Wolf Women (The Madison Wolves Book 10) (26 page)

I laughed. "Was that a hint you want me to ask for something? You could argue I owe you for helping me."

"This is part of the post-punishment recovery and doesn't involve a price."

I leaned against her briefly.

"Well, let's get you dried off."

* * * *

They dried me as best they could, using the blow driers again, and then I was wrapped back up in the plastic and carried to the sofa. They filled me with warm food and hot tea, and I sat between two warm wolves.

They even gave me a pair of slippers to wear.

The girls expressed amazement I hadn't surrendered. But when I glanced at Michaela, she was watching me with a small smile on her lips. We both knew she could have won. We nodded to each other.

I was pretty wiped out, and my emotions were rocky. I knew I wasn't going to last through many more of her punishments, even if she didn't step it up any further than she had. I think Michaela read it in the face. She declared we'd play a game of charades, but of course, I only had to sit on the sofa and guess.

She made everyone act out the most outrageous things, and she took a turn herself.

Then her phone went off.

I stared at it and sighed.

As things went, it wasn't that bad, but I ended the punishment sweating and wrung out. I didn't beg.

* * * *

We played a few more games, but my heart wasn't in it. When the timer went off, Michaela sent the girls upstairs, keeping just Hadley and Michele. They sat on either side of me while Michaela sat down in front.

"You're done in," she declared. I nodded. "I wouldn't have expected you to be this stubborn, Zoe."

"Are the cameras off?" She nodded. "I know I'm just a weak human, but I want Portia to be proud of me anyway."

"Oh honey," Michaela said. "She's already proud of you."

I looked down. "I don't think she is." I paused. "And you're still showing my strengths, aren't you?"

There was a ghost of a smile, but then she stilled her face. "You should beg now, Zoe."

"You haven't even told me what you're going to do."

"Michele, go upstairs," Michaela said. "I don't think you should watch this."

"I'll stay," Michele said.

"Suit yourself," Michaela said. "Untape her left hand." She handed Hadley the scissors.  She couldn't quite reach my hand properly the way I was sitting, so I fell over onto Michele's lap, and that gave Hadley the leverage she needed.

While Hadley worked on freeing my hand, Michaela played with her phone. "I'm sending Portia the new ransom," she said. "It's quite reasonable. She'll pay if you ask her to."

"How much?"

"You know I won't tell you that, but if you ask again, I am shaving your hair."

I sighed.

"I should have made that rule earlier," she said. "Ah well."

Hadley finished freeing my hand, but Michele held me in place on her lap.

"She's going to make a mess," Michele said. "Even the wolves soil themselves when you break their fingers."

"The plastic will contain it, but if some leaks, it's an old sofa."

I looked up at Michele then over at Michaela. Then I smiled.

"You should beg, Zoe," Michaela said. "We don't want to do this, but I'm out of ideas."

"I think this is going too far, Alpha," Hadley said. "The pack doesn't require this."

"I don't care," Michaela said. "If she wants to play wolf games, we'll play wolf games with her. She should have begged two punishments ago."

She picked up the phone and made a call. "Portia, if you don't ransom your mate, we are breaking the bones in her left hand." She paused. "No. She thinks she's tougher than I am, but I am about to disabuse her of that belief." Another pause. "Portia, you really should pay this ransom." Another pause. "So be it." And she hung up.

She turned to me. "Hadley, start with one finger."

Hadley grabbed my ring finger and began to bend it backwards.

"Wait," Michaela said. "Take the ring off first."

I lay there patiently while Hadley worked the ring from my finger. My hands were a little swollen, so she had to bend down and wet my finger before she could pull the ring off. She held it up.

Michaela took it and set it aside. "We'll hang onto this for you. You should be able to wear it in a few months. Do it, Hadley."

"We both know you're bluffing," I said.

"Excuse me?"

"Does this feel like bluffing?" Hadley asked. She grabbed my finger and began to bend it. It hurt, but she didn't break it. I winced and whimpered a little.

"Agree to beg," Michaela said. "Don't make us do this, Zoe."

"Bluffing," I said.

Hadley flexed on my finger, but still didn't break it. I gasped.

"Beg for Portia to pay the ransom."

"Bluffing."

