had wound up in this cell. The last thing she remembered was walking to a café with Stephen. They were going to get coffees for everyone down the street from his hotel. Elena had said it had much better coffee than the hotel itself. So, she and Stephen had opted to go down the street to get her what she preferred

Rubbed at her temples as she looked around the cell, and the dimly lit area she was in, there were other cells along the wall, two to her right and four across the room from her, one on her left. Saw Stephen in that cell next to her, lying on the cold filthy floor like she had been. He was still unconscious.

“Stephen.” She called out to him, hurried over to his cell and grabbed the bars with one hand as she tried to reach through and touch him, hissed in pain and snatched her hands back, silver bars, they were filthy dirty, and didn’t look like silver but definitely were. They burned her skin a little. That sudden flare of pain brought Kora back to her, heard her snarl as much as Jay-la hissed.

Looked down at her hand, at the reddened skin, not enough to leave a scar on her but enough to hurt to blazes. ‘Where are we?’ Kora snarled.

‘ don’t know, a cell is what.’ She answered Kora, “Stephen.” She called out to him once more. He still didn’t wake.

‘How?’ Kora asked her.

“I don’t know. Jay-la sighed and tried to once again recall what the hell had happened. She was still foggy herself.

Recalled walking with Stephen, they had been chatting happily as they walked. Nathan and Jackson had come up with a plan to get Suzy’s whole family back to the pack.

The restaurant had been too noisy to discuss it, so they had opted to go back to the hotel to chat about a business proposal, Elena had said shed make coffee for everyone, but then didn’t have enough. So she and Stephen had volunteered to go to the coffee shop down the street. It was still open.

They had left Nathan and Jackson with the three Martinez women, to go over the plan they had come up with. She had been walking next to him, then he had suddenly stumbled and dropped to his knees, then just face plant on the ground, shocked her completely. Hadn’t understood it at all until a moment later, as she kneeled down next to him and she herself had felt the sting in her side, and the familiar burn of wolfs bane, looked right at him as she felt the darkness of unconsciousness rush towards her.

Then they had woken up here in this very cell, looked around the room they were in once more. Shed not even known she was in trouble, neither had Stephen, for that matter. Neither one of them had sensed or smelled anything at all. They’d been happily chatting away, Suzy was coming back to the pack to trial living and working with her in another state, was going to give it four weeks.

Stephen was really happy about this, as were she and Nathan. It would allow time for the two of them to bond and get to know each other. Those two had been on three dates in the past two days; a dinner date that first night, a brunch and a movie the next day and a then dinner with her again. They were getting along really well, he was catering to all her wants and needs.

She and Stephen had left so that there was less pressure on Elena or Maya, and that they didn’t feel pushed into anything. Knew that Nathan was going to offer Maya a full scholarship to the closest university to the pack, and give Elena a business opportunity, she was a florist, and worked in a store. With her house burning down and the insurance company not willing to pay up. She was now stuck, with a useless piece of land.

Nathan and Jackson had thought long and hard about it, and come up with a plan that if Elena sold her block of land she could buy her own florist store and set it up in Rochester, an hour away from where Suzy would work. It was a good plan she thought, though what Elena would think was another matter.

Shed given both Nathan and Jackson permission to charm the woman if necessary, she’d seen Elena and Maya blink at the sight of the two of them. Wouldn’t normally want them to do that, but humans were susceptible to the good looks of wolfen men. Kind of fell at their feet for the most part. So it might work, though they were not allowed to push it hard at the woman.

She didn’t want Stephen to do it even though shed seen that Elena was naturally charmed by him, thought he was very charming and funny to boot, he was just friendly with her, didn’t even really need to do anything other than be himself. She just liked him, didn’t seem to have a real problem with him liking Suzy either. That was good.

But Stephen shouldn’t do it, it could make Suzy take offence to it and she didn’t want to risk that. He couldn’t charm his own Mate, that Goddess Gifted Gamma Charm of his did not work on his own Mate. Not that she had at all seen him try it.

Didn’t really need to, the girl was smitten with him, blushed all the time around him, when she found his eyes on her and then he would just smile right at her, which he always did. There was no way Suzy misunderstood how much he liked her, his attention was solely on her all the time. Even when Maya walked in the door and eyed him off, he’d shaken that girl’s hand and been formal with her. Returned his attention right to Suzy.

Kora pushed forward now to get a good look around them.

Someone had kidnapped them and not just them, Stephen as well, she looked around. There was no one else down here, just her and Stephen, the whole place smelled of rotten flesh and old dried b***d. Rogues had been in here recently, she thought to herself or they were in a place where, Rogues were in charges.

