5

Lazarus

The facility already smells like hell. I wrinkle my nose instinctively as I step down from the vehicle that conveyed me and two others.

I didn’t even bother to ask for their names, they seemed too closed off and hostile. I wonder how many more similar individuals I'll meet in this facility.

A harsh nudge to my back propels me forward. "Move!" I refrain from shooting him a glare and opt for a low growl instead.

The facility looms before me like a mountain, with sealed windows and barbed wire fences that scream 'You will never get out of here!' The peeling paint and ivy crawling up the buildings further solidify their formidable aura.

We move towards the gate, where we are allowed entry after the two officers with us display their badges. They look the same, a typical inverted triangle with the longer sides slightly curved outwards. Inside the triangle, is the unmistakable shape of a wolf with its mouth open in a roar or snarl—I can't tell which because I'm once again pushed forward before I can think further.

The guards all have the same stoic faces, and I'm sure that beneath that lies a thick film of sadism.

As we walk through the path leading to what looks to be the entrance to the main building, I catch movement from the corner of my eye.

Two men are kneeling down in the middle of the only square of grass I've seen in this concrete-floored area. They're a distance away, so I tune into them.

The resulting noise nearly makes me fall over in pain.

The two werewolves are whining at a pitch only those of wolf descent can hear, and that can only mean the worst. These guys are being subjected to torture so badly that they can no longer humanely express their pain.

Without thinking, I turn to the guard standing closest to me. "What are they doing to them?"

The officer doesn't even spare me a glance. "Stay in line, inmate." He continues moving forward.

We're very close to the entrance now, with only a sliding door between us and the inside of the building. Even still, I can’t take my eyes off those werewolves in pain. One of them, as though sensing my gaze, locks eye contact with me.

His expression is a pained one, conveying everything he has suffered in just a few seconds that pass. The muzzle over his mouth is coated in a film of red.

Blood.

Our eye contact is broken when something cracks into my cheek, sending me off balance.

The pain is nothing compared to what those men must be feeling, but it stirs a flame in my chest. I look to the guard, digging my heels into the floor.

The guard looks to his counterpart with a scoff, before turning his attention back to me. "Get in 0147, or I'll make you."

I don't respond. I can feel my wolf stirring to life within. My nail beds throb as claws threaten to break free.

He cracks his neck and sighs, twisting around on his heels in a strange serpentine dance.

Then he whirls around, fist aimed towards my face.

Of course, I won't let him get me again. I take a quick step to the side and watch him miss me by a wide margin. A smirk makes its way to my lips as I use this moment to make my move.

I take a step forward, about to wrap my handcuffs around his neck and suffocate him when I'm grabbed from either side.

My eyes widen in shock. I stretch towards the now recovered guard, but the distance between us grows with every second.

No. No. No!

I look behind me to see what's pulling me back. There are two men on either side of me, one with wild red hair and startling green eyes. The other has dark hair and even darker eyes. Their expressions are perfect contrasts, with the redhead sporting an almost maniacal smile and the other completely expressionless.

"No need to worry about this one, officer. We'll handle him from here," the redhead says in a jaunty manner too bright for this dark place.

I try to pull away from them, but they hold on to me fast, never letting go. They smell like Alphas, but not from my own pack. Their scents fight for dominance in my nostrils, and I have to tone down my inhuman scent tracking so that I don't get sidetracked.

The guards only watch as I'm pulled away. The one I'd almost attacked looks me straight in the eyes and whispers, "You got lucky today, 0144."

—

"Believe me, brother, you don't want to get on these guys' bad side. Trust me. You'll never get out," Redhead says, patting me on the shoulder like I'm a long-lost friend of his.

I'm seated on the floor in a surprisingly spacious room, simmering. These men stripped me of the chance to find out what was happening to those sad wolves.

I look up at him, and his smile hasn't dimmed one bit. To the side, almost blending into the shadows that the fluorescent bulbs couldn't reach is the dark-headed guy. His arms are crossed over his chest, as he stares at an ant crawling on the wall beside him.

Strange fellows, but they seem to mean no harm.

"Look, I know you're pissed, it's written all over your face, but if we didn't intervene then, things would have gone really bad for you." He pauses for emphasis, leaning forward and pinching the thumb and forefinger of both his hands together. "Like, body-bag bad."

I say nothing, trying to think of what proper response to give. This guy obviously seems to know his way around here. Maybe he can shed some light on the obvious injustice happening within these walls.

"My name's Rory, and that," he points to the other guy, "is Thomas. We're both Alphas from our respective packs. You're our roommate."

Roommate?

He nods. "Yes, roommate." He gestures to a sign above a bed in a far corner of the room. It reads 0144, the same number sewn onto my 'prison' wear.

Rory stares at me hopefully. I don't respond immediately, too focused on trying to see beneath his mask.

I sense nothing but truthfulness coming from him.

Reluctantly, I break. "Lazarus."

Rory gives a little squeal that almost makes me question if he's actually a male. "Wow. And to think that you would have almost died with no one to resurrect you."

Thomas steps out of the shadows and comes to stand beside Rory. He offers me a nod but says nothing. I guess that's just how he is.

A quiet moment passes between us as we acknowledge one another. An unforeseen bond slowly builds between us, and I can already tell that these men are going to be either a pain in the butt or a soothing salve in this place.

Rory claps, breaking our little moment. "Well now, since our third roommate is here, I can't wait to see who our fourth and final roommate will be. No offense to you guys, but I really hope it's a female."