Wolf Women (The Madison Wolves Book 10) (24 page)

"Yes."

"Teenagers can be a handful."

"Ember's a darling," I countered. "I love her to pieces."

"Still," she said, "I imagine there are times she is difficult."

"Imagine all you want, Michaela."

"I want to hear five things you don't like about Ember," Michaela said. "Or you go in the box. We'll fill it with water all the way to the brim. You will notice there is a breathing tube. We'll start the timer once it is absolutely full. Two minutes per item under five."

I sighed. "Ember is perfect. Or if she isn't, that is between her, Portia, and me."

"I don't believe you understand your predicament. Put her in the box."

No one moved. I laughed.

"You seem to have a mutiny on your hands, Alpha," I said. "Aren't you going to give Portia a chance to ransom me?"

"Not before you understand what this is going to be like," she said. "Monique and Evangeline, put her in the box."

Evangeline got up from her chair. She and Monique tried to get a hold of me, but I was so slimy and slippery, they had trouble. They kept dropping me, which meant I kept splattering everyone.

The other wolves were chuckling.

"Laugh it up," Monique said. "We're going to need help."

"For crying out loud," I said. "Move the box closer, set it on its side, and help me roll into it. Do I have to do everything?"

"You're awfully lippy for the prisoner," Michaela said. "Three minutes for every missed complaint instead of two. Did you want to try for four minutes each?"

I closed my mouth.

She made a disgusted sound. "Do it her way."

Angel and Scarlett got back up and moved the box closer, tipping it on its side. Monique and Evangeline helped me roll into it, getting quite a bit of Crisco on themselves in the process. They both muttered about it.

They tipped the box upright, thumping me lightly and leaving me on my side. I couldn't get rolled back over on my own, and it took all four of them to arrange me. There was actually an indentation for my head, and they got me positioned where they wanted me. Then the top went back on and was locked tight. Not like I could have gotten out, taped up as I was.

The breathing tube was retractable. Michaela pushed down on it from the outside saying, "Open up!" It had a mouthpiece like our scuba gear did, and she pushed it down until my lips wrapped around it. I continued to breathe through my nose anyway.

"Bring the cameras," Michaela ordered. "Carry her."

From inside the box, I looked around a little more. There were small doors in the lid, one over my chest and another near my feet. I realized that was how they were going to fill the box with water -- or ice. I wondered if they had other plans for the box. It seemed like an awful lot of work for one punishment.

I hoped they didn't have a bunch of creepy crawling animals to toss in with me; not only would it wig me out terribly, but it wouldn't be at all vegan, and Michaela had promised.

There were handles at each end of the box. Scarlett and Angel picked me up, and when I craned my head to look, neither of them appeared to strain with the effort.

We passed through two rooms, and then we were in the utility room for the house. There was a furnace, air ducts, and plumbing. The floor was concrete. I presumed they brought me here so that any water I splashed would flow into the floor drain. They set me down, all of them crowding into the room, making sure the cameras were pointed at me. Michaela knelt down next to the box.

"The hose," she said. Her voice was muffled by the Plexiglas, but I could hear her.

Michele handed her a garden hose. I stared at it through the clear box top. Michaela opened the door directly over my chest, aimed the hose, and then said, "Turn it on."

A moment later, the water started to flow, and it was on cold, pure cold.

I screeched, releasing the breathing tube. Of course I did. It was at least as bad as getting blasted by cold water in the shower. But this time, I couldn't get away from the water. Michaela ignored my screeches.

"Stop! Stop! Stop!" I screamed.

She ignored that, too.

"Turn it up higher," Michaela said. "This is going to take forever."

I continued to screech and attempted to free myself from the frigid onslaught. There wasn't any room in the box to get away, and I was thoroughly bound, but that didn't stop me from trying to escape it.

The water flow increased, but it didn't get any warmer. Michaela aimed the hose in different directions, soaking me thoroughly. She aimed it down my body, and her aim was impeccable. With my legs taped together so tightly, there was no gap, but cold water began seeping everywhere. My screeching grew louder, if that were even possible.

