Klepto POV

"You," He said, "are a terribly real thing in a terribly false word, and that, I believe, is why you are in so much pain."

I stare at the words with a determined focus, glaring at the ink with an unquenched vengeance. My thumb brushes the top corner of the page in thought.

My eyes continue to rake the passage over and over again, I hold the book a little too tightly in my grasp.

Alice in Wonderland is an absolute classic, and a personal favorite of mine, but it's words and messages have never seemed to hit home more than they do now.

The temptation arose to fling the thing across the room, to feel the satisfaction of hearing it thud melodically against the wall. I shove down the thought, knowing that would only draw some undesired attention. That's all I need right now... attention.

I can't stop remembering what happened last night. The bonfire blazing as my pack mates talked and laughed freely, my little brothers jittering about with excessive energy. I had felt happier than I had in a long time, and then it was suddenly ripped away when I spotted him of all people.

His extravagant gaze that was the shade of butterscotch, glowing eerily in the setting sun, and fixated solely on the wicked creature that is Tabitha. I can't describe the overwhelming horror that took hold of me in that moment.

Everything around me seemed frozen and unimportant, as if a hazy lens was forced in front of my eyes. All I could see was my mate and my sister, flirting like no one was watching. I felt completely helpless as I looked on.

The raw image of his hand on her neck, the intimacy of his touch lingering on her upper thigh was forever branded in my memory, and I know I'll be cursed to remember it every single day for rest of my miserable life.

That's why I'm here, alone in my principles, sunk into an old musty chair in the pack library. My only refuge from life is hiding here, knowing that books hold a better, happier version of life.

Sometimes fantasy worlds are much better than reality.

Okay, that's a lie.

They're always better than reality.

My reality is harsh and cruel, and there is no escape except for the intoxicating words of authors than lull me into a false state of peace. It's one of my only comforts.

After a few minutes, the image of Ezra and Tabitha pops back into my head to remind me that everything isn't kittens and rainbows.

I slam the book closed, feeling the tale tell sign of tears coming on. My eyes begin to prickle and I don't think I can hold back any longer.

They flow freely as I open the dam to let them loose. The tears have been collecting for too long, so there are lots of them. I break down as I sniffle and sob softly right there in the little library.

Eventually, the raining of emotional turmoil comes to an abrupt stop. I sigh as I wipe at my wet eyes with the sleeve of my sweater, the material isn't soft, so it feels scratchy on my sensitive skin.

It's not fair, any of it, and I wish more than anything that my life is different. I say a silent prayer to the Moon Goddess, asking and pleading for some sort of blessing to get me through everything that is going on in my crazy life.

One miracle. One little moment of luck that can somehow make me feel better. Please!

My hopeful thoughts are cut short when a bang echoes through the crowded building, and I find myself jumping in surprise. I feel suddenly alert when I hear voices filling the atmosphere.

"Where is she? I can smell her, dammit!" The harsh tone has me curious. Is he talking about me?

My question is answered swiftly with the sight of Beta Thorn stomping around a bookshelf. When he catches sight of me, his brown eyes come alive with hateful determination.

Oh no.

"I should've known. You can't commit a crime without cowering like a spineless pup." He spits, and my hackles rise. My animal instincts beg to attack him, but I control my emotions like always. Emotions get me in trouble.

"What are you talking about?" I ask.

"Oh, don't play pretend, McKay. We both know what you did. Let's do this the easy way, just hand it over and come quietly."

My teeth dig into my bottom lip. Please tell me this is all a dream. When I thought my life couldn't possibly get any worse I didn't mean it as a challenge.

"Hand what over?" It's now that I notice the two other pack warriors surrounding him, each of them where a glare that I hate to admit is probably aimed at me.

I pinch my wrist hard, feeling every bit of it. Yup, this is definitely real.... and I am definitely screwed.

"Alright. Looks like we're doing this the hard way." He motions towards me with his bald head, and two warrior grab me from my chair, hauling me up into the air.

Beta Thorn stomps toward me with his arms crossed, his black boots barley make a sound on the thick, plush rug.

He begins searching me like a maniac, feeling me up. The humiliation of it all is overwhelming, and I try to focus on the tight hold on either side of me, the warriors' bruising grips on my arms.

