When I come round, I’m tied tae one of the dining chairs. I can see the reason for the blackness. The spineless fucker that cheated on Becca must’ve hit me with one o’ the other chairs. I doona remember seein’ him when I came in, and there’s bits o’ chair scattered around.
They’ve pushed Becca intae a chair facin’ me. She’s no tied tae it, but her hands have been bound behind her back. There’s more marks on her face than when I walked in. Her lip is split, but isnae bleedin’. Christ, I hope I’ve no’ been out so long. She’s still exposed, but the bite that fucker laid on her is no’ bleedin’ any longer either. The three o’ them are still close. There’s nothin’ I’m goin’ tae say tae her in front o’ them yet. I’m able tae catch her eyes, though. I can see that the wee lass is scared. She straightens and nods, a movement almost too small tae catch, she’s lettin’ me know she’s okay so far.
“Welcome back, Callum. I wasn’t expectin’ to see you here so soon.” I cannae believe Daniel can sound so civil.
“I guess your pet didnae do a good enough job o’ spyin’ for you, or he’d’ve been able tae tell you I was livin’ here.”
“Yes, it would seem so. No matter. It changes our plans a little, but the end result will be the same.”
“And what result would that be?”
“Me at the head of the pack. Your mate dead. You out of the picture.”
“You can take me, but let her go. She’s no’ done you any harm, there’s no need tae kill her.” The instinct tae protect ma mate is battlin’ with the rage I still feel, or part o’ it, I’m no’ so sure they are no’ linked.
“Very noble. Very noble indeed, but useless, I’m afraid. I can’t have her running around, free to speak to the authorities, after this. And perhaps you don’t fully understand this bond of yours yet. I can’t risk her trying to exact revenge over your death.”
The mention of our bond causes me tae look at him. How could he know? He’s no’ even seen us together.
“Oh I’d suspected when I heard the two of you were together, but that little scene when you came in confirmed it. It took both of us to control her, and as you can see we’ve had to restrain her.”
“So what’s your plan then?”
“Unfortunately, since you’re early, we can’t leave Rebecca’s body here for you to find as planned, with an anonymous tip called in to the police. No, we’re going to play it a little differently. I think we’ll make your death look like a suicide, hanging should do it. Then we’ll take care of your mate. You will die knowing you can’t save her. I’