by Deanna Hall
The brave, who was holding Makala in the chair, grabbed her arm, pulling her to her feet. “I find her pleasing enough; I will keep her.”
“If that is what you wish, so be it.”
We had just freed Makala from the hell of captivity as a sex slave; there was no way I could let that happen to her again. “Wait!” I screamed. Jackson waved a hand, and the brave stopped. “Don’t hurt her, I’ll do whatever you want, just let Makala go.”
“This will be your home now, at least until your mate is decided. I suspect it will be Nashoba here.” Jackson nodded towards the boy standing close behind me. The same one that had dragged me here. “With you as an incentive, others might surprise me. The competition will begin shortly. The girl will remain with you, for now.”
“And what about Dakota? I know what you’re capable of. You won’t harm in any way if I stay and do as you wish?”
“You have my word. Your friends will not find you here. Eventually, they will give up their search, and he will return to his people. I have decreed your marriage annulled by tribal law. Since my word is the law, it is already done. The proper paperwork has already been filed with the state.
If you try to run away, the boy will meet an unfortunate accident, and your friend will become the property of Nastaw. I’m sure you are aware there is no place the Sioux boy will be safe from my wrath,”
I refused to let my grandfather see me cry. “You leave me no choice. I will do as you wish.”
“No, Mia, I can’t let you give everything up to save me again.” Makala pleaded.
“He killed my parents, Makala. His own daughter. I have no doubt he’ll kill Dakota, and you’ll go back to being a sex slave. I can’t let that happen when it is within my power to stop it. I’m sorry you got dragged into this.” I told her, thinking fate never seemed to give me a choice. Every time I found a way to be happy, it went wrong.
Another thought came to me; it was usually because of my grandfather. “You are a great prize, Granddaughter. Now eat, drink, both of you.”
I felt defeated. The anger and darkness I carried in my spirit threatened to consume me. It took every ounce of will power I had not to let it. I vowed I would find some way out of this.
I sat down and ate the stew in front of me because I wanted to keep my strength up. I had to be strong when my chance came to make my grandfather pay and escape. I encouraged Makala to do the same. I reached over, squeezing her hand, I willed her to be strong.
After the meal, we were given some dry clothes. “They were your mothers, clean up, and make yourself presentable. The contest is about to begin.” We both slipped out of our wet clothes into the sundresses my grandfather had provided.
I promised Makala I’d get us out of this as she braided my hair in the small bedroom we’d changed in. It contained a twin bed, a dresser, a desk with an old computer and school books. I couldn’t help wondering who they belonged to. I doubted very much it was Jackson’s room. Maybe it had been my mother’s room; the computer was old enough except the books were new.
When we walked out of the room, my grandfather gave me an appraising look. “You have your father’s eyes and hair, but you look much like your mother. I see the fierceness in your glare. You get that from me. It is time, come.”
Jackson tied Makala and my hands before taking each of us by and arm. “That isn’t necessary, Grandfather, I won’t do anything that would cause my husband or Makala harm.”
“Though I hear the truth in your words, I know what you are capable of. Therefore, you will remain bound until this is over, and your new mate has claimed you.”
We walked a short distance to the tribal meeting circle. The braves who had kidnapped us and two others changed into wolves. “They are the only braves I deemed worthy of you. They are the best fighters among us. You should be flattered.”
When my grandfather gave the signal, they began a vicious battle. Grandfather sat beside me, yelling out taunts. Several hours went by as they fought. All of them were battered, torn, and bleeding in multiple places. The wolves were getting tired and slow.
Finally, only one remained on his feet. “I knew Nashoba would win,” Jackson exclaimed as a large grey wolf changed into a dark-haired young man and stood before me naked and proud.
I could see the lust in his eyes. His spirit felt dark and cruel. “She is yours, Nashoba. My granddaughter will bring new life to our tribe. Through her, we will take our place as the leaders we are meant to be.”
