by J. E. Cluney
“I’m so sorry,” she mumbled into my hair, her voice breaking as she clutched me close.
“Don’t be. You’ve endured far worse from him. If you’re still able to show me kindness and have such love for your children, then I know I’ll be okay,” I murmured.
“I grew up expecting this, knowing it was the way of the Pack. You’re an outsider, you aren’t accustomed to it,” May sighed.
“I’ll be okay,” I reassured her despite the uneasiness inside me.
But I meant what I said. If the other she-wolves of this Pack had been abused and still managed to live their lives, then I could handle this too. I had to.
She nodded, her eyes glittering under the warm bathroom lighting as she took my hand.
“It’s time to go.”
I refrained from shuddering as I stepped into the cool night air in nothing but my ugly sundress. My bare feet wiggled against the wooden wrap-around porch as I looked around.
A few other she-wolves were standing by, watching me with sad and pained eyes.
They’d been in my place before.
They all moved in around me, a group of comfort and warmth as they herded me into the surrounding forest.
May held my hand the whole way, trying to distract me by telling me about the child play days the women organized. A group of the fathers had built an amazing play area with a jungle gym and swings and a large rock-climbing wall out in a clearing in the forest. They’d all paid for the building supplies out of their own measly allowances and wages from their outside jobs. When she told me their allowances from the Pack, I baulked. It was not even a third of what our own Pack members were given to help them thrive and live, and it was difficult for them to get extensions on the homes unless they saved up and paid for the materials themselves. Richard was an arrogant, greedy prick who didn’t want to help his Pack grow and survive. And their communal dinners were organized by Pack members, not the Alpha, and they supplied a dish or two to contribute as they couldn’t use the lodge kitchen.
They’d have a small fire and hang out in the woods, and Richard would look the other way as they socialized while he feasted alone in his lodge with his few she-wolves whom he’d have tending to him.
The more I learned about the ways of the Pack, the more I wanted to rip Richard’s throat out with my teeth.
And yet I was walking to my mating ceremony with him.
The group hushed as we neared a clearing, and I stepped out with the women still circling me protectively.
Roughly fifty or sixty grown wolves filled the area, all standing around idly, silent as they watched me being led forth.
A platform had been hastily built, I could tell from the fresh scent of wood and sap. It hadn’t been allowed to dry out yet before being used. Probably another way to cut costs. Surely Richard could afford to help out a bit, his family had quite a fortune.
But it didn’t surprise me that he was a greedy, stingy bastard. I’d expect no less from a ‘wolf who went through the Council to steal a she-wolf from another Pack in an attempt to usurp said Pack’s Alpha.
My stomach flipped and clenched, and I tightened my grip on May’s hand as my eyes trailed up the looming beast of a man on the platform. He wore only a pair of baggy grey jeans and was barefoot as he stood before the crowd, towering over them all in his smug superiority.
The hungry, vile look in his eye made me want to tear my hand free and flee, to race towards home and to my boys, to curl up between the three of them and feel safe once more.
Instead, I jutted my chin out defiantly, which only made Richard smirk.
I was grateful there were no children present, and I could only assume a few adults were supervising them somewhere.
The crowd was silent as the surrounding women all gave me gentle touches and squeezes of reassurance before dispersing into the silent crowd.
“As you all are aware, I will be taking a new mate tonight!” Richard’s harsh voice boomed through the clearing, making me flinch at the statement. “None other than Taylor Ashwood, daughter of Lawrence Ashwood, our rival Pack Alpha!”
There were murmurs in the crowd around me, but when Richard threw his arms up, demanding an applause, they obeyed, cheering and clapping. But I could sense their hearts weren’t in it.
Why had they not all turned on him? Were they so trapped and scared? No. I knew it was the children. He’d target them first to make the adults comply. They were protective and fearful for their children, and it broke my heart that they had to live like this.
