Chapter 23 · One Chain, Two Prisoners

The silver collar clicks shut and Rena's knees hit the dirt.

Burns like hell. Worse than the bite ever did. Marcus stands over her, his hand still on the chain, and she can smell the gun oil on his fingers. The camp lights throw his shadow across her face.

"You really thought I'd let you walk back out."

She doesn't answer. Her throat's closing up from the silver, and anyway, what's she supposed to say? She came here knowing this might happen. Just didn't think it'd feel like being twelve again, locked in the training shed because she hesitated on a kill.

Marcus tugs the chain. Not hard. Just enough to make her look up.

"Where's the Alpha?"

"Don't know."

"Liar."

He pulls harder this time. The collar digs in and she tastes blood. She keeps her face blank. He taught her that too. Never let them see it working.

"You've been sleeping in his bed for two weeks," Marcus says. "You telling me he didn't mention where he'd run when the hunters came?"

"He doesn't run."

That gets a laugh. Cold one. "No? Then where is he?"

Rena doesn't answer.