Though she did not recall seeing any wolves, she didn’t recall smelling others or a rogue scent while on the street either. She didn’t think that Stephen had either, he’d have responded to it, taken it as a threat to them both.

‘I don’t like it.’

Neither do I. there was nothing to like about the situation at hand, and she could already feel fear ebbing in to not just her but Kora as well. They didn’t do well with fear, and needed to try and stay calm. Could well lose it and goddess only knew what would happen down here locked in this cell.

But even just standing here she knew it was going to overwhelm them, was already feeling anxious and uncomfortable, not knowing where they were, who took them or for what purpose? How long had they even been here? Heard Kora snarl full aggression at Stephen to try and rouse him, the man didn’t even flinch at the sound Clearly, he’d been hit with more wolfsbane than she had, but he was also much bigger than she was as well.

Jay-la prowled around in her cell for over an hour before Stephen finally started to rouse, moved over to his cell.

Whoever took them had no concerns about them getting out, neither were bound by anything, just dumped in separate cells. That was curious to her, why no chains, understood why they were separated. That would be so they could take them one at a time, and Stephen wouldn’t be able to help her even though he would want to.

Heard him g***n and watched him roll over and push up from the floor to look about it, saw his eyes land on her and widen, “Stephen?” he stood up and wrinkled his nose at the scent of the place as he took in his surroundings.

“Jay-la are you injured?”

She shook her head “Not yet.” She commented, but was willing to bet at some point it wasn’t going to be fun for either of them down here.

“What happened?” he asked “Do you recall anything?

She shook her head as he walked over to the bars between their cells. “Don’t they’re silver.” She warned him as he reached out to put his hand on it “and your guess is as good as mine, taken by someone. I haven’t seen anyone yet though.”

Saw him tilt his head and really look at her and frown, she knew what he was doing, sensing out the fear that was building inside of her “How long have you been awake?” he asked a moment later.

“About an hour, I’m trying to stay calm.” She assured him.

He just nodded “We’re not bound.” He looked at his wrists ” odd?”

“agreed.”

“Whoever they are, they don’t think were a threat to them or we would be.”

“Or they are just going to come in here with a dozen people to man handle us, or drug us if they need to move us again.” She muttered, really didn’t like that thought at all.

“They’d be stupid to come at you.”

“They don’t know anything about me.” She sighed, looked right at him for a long moment, was actually worried about what would happen if she and Kora got completely out of control. “Perhaps it’s a good thing you’re in a different cell.” She murmured.

“Nathan will come for you Jay-la.”

“I know he will.” She nodded, did actually believe that “but what if it’s too late?”

“Don’t think about that, but Jay-la.” He looked right at her, seemed concerned. “You and Kora, could well see Havoc’s uncontrollable rage when they get here. He’ll be half shifted and on a full rampage, I would imagine.”

She stared at him now. “Half shifted? I didn’t know he could do that.”

“He couldn’t back then. It happened the day Sophia cheated on him and Havoc. Havoc nearly killed her himself for it.”

She could only nod, “I’m not worried about Havoc, to be honest, he’ll never hurt me or Kora.”

“Agreed, just want to give you the heads up, it’s not something you see every day. His Alpha Aura will be pouring out of him at everyone, to in still fear to those around him. To be honest, not even the pack likes seeing it.

Scares a lot of them.

“

“Has he ever hurt any of them?”

“Only the one, but he was the one having s*x with Sophia, killed that wolf on the spot.”

“Alright, thanks for the heads up, I guess. How long do you think we have been here? Or unconscious?”

“Hard to say.” He looked around them again. “No windows down here to see daylight or night. Could be a few hours, could be day or more.” He shook his head “but those stairs lead up and out, so l’d hazard a guess that we’re underground somewhere.”

“Do you think still in the city?”

“Unlikely.”

“It doesn’t feel like a pack to me or Kora.”

“No it doesn’t so likely rogues took us. It won’t be good, Jay-la, when they come for you.” he looked right at her “I’m not going to be able to help you, which I’m guessing is what they want.”

‘They touch us and they’ll die. Kora snarled inside her mind, Jay-la didn’t doubt that if they were scared and felt threatened, which she already knew she was scared anyone that threatened her now was likely to set off her flight and fight response likely would end up dead, not that they knew that. Had to try and stay calm, to keep control.

It was several more hours before that door above the stairs opened and the lights turned on fully down here, before they heard footsteps on those stairs in the far corner, and saw a pregnant woman coming down them with a hand on the railing and one on her swollen belly. Looked about ready to pop, Jay-la thought absently.