My grandfather dragged me forward. Nashoba bowed to my grandfather. “I will take my mate home now and claim her, so the pack will know she is mine,” Nashoba announced. With a jerk of his head, two of the boys he’d fought grabbed me by the arms. As the realization that he intended to take me somewhere to force himself on me sunk in, so did my anger.
If I were to be raped, I’d make Nashoba fight for it. I tried to change, but my wolf was sluggish, unable to come forth. I realized Jackson had put something in my food that was preventing me from changing. I cursed him in my mind.
Dropping down, digging my heels into the dirt, I waited for the two boys to readjust their grip on me, then I kick one in the head. He fell back. I kicked the other's leg out from under him, then started to run.
I knew I wouldn’t get far, so instead of running away, I ran right at Nashoba, head-butting him in the stomach. To his credit, he took several steps back but didn’t lose his footing. Quickly regaining himself, I felt his fist connect with my face.
I flew backward, landing in a heap. I tasted blood in my mouth. A trickle ran down my chin. Ignoring how dizzy I felt, I started to struggle to my feet. I felt hands grab my arms again as Nashoba stalked towards me.
They dragged me up to face Nashoba. “Enough. You will be my wife. If you will not come willingly, I will take you here and now!”
I glared at him. “You may rape me every day of your life, but it will never be without a fight. I hope you slept well last night because it will be the last good night's sleep you ever have. Day or night, one day, when you least expect it, I will kill you.”
My grandfather laughed out loud. “I told you she was a worthy prize.”
Nashoba grabbed the back of my neck. Kissing me roughly, he ground against my injured lip. It hurt like hell, but I refused to cry out. Instead, I spit blood in his face.
Nashoba’s eyes glittered with fury. He ripped my dress down the front. Reaching out, he gave my breast a painful twist. As he did, the necklace Dakota had given me fell to the ground. With it, my first tear fell. I wipe my eyes against my shoulder. I would not give this creep the satisfaction of seeing me cry.
“I will clam you, Miakoda. Then I will tame you. It will be a great challenge. Turn her around. I will take her as a wolf takes his mate.” The others forced me my knees bending me over. Nashoba knelt behind me, pushing my torn dress up. He forcefully took hold of my hips as I struggled.
Suddenly I felt Nashoba’s hands release me. Turning to look behind me, I saw the boy, Bodaway, who had warned me about my grandfather kick Nashoba farther away from me. “She was meant for me, not him. I challenge him as is my right.”
My grandfather’s smile sent a chill through me. “I knew you would come to your senses. However, Nashoba is tired from his fight. Therefore, you will fight all six of them to make it a fair fight.”
Nashoba shouted indignantly. “I do not need help to beat this whelp!” The look my grandfather gave him made me shiver. “I would reconsider that statement, Nashoba. You have never beaten my son in the past. What makes you think you can after battling for hours?”
Though Nashoba grew angrier, he answered, “It will be as you say.”
When the other braves let me go, I struggled to my feet. Grandfather grabbed my arm, drawing me to his side. The braves changed form, and the fight began anew. Bodaway became a large, dark gray wolf.
He was holding his own easily. He was fast and agile despite his size. All they managed to do was land small nips here and there. The
fight went on a long time as they worked together to tire Bodaway.
Two wolves were already out of the fight when Bodaway went down. One of the gray wolves had grabbed his back leg. As soon as he was down, the others leaped on top of him. I thought he was done for until he flipped around, regaining his feet. Even bleeding profusely, he managed a vicious counterattack, taking out the other three wolves by tearing out their hamstrings.
It was down to him and Nashoba. They circled each other snapping and growling, then Nashoba lunged. It was his mistake. Bodaway had anticipated his move. Grabbing him by the throat, he took him to the ground. Bodaway looked at my grandfather. “Well done. She is yours. Finish him if you wish.”
Bodaway let go of Nashoba’s throat, shifted, pulled on his jeans, then walked over to me. He cut the rope tying my hands before gently wiping the blood from my lip with his thumb. “Are you terribly hurt?”
I pulled my torn dress around me. “I’m fine,” I mumbled.