A Pack elder joined Richard on the platform, hunched over as he hobbled over to stand beside the Alpha, his white beard scruffy and his snowy hair wild and unruly. He held in his hands a union cup, and I shifted uneasily at the sight of it.
I didn’t want to do this. I wanted to piss bolt out of here, to take my chances trying to escape.
But one last squeeze from May before she released my hand and moved away from my side squashed that thought. I wouldn’t put this Pack through more pain at his hands.
“Come, Taylor Ashwood,” the elder called out, his voice raspy and frail as he extended a bony hand.
I held my head high as I marched up the steps, glaring at Richard in utter disgust and contempt. I hoped a bolt of lighting would strike him down, burning that smug look off his face.
The elder took my hand and gave it a soft squeeze, and I caught his old, tired blue eyes, the look of misery and resignation in them made my heart squeeze. He managed a soft thin-lipped smile for me before he reached for Richard’s hand.
“Tonight, we celebrate the union of two great ‘wolves, a new chapter in both their lives, and the promise of healthy young pups for the Pack. We will bind them in blood before they will unify in flesh, as is the sacred ways of the ‘wolves,” he called out. “Tonight, we are one, and we are all.”
“Tonight, we are one, and we are all,” the crowd reiterated, their chorus of voices making a shiver run through me.
I swallowed as I looked at Richard, at his huge frame, the way his muscles rippled as his nostrils flared, drawing in my scent.
“We must begin the binding with blood,” the elder said as he turned my hand palm up in his. Richard held his hand where the elder had left it, waiting for his turn.
I grimaced as the elder produced a knife from the back pocket of his jeans and dragged it across my palm quickly. He moved fast, turning my hand over the union cup, an ancient red chalice that many Packs had from long ago.
He squeezed my hand, and I bit my tongue from saying anything as he forced more blood into the cup until he was satisfied.
Then he did the same to Richard’s hand, drawing a grunt from the monstrous man as he cut his hand.
Once the elder was content, he set the chalice on the floor and joined our hands, our cuts squishing together to share blood.
He then collected the chalice and swirled it before offering it to me.
I stared hard at him for a moment, wanting to rip my hand from Richard’s meaty grip and throw it in his face. He must’ve sensed my rage as he gripped my hand tightly, almost making me gasp from the crunch of bones in my hands.
I accepted the chalice begrudgingly and sipped the blood, hating the coppery taste as it swirled in my mouth. I wanted to spit it back out, but I forced myself to swallow as the elder moved to offer it to Richard.
He drank the rest of it, wiping the back of his hand across his mouth and smearing the blood across his cheek as he grinned eagerly at me.
I clenched my jaw as the elder raised the chalice in the air.
“Bound by blood,” he called out, and the crowd reiterated it once more.
My heart hammered as the elder moved off the platform, leaving me alone with the Alpha. I hated how close he was to me, the way he stared at me, undressing me with his eyes.
“Lie down,” he commanded.
I growled in defiance, unable to stop myself.
The flash of annoyance in his eyes was the only indication I had before he
yanked me forward and spun me around.
He shoved me to the floor on all fours, and I heard as he unzipped his jeans and pulled them down. The material rustled as it fell to the wooden boards, and I shuddered as tears pricked my eyes. I wouldn’t cry, I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. And as much as I wanted to scramble off that platform, I fought the urge as I dug my nails into the wood and gritted my teeth.
Claws tore at my sundress, ripping it clean off me and leaving it tattered beside me.
Now I was in nothing but a bra and panties as the whole crowd watched on.
I managed to turn my head and scan the crowd. So many faces, so many grim expressions. Why wouldn’t anyone stop this? Why couldn’t someone get ahold of a gun and shoot him? Surely the Pack would forgive them despite our laws?
I bit down on the whimper as Richard snarled and ripped the edges of my panties and removed them in one quick motion.
This was it.
I caught May’s eyes in the front of the crowd, the utter horror in her eyes as she watched on silently.