It took a minute or two, but I felt the water begin to rise in the box. With my head against the bottom of the box, it reached my ears, and then Michaela said, "Turn it off." A moment later, the water flow stopped.

"How are you doing in there, Zoe?" she asked through the hole.

"Cold. Cold. Cold!"

"Do you want to beg to be ransomed?"

"No!"

"Send that video to Portia," Michaela said, looking over her shoulder. "Tell me when it's been sent. Take your time. We're comfortable here."

"Hurry!" I yelled.

She turned back to me. "Do you understand your predicament now?"

"Yes."

She leaned closer. "You really should give me what I want. I always win, Zoe."

"No."

"Beg."

"No."

"Tell me what I want to know."

"No."

"It's sent," Cassie said a minute later.

Michaela leaned down, her face over the hatch. "Comfy in there?" she asked.

"C-c-c-old," I complained.

"Well, we have to give Portia a chance to watch the video," she said. She spent a few minutes talking quietly about how cold I looked and how much colder it will be when she filled the entire box. I just told her, "Ember is perfect."

Finally, Michaela pulled her phone from her pocket and dialed. It took Portia a moment to answer.

"Have you seen the video, Portia?" Pause. "She seems stubborn. I wonder if hypothermia will set in before we let her out."

Then she pressed a button on the front of the phone. "Zoe, she can afford the ransom."

"No."

"So be it." She stood up and walked away, returning a minute later. She knelt down next to me again. I watched her through the top.

"Five things you don't like about Ember," she said. "And we'll let you out."

I was already shivering. I wanted her to get this over with.

"No!"

"She has annoying habits," Michaela said. "Everyone does. Tell me about one. We might not share it with her."

"She's perfect," I said. "Just like Portia. Well, perfect in her own way."

"Oh come on. She eats you out of house and home, and the things a wolf eats." She shook her head. "Teenagers can be such pains in the ass."

"Hey!" came several voices from behind her. But then Iris added, "Well, it's probably true."

"I have nothing to tell you," I said. "Fill it up."

"I don't think you really understand yet," she said. "Monique, do you have your bag of ice?"

"Yes, Michaela."

"There's another door near her feet. Pour the ice over her feet."

"No!" I screamed, then I watched in horror as Monique opened the door, tore open a bag of ice cubes from the store, and began pouring the ice over my naked feet. I screeched again and reflexively tried to pull my feet away, but there was nowhere for them to go.

"Cold! Cold! Cold!"

"I imagine," Michaela said calmly. "You really should buy your way out of this box, Zoe."

"No!"

"Turn the water on," she ordered. The water began to flow. Michaela fed the hose into the box so the end was down along my side near my hips.

"You'll want to take the mouth piece before the water gets that high," she said around my complaints. "Or you'll inhale water. Otherwise make sure you clear it before you breathe."

I nodded understanding.

"At any time during the next fifteen minutes you want to beg, say, 'surrender' over and over into the mouth piece. I will give you from now until the box is full to surrender, and you only owe me five annoying habits of Ember's, but once the box is full, the only way you get out early is five about Ember and five about Portia. Just say 'surrender' over and over, and we'll pull you out."

I nodded again.

The water trickled into my ears. "Oh god," I said.

"Give me what I want, Zoe," she said.

"No!"

The box filled. I screeched and complained. Michaela reminded me about the breathing tube by tapping it several times, and I wrapped my lips around the mouthpiece and began panting rapidly through the tube, still complaining.

I was shivering like mad, but I knew the danger came if I stopped shivering. As long as I had enough energy to shiver, I was okay.

Then the water covered my face. I looked at everyone watching me, their images distorted by the box and the water.

Bubbles escaped from my nose.

Just before the box was completely filled, Michaela began withdrawing the hose, but she didn't stop filling until it was absolutely full, and I saw some water leak out through the top. She pulled the hose out -- someone must have turned it off -- and closed the latch.

It was cold, but I wasn't going to buy my way out.

I wasn't.

I wasn't.

I closed my eyes.

And shivered.

I wasn't sure how long it was, perhaps a couple of minutes, but there was rapping on the top of the box. When I opened my eyes, Michaela held a sign in front of my eyes. "Surrender."

