☾ 9: Darkness ☾

I was waiting for Mason by the old cabin when I heard a twig snap.

"Boo!" Mason unexpectedly popped out of nowhere and before I could stop myself I punched him across his face.

"Ouch... what the hell!" He yelled rubbing his cheek.

"Oops sorry. It is your fault for sneaking up on me though. My instincts kicked in." I shrugged and laughed.

"I didn't think you'd punch me! Anyway, are you ready to go? Did you say your goodbyes to that human I have no clue why you love."

When he said that it kind of shocked me. I didn't love her. It's too soon for that. I definitely like her though.

"No, I didn't say goodbye... I just left before she woke up. She probably thinks I'm just hunting."

I wanted to say goodbye to her but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I didn't want to make her upset. With how close we've gotten over the last several weeks I know it'll hurt her as much as it's hurting me.

We knew quite a bit about each other. I told her about my childhood though I left out most of the dark details. She told me about hers as well. Her life seemed nearly perfect. She was living a normal life I could only dream of having. While she didn't say it you knew she had to be popular at school. She was perfect in every way you couldn't see how she wouldn't be.

My mind trailed off to the kiss we had last night. Why did she do that? While you enjoyed it it makes leaving so much worse. The thoughts of what you could have had if things were even just slightly different.

"Hello? Earth to Cassy!" Mason waved his hand in my face snapping me back to reality.

"Sorry, what is it?"

"We should go now."

"Right."

Just as we are about to leave I can hear a voice calling my name in the distance. I turned around and as I realized who it was my heart turned into rage with a bit of sadness.

"Mom?"

As she came closer I saw she was crying which was odd because I'd never seen her cry.

"Oh my God! Cassy look how grown up you've become!"

Did something possess my mom with someone nice? Turning her gaze over to Mason she spoke. "And who is this?"

"I could say the same to you," Mason said a bit protectively.

"He's no one of your concern," I said.

"Then may I speak with my daughter alone?" She asked still carrying a voice that seemed excited to see me but I wasn't convinced.

I signaled for Mason to go and he did.

"Oh, honey!" She got closer as if to hug me but I stepped back.

"What do you want?" I folded my arms.

"Sweetie, I came back to come get you and take you home."

I laughed. Does she really think I'd want to go back home with her? After everything, she's done to me?

"No chance."

"Sweetie... listen I'm sorry about the past."

"Sorry?! Are you kidding me? You ruined me!" I looked down at the floor clutching my hands making a fist, trying so hard not to rip her head off.

"I'm sorry. I never meant for any of it to happen I swear.." Tears began pouring from her eyes.

My fists softened as I looked into her watery eyes trying to figure out why she was doing this.

"Sure seemed like you meant it. If you do care about me now then do me a favor and leave. Stay away from me and then I'll be happy." I turn to walk away but not before she grabs my arm.

"Oh, I did mean every bit of it."

I turn to face her but instead my eyes focused on the tranquilizing dart she jabbed into my arm. I looked up at her to see no tears but only anger, the face I normally saw in her.

"You are a monster and always will be. Why don't you just do the world a favor and leave it?"

I fell to the floor paralyzed. Monster? Did she...No...

"Cassy!" Mason came running to me but it was too late I saw him fall to the floor by a dar. I turned my eyes to who shot it. It was my dad. Before I knew it my vision turned black.

As I started coming to I saw I was in a cage with only a few small holes and I was a wolf. I hardly had the strength but I was able to stand up. I looked around and I was in an all too familiar place. The lab but it was slightly different. I knew it had to belong to the guy James was talking to on the phone.

"Hey, Cassy? You up?" I looked next to me through a hole to see Mason also in a cage in wolf form.

"Yeah."

"Are you okay? I woke up probably 30 minutes before you and I saw the people and James talking, they turned you in for the money. They got extra for me."

"I'm fine and I'm so sorry I got you in this mess."

"Don't blame yourself it's my fault. I shouldn't have left you alone with her."

"Ah, it's nice to see you two awake." James came into the room. "Mason, Mason, Mason," he said shaking his head. "You had my boss fooled for a long time."

Mason didn't make a sound.

"And Cassy poor poor Cassy, you shouldn't have run off like that, things would've been much better for you if you hadn't. Doesn't it suck to get taken down by your own 'parents'?" He smirked finger quoting 'parents'.

I growled and snapped but by judging what I could see he seemed unfazed.

"I tried to be civil with you too but then you go doing things like this to me." He walked out of my view.

"I hate this stupid cage I can't see anything!" I said.

"I know but don't worry I'll try and find a way out"

I sighed. "It's no use this cage is solid"

"Don't say that."

"Tell you what I'm going to try and negotiate with him into keeping me and letting you go."

"Cassy no! Don't you dare do that you know he'll end up killing you!"

"I don't care. I deserve it." I thought back to what my mom said.

"Cassy no you don't! Trust me there is more to this!"

"You two sure are quiet." I heard the door open "We're ready in here!"

"Alright alright! Let's get this thing started!" I heard another man's voice. "Who are we doing first?"

"Cassy sir, the white one."

"Alright bring her out onto the table."

"Okay, Cassy don't make things worse. Just be civil. This place is full of people. You couldn't escape even if you tried."

I didn't care anymore I was tired of fighting what was obviously my fate.

He wrapped my muzzle with some type of tape that stuck to itself. Then he looked at me for a few seconds.

"I'm glad you're not fighting it but if you don't mind I need you to hop up on the table. It would make it easier than having a few guys lift your." Wow.

I rolled my eyes and hopped up.

"Cassy, what the fuck are you doing?!" Mason said.

"I told you I'm giving up! This is what was in store for me so I just need to accept it"

James and the other man made me lay down on my side and strapped up my paws. It felt not at all strong I could easily break loose but I guess they figured I wouldn't put up much of a fight.

"Okay let's go get the stuff." The man and James walked out of the room closing the door behind them.

"Cassy now's your chance! See if you can break loose! Cassy come on!"

I sighed trying to ignore him but he kept bugging me it started pissing me off a bit. Can't this go any faster?

"Cassy please get up!"

I closed my eyes taking in a deep breath, then I heard the door open. Finally!

Keeping my eyes closed I didn't hear any voices only a cage door being opened. Someone must be getting him. Shit, I forgot to talk James into letting him go. Mason, I'm sorry. I really am you didn't deserve this.

"Here change into this!" I heard a voice whisper it made me curious but my eyes were still closed. I didn't want to open them. Then I heard a door open and close again. I assumed no one was in the room but I felt something staring at me.

The door opened and closed once again. "She's not dead if that's what you're thinking." It sounded like Mason but who was he talking to? I heard whispering but I couldn't make out what they were saying.

Then I felt someone removing the straps around my feet and then my mouth. Please let it be James! I'm tired of running.

"C-Cassy?" I heard a voice I could take it any longer I needed to know what was going on.

I opened my eyes and saw Mason in human form behind him stood Laine.

"Oh, thank god! Here change into this."

Without saying a word I grabbed the clothes she handed me in my mouth and changed. I came back knowing what was going to happen.