by Rowan Thalia
The best thing I can do is watch them and note every detail so that we can get our girl back. The wolf carrying Faith is a meaty, Viking looking mother fucker. The witch is tiny with jet black hair and a myriad of tattoos. The second wolf is a little shorter but just as stocky as the first. These dudes look like WWE wrestlers or some shit, even if I could get free of this bitch magic, I'd stand little chance of getting Faith back on my own.
'Lewis! What the fuck!'
I knew Ranger would tear into me for this. 'I'm sorry.'
'Don't be sorry, get your ass up and intercept those assholes. I can't see Faith they've taken her mind.'
'I can't! I'm in a magic hold.'
"Fuck! I'll be there as soon as I can. I'll try to get Millie over as well. Hang tight.'
'As if I have a choice,' I chuff.
Ranger's presence dissolves. I turn my attention back to the present. Faith's body is limp as the trio load her into a large white pedophile looking van. They don't even look back at me, which is somewhat maddening. They know I can't do anything to stop them. It's as if life always has to remind me of my station, Not-a-Pack or not.
The engine starts. I watch helplessly as it drives away, tears running down my battered face. I don't know which one of them took a swipe at me, but it was well aimed and almost took out my left eye. Why couldn't I have Alpha powers? Just when I thought I could be good enough for Faith, this happened. What she must think of me now. I have to get her back, whether she still wants me or not.
I don't know how long I lay there before footsteps slapped against the pavement, and two arms grabbed me by my shoulders.
"Holy hell, they did a number on you," Brandon's face stares down at me.
"Yeah, where's Ranger?"
"He and Ty are on their trail. I'm here to grab you. Has their magic worn off? We haven't had any luck reaching Millie yet," he rambles as he dabs my forehead with something soft and wet.
I hadn't even thought to try since the attackers left the area. Honestly, I'm lucky no one ran me over while I lay here pathetically. With a groan, I shift my weight and try to sit up. Once Brandon realizes I'm able to move, he assists. My head feels like a ton of bricks smashed into it, but I'm otherwise able to move. Brandon hands me the towel he was using to clean my face. I dab gingerly at my brow.
"Do they have the van in sight?"
"No, but there are only two freeways out of town, Ty took one and Ranger the other. They can't have gotten far," he pulls me all the way to my feet. "You good?"
"Hell no, I'm not good. I failed at keeping Faith safe," I grit. "What now?"
"We jump in the car and head toward Ty. I've got a feeling that he's the one on the right road. Call it Omega intuition," he tosses his keys in the air then catches them as we walk to his vehicle.
"What if you're wrong?"
"Then Ranger better whoop some ass till we can get to him," he shrugs.
All due respect to Ranger, I have to say Brandon's guesses are correct more often than anyone I know. The knot forming in the bottom of my stomach eases just enough so that I can breathe again. I can't let her down again. My muscles bunch and my heart rate speed’s up, knowing that we have a chance to get Faith back.
I'm getting kind of tired of being kidnapped, seriously, Goddess?' My inner dialogue doesn't match the fear that has turned my blood to ice. Thane isn't the type of Alpha that you cross and get away with it, I knew that when I left, and I did it anyway. I guess I hoped that I was insignificant enough to warrant forgetting. But deep down, I knew better. An alliance card is what I am. None of the other females my age was born an Alpha, so I'm a rare commodity in my pack. In hindsight, running was stupid. Now I'll face both the wrath of Thane and that of my betrothed. Especially when they find out I've mated.
'Fuck me.'
My wrists and ankles burn from the ropes they've wrapped around my body like a hog. I've been placed on the cold floor in the very back, while they ride up front like normals. Symbolism at its best. I'm just a piece of meat to be sold. Tears stream down my face and I try my best to hold back sobs. The last shred of my pride will be lost if they hear me crying. I'm breaking, and I know it.
'Don't you dare. They will pay for this, I promise you that,' Ranger's voice pushes through the fog that is my brain.
'They'll never stop. You should just let me go,' I bite my lip to hold back the pain of possible rejection.