I shook my head.

She waved the sign, and I shook my head again.

She turned her head, and when I followed her gaze, Iris was holding another bag of ice.

"No!" I screamed into the breathing tube.

Michaela waved the sign at me, but I shook my head.

Iris stepped forward, opened the hatch over my chest, and began dumping the ice cubes in with me.

I screeched, probably as much from indignation as anything else. The ice bobbed around on the water, and she had to push them all in before she could close the hatch again.

Michaela waved the sign. I closed my eyes.

And shivered.

The next time she rapped on the lid, they had two bags of ice.

And then a few minutes later, two more.

I was cold; I was so cold.

She rapped on the lid again, but I crunched my eyes together and didn't even look. She rapped again, and I ignored her. I heard the hatch open, and a moment later, a hand clasped my chin. My eyes snapped open.

It was Hadley's arm, and she was looking down at me. In her other hand, she held up the sign. I shook my head, and she released me.

They threw two more bags of ice in, then Michaela held another sign that read, "And two more for not looking."

I couldn't even feel if the water was getting colder. It had to be with all that ice. But the next time she rapped on the lid, I opened my eyes, then shook my head.

A minute later, they were opening the lid. Before they pulled it off, Michaela rapped on the lid. I looked at her. She pantomimed taking a big breath and holding it. So I did, and then they lifted the lid off, pulling the breathing tube from my mouth. Seconds later, she and Hadley were reaching in to help me sit up, and then all of them together lifted me from the cold water.

"C-c-c-cold," I shivered.

"Your prize for Fear Factor," Michaela said gently, "is a hot shower followed by a two-hour nap. You will be blindfolded, but you may pick one or two of us to cuddle with you, if you like."

"Ha-ha-ha-"

"Hadley?"

I nodded.

There was a full bathroom in the basement. I got there by the expedient method of Hadley stepping forward and picking me up. Evangeline helped her to steady me until I was settled in her arms, and then she carried me to the shower. Michaela ran ahead to turn the water on.

Hadley didn't even take off her clothes. She stepped right into the shower with me. It was a big, walk-in shower, quite luxurious. A moment later, Michele joined us, stripping down to her undies first. Hadley set me on my feet and steadied me, and then Michele began washing me.

The hot water felt glorious. I never thought I'd be warm again.

"Th-th-thank you," I managed to get out.

Michele had her hands full, washing the Crisco from me. It had gotten everywhere. She washed my hair multiple times, using the soap to wash the rest of me.

"She's still slippery," she complained. "Michaela is evil."

I stood there and let the water flow over me. Michele's gentle hands didn't hurt, either, and I closed my eyes. I stood as still as I could while Hadley balanced me and Michele washed me, over and over.

"She's as clean as I can get her," Michele said finally. "Unless we're willing to remove the tape and then tape her back up later."

"She's fine," Hadley said. "Zoe, why did you accept that punishment? You could have avoided it. Teenagers are teenagers. I'm sure there's nothing you would tell us Ember hasn't already heard."

"Ember is a good girl," I said without even opening my eyes.

"Ava is a good girl," Hadley said. "But I could come up with ten things and not bat an eyelash doing it."

"And share them with the entire pack?" I asked. "Share them in front of her friends?" I shook my head. "No. If I have complaints with her, I address them with her." I opened my eyes and turned my head to look at her. "I think I'm as warm as I'm going to get here."

She nodded, and a moment later, Michele turned the water off. The two of them helped me from the shower and into a pair of waiting towels.

"We're going to go change," Hadley said. "We'll see you shortly, Zoe."

The girls dried me as best they could with towels, and then four of them produced blow dryers. Scarlett worked on my hair while three others tried to dry all the tape. I didn't think it would work very well, but they tried it anyway.

I zoned out and let them do what they wanted.

"We should retape her," Cassie said eventually, yelling over the sound of the hair dryers. "This is never going to dry."

"Then she can consider it part of her punishments," Michaela said. "We'll wrap her in one of the plastic sheets before we put her to bed. That's good enough."

Angel stepped forward and picked me up, carrying me back to the entertainment room. Someone had cleaned up all the mess from earlier, and I couldn't tell we had played such messy games.