Jackson told the pack, “I know my son will be reluctant to force himself on my granddaughter. Therefore, to give him time to convince Miakoda it is for the best and ensure their union, I will marry them immediately.”
“Don’t I have any say in this?” I demanded.
“I know you are displeased by this turn of events, Granddaughter. If things had turned out differently, I would not have had to intervene. I was pleased you were with Chase. His son would have been a good match for you. I thought perhaps though you, Chase, and I would be reunited. I have always thought of him as a son.
After you disappeared again, I realized Chase had grown soft. He was unable to care for you. Bodaway will be a better match. You will sign the certificate and mate with my son unless you prefer Nashoba.” All I could think was how ironic this all was. If I’d stayed mated to CJ, my grandfather would have left me alone. I would have laughed at the irony if I wasn’t so emotionally drained.
I was tired, and my jaw ached. The anger had drained away from me, taking my will to keep fighting. I looked at Bodaway. His spirit was dark, lonely, and broken, but he wasn’t cruel. He wasn’t looking at me with lust like the others. His eyes were filled with sorrow and compassion. He wasn’t a fate worse than death like Nashoba. I signed the papers.
Taking the pen in hand, Bodaway declared, “Father, I wish to claim the other girl as well.”
“As long as you do your duty with Miakodah, you may claim as many wives as you wish.”
“I know what you expect of me, Father.” I detected a note of bitterness in his voice. My grandfather started to add Makala to the marriage certificate. “What is your name, girl?” Makala was crying too hard to answer.
“Her name is Makala Thomas,” I told him. He scribbled her name on the certificate. “Sign, unless you prefer I give you to one of the others.” Makala's hands shook terribly as she scribbled her name. It was barely legible.
Bodaway looked at me sadly. “I am sorry Miakoda, I must sign this. It is the only way I can protect you,” he told me as he scribbled his name on the form.
“By the power given me by this tribe and the state of Colorado, I pronounce you Husband and Wives. From this day forth, you will be known as Miakoda and Makala Greyfeather.” I looked away, so none of them would see my tears fall. “Miakoda, your marriage to Bodaway is binding. I assume this girl was unwed?”
Makala nodded as she continued to cry silently. “Our tribal law forbids divorce under penalty of death among tribal members, which you are by blood, so do not think this is temporary. You will mate with my son unless you prefer to become a widow first.”
Ignoring the tears I couldn’t seem to stop, I growled, “I should have killed you when I had the chance!”
Jackson laughed. “Perhaps you should have.”
Marriage
Bodaway
Jackson grabbed Mia roughly the arm dragging her back to our house. “Now, we will go home, and you will complete the bonding with my son.” Mia jerked away, declaring, “I am perfectly capable of walking by myself, you know.”
Father laughed, letting her continue on her own. I’d never seen him this elated and full of himself, which was saying a lot since he was always full of himself.
The other girl and I followed silently behind them. I had seen Miakoda’s reaction when her necklace fell to the ground. It meant something to her, so I’d grabbed it and concealed it in my hand.
Once we entered the house, Father ordered, “Take Miakoda to your room. I don’t expect to see you until it is done. Do not disappoint me, Son, or this will not end well. You, girl, make yourself useful. Clean something; then, you may sleep on the couch for tonight. I want my son doing his duty to Miakoda before he fucks you.
There will be guards outside. I’d advise you not to try to escape, or my granddaughter will not be able to protect you.” The girl nodded, heading for the sink full of dishes as I took Miakoda’s hand, leading her to my room.
We sat on my small bed. I hung my head, unable to face her. “I am sorry for all of this, Miakoda. I did not wish this to happen. I only intervened because I could not let you be tied to Nashoba. He is the worst of us. He would have been cruel and abusive. I could not allow him to be forced upon you.”
“Thank you for that,” Miakoda mumbled while staring at her hands, which were resting in her lap.
“You are thanking me? You were just forced to marry me. Now I will; I have to…” I buried my face in my hands, unable to finish.
