Loretta should have known better than to act to openly defiant. It obviously only amused the alpha, he knew his power over her would keep her in line even if she retaliated. She might as well wait this out and see what he wanted from her before she struggled. The girl lowered her gaze, staring at the floor and running her fingertips along the ground. She had no intention of running off, she didn't want to go back to the village anyways. There was only one time when the sacrificed girl had returned to the village. It was long before, at the beginning of the pact, but it was a very well known tale and a true story. Those who are given to the wolves as a sacrifice were not to return back. The townspeople had feared the girl would bring the wolves back with her to destroy them, and therefore burned the girl to death. Ever since then, anyone who had been sacrificed never returned; there was never the mistake of letting anyone escape, not with this alpha. Probably before there had been a different alpha, or something had gone wrong and the girl had somehow gotten away. Still, Loretta wasn't going to return to the wall of town again; no matter how much she longed for home and how much she missed her dear little sister. She hoped Aveline was okay, and that her family would be well and happy once they had gotten over the fact that their eldest daughter and older sister was lost to them forever. That was all that Loretta wished for.<br/><br/>She shifted uncomfortably on the ground of the cave, her back against the wall as she glanced towards the alpha. He'd walked away, towards the mouth of the cave. Still, there was no use in running. Even if she managed to get past the mouth of the cave, the other wolves would track her down. She didn't want to see how far she could push the alpha's patience before he decided she was more trouble than she was worth. Loretta was glad to at least be free of the chains and ropes, unbound for the time being though trapped in the darkness of the cave. The man commanded a few of the wolves to do something, yet again in that strange language that she didn't understand. She had only known her native language, the English she had been taught by her parents. She had no need to learn anything more after all. No doubt it had meant something about making sure she stayed put though, by the way the wolves stood guard once he left. She sighed, laying back against the wall and closing her eyes. The noise of footfalls from the animals guarding the entrance of the cave filled her mind. The crackling of the fire as it continued to burn just outside of her confinement. The smell of smoke and burning wood lingering in the air.<br/><br/>Loretta then remembered she was still wearing the necklace that had been put on her against her will. She took no hesitation in yanking it over her head and flinging it as far away from her as possible. Another reminder that she was a prisoner to her greatest enemy. And just because she was human, and that she had been spared, didn't mean that they would stop this cycle of sacrifice. Even if they kept her trapped here, they'd still continue this ritual. She would have to bear witness to the deaths of so many girls like her... her stomach felt weak and she felt sickened just at the thought of that. It would be beyond this torture. But it would be reality, she knew it.<br/><br/>Loretta curled up into a ball, trying to clear her mind and calm her racing heart. This was all too much for her. This was all so sudden and unbelievable and impossible. But it was too real to be put off as a dream any longer. She was forced to accept the fact that this was really happening to here. That she wouldn't escape this living nightmare. Her head turned towards the cave entrance as she heard footsteps. Her eyes barely made out the form of a boy... about her age... it wasn't the alpha this time.<span style="font-style: italic">â€œThe Alpha says that if youâ€™re hungry youâ€™re allowed to eat.â€<br/></span>She was picked up and carried out of the cave, not struggling against his hold at all. The boy was quite handsome, she had to admit. Then she hastily reminded herself that he was part of this nightmare, he was a werewolf... he was an enemy. He probably was wishing for her blood to spill as much as the rest of the pack. Loretta didn't answer, though she was a bit hungry. Her family had been peasants, they didn't have much money and rarely had anything more than bits of meat and bread for meals. Of course the scent of blood deterred her from wanting to accept the food... but obviously the way she had been treated meant they wouldn't just make her eat the meat raw; thankfully for her. She had often eaten deer and elk meat when she managed to catch such prey... though it had become rarer and rarer since she had less time to sneak out into the forest to hunt in the past few weeks.