"Now I'm damp," she complained. I didn't comment.

Michaela produced one of the plastic drop cloths. They wrapped it around me a couple of times, even encasing my feet. Then they pulled the blindfold over my eyes and taped it into place, although not as thoroughly as during the trip here.

"If that comes off," Michaela said, "You will receive a significant wolf punishment. You will be begging Portia to ransom you long before it's over. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Alpha," I said.

"Take her to bed."

* * * *

Hadley was already waiting. They set me into a bed, and then I felt her climb in with me, pulling the covers up.

"Michaela?"

"Yes, Zoe?"

"I want to speak to Hadley for a few minutes, then if anyone else wants to cuddle on my other side, I wouldn't mind."

"All right," she said. "Ten minutes?"

"Yes, thank you."

I settled in, spooned by Hadley behind me.

"I find myself in a bed with you again."

"Please don't tell your mate."

I laughed. "That sounds like a favor. What are you paying me for it?"

"Agreeing to answer your questions."

I laughed again, then grew still.

"Hadley, I'm not doing very well. I cried earlier."

"Of course you did. We expected you to. If you hadn't started crying, the spanking would have been rougher."

"What? I thought you were supposed to show how strong I am, and you're showing how weak I am. I couldn't stay quiet in the box, and I cried and begged from the spanking."

"Ah, but you didn't beg your mate to ransom you. You didn't eat the food Michaela tried to feed you. You didn't talk poorly about your mate or your daughter with us. Your morals tell you these are wrong, and in spite of fairly significant inducement, you didn't override your morals. That takes strength."

"I-"

"Michaela is pushing you physically. She's pushing you harder than I would be, but she has a better feel for what you can take. She's not trying to break you, Zoe. She's trying to show, we're almost breaking you, but you stick to your morals. Tell me, what would it take to tell us about Ember's bad habits?"

"I don't know."

"Would you die for them?"

I sighed. "No. She wouldn't want that."

"No one would want that, not for a few bad habits. Would you die to protect the pack's secrecy?"

"Yes."

"Well then?"

"I'm... I'm doing okay?"

"You're doing great, Zoe. No one expects physical strength. Most people don't expect any strength at all. There are people in the pack who do not understand why an enforcer would want a human."

"June has Benny."

"They don't understand that, but June is not as visible as Portia is."

"Could you hold me tighter, Hadley? I'm still so cold."

"I can," she said, and she pulled me more tightly against her.

We lay quietly for a minute before I said, "What's she asking for the ransom?"

"If she wants you to know, she will tell you. Portia can afford it."

"The punishments are going to get worse. I thought they were supposed to get worse slowly, but they started harsh, and then it's been erratic."

"Are you asking a question?"

"I don't understand."

She paused before answering. "We wanted to be sure to show your strengths, and we wanted to do so before you were too worn out. We have a few easier things after our nap, and a few more ways to show you off. And then I think the gloves come off."

"I don't understand that part. If you are showing how strong I am, then why push me until I break?"

"So that your mate knows the punishments aren't fake. Remember, this is a tradition, Zoe, and your human mind won't understand all of it."

"How do I know when I should beg, Hadley?"

"You could have begged already, and it would have been okay, Zoe. The pack would have been satisfied. There are wolves who would have freaked out just being put in that box, and others who would have begged when the water flowed over their faces."

"Not strong wolves."

"You would be surprised. Zoe, you are honoring the tradition, and that is what matters. You should stop us when you become unwilling to take more and before it threatens to hurt you psychologically."

"I don't know when that is."

She paused. "We have several easy punishments. I won't say what they are. One is momentous, and you will recognize it. After that, Michaela wants you to beg, and she'll make you beg eventually. You know she will. If you hold out after that, it is for your stubbornness and pride in an attempt to be a wolf when you are not a wolf."

"Are you telling me I should give in easily?"

"No. I will respect you for this, but it is not necessary to take more."

"But it is the tradition, to hold out as long as I can."

"Honor will be satisfied, Zoe. Do not worry about the tradition."

"We'll see."