I couldn’t stand the looks everyone gave me, and I turned my head away as I closed my one good eye.
There was no stopping the shriek as he slammed into me, not even bothering to prepare me for it.
I felt my lady parts tear painfully, and I whimpered as he drove into me hard and fast.
“Bound in flesh!” Richard roared as he pounded into me, holding my hips steady.
“Bound in flesh!” the crowd echoed quietly, and I couldn’t stop the tear sliding down from my one good eye.
I lay dazed and broken on the platform; the crowd having dispersed once Richard was done with me.
I curled in on myself, pathetically pulling the tattered remains of that putrid dress over my body.
May and two other women were sitting with me, trying to comfort me as I trembled.
Blood marred my skin from our bloody hands, and his claws had left deep punctures on my hips and ass from where he’d grabbed it. My lower areas ached and throbbed, and the pain made me want to cry.
Blood trickled out of my nether region, and semen covered my inner thighs and other parts of my body.
He’d thought it good fun to mark me as his once he’d raped my body by finishing a few times on my skin.
I was too broken to care by then, wishing I’d just die so I could escape the pitying looks of the crowd and his brutality.
“Ray, can you carry her?” May asked.
Ray had stayed behind as well, knowing he may be needed. I was in no shape to walk, and I just wanted to disappear.
“Everything’s going to be okay,” May murmured as Ray slipped his arms under my frame and lifted me up.
I barely cared that he was getting blood and semen over him, and I clutched the yellow remnants of the dress close in an attempt to cover myself. Even my bra had been torn off and cast aside, and my breasts ached from his harsh hands as he molested me.
May and the two other women followed after us as we headed back to the lodge. I groaned and turned into Ray’s shirt as I heard Richard’s rumbling voice at the lodge.
“Don’t worry, he lives at the other end, he won’t come back for you tonight. He’s too busy celebrating with some of the men and drinking,” Ray reassured me.
I abandoned holding my dress to clutch his shirt instead, grateful for his kindness. But my throat hurt, and I knew it was bruised and swollen. Richard liked it rough, and he’d pinned me down by my throat at one point when I’d fought him, his large penis too much for my unprepared body.
Ray took me to the bathroom and held me close as May drew a bath for me. The two other, women, Francine and Charlotte I think they’d said were their names, brought in a towel and my clean clothes.
Once the water was ready, Ray gently lowered me into it, and I shuddered as the warm water stung my nether region.
But I was grateful, and I caught his hand as he went to move away to give me privacy. As if that even mattered after what they’d all seen.
“Thank you,” I barely managed to rasp, the effort making my throat ache and protest.
He just gave me a sad smile and patted my hand before he pulled away, leaving me alone with the women.
Charlotte, a brunette with ocean blue eyes and a gentle smile, moved to work on washing my hair for me, taking care with my bruised and battered body. She was not as slim as the other two, bustier and older. She looked like she’d mothered a few children, and it had taken its toll on her body.
Francine was younger, probably not even thirty, and she had dirty blonde hair that was shaved short, and her hazel eyes were perplexed and agitated as she began washing my arms and upper body.
May took my lower body, asking politely if I was okay with her cleaning me up down there.
I was beyond the point of feeling any sort of self consciousness, and I just managed a weak nod.
They washed me so carefully, murmuring soft words of comfort, but they fell on deaf ears.
I hated myself. I hated what I’d had to endure, and I hated the thought of what my boys would think, of the disgust they’d have, of the betrayal they’d feel.
By the time May got me to bed in my own shirt and clean panties and her light blue pajama pants, I was ready to unleash it all.
But no tears or sobs came forth as she carefully dried my hair with a blow-dryer, instead, a numbness swept over me, and I stared at the wall.
I knew she was speaking to me softly, but I couldn’t focus on her voice.
I just wanted to be left alone.
Once she was content my hair was dry enough, she sighed and finally retreated, knowing I needed some time with myself.