After touching the back of my pants, his large hands come back around to feel my front. A sound of triumph escapes him when he discovers what's in my jean pocket. His fingers dig it out, and as soon as it's in his hands I expect the stupid thugs to drop me, but they continue to suspend me in the air.

I blink in surprise to see the fountain pen from Alpha Green's desk held between the Beta's fingertips. My mind races nervously as I remember stealing it earlier this week, and feel a pain in my chest as I realize I'm in deep doo doo.

"And what would this be, little thief? How do you explain this?"

I gulp and turn my gaze upward to gaze unflinchingly into his eyes, smiling like the idiot I am.

"Maybe it just... fell into my pocket?"

I shrug my shoulders innocently, which is difficult with my circulation being cut off and all that.

"Crazier things have happened." I say, and I can see that big, bad Beta is anything but amused at my jesting.

"You may think this is funny, Klepto, but believe me when I say this. Our Alpha is done playing around." He hisses, and I can't help but want to laugh out loud.

Our Alpha never plays around. He never has and never will, he's a complete wet sandwich. I have more humor in my pinkie toe than the guy has in his whole freaking body.

Instead of laughing like I want, I just narrow my eyes at him. I observe the way the corners of his mouth turn down, the steely edge to the Beta's appearance.

He is clearly stressed, and I can't blame him. His job is to please a wolf that finds fault with every little thing.

"Let's go." He says, after turning around. I stare at his broad back with disdain.

"Go where?" I ask quietly, but I'm already being hauled after him. The warriors holding me don't even look at me as we leave the library, and no one answers my question even though I know the bastards heard me.

We trek through the grassy field between the library and the pack house. Lots of pack members stop to stare at the scene, and I stare at my feet as they swing in the air with each lumbering step.

I'm not surprised when they march past the pack house and head for the office building. I can only assume we are going to the Alpha's office so I can beg for his forgiveness.

I mentally prepare myself for the reprimanding I am sure to receive.

They go along through the long hallways, and I can't hide my shock when we stride right past Alpha Green's office.

"Wait a second, what's going on? Where are you taking me?" I ask, my heart rate picking up speed as my imagination runs wild. This can't be happening.

"Oh, you'll see." Is all Beta Thorn says, not turning to look at me as he walks smugly.

It is with disdain that I look at the door that he stops in front of. In all my years, I've never been past the silver coated door, but everyone know what lays behind it's barrier.

Reason told me that there is no way he'll actually open that door. Anything but that door. But, I know deep down what's about to happen. I just don't want to accept it.

Beta Thorn puts his thumb on the pad beside the door, then he types in an overly long password. The door makes a hiss sound as it swings inward like a vault.

I can only thrash against the wolves holding me as they follow their master down the creaky stairs. The only thing I can see are the stone walls on either side of us, dimly lit by yellow lights above that look ancient.

It doesn't take long before we arrive in front of a jail cell with thick, silver bars. I swallow the lump in my throat as Beta Thorn puts black gloves on his hands slowly, as if drawing out the torture of my situation.

"Please. I'm sorry, okay? Just return the pen, and I'll apologize to Alpha Green myself."

Thorn doesn't even acknowledge that I've said anything, he just pulls out a ring of rusty keys and unlocks the door with a loud clunk.

"This is ridiculous!" I yell when Beta Thorn disappears into the empty cell, and the guys holding me follow.

I'm dropped on the floor like a sack of potatoes, and I scream when I feel an arm wrap around my torso, pulling me backwards.

The most agonizing pain seers the skin on my wrists, and I cry out, realizing that silver manacles are clamping down on me. They are so tight, there's absolutely no wiggle room.

I scream loud as my skin burns and blisters under the silver. Tears immediately spring to my eyes, despite my earlier crying session. The agony is unbearable. I writhe on the ground.

"What's ridiculous," Beat Thorn says, "is that you continue to disobey. Even when the Alpha gives you chances to change, you always end up failing."

He backs away, still glaring down at me. I look at him and sob, trying to crawl after him. A scream shreds my throat when the silver chains connected to the cuffs touch my exposed ankle.

They leave me, locking the door behind them. I let out a shuttery sob when the lights turn off, leaving me in complete darkness on the cold, stone ground.

All I wanted was a miracle, a small chance to have a good day, but the Moon Goddess has different plans for me.

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If you're reading this, I love you:)