The Lost Years by Natalie Shaw Read Free Book Online Page B

couldn't allow another opportunity like that to pass me by. The next time he came through the gate, he'd be off-guard. That's when I'd strike. Once he was out of the way, I'd make my escape.
    Could I really kill him? He'd said we were friends, and I'd even joined in the toast. It had to be Stockholm Syndrome—nothing else made any sense.

 
     
     
     
    Chapter 11
     
     
    The next two weeks were purgatory as I waited for Marlow's turn on the rota to come around again. The other guards arrived, unpacked the food, slid it through to me, and then left immediately. No words were exchanged unless I was in a particularly foul mood in which case I'd let them have a torrent of abuse. It was a waste of time because my words had no impact on them at all.
    After fourteen long days, it was Marlow's week once again. My thoughts and emotions were all over the place. I was excited at the prospect of seeing him, but nervous at what might happen when he arrived. For the previous two weeks, I'd planned my escape. I didn't want to hurt him unless I was forced. If I could see an opportunity, I'd get out of the gate, shift to wolf-form (if I could remember how) and make a run for it. Maybe Marlow wouldn't come after me. Maybe he didn't want to hurt me any more than I wanted to hurt him. Deep down, I knew I wasn't being realistic, and that there would inevitably be a confrontation. Would I have the heart to fight? What choice did I have?
    A cloudless blue sky hailed another sweltering hot day to come. I was around the back of the cabin—looking for field mice—when I heard the engine. Marlow and the other guards always arrived on foot. Who was this? I hurried around to the front of the cabin just in time to see the 4x4 pull up in front of the gate.
    “Long time no see,” Layla said. “You're looking a little rough if you don't mind my saying so.”
    “Where's Marlow?”
    “He's been reassigned.”
    “Why?”
    “What concern is that of yours?”
    “I just wondered.”
    “A new guard has been appointed in his place. He can't start until tomorrow, so I thought I'd come see you today. Just for old time's sake.”
    “I hear Milton has taken you for his mate.” As soon as I'd said it, I realised my blunder.
    “You hear? How did you hear?”
    I didn't answer.
    “It doesn't matter.” She grinned. “It's true. You're looking at the Alpha's mate.”
    “Alpha's whore more like.”
    “Your attitude hasn't improved with the years.”
    “Neither has your face.”
    Layla opened the basket, and allowed the contents to fall to the ground. “Whoops.”
    “When I get out of here, the first thing I'm going to do is come looking for you,” I said.
    “I won't hold my breath.” She climbed back into the 4x4, wound down the window, and said, “Well, it's been a pleasure as always. Bye.”
     
    What had happened to Marlow? Could someone have seen him come into the enclosure? No one ever came up here except for the other guards. Perhaps he really had been reassigned. I wanted to believe that. The alternative was too painful to consider. If he was still alive, I hoped I hadn't jeopardised his safety with my stupid remarks about Layla being Milton's mate. She might be an evil bitch, but she wasn't stupid. She'd know that I could only have got that information from one of my guards. What had I been thinking? I'd been so incensed that I hadn't been thinking at all.
     
    *********
     
    It was almost a year since the last time I'd seen Marlow. There was nothing to look forward to now. One week had become very much like another. My new guard was a carbon-copy of the other two. He didn't speak or even acknowledge me. I had no one to talk to except the occasional small animal, bird or spider. I'd even started to talk to myself.  I hadn't realised how important Marlow had become to me. He'd been my only remaining connection to the outside world, and probably the only thing keeping me sane. Without him, there wasn't much point to anything.
    Today was