I was grateful to be left alone.
It was what I deserved.
6
Nathan.
We all sat in the living area right into the night as we discussed our options. Carlos had gone home to his wife and daughter while we came up with a plan. A discussion was one word for it. There was plenty of shared words, shouts and snarls as we debated on what to do.
Jaye and I wanted to just march right on in and snatch her away, have all the men partake in a raid on the Williamson territory. It was naïve and stupid, but we were struggling with our emotions.
Scott was a bit more down to earth, and he sided with the Alpha and Chris about how we needed to do this right. We didn’t want to stoop to Richard’s level in order to get Tay back.
We all simmered down as Lawrence bellowed, his Alpha aura forcing us to quieten and listen.
There wasn’t really much choice in how to proceed. Gadion had hinted that the joining of the Packs was desired, but how it was achieved wasn’t the big concern.
And to avoid casualties on both sides, Lawrence believed the best way forward was with an Alpha challenge.
And he’d asked me to be his second.
I was honored to be asked, and I accepted without a moment’s hesitation.
A second in an Alpha battle would focus on dealing with the other second, and if they were able to defeat the other second, they could then assist the Alpha in battling the rival Alpha.
But the issue we were having was how unconnected the Williamson Pack was. Richard’s father had cut the Pack off from the outside world, no internet except in the main dwelling, no cell phones, although Lawrence was under the impression they had no reception anyway so relied on satellite phones.
He’d already tried to make a call through on their direct line to the main building in hopes of arranging the Alpha challenge, but there’d been no answer.
He was considering the possibility that we may have to go there and challenge him, but meeting on his territory posed many risks, as we couldn’t be sure he’d honor the ‘wolf code. He could have us killed on sight with automatic weapons loaded with silver.
We all fell silent as three consecutive knocks resounded from the front door.
Jaye was the one who opened it, and old man Frank sauntered in, his balding head glinting under the harsh overhea
d light, his pot belly pushing against his button up green shirt as he glanced around us.
“So what’s the plan, eh?” he grunted as he shuffled down into the sunken living area and plopped into an armchair.
“Um… I just looked at the old man, baffled by his sudden visit.
“C’mon, out with it. We need to get that sweet young ‘wolf home. You’re probably thinking about the best way to do this without involving too many of the Pack and risking lives,” he mused as he stroked his overgrown beard.
Considering he was nearly seventy, I was surprised at his ability to have gotten here so easily, and how well he was still able to get around. He’d had some close calls due to his stupid decisions, and it looked like he wasn’t done yet.
“Now Frank, I do think we should keep this up to the fighters of the Pack, we’ll figure something out,” Lawrence started, but Frank growled and rolled his eyes.
“Everyone thinks I’m a useless old man. I’m not. Did you know I’ve got an old friend in that Pack? Old Reggie, we met back when that fire happened in town. He and I battled those flames and pulled people out of that burning building. We didn’t care that we were from rival Packs, we were ‘wolves and we were the only ones who could do it. We kept in contact after that. I see him, every second Tuesday, we meet up in town for a beer and talk about how our Packs are going. He warned me of Richard’s interest in Taylor, but I didn’t think it was true, until now. He thinks she’ll give him the advantage in an Alpha fight, that he can use her to cloud your emotions,” Frank clucked his tongue as his hand twitched, as if the thought had him itching for a beer.
“I heard rumors of his interest in Taylor as well before he made the offer,” Lawrence admitted with a low, disgruntled growl.
“I’ll be seeing Reggie Tuesday afternoon, he’s not fond of Richard’s rule, he may be willing to get you guys across the border. He’s a crafty old thing, many old ‘wolf tricks up his sleeve,” Frank grinned, his smile missing a number of teeth.
“No, we will do this by the code. We will make our challenge known and wait for his response. That’s the way of the Packs,” Lawrence’s voice was stern, but Frank just scowled.