'Never.'
Ranger's strength and love pour through the bond, making my chest ache. If only I could find a way to be rid of my old pack forever. Presently, I'd be happy with not being tied up in the back of a van. Resolve sets in and I lift my head, trying to view my surroundings. It's nothing extravagant, just an old work van with the back windows painted over. The inside is barren besides the two front seats and one bench seat that's a few feet from me.
A curve in the road sends me sliding to the side. Gritting my teeth, I try my best to steady myself but have no way of holding on. This is going to be a long ride, and my body already hurts from the magic they used on me. The ring of a cell phone catches my attention. I hold my breath to listen. Up until this moment, the occupants of the front cab have been quiet.
"Yeah. We've got her. No, no sign of Cade… You want me to ask her? Okay. we'll check in once we hit the first safehouse."
"Greytooth?"
"Yeah. See if the bitch is awake. They want us to ask about Cade before we leave town."
The clink of a seat belt unbuckling is too loud, I must still be under the influence of some magic. I close my eyes and try to level my breathing, pretending to be unconscious. The ozone filled scent of the witch draws nearer. I scrunch my nose. She smells like Millie but charred like a log after it's burnt.
"Looks like you're awake, good," she nudges my side with her boot.
There's nothing this witch can do to me that will make me open my eyes and look at her. I don't know what her powers are, and I sure as fuck don't want to give her any more control, so I just nod in response. My skin itches at her nearness, she's like a walking static storm. My head begins to hurt again, and my wolf is still unreachable. This nightmare is only going to get worse once we hit the pack-lands, I realize. My stomach drops.
"Where's Cade?" her breath is bitter cold against my face.
Keeping my eyes closed, I shrug. "I haven't seen Cade since I left the Alpha's office."
"You lie."
Hoping she can't read my mind, I bite down on the retort, brewing in my throat and shake my head.
"Why won't you look at me then? Are you afraid of me, little wolf?"
Why does everyone call me that? My wolf is fucking badass. With all the Alpha power her magic will allow, I flash open my eyes and stare her down. I am not afraid of you. I'm scared for myself. Her clouded irises dilate, and she pulls her face away from mine. Something visceral passes between us now as our eyes lock. My palms ache from the sharpness of my nails digging deep. The witch scowls scoots away and heads back towards the front of the cabin. I slump against the hard floor and let out the breath that I was holding. I need to find a way to get out of this. Goddess give me the strength to get back to my men.
"She's not talking and holding her wolf at bay means I can't tap into her mind. Forget Cade, he can take care of himself. And if he couldn't, Thane would have killed him anyway."
The male clucks. "Yeah, well, you can tell that to Thane, I sure as fuck am not."
"Hey. Can someone let me out to pee?" I yell.
There's grumbling as the three battle it out up front before I make out one of the wolves speaking. "I have to piss too. Just pull over, and I'll drag her with me into the woods," the voice is familiar but not at the same time. Maybe it's because he's whispering. I realize I haven't seen either wolf's face.
The van starts to slow. Trying to gain some control over my body, I tuck my knees as far as the rope will allow. It helps somewhat, though I'm still slung around the back when we hit the uneven ground. Thankfully, the bumps don't last long before
we come to a stop. The engine is shut off. I have no plan other than trying to slow them down long enough for the guys to find me. I hate being the damsel in distress.
"Come on. Don't try any funny shit, Faith," a wolf I recognize comes into view.
Jared? Thane sent my ex-boyfriend to find me? My jaw hangs open as he unties the rope from my feet carefully. His fingers close around my upper arm, and he drags me out of the van, my arms still bound. Reeling, I stare at him as he leads me into the woods. He stops, turns, and pushes me against the rough bark of a tree.
"Why?" I finally manage when we stop just behind the tree line. He hasn't looked directly at me yet.
His head turns. Our eyes meet. "Nothing personal, Faith. Thane knows about us and figured you'd come along easily if you saw a familiar face."