Heard Stephen curse out loud as his eyes landed on the woman when she got to the bottom and walked over towards them, knew her right away. Jay-la didn’t recognise her right away, not until she was standing right before her, staring at her, “Well now, if it ain’t the w***e who stole my mate from me?” she stated, glaring at Jay-la.

She had changed a lot since the last time Jay-la had seen her, “Sophia.” She heard Stephen grate out “No one stole your Mate, you ruined your own Mate Bond.”

“Shut it Gamma, you’re my Gamma not hers. Do as you’re told.” She looked right at Stephen.

“The hell I am.” He snapped right back.

Jay-la stood staring at her, she had been afraid of this woman for over six years, afraid that she would hunt her down, hunt her children down and harm them, took a step back from her now, as she felt fear well inside her as she realised who she was.

She was heavily pregnant, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t a threat to her. Had barely recognised her, her hair was short now and she looked older to Jay-la, didn’t look like the years had been kind to her, could also see silver filagree on her neck, was marked by some wolf out there.

“Where are your three little bastards?” Sophia turned her eyes back to Jay-la.

“No where that you can get to them.” she stated right back, they were safe back inside the pack with Alpha Blaine and his entire unit, had a whole pack that would protect them, and she knew it.

“Well, once I get Nathan back, I’ll take care of them myself.” Watched her rub her belly “This little one will be the Heir to the pack.”

Stared right at her now, “Nathan will not allow another wolfs pup to be the Heir to his pack.” No Alpha would.

“It’s his Jay-la. We hooked back up a few months ago, then of course, he found out about you and your bastard pups, and everything. My return had been delayed, all so he could get those pups of his.”

“Don’t listen to her Jay-la.” Stephen told her.

“Shut it, Gamma. You know nothing. His wolf loves mine, always has. I’m his Goddess Gifted Mate, not some b*a*h he had to choose because the w***e had his pups. They are all he wants. How do you think I got the two of you so easily?” She laughed.

Kora was on the surface and snarling right at her now, she was not his chosen mate, Havoc had been Gifted to her. ” Oh quit it, he was mine long before he chose you and now you’re out of the picture. The children are his and his alone.

Just like he wanted, he never wanted you, banished you remember.”

Both she and Kora stared at this woman, his first Mate, the very reason they had been banished by him, looked at her swollen belly. Anything was possible, she had only been in his life barely a month. That could well be his child for all she knew.

“Don’t listen to her Jay-la.” Stephen told her “You know how Havoc is with Kora, how he is with you yourself. It’s you he wants, not that unfaithful, gold-digging bitch.”

“You’ll pay for that Gamma; I’m going to banish you when I’m reinstated as the Luna in a few days’ time.”

“It will never happen.” Stephen laughed. “Though you might lose your head for touching his Mate.”

Jay-la saw Sophia look right at him, “How’s the neck?” he asked “You barely survived it last time. You think you will this time?”

“I have insurance.” She rubbed her belly and smiled right at him. “He won’t harm his own child.”

“It’s not his.” Jay-la stated, it could be his. She had to stay clear headed, “you’re marked by another. He would never touch that who was marked by another. Knows how it feels, to suffer the pain of betrayal. You did that to him.”

“He’s very forgiving, and I can be very seductive. Know everything he likes.”

“I doubt his beast would be so forgiving.” She murmured, not if that beast had so much rage and anger within him, because of this woman. She had to believe that he nor his wolf would ever want to touch this woman again. He had tried to kill her once, his rage stemmed from her betrayal.

“You’ll see it’s all the truth, he’s going to let you know just how much he loves me, doesn’t want you. I already have a buyer lined up for you. He’s not so nice either. You will suffer at his hands a lot. But that is what you get, what you deserve for hiding his children from him for all these years. What he told me to organise, to make sure that you suffer for stealing his children. He hates you for that, everything he did with you is an act.”

“He’ll never let you hurt me or the children.”

“You,” she laughed “He doesn’t care about, as for the children, ‘ be taking care of them myself. His only concern then will be this little one. He’ll forgive me, I assure you.”

“Good luck with that plan, Sophia. Killing an Alpha’s Heir will get you killed by that Alpha.” Stephen laughed, “Havoc hasn’t changed one bit since nearly killing you, twice I believe, the day you cheated and the day he smashed your head to the desk and crushed your hand in making you sign those papers and accepting your rejection of him.”

“It’s all forgiven, Gamma. Shut your mouth, just wait and see.”