Miakoda let out a heavy sigh. “I’m well aware of what is going to happen. Regardless, you saved me from a worse fate. Nashoba’s spirit was cruel. He would have raped me in front of that crowd. I’m sure life with him would not have improved over time because I would never willingly submit to him. For that, I much I owe you my thanks.
I should have heeded your warning better. I never thought my grandfather would do something like this. He has made it impossible for me to have any control over life. For a little while, I thought I’d escaped him. Yet he has trapped me as surely now as I was in the past. There is no point in fighting it anymore. I was never meant to be happy.”
“You will submit to me without a fight?”
“Yes. If I don’t comply with Jackson’s wishes, I have no doubt he will kill my true mate. I will do whatever I must to protect Dakota and Makala.” Miakoda’s bravery was inspiring. I was left speechless. “Jackson called you his son. Is he really your father because that means you’re my uncle? That would just be sick?”
“It is not quite that bad. Jackson adopted me. My parents died when I was a small child. My birth father was killed in one of Jackson's trials. Jackson pitted my father against a stronger wolf that killed him long ago. I believe it was because he wanted my mother. Jackson takes whatever he wants.
Jackson became my father when he married my mother. My mother died a few years later, leaving Jackson to raise me. My parents were a bonded pair, like you and your mate. Despite her love for me, I think she died from a broken heart or Jackson’s cruelty. While he never beat her, he used my mother as a slave more than a wife.”
Mia looked up at me. She was so beautiful. A tear fell down her cheek. I was shocked to see the compassion in her eyes. “I’m sorry you lost your parents. It must be horrible knowing the man you called father was the monster that took them from you.”
I looked down at her beautiful face. “Do not feel sorry for me, Miakoda. I am as much a monster as Jackson. I was supposed to be the one who took you, except I refused to be a part of Jackson’s plan and, well, you know the rest.
Jackson makes us fight for rank in the tribe and pack. I have battled since I was old enough to walk. Though many died because of Nashoba and his friends, I have killed as well.
As kids, wounds we inflicted on each often became infected. Some died from them. As wolves, if one is too weak after a fight to make the change and heal, they are left where they lay, to die. I am the only wolf that has ever bested Nashoba.
When I beat him the first time, I became Jackso
n’s beta and enforcer. Not because I wanted to because it is safer to be on top. I am not proud of the things I have done. I have killed five times. I was only six the first time. Three of those that died by my hands were close friends. I stopped having friends after that.
The memory of every one of them haunts me every waking hour, and at night they terrorize my dreams. Now I am forcing myself on you. I had hoped your mate would find you before it came to this, though I am sure Nash left no trail for them to follow.
They would have no reason to suspect we have taken you. Still, I waited before I intervened in hopes of a miracle. I am sorry you were publicly humiliated. I stalled as long as I could. I am afraid the stalling is over. If I fail to perform my duty, your mate will die, and your friend will suffer.”
Miakoda's hands clenching into fist were her only visible reaction to my words. No tears, no begging, nothing to let me know how she felt. Even her words were calm, her voice steady. “Makala is like my sister. We rescued her from a whorehouse, not even a week ago. She was turned by her mate, mere days ago. I can’t let her come to any more harm. Why did you demand her too, if you regret what is about to happen so much?”
“I knew you wished her safe. Our women outnumber the men of our tribe. Despite that, there are low birth rates. Therefore, men are allowed to have more than one wife in our tribe. I will not take her to my bed. I will merely protect her. However, I must, I must do what is expected of me, Miakoda. My father will know if I do not.”
“I guess I owe you again, Bodaway. Makala has been through hell. She was sick, dying. She just found her mate. She for the first time only a day ago. I don’t want her to suffer any more than she has to.”
“And what of your suffering, Miakoda?” I asked.
“Dakota will live. As long as we’re both alive, there is always hope of being reunited. This is not a fate worse than death. I sense your spirit is not cruel as the others. I don’t believe you will cause me any more pain than you have to. Someday I’ll make Jackson wish he’d never met me. Until then, I’ll do what I must to protect those I love.”