Cell Sweet Cell

55, 56, 57, 58, up, down, up, down, up, down. I bent my elbows and dropped my body almost to the floor before extending them, pushing my body back up to its original position. I repeated this motion over and over again for at least 20 minutes until a voice broke me from my concentration.

"Dawn, Rosalie would like to speak with you." Zack told me leaning up against the open door of my cell, looking down at me with a smile. I stand up off the cold concrete floor and wipe the sweat from my forehead. Placing my hands on my hips I smile brightly up at Zack.

"What does that gorgeous mate of yours want?" I asked him with a wide grin, taunting the poor Alpha. Zack is the Alpha of the Faded Shadow Pack; he was the one who took me in after he found me trespassing on his territory. After finding out I was banished illegally he took me in, planning to look after me until I turn sixteen and officially a rogue in the eye of the law. The only down side is that I have to sleep in the cells, the rogue brands marking my skin were only irreversible if the Alpha who created them decided to heal them, since that's not going to happen they have to treat me like a rogue to everyone in the pack, but behind pack doors they treat me like their daughter. Zack chuckled and blushed bashfully.

"I don't know maybe she needs some female advice on something?" He suggested shrugging his shoulders very unsure with what he was saying. I rolled my eyes pushing past him and climbing up the stairs to the ground floor of the pack house.

"Rosalie! Where are you!?" I yell out walking through the living room, and I hear her call out from the kitchen.

"In here sweetie!" Her heavenly voice calls out and I walk swiftly into the kitchen. Rosalie was wearing a strawberry pattern apron leaning over the top stove mixing in a pot what smelled like her delicious homemade pasta sauce. Seeing her prepare tonight’s meal made my heart sting, picturing how terrible live is going to be after I turn sixteen. They've offered me the cell in their prison for the rest of my life, but after my birthday they have to treat me like a rogue. They could no longer protect me from the pack, keep me away from the other prisoners, I'd be all alone in the world again. I have made the decision to leave and return to no man’s land when I turn sixteen and shift, hopefully it will be better the second time round. Jack's been preparing me physically for that eventuality.

"Dawn are you paying attention to anything I am saying?" Her voice broke me from my thoughts and I smiled at her with a guilty grin.

"Sorry, I was lost in thought." I apologised and she huffs in annoyance and pokes me in the nose as her my punishment for not paying attention.

"Anyway, like I was saying before you...left your pack, did your mother talk to you much about what happens after your shift?" She asked and I tilted my head to the side trying to recall having a conversation along those lines.

"No, I don't think so, why you asking?" I ask leaning up against the kitchen counter and watched her continue to stir the sauce. She seemed to be a little anxious, I could tell by the way her shoulders tensed up. Her movements were more strained than usual.

"Rosalie what did you want to tell me?" I asked her and she sighs turning off the element and hanging up her apron up on the hook beside the fridge. She turns back to me and places her hand on her hip and her hand holding onto the counterbalancing her weight.

"You do know what mates are correct?" She asks and I nod my head strongly.

"Mates are like the person made to love you forever, just like you and Jake." I explain simply, there were so many different ways ones could describe the love of a mate. None of my descriptions were from personal experiences though.

"Yes, that's right, but once you turn sixteen and shift for the first time this is when you are able to detect your mate." She explains and I raised my eyebrows so high it must've reached the sky.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I ask and she sighs shaking her head at me.

"It means after your shift you'll be able to spot your mate out from a crowd, his smell will draw you in and his eyes will confirm what your heart already knows. That you're made for each other." She tells me and I roll my eyes once more, this whole mate thing is starting to sound a lot more sappier and cliché than I was initially expecting.

"So basically, when I meet his guy, I’m going to jump him?" I ask her sarcastically feeling more like a prostitute than a lifelong partner. Rosalie looked at me as if I were crazy, she gave me that look that meant I was in some deep shit.

"Say that again and I'll lock you in your cell for the rest of the week!" She said in a very calm voice it almost scared me, I gulped ducking my head pressing my chin against my chest in shame. Rosalie laughed clearly amused by my body language and I blushed bright red like a chili pepper.

"Rosalie!" Zack yells from the front door and runs into the kitchen. Rosalie jumps and presses her hand against her chest in shock. She calms down and rushes over to where Zack is bent over trying to catch his breath.

"Zack honey what's wrong?!" She asks panicked and Zack stands up after having caught his breath.

"Border patrol has captured a lot of rogues and are heading this way; I need to lock Dawn in the cells before they get here." I nod my head in understanding and started making my way down to the cells, Zack following closely behind. I walk into my cell and turn to face him after I hear my cell door lock into place. I walk up to the door and wrap my arms up the metal bars. Zack stepped closer and looked me in the eyes.

"I will try and keep them out of your cell, but I can't guarantee anything." He tries to explain and I shush him with my glare and take a step back from the bars.

"I'm a big girl Zack, I can take care of myself." I assure him sitting down on my slightly comfier bed than the others and cross my arms over my chest. I could see the worry in his eyes, no matter how much he's trained me he still can't help but worry over every little thing.

"Go be the Alpha." I tell him and he nods walking up the stairs, closing the door behind him. Leaving me in a world of darkness. It felt like hours, even though it may have only been a number of minutes I wouldn't be able to tell. Though eventually the basement door flew open and growls echoed down the stairs sending tremors down my spine...