There's something feral in the way he looks at me. My jaw locks and I clench my fists, ready to fight. The rope chafes. Ignoring the pain, I lower my arms and scrape my back against the tree. If nothing else, I need to mark my scent here so that the guys can find me. Jared's lip curls, he steps closer and tugs at the waistline of my pants.
"What are you doing?" I breathe, jerking my hips as far back as I'm able.
"You said you had to pee," his voice is uneven.
"I can …" I bite back a scream, and tears roll down my face as he jerks my pants down to my knees. His calloused hands run along my inner thigh, and I tremble.
"Please don't," I beg.
His breath is hot against my neck, and his arousal hangs thick in the air around us. My eyes flick from side to side, hoping for an easy escape. I could just piss myself, but then I'd have to smell myself the entire ride back. If I run with my pants down, I'll fall. I'm running out of ideas. My skin crawls as his hands are almost to my pussy.
"Jared. Stop," I growl.
"Fuck you, Faith," he jerks me around with one hand on my hip and the other in my hair. My heart jumps into my throat. Kicking back, I try to get him off me and wind up throwing myself off balance. Jared catches me by my wrists and pushes them upward painfully. There's a scuffle between us, but he's got the advantage over me.
The clang of his buckle is like a warning shot through my spine. I buck harder, but it's no use. His cock spears into me, tearing its way through my soul. I let out a serrated cry. I can't believe this is happening. It's as if the universe is trying to show me just how powerless I am, but I refuse, even now, to give in. With everything I have, I try to free myself from his grasp. He laughs and pushes me closer to the tree, pulling against the binding on my wrists.
"You will pay for this," I whimper, wishing I had more than words to save me right now. I've never felt so powerless in my life.
My shoulder repeatedly hits against the bark of the tree each time he thrusts into me. The ropes chafe against my wrists. My arms ache. I close my eyes, wishing I could just disappear. How could someone who once loved me do this? Choked sobs and deep grunts echo in the forest.
"What. The. Fuck. Are you doing? Let her go!" Millie appears out of nowhere.
Cocking my head to the side, I stare at her through my hair. Her pupils turn red, and she raises her palm. Jared yelps and I'm released. I fall to the forest floor in a heap. My face and shoulder hit the Earth, and I groan. All I can do is press my cheek to the mossy ground and cry.
"Get out of here, or I'll cut your dick off."
"Who the fuck do you think you are?" He scoffs as he kicks dirt over my face.
A Kaleidoscope of white blooms on my closed eyelids. I don't know what Millie has done, but I can't even feel Jared near me anymore. I'm afraid to even look. The ground is cool against my nakedness, it seeps into my joints, and I shiver.
"I'm sorry. I should have gotten here faster. I'm going to take care of them. After I untie you, I want you to run. You're too weak to help, so don't even try. Run and don't look back."
I nod my head. The ground crunches beside me. There is a sharp inhale before I feel the ropes loosen. As soon as my hands are free, they fall to my sides with a thump. The blood returning to them creates pins and needles. I can't help but cry more. I can't even bring myself to look her in the eye, I'm so ashamed.
"Thank you. Please don't blame yourself for what happened. This is only a fraction of what would have happened to me if they brought me to Thane," my voice cracks and I stare at her mouth to keep our eyes apart.
Her mouth opens then closes. I hold my breath, and I fumble to shed my pants. She bites her lip, scans the surrounding forest, and nods. Time stands still as she places a hand on my forehead and chants. Electrical sparks singe my skin, and the change comes over me fast and fluid.
Standing on all fours, I push my nose against her knee before turning and running through the brush. Losing myself in my wolf, I close off my mind and allow her to take control. Her love cocoons me. She lets out an eerie howl.
'Sleep now,' She commands, and the world goes dark.
We run, we hide, we rest. I’ve pushed her down, she cannot wake. This is not something a wolf should do, but it was needed. She was hurt. I will take care of her. They will not find us. Not even our mates can track her when I am blocking. She needs time to heal.
