My eyes slowly open, adjusting to the light, I instantly feel the pain and soreness take over my body and I groan. I hear someone shift across the room and I shoot up, not knowing who I was in the room with.

I immediately begin to cower when I see Taylor seated across from the bed I was laying in seated on a chair. This was the pack's medical wing, why did they bring me here? Taylor stares at me "Good morning sleeping beauty," he laughs wickedly. I stay as still as possible not trying to anger him, and simply trying to stop the aching from my body.

"You've been asleep for a few days Phoenix. Even missed the ceremony. I'm officially alpha, and you're still no one. Who's surprised though?" He continues his little rant, now up and pacing around the room. My face pales, what had happened? How am I still alive?

"Turns out the king is interested in you, who the fuck knows why? We figure he'd learn eventually that you weren't worth it, but we don't want our little secret getting out. The poor guy has begged to see you for days, but we had the doctor tell him that you aren't ready yet, but really, you'll never be ready." 

Was he going to kill me? It sure sounded like it. In that case why didn't he just let me die when the rogues attacked me? Would have made my life a lot easier. I couldn't ask questions though, I couldn't get my voice to work, I was horrified and my throat was incredibly dry.

"We can't have it look like we killed you, so unfortunately we had to save you from those rogues, but I can tell you, your little mate, will never see you again, not that he'd want to."

A million things were going through my mind, Maddox was actually my mate, which I couldn't quite wrap my head around. And Taylor was either going to kill me or take me far away so that I wouldn't get to live out my life with Maddox. I wanted to scream for help, beg for the King to save me, but I just sat there in awe.

"Little lover boy headed back to the castle today to grab some things, but when he comes back, he'll find out that we were attacked again by rogues, and you were taken, a real shame." 

I begin to panic. I couldn't take this anymore, they were going to fake a rogue attack so they can hide me somewhere the king will never find me? My breaths became strained and I began to hyperventilate. Tears were quietly flowing from my eyes and I start gasping for air. I hadn't had a panic attack in years, I forgot how much they suck. I couldn't seem to calm myself down enough to properly breathe and Taylor was just watching me struggle, amused. 

He walked towards the door and before exiting said "someone will be coming to get you soon."

Once the door was shut, I forced myself to get up, still struggling to control my breathing, and the accumulated injuries not helping either. I glanced down at my outfit, an oversized sweatshirt and a pair of black shorts, I wasn't sure how these had gotten on me, and I didn't really want to think about it. I took a minute to steady my breathing, and approached the door, praying no one was outside.

I wasn't just going to wait around for someone to take me away. I would take myself away, far away. I crack the door open and peek out, the coast was clear. I quietly shut the door behind me and run down the hallway, without any shoes on, I was fairly quiet.

Not entirely familiar with the medical wing of the pack, I got a little turned around, and it took me several minutes to find an exit, but when I saw the door, I stopped for a second to catch my breath and sighed a breath of relief.

I grabbed the door knob and tried to wiggle it open, but it seemed as if it was locked from the outside. Fuck. There's gotta be another way out. As I turned around I slammed right into someone, and stumbled to the ground.

I looked up to see a wolf I was unfamiliar with, but I knew was part of the pack. His name might have been a John or a Jason? Regardless, I wasn't going to let him get me, I shot up and dashed under his outstretched arms. 

He curses under his breath, and I hear his footsteps follow after me. 

Everything aches, and I struggle to outrun his pace, making turns here and there looking for an alternative exit. I make a left turn, the guy following me not far behind. A dead end. There were a few doors on either side, but the hallway stopped.

I pull open the door closest to me and silently shut it, there was no lock. I frantically glanced around the room and noticed the small bookshelf next to a hospital bed. I push the bookshelf with all my might until it's placed in front of the door, barricading me in.

There wasn't much other furniture in the room, so I prayed that would be enough to hold him back while I tried to exit through the window, even though I knew the medical wing was on the fourth or fifth story of the pack house. It was my only option.

I hear the doorknob begin to jiggle, and I dash across the room to the window, it was dark and rainy outside, I'd definitely be able to escape into the darkness. 

I pry the window open, grateful that they weren't sealed. As I stick my leg out the window, the door bursts open, the bookshelf, along with all the books go flying. I instinctively whimper, and swing my other leg out the window upon seeing James... Jason?

I practically throw myself out the window, but my breath escapes me as I feel my sweatshirt being grabbed by the collar, pulling me back inside. I fall back onto the floor, my head slamming directly onto the ground, ow. My vision blurs slightly, but I wasn't giving up yet. 

I quickly sit back up, which further screws with my vision, and I begin to punch at the assailant. He laughs at my sad attempts, easily dodging my advances. "Accept your fate Phoenix," he smirks.

"No." I exhale quietly, trying not to cry. His eyes go hazy for a second indicating he was mind linking someone, which wouldn't be good news for me. I sat there seemingly out of options, I felt a small trickle of blood falling down the back of my head where I had made contact with the floor.

There had to be another way out of this. Where was this mate of mine when I needed him?