The next part wasn’t too bad, just goddamned degrading. I was stripped, searched, and clothed in a simple tank and shorts. All cotton, gray and drab. Nothing on any garment could be used as a weapon; there wasn’t even a button or stud. I was allowed a hair tie for my hair, but that was all the accessories. Even my bra was minus underwire. I guess I needed to wrap my head around the fact that most of the supernaturals in this prison were hardcore criminals. Murderers, drug runners, human and supernatural smugglers, black market magic users, terrorists … we had them all.
The woman, who’d just had her hands all over my body, led me out of the small room and into a hallway.
“When did they change the policy of placing those awaiting trial into the main prison?” I knew she probably wouldn’t answer me, but it never hurts to try. Something told me the change had simply been for the Compass’ benefit or detriment. But it looked like I was going to get the same special treatment.
The woman glared at me, tugging me along roughly. I clenched my fists tighter but forced myself to calm. It was going to get much worse than this. The hardest part of being an alpha was the way my wolf needed to be the strongest, always in control. It made situations like this near impossible to stay calm in. The restrictions, lack of freedom, fear, control … all antithesis to my wolf.
Plus I was freaking hungry. No doubt the food was going to suck ass in here. No chocolate cake, no pie … they might as well have signed me up for torture.
I was led back into the original room, and relief flooded me to find Braxton seated, his extra-long legs spread out in front of him. He looked relaxed. And the boy could fill out some prison cottons. Who knew gray could actually look sexy on a person. Go figure. His eyes landed on my face well after they took a long leisurely look starting from my bare feet and moving over my own gray ensemble.
“You okay?” he rumbled.
I nodded, falling down into the seat next to him.
There was one man in the room with us now, although I could hear heartbeats of the others stationed outside the door. This robust man, who was not tall, but had thick, strong muscles, dropped down in a chair across from us. There was a desk between us, which he leaned forward and rested his elbows on. His eyes were dark brown, his hair starting to pepper a little around the temples, so he was pretty old for a supernatural. I was getting a magic vibe from him, thinking he was a wizard or sorcerer.
“Welcome to Vanguard,” he started, his words accented, but faint as if it had been a long time ago that he’d come to America. “My name is Jeremy, I’m the head of the guard and magical protections. When we leave here, you will be escorted to your cell first.” His eyes narrowed. “I don’t agree with this, but it has been dictated that you two will share a cell, for safety. Then you’ll be led out into the center zone. It’s mingling, lunch and activity time, and we need to get you two out there and try and nip any threats in the bud.”
I shivered a little. I had no idea how bad it was going to be. I kept hoping they were exaggerating, but something told me they weren’t. I turned my head to the side and met Braxton’s eyes. He nodded. At least we both agreed that the fact we were bunking together was a bonus. Thank you, Dad.
We turned back to Jeremy.
“I know what you’ve been accused of doing.” His eyes narrowed slightly. “I have no idea why you would have been trying to infiltrate the prison, and to my knowledge there is no doorway where you were found. I think this is all a misunderstanding and I have no doubt that these charges will be dropped. The fact that you are forced to be in the main jail is not ideal, however. Powers above me have dictated.”
Truth. I could hear the frustration in his voice. Seems as if, no matter how high you were in the pecking order, there was always some douche-canoe with his hand up your ass, controlling your actions.
He stood then. “Follow me,” he said as he turned and moved toward the door. I wondered if they were just going to let us freely wander behind.
Yeah, not happening. Our hands were magically cuffed at the doorway by the two guards waiting there. I liked to think it was me they were so afraid of, but I knew better.
The guards stayed around us as we were led out of the office section and toward the large barred gate that seemed to mark the beginning of the actual prison. Upon Jeremy’s command, there was the distinct whoosh of magic, followed by locks clicking across. The metal double doors swung open. The moment I stepped across the threshold I almost fell to my knees. I paused and had to close my eyes. My breathing was deep and even as I fought to regain equilibrium.
“You okay?” Braxton’s low voice had my lids shooting open. “Keep breathing, it can be hard to adjust to the loss of power. Especially when you’re strong.”
He wasn’t kidding. I used the familiar and piercing blue of his eyes to ground myself. It felt as if there was a cloying cloth pressed onto my energy. This was like the magical cuffs, only a thousand times stronger, pushing my power down, suppressing my natural urges and limiting my strength.
I attempted to call on my wolf but I couldn’t reach her. She was there but hidden, unreachable. Unlike the cuffs, this time it felt as if she was gone.