"Unless you have more questions, you should sleep. Two hours is not a long time."

"As soon as whoever is joining us arrives."

"Well, try to relax." And then she began singing quietly, soothingly. She had a very pleasant voice, deep and smooth. She sang no words, she just... sang.

I began to drift.

There was a knock at the door, and then it opened. "Hadley, it's Cassie and Monique. Is there room for both of us?"

"Of course," Hadley said softly. "She's trying to sleep now. Come cuddle with her."

A few minutes later, sandwiched between warm wolves, I slept.

* * * *

I woke groggily when my warmth was removed. I tried to stretch, but I couldn't, and then I remembered where I was.

I felt hands clasping me, and then they rolled me from the bed and lifted me. "Mmm," was all I could say at first, then, "I was warm."

"Nap time is over," Monique said. "It's time for your next punishment."

"Wait," I said. "Don't tell me. You're going to wake me up without any coffee."

"Darn!" said Michaela. "Why didn't I think of that?"

They carried me downstairs and set me on the sofa. They hadn't taken off the blindfold yet. "May I have some water?"

"Of course." A moment later, there was a straw in my mouth. I took several slurps then offered thanks.

"It's punishment time," Michaela said. "We are going to spank you until you are sobbing or you beg Portia to pay your ransom."

"Why aren't you offering alternatives?" I asked. "I thought that was part of this little tradition. Someone else should get spanked until she sobs, and I should accept something worse."

Someone climbed onto my lap, and by her size, I realized it was Michaela. She caressed my cheek. "That part of the game is for more of the fun. But we played Fear Factor instead, and you got to see all of us engage in a variety of silly, humiliating, or uncomfortable behavior."

"I didn't get to see
you
engage in any of those, Alpha."

She chuckled. "Of course not. I'm running this show, so I get to make the rules. But we do have a few alternatives coming up. However, perhaps you wish to beg Portia to ransom you."

"What's the price down to? Maybe you should negotiate with me, not her."

"Maybe we will, later," Michaela said. "She almost paid when we put you in the box."

"She did?"

"If she could have afforded the price, she might have paid during one of your earlier spankings as well."

I grew still. Even though I couldn't see, I looked down. Michaela placed her forehead against mine and held my cheeks with her hands. "I could hear Lara in the background telling her you deserved this chance."

"This is really a screwed up tradition."

"Not to wolves," Monique said from beside me. "This is important to us. It's hard with a human, though. It's hard with someone I am driven to protect."

"You didn't seem to have any trouble dropping ice cubes into my box."

Michaela shifted her position then whispered into my ear, the one away from Monique. "She is compartmentalizing." Then she kissed my cheek.

She squirmed around on my lap, then she said, "If you say one word while I am on the phone, Zoe, I am obligated to give you a real wolf punishment. Please don't make me do that."

"I'll behave," I said.

There was a pause, then she said, "Hello, Portia. Your mate had a nice nap, but if you do not pay the ransom, the next thing you will hear is her cries."

She didn't pay. For some reason, I was proud of that, and I would have been disappointed if she had.

* * * *

We had breakfast, and then another punishment, easier than the spanking. We played a new game, and then another punishment. They kept me blindfolded for a while, but then Michaela said, "Get the table. And remove the blindfold."

Someone moved into my lap, and a few moments later, as the blindfold came off, I saw it was Cassie. I smiled weakly at her.

I was pretty worn out and so tired.

"May I have a hug?"

She nodded and hugged me tightly, ducking down so my chin rested on her shoulder. She held me that way for a minute, then there was a clatter, and she climbed off. I looked over. Angel and Scarlett were bringing in a large, metal table, and it was fitted with straps and clamps. I stared.

I knew I was going onto the table.

They set the table down, then wriggled it around until the legs found balance and it sat solidly on the floor.

"What are you going to do?" I asked in little more than a whisper.

"Did you want to beg Portia?"

"No."

"Put the prisoner onto the table," Michaela ordered.

It took four of them, although I didn't struggle. The set me down then rolled me onto my stomach, adjusting me into place. The metal was cold, and I shivered. I lay there as they added the straps and clamps, locking me firmly in place.