Three

Golden Pack was in the most beautiful forest that has ever been seen. The Alpha's shelter was camouflaged in one of the oldest trees there. The rest of the pack's shelters were around the Alpha's and spread about in little groups. Though there were many trees, most of them were tall and skinny, but the Alpha's tree was the largest, with a wide trunk. The cypress tree was an exquisite sight to behold and one of the most prized possessions Golden Pack has.

Zane gazed at the tree, his blue eyes full of wonder. It has been three days since he has seen Whisper, and still Anton was still looking for a way to release her. Zane needed Whisper released. Not just because the place was parody of a hospital, but because he didn't think Whisper had been so social and alive since being put in there.

He hadn't seen her smile, but he did hear the delight in her voice as soon as he mentioned his wolf and that he'd be coming back soon. He could see her green eyes brighten a little from their sadness enough to show some kind of elation. To Zane, it was the best thing he could have hoped for that day, though a smile would have been nice. He can wait for that smile, wait for the one thing to show she was peaceful with him being there.

He turned from the cypress tree and saw Anton walking up to him. The man was a fine character: sandy blonde hair, brown eyes, and a playful personality. Zane thought he'd get along with Whisper quite well if he were to leave her to someone else for a period of time, not to mention Anton had a mate.

Anton smiled at his Alpha, a glint in his eyes. "Hello. I believe I have found something useful, though some you aren't going to like."

"A release?"

"Not quite." He pulled out a folder and flipped through the pages before finding one he wanted. "This says she cannot be released and is permitted to live in that facility the remainder of her life."

Zane took the paper and scanned it, anger and hatred rising up into his throat. "Why?"

"Probably because of Will Beda." Anton brought out another sheet and started reading. "She is a danger to everyone she comes in contact with. My mother died because of her. If it weren't for her, my pack would not be split up and blaming me for everything that girl has done. Keep her under lock and key. I don't care if you have to chain her up, I give no permission for her to leave."

Zane could hardly think. "His mother?" Anton nodded. "Whisper was nine when she was put into that facility, how in hell is she supposed to have killed a woman? Why does this male have any right to say where she stays?"

"Her mother gave him child rights when she wasn't able to take care of Whisper any longer. And it seems he still has the right to say what goes on in her life."

"She is twenty-three!" Zane boomed.

"And she has no schooling, no job, and from the looks of it, no pack."

"Where is this pack located now?"

Anton scanned the pages for a minute, searching. "Night pack is located North, near Vengeful Star."

Zane blinked in surprise. "All the way up there?"

The blonde nodded. "It seems so. Here is his phone number, though."

The Alpha took the scrawled number and went into his house. He grabbed his cell and listened to the four rings before hearing the voicemail. Growling, he hung up and squeezed his eyes shut, trying to calm down. "Think, Zane, think!"

"Alpha?" Kiera, one of the younger females that were still looking for a mate hollered.

"Go away!" he growled.

"But, I need your help!"

"I'm not in the mood!"

"Alpha, there is one more thing," he heard Anton say. Zane sighed, unsure if he could take anything else about Whisper. Finally, he opened the door to see the two standing there.

"Kiera, I need you to leave please. This is not something for your ears."

"But—"

"Now!" Deflated, Kiera left. Looking to the male, Zane ushered him inside. "What is it now?"

Anton looked a bit nervous but handed his Alpha the paper with a shaky hand. "These are complaints about the facility."

Zane read:

"I can't tell what is the worst about this place; their sticks or their manners! Do not bring your loved one here if you want a nice place for them to live. The staff beat their patients! They get gray goo for food everyday, and there is no color in that place! Worst yet, the doctor there doesn't treat them, he makes them worse. If the patients get upset, they're injected with something that knocks them out or put in a cell with chains! This is no hospital that's good for the wellness of our people, this is a slaughter house!"

Something in Zane's throat was trying to come up. He couldn't breathe. He couldn't think beyond the words of this first complaint. He could see that the other complaints were somewhat the same and then saw a picture…

It was someone's back with long red welts that crisscrossed each other. Some, Zane could see were once closed and healing, but had been reopened by some kind of object that was repeatedly brought down hard against the skin. Zane could also see the person's ribs beneath the marred skin, clearly seeing the person was starved.