My feet move quickly. Forest, animals, sunset. I must find a cave. I am careful. I circle my tracks. I roll on the earth to hide my white fur. Trees everywhere, the shadows hide me. A river! The cold water is good. I drink, I will walk here to hide my scent.
The river ends in a great storm of water. Waterfall. The longer I keep the mind, the more words come. Maybe the rocks will have shelter. Nothing is near other than night creatures. Safe for now. Dripping, I leave the water carefully. The cliff reveals a small cave, large enough for us. I sniff the opening. It is empty, so I enter.
The space is cramped but clean and safe. I lay down, nose on my paws. The violation of our body will not go unpunished. We will heal, we will rise, and we will fight. A hoot owl calls. The rush of the water is loud, and the stone floor is cold. I can feel the Alpha trying to break my defenses. I will be strong for my human.
I remember when we were born. She doesn’t, but I do. Our mother held us firm and taught me how to protect her. She entrusted me with the secret of our lineage. For every hurt she has had, I have been here. I will always be here, we are one. So many things she does not know. She was too stubborn to listen before, but now we will merge fully. Our power will be great.
Crickets sing. The wind rustles the cracked leaves in the trees. Something invisible tugs at me. A whisper, an echo of the prophecy rings in my ears. The witching moon is high overhead, and our power will come to its apex this night. It has been foretold. I am ready. We are ready.
‘Where are we?’
‘We are resting. Go back to sleep. I will wake you soon.’
Faith’s soul is ripping. She needs her Alpha, but I cannot let him in just yet. Men. Wolf or human, some do not deserve their place on this Earth. When we rise, we will rid the world of those who have wronged us. We are coming. The moon will reach the apex, and we will blossom like a beautiful rose with sharp thorns.
Time stands still. Lightning flashes overhead, but no rain. The air tastes of ozone and magic. The time has come. Stretching with my hind end up and paws lengthened, I ready myself for departure. I must clean our body before finding the witching circle. Slipping out into the night, I scan the area with eyes, ears, and my inner sense. All is calm.
The stone pokes and prods at my tender footpads. I grumble with dismay. Our feet have not been worn into calluses as they should be. We need more time in our wolf form. I shall assert my will more often after this night.
Moonlight glimmers on the water. I step in and paddle toward the fall. The force of the water will rid my fur of any grime. A coyote yips, and I raise my snout to scent its distance. Far enough not to cause alarm. Rock makes it easy to stand underneath the high water and wash. The pressure of the water against my skin is like many snouts nipping, and I preen under the weight. Renewed, I dive back into the water and move toward the sho
re.
Alpha. I can feel him. He has found the space where we were violated. His heart is breaking. He will find a great rage. It will serve our will. He must feed the others with his anger first. The pack must be ready for war.
Soon, lovers, we will come.
Out of the water, at last, I shake dry. Leaning forward to drink, I spot my own reflection and show my fangs. White fur, bright eyes. A glimmer of what we will become overshadows the vision. I see a field of red. Let the blood of our enemies flow.
“Witch-wolf, it is time,” a voice whispers on the wind.
My ear twitches. I lift my head toward the moon. The pull is strong. Without thought, I turn and run up the side of the hill, deep into the forest. Twigs snap under my feet, and creatures scramble out of my way. I am the ghost in the night, running as swift as the breeze.
The trees part, and a great clearing appears. In the center are a great fire and a ring of women cloaked in red. They are beating drums and dancing slowly. I step out of the darkness and chuff. Everything stops. They turn and drop to the ground.
“Welcome, witch-wolf. Come into the circle,” one of the witches sweeps her hand in a wide arc. “You must wake your human now.”
My feet moved of their own accord. Before I know it, I am standing on a rock near the fire.
‘Faith. Wake now.’
‘What? Where?’
‘There is much to say and so little time. Our sire was a great warlock - not the wolf mated to our mother. She kept the secret of her hidden romance for our safety as well as her own. Many would have killed us before we came into our power. We are the Moon Born. On this night, we will become our most powerful. It is foretold.’
‘I don’t understand.’
‘You do not need to, only follow as the witch leads. I promise it is our destiny.’