Hadley relaxed her grip but then trapped two fingers and bent them together. That hurt just as much, but if they were serious, they would have done it by now. I gasped and panted, but gritted my teeth.

"Beg, Zoe," Michaela ordered. "Look into either of the cameras and beg Portia to pay for you."

I shook my head.

Hadley relaxed her hold on my fingers, but not all the way.

"Zoe, it won't heal, not at our ages," Michele said. "You won't get full motion back. Hadley's a wolf; instinctively she doesn't understand. She would just shift once or twice and she'd be fine. Michaela doesn't even need to do that."

Michaela bent down and pulled a knife from her ankle. "This is silver," she said. "Watch what it does to me." She pressed the blade against her arm and gritted her teeth. She held it there for fifteen seconds, and when she pulled it away, there was an angry mark, at least a first, possibly a second-degree burn.

"That's a real burn," Michele said. "Just like if it were red hot."

"And hurts as much," Michaela said tightly. "Now watch the burn."

It took her thirty seconds, but the burn faded.

"I heal broken bones the same way," she said, "although it takes a little longer, and I need to eat quite a bit afterwards." She got up and went to the storage chest, coming back with a couple of towels. She put one over her knees when she sat down, then rested her hand over the towels. "Observe." And then she slammed the knife through her hand.

I gasped with the sudden ferocity; I made more noise than Michaela did. She pulled the knife out, and the wound was bleeding severely. Then, as I watched in horror, it healed.

"Damn, that hurts," she said. She flexed her hand at me. "The wolves can't do that. They have to shift. But I'm going to have to eat something. Hopefully the girls are bringing food."

"Zoe, we're done bluffing," Hadley said. "In fifteen seconds, I am snapping both fingers."

"You won't heal," Michaela said.

"You probably won't get full motion back," Michele said.

"Your hand will still hurt by the wedding," Hadley said.

"You won't be able to help Portia with the last few things on the house," Michaela said. "And you won't wear your rings at the wedding."

Then Hadley began to bend my fingers.

"Bluffing," I said between gasps. "Bluff-ing." I dragged the word out.

"Damn it," Michaela said. "Just. Damn it."

Hadley released my hand.

"That's a dangerous game, Zoe," Michaela said.

"You wouldn't go that far, Michaela," I said.

"You don't know that."

"Yes," I said. "I do. I trust you. I trust all of you. You're willing to do a lot to me, but you wouldn't cripple me. Nice try though." I smiled. "I wouldn't suppose you would clean me up and let me pick our next game."

Michaela sighed.

"That sounds like a favor," Hadley said.

"It certainly does," Michaela said. "Hadley, I believe you wanted the next price."

"Zoe, the price for this favor is to serve as my personal assistant for two days."

"Who picks the days?"

"I do, but it will be subject to your schedule. It will be in September."

"Agreed."

I actually couldn't care less about getting cleaned up or picking the next game. I just wanted to give Hadley whatever it was she wanted. I think they knew that.

"What game?" Michaela asked.

"A memory game."

* * * *

The timer on Michaela's phone went off.

I sighed. "Game over?"

"Angel and Scarlett, please bring the table back. Monique, go get the breathing tube from the box."

While they were doing that, Michaela busied herself at the bar. She came back with a funnel and a large measuring cup full of water. I stared at them for a moment, trying to decide what she intended to do. Everyone returned from her assigned duties, and a minute later, I found myself lying on the table, facing up this time. They didn't clamp me down, which puzzled me.

Michaela moved to my side. "You're going back in the box," Michaela said. "Yes, I was bluffing last time, but this isn't a bluff. But I am going to let you practice."

"Practice?"

"You may ask for the opportunity to beg Portia at any time," she said. "Monique, hold the tube for her."

Monique held the abbreviated snorkel over my mouth and inserted the mouthpiece.

"Your practice stops if you spit out the tube," Michaela said tightly. Then she inserted the funnel into the top of the snorkel and lifted the measuring cup. Just before she poured, I took a deep breath, and then I did something we had learned in scuba class.

I plugged the mouthpiece with my tongue.

Michaela poured a small amount of water into the tube. As soon as she lifted the water and funnel away, I exhaled heavily, ejecting the water from the tube.

Then I went back to breathing through my nose.

"All right. This is too easy if you can breathe that way," she said. "Monique, pinch her nose closed."

Monique pinched my nose, but she also wrapped a hand over my mouth, making sure I couldn't breathe around the mouthpiece and was forced to breathe through it.

Michaela gave me a second to hold my breath, and then she poured more water into the tube. I gave a big blow, splashing water on her and Monique, then breathed through the tube. We did that several times.

"Do you understand?" Michaela asked.

I released the snorkel, and Monique released me.

I sighed. "Eventually you'll pour water into my throat."

She nodded. "Beg, Zoe."

"No."

She shook her head. "Foolish woman. You should beg."

"Maybe I should, but I'm not going to."

"Go get her ready," Michaela said. "I'm going to try to talk sense into Portia."

She lifted her phone, and four of the wolves lifted me.

By the time Michaela appeared, I'd been in the frigid water for several minutes. It was horribly, horribly cold, and a part of me, a very big part of me, hoped she won this time. I was ready to be done.

But I wanted Portia to be proud.

Michaela knelt down and shook her head. She looked at me sadly.

She plugged the tube a few times, getting me into a real panic, and then while I was still panting, she poured water into the tube.

It wasn't a lot, but I wasn't ready, and I breathed it right in.

I immediately began coughing. Coughing out my lungs while underwater on my back, breathing through a snorkel tube, is not easy, and I coughed for a long time. Michaela didn't interfere, but when finally I was breathing normally, she held up a sign.

"Please beg, Zoe."

I shook my head.

She went back to plugging the tube, but each time she released it, I watched her hands while panting for air. I was right on the edge of complete, utter panic. She timed plugging it, sometimes letting me have a full breath, sometimes catching me in between breaths.

And then she lifted the water, and I got a fast breath, held it, and plugged the mouthpiece with my tongue. Michaela added the water, I waited until she was done, and then I blew it out.

Slowly, she got sneakier, and she managed to fool me twice more. In between, she plugged the tube for a long, long time, and I was frantic with panic, banging my feet and my knees in a vain attempt to escape.

I didn't beg.

I didn't get another hot shower. They tried me in towels, wrapped me back in the plastic to serve as insulation, and then we were back in the living room.

The timer went off.

Michaela didn't even hesitate. "Strap her to the table." They hadn't put it away, so I had been sure I'd be visiting it again. "Face up."

It took them a few minutes, and they had me incredibly secure.

"Blindfold her. Tape it carefully."

Then Michaela stood over me. "Zoe, it's time. You know it's time. Ask Portia to pay your ransom. She knows it's time. You won't have to beg."

"I don't think so." I really wanted her to convince me. I was long past ready to be done, but pride stopped me.

Stupid pride.

She leaned down and whispered into my ear. "Zoe, I know you're done in, aren't you?" I nodded. "You're ready for me to win." I nodded again. "Please ask Portia to pay." I shook my head.

"No," I said in a small voice.

She sighed. "I didn't want it to come to this. She doesn't deserve to suffer for your stubborn pride." She straightened up. "Angel, Scarlett, go collect our guest. Make sure she's quite secure."

"Guest?"

Michaela ignored my question.

Everyone was quiet. I heard Angel and Scarlett on the stairs and then walking on the floor above me.

"What guest?"

"This is your fault, Zoe," Michaela said. "You should surrender. You're right. I can't treat you like a wolf."

Then I heard Angel and Scarlett returning.

"Zoe, when you talk to Portia, if you tell her why you're begging, we'll take up where we left off. Do I make myself clear?"

"I'm not begging, Michaela."

"Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes."

Then I heard her voice.

"Mom?"

"Ember?"

I heard struggling.

"Let me go to her!" Ember said. "Angel! Let me go!"

"What are you doing?" I screamed. "Leave her alone."

"Mom!"

"Tape her to that chair," Michaela said. "It's sturdy enough."

"Mom!"

"Leave her alone!" I screamed again.

I heard the sound of duct tape coming off a roll mixed with more struggles.

"Damn it," Angel said. She growled, and it was a serious, serious growl

Ember whimpered. My daughter whimpered.

"Leave her alone! Don't you dare hurt her!"

Michaela leaned down and whispered into my ear. "You're right. I was bluffing earlier. I can't treat you like a wolf. I can, however, treat your daughter like one."

"No!" I struggled with the bonds. "Leave her alone! She's too young for this."

"Mom! Help me!" Ember said.

I started hyperventilating.

"Start with her hands," Michaela said. "Left one first. Don't bother taking your time. She can heal five as easily as one."

"No!" I screamed. "Don't do it!"

Then there was a clear "crack". Ember didn't scream, but I did. But I heard her whimper. It took two more "cracks" before I was screaming, "I'll beg! I'll beg! I'll beg!"

"Stop," Michaela said. She paused just a moment. "Remember what I told you, Zoe. If you tell Portia what we just did, we'll finish what we started."

"I'll beg," I said, sobbing. "Just don't hurt her anymore. Oh god. Ember, I'm so sorry."

"Enough," Michaela said. "I'm dialing." A moment later she was pressing the phone to my ear, and then I heard Portia's voice.

"Alpha?"

I started sobbing. "Please pay," I told her. "Please pay. Please pay. Please pay."

And then Michaela took the phone away, and I sobbed uncontrollably.

But then someone kissed my cheek. "I love you, Mom," said Ember. I felt her hands on my face, and then she began pulling at the tape holding the blindfold.

"Ember?" I sobbed. "But-"

It took her a moment, and then Michaela was there with scissors, and they freed my eyes. I stared up at my daughter.

"I'm fine," she whispered. She waved her fingers at me. "Everything is whole." She kissed my forehead and my cheek and my nose. "Shh. Shh. You protected me. I love you." Over and over, she soothed me.

I didn't even notice they were unstrapping me from the table but then Ember pulled me into a sitting position on the table and wrapped her arms around me. I stared over her shoulder. Michaela moved into my field of vision.

"You tricked me," I said.

"We tricked you," she replied.

"Don't be angry," Ember said. "I couldn't let them hurt you any more. I didn't help them, Mom. I helped you."

* * * *

I sat on the sofa, numb. The tape was gone. They had dried me completely, buffing my skin thoroughly, then dressed me in a teddy and robe. The slippers were back on my feet.

Ember sat next to me.

I finally turned to her. "You helped them trick me."

"You protected me," she replied.

From my other side, Hadley said, "It is our responsibility to protect our young. You showed your strength and devotion to duty."

I turned to look at her. "You are an asset to the pack, Zoe, and I am proud to call you a member."

Michaela moved closer, kneeling in front of me. She took my hands. "Zoe, look at me."

I turned to face her.

"Portia needed to see your strength."

"And the pack as well," Hadley added.

"But you needed to see your strength, too," Michaela went on.

"You keep thinking you're not worthy," Ember said. "It's not as bad as when we first met, but you still keep saying things like, 'just a human'. You're not 'just' anything. You're my mom! I'm so proud of you. And so is Portia Mom."

Michaela was smiling as well. "Lara and I are very proud of you, Zoe. We didn't know what we were getting when you joined us last summer, but we couldn't be more pleased."

"We're proud too," said the teenagers together. "You're a lot more fun than most adults," Iris added. She got some chuckles for that.

"It was time," Michaela said. "And we showed your strength, even in your surrender."

I reached out an arm and wrapped it around Ember, then pulled her sideways until she was leaning across my lap. She curled up her legs and settled in. I bent over and kissed her cheek. "I love you, Ember," I whispered into her ear. "I will forever cherish the day you came into my life."

I stroked her hair. A moment later, the other wolves crowded around me, some resting their hands on my shoulders. Monique settled to the floor but twisted so she was resting her hands across my lap just in front of Ember, and then lowered her head to rest on the hands. She looked up at me. I accepted the comfort and stroking, finally closing my eyes and just absorbing the kind attention.

"I think it's time to go home," Michaela said.

"Not yet," replied Ember. "I haven't seen the tattoo yet."

"I think Portia gets to see it first," I said.

"No way! They all got to see it. I want to see it."

"Oh, and do we always get what we want?" I asked her.

"No," she said. She rolled onto her back, and I opened my eyes to look at her. "But I'm going to this time, aren't I?"

"Fine," I said, "but then we're going home."