He couldn't remember if Whisper looked starved, just that she was really skinny. Her cheeks looked a little gaunt, but he thought that was because of something else. Not because of starvation.

Zane put his head in his hands, heart broken at what he might find if he lifted her shirt. "Let Nico know I'm going back to the facility. I need to check on something."

Anton nodded as Zane ran out the door and got into his pickup truck. He didn't care about his speed, just that he got to see Whisper.

Fifteen minutes later, he pulled up to the building and got out of his vehicle, slamming the door. He walked into the lobby and stormed up to the desk. "Whisper! Let me in to see her!"

The man there looked startled but shakily started getting up to lead Zane to the room where the girl was held. The Alpha balled his fists, trying to keep his body from losing control. He watched the man unlock the bedroom door and step aside. "Five minutes," he said.

"No!" Zane caught the man by the collar of his shirt. "I will stay for as long as I wish!"

Bowing his head, the man nodded. Zane let him go and watched as he scurried back to his desk. Turning, he stepped inside the room and looked around. Whisper was not on the bed, nor was she at the table. The sheets were rumpled and the blanket near the head of the bed. He walked over to the bed and sat down on it, taking the blanket and holding it out before him. It was very thin, and looked like it wouldn't even keep a mouse warm.

When he looked over to the pillow, he saw something underneath it that caught his eye. Reaching out, he found a shirt – white of course – with red dots splattering the back of it.

"Zane?"

He looked up towards the door to see Whisper standing there with a nurse behind her. Her eyes locked onto the shirt and bit her lip, lowering the green orbs immediately. Behind her, the nurse used a stick to move Whisper aside so she could get past and over to Zane. "Where was this?" she demanded.

"Why in the hell is there blood on it?" Zane shot back.

"It isn't hers!" she hissed and snatched the shirt away. Turning to Whisper, the nurse glared. "Room 101, Whisper."

Whisper, who Zane thought was looking at the nurse in horror, nodded, turned, and started walking. "Stop!" He growled then rushed out and past Whisper to block her way. "No!"

"Zane—" she whimpered.

"Sir, calm yourself!" the nurse hissed, interrupting whatever Whisper was going to say. "It is spa day for the patients and it is Whisper's turn. Correct, Whisper?"

Whisper took a step back, not looking at Zane. "Correct, Nurse."

"Like hell it is!" Zane roared. Whisper looked up at him with surprise. He softened his eyes on hers and instantly knew something was definitely wrong. "I need to talk to Whisper. I have important questions and need them answered immediately."

"Too bad!" the nurse snarled, waving her stick around like a madwoman. "We stick to a tight schedule here, Sir. The patients must follow the schedule in order for them to have a sense of time of day!"

"Maybe if they were let outside their rooms, have a clock to tell time, and different fun activities to do, they'd have a sense of time!"

"Whisper, do as you're told and go to Room 101. If you are not there when I arrive, you will not get a spa day!"

Whisper stared at Zane, terrified of what might happen if she listened to the nurse, but of what might happen if she didn't listen. Zane could read all her fear through those green eyes. He could see her plea for help and the war to listen to an order. He wanted to throw Whisper over his shoulder and take her away, but remembered her fear of touching so kept his hands at his sides, clenched into fists.

"Please excuse me, Zane," she said as softly as she possibly could.

"I came to talk to you. Like I promised. I came and I'm not going anywhere until I get that talk, alone." He caught the flick of her eyes, towards the ceiling and wall behind him. He saw her shake her head slightly, then look to her right and up. Zane followed her gaze and saw the tiny lens. "Without any recording device!" he snarled the last bit.

"The cameras are needed in case of emergency. Someone needs to be alerted if a patient is getting out of hand."

"This patient," Zane gritted out, "will be fine with me! Get me a room without a camera or I will personally take this girl outside and drive away. She will not return and you will be sued."

"You cannot do that—"

"I am a powerful man, Nurse. Do not underestimate my abilities."

Before the nurse could reply, Whisper started screaming.