The King's Queen

♔ Eustacia (P.O.V)

Still, in my wolf form, I stay snuggly curled in a ball on the pile of bloodstained hay that litters the dirt ground. My black tail drapes over my front paws, where my head is also resting. Even with my eyes closed and no sense of time, I know it's been hours. Hours since Flynn has forced me into this silver barred cell.

He dragged me here by the silver collar and chain he placed back on my neck after injecting that shit into my veins. The silver teeth still dig into my flesh, although it's a duller sensation as a wolf. The chain that connects to it loosely dangles around my neck, latched firmly on to the post of the silver gate inclosing my cell.

Before he left he stated I wouldn't be in the pits yet, and rambled on about some big event he had to go to. Whatever is so important, I have no clue.

He told me to stay put and not to do anything. I don't see how I could go anywhere. I'm surrounded by silver, chained and on top of that, it has no room for movement. Hell, it's hardly big enough for a single animal.

Animal.

Maybe that's all I am now. I haven't been able to shift back into my human form. I'm not sure if it's because I'm too weak or something else. Although it's probably both, considering I can't hear Zoe at all and my malnutrition just makes matters worse.

It could be worse I guess I could be like the poor souls that also inhabit the place with me. The area under the fighting ring.

Multiple stalls line the circular base of the structure. The ceiling above, if it even qualifies for one, is made of some sort of stone. Other wolves, at least seven, inhabit various stalls near and far from me. Most of the others are savages. Their eyes shine a brilliant blood-red. The entire time I've been here, they've beaten themselves against the silver bars. Blood fills the air with its sick stench, although I'm not entirely sure of the origin.

I've never seen a werewolf go so feral. At least not to the point of insanity. I know we can lose ourselves to wolf form in certain situations, but this is far beyond that. It's worse than torture. They seem no more than that of a rabid beast.

Something I wish I was as well. At least I wouldn't feel the heart wreaking pain that hasn't faded at all.

I wish he would hurry up and send me out there to the fight pits. As much as I want to give up, to let it all end. I can't do that. I'm sure it would give him pleasure, to see me fail. Maybe the mate bond will win him over. Maybe there's still hope. I'm going to prove that nothing can bring me down.

I've already lost too much.

A foot rams under my ribcage, jolting me awake. "Get up," a voice hisses.

Lifting my head off the ground, where I laid stiff, I stare at the owner of the foot. He's a young man, around my age I'm sure. He's built like most werewolves he's, tall and very fit. His black hair is short-styled and slicked back, reflected by his hazel eyes. Although something's off, he doesn't smell like a werewolf.

"She's still alive!" The man shouts down the hallway.

"Make sure it stays that way! He'll be here in a minute!" Another voice shouts from the direction my attacker had.

"I don't get it," the man shrinks down in a squatting position as he gazes at me.

He stretches his hand out toward my head, growling I aggressively pull it away.

"Why aren't you like the others?" His voice laced with curiosity.

"If I knew I wouldn't tell you," I groan in my head, knowing he wouldn't hear me.

"You're a beast like them, a werewolf that can't turn back. Most of you go savage, or that's what my Pa says."

I tilt my head when he says werewolf. I thought he didn't smell like a wolf, what is he then?

A small laugh escapes his lips. "Do you understand me?" He questions.

Nodding my head yes, he stares at me in awe. "That's awesome. Pa always goes on about how you are all monsters. That a hunter is supposed to put all of the bad ones down. Or that's all we're allowed to touch after the treaty."

He's a hunter? Why are hunters with a pack of werewolves? In my pack? What the fuck is Flynn doing?

"Ruston, get back to work. That one there is a pit wolf. She's self-aware unlike the others, so I want to see how she fares. After all, my king is showing up for a good fight," a voice pipes up from behind the stranger.

"I was just curious sir, I meant no harm." Ruston rubs the back of his head nervously.

"It's fine. Just get back to work, and don't get friendly with the wolves. They're for entertainment only," the voice says.

"Yes, sir," Ruston rushes off.

"Eustacia, in roughly two hours the new king will be here," the voice states. Looking up at the person, I realize who it is. Flynn.

Horrified I scoot as far away from him as possible. Why can't he just leave me alone.

"Come on, don't be like that," he pleads.

Reaching his hand out to my face, I snap at him latching onto his finger. Quickly I let go baring my teeth with a low growl. "Listen here you little bitch, he's coming for some entertainment. I'm going to show him the fighting pits, and you're going to be the main attraction. Your wolf is weak looking and very pretty. I plan on using you like the underdog and taking bets on it, it's that simple. You'll, of course, win if you want the serum to become human again. You lose and die, well that's your problem."

He turns around and begins to walk off, throwing his hand in the air. "By the way, I brought Emma back into the pack and marked her. She's my mate now, so do whatever you wish sweetheart."

Now it all makes sense. That agonizing pain. Everything. He marked her and I felt it. The horrible sensation of everything being burned from my body.

What if my wolf is gone? Will I be stuck like this? If that's the case then I'll need that serum. If he even gives it to me is a whole different ball game, one I'm risking to play.

I've lost everything, I've been thrown away like trash. My heart is broken, and I'm tired of fighting. It's time for things to change, and in two hours I will prove myself.