The Beast's Possession
68: You’re a flight risk.

**Aife

pov**

They were avoiding me.

Okay, I knew I sounded crazy when I made such claims, but I swear, they were avoiding me.

Both Bane and Zion. I hadn't seen Bane since that time when he beat up that man in front of my eyes and Zion since he left to make me that sandwich.

*Must be one hell of a good sandwich, if making it takes days.*

And the rest of the pack members? Well, they weren't any different.

It had been days since the morning after Zion left. I was woken up by a guard who walked me to another room. I found some clothing on the bed, but none came from Bane's house. Although the guard wasn't very chatty, he told me I was safe since men in the house knew I was off-limits and they didn't have permission to do as much as look at me.

Then, he told me I would be getting daily tasks to ensure I wouldn't get bored. At first, I was happy. I hoped to see the girls from the rejects housings. But I never did.

Maybe it was a part of a plan to isolate me, maybe not, but it sure did feel like one. Somehow, the timestamps and tasks were aligned perfectly to keep me out of everyone's way. At this point, I felt like I was a ghost, roaming, following scents that were fading.

Loneliness never really seemed like an issue until now. It was laughable how passionately I wanted to get out of Bane's pack and still doubted if it was the best idea. Where would I go? There wasn't a 'home' for me anymore, no place to return to or look forward to seeing again.

So, after days of social isolation, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I woke up around 5am and stood at the door, waiting.

About an hour into waiting, I started growing impatient. Thankfully, for once, the Gods were on my side. I heard steps in the distance, nearing the end of the hall where my room was.

Just as I thought the person was leaning down to sneak another note under my door, I opened the door and hissed, "stop!"

I realized I knew the silent messenger only after he looked up at me and offered me a stupid smile. Zion.

"What on Earth are you doing? Why do you keep avoiding me? What have I done to end up pretty much isolated from the rest of the world? Do you and your sicko of a friend even understand how twisted this all is? Why kidnap me and then avoid me like a plague? I'm clearly unwanted here, can I leave yet?"

There were more questions I wanted to ask, but I knew it was better to start with a little part and then, slowly move to the others as Zion would answer. If he would, of course.

My eyes didn't leave the traitor as he stood to his full height and again, gave me that stupid smile. "I'm sorry, I'm just following commands. I know you already said you don't take me for someone who does, but it's not like I can flat-out ignore an Alpha command. He used it against me. It actually hurts like a bitch to stand here and talk to you."

Perhaps I was too trusting and naive, but by the looks of it, Zion could be in pain. His face twisted in weird expressions at moments, which I assumed might be caused by that.

Crossing my arms in front of my chest, I tapped my foot against the floor. "I'll let you leave and go on with your perfect life once you tell me what is going on. I've gotten more than enough of Bane's hot and cold bullshit, your mysteries and the odd looks from your pack. I'm done. I want out."

Zion's eyes widened as he raised his hands in surrender, shook his head, and slowly backed away. "I could have given you answers if only you didn't mention getting out of here. I can't stand close to you anymore, and although I really will hate myself for this, as per his command, I must tell Bane what you told me. You're a flight risk now."

"And you're supposed to be my friend!" I raised my voice as he kept backing away.

"You don't understand. He is no regular Alpha and this pack isn't your regular glitter and sparkles bullshit of a pack. You have no damn idea. I want to be your friend, but I can't betray my Alpha. I wish I could remain on your side." "Why do you keep turning my life into a confusing drama movie? Haven't I suffered enough? Where will Bane draw the goddamn line? I'm so sick of being abused, mistreated, led on, completely iced out, lied to, and damn it, the list goes on!" The words left me in a hiss as tears burned in my eyes.

Just as Zion was about to open his mouth, from the corner of my eye, I noticed someone rounding the corner and walking in our direction.

If I was half as brave as I truly wanted to be, I would stand my ground and wait for what was about to happen. But I wasn't. Instead of facing whatever life tossed at me, I chose the safest way out, stepped back in the bedroom and slammed the door shut.

Just in case, I locked the door to keep them all out of the room.

As expected, a moment later, there was a knock on my door. I ignored whoever it was. Zion wouldn't come back, that much was clear, so it couldn't be anyone but Bane. Given how he forbade everyone else from talking to me. No words were spoken while the knocking soon turned into loud, aggressive pounding.

"Go away!" I shouted as I got back in the bed and pulled the covers over my body. I actually pulled them over my head too, hiding from the world.

It was a thing I had done ever since I was a child - for as long as I was hidden under the covers, no monsters were strong enough to get to me.

When Bane first brought me here, I really wanted my birthday to come sooner just so I could meet my wolf and escape this place. But now? Ha, now, I had no idea what day it was, let alone the date. "Open the door!" His voice finally sounded while he kept pounding at the door.

"No," I whispered.

I was angry, pissed off beyond limits, but still couldn't replace the strength within myself to scream at Bane too. He wanted to stay away from me, he might as well keep up with the act and leave me be. "Open the goddamn door before I lose my patience. I'm not joking around anymore, open the damn door, Aife!" Bane growled.

My breath hitched. Did he seriously just say my name? I had a suspicion he hadn't forgotten, but up to this moment, Bane kept addressing me as reject or did everything in his power not to use any name at all.

As I slowly slipped out from under the covers and stood up, my knees nearly gave out from under me. The violent pounding was starting to give me a headache, and for some reason, I found it difficult to walk closer to the door.

I had no idea what Bane wanted from me this time. All that avoiding and isolating me at all costs didn't make any sense if he decided to break his own decision and show up without a reason.

I managed to take two steps closer to the door, but there was no need to unlock it anymore. Bane kicked the door open, breaking the doorframe in process, and scanned the room.

His face was red, rage burned in his eyes. In fact, he was so angry, steam might have been coming from his ears as he fumed.

Then, his eyes stopped on me. Everything within me screamed to hide away from him, but I couldn't move. Not because of fear. It was worry that held me back.

Bane looked like shit. I hated to compare people to that word, but in this situation, it was the most accurate one. He had dark circles under his eyes, his hair was messy, clothes looked dirty and in general, he looked like he hadn't slept for weeks.

I noticed that he was stalking closer to me, but when he stopped in front of me and grabbed the back of my neck, it was too late to react when his lips came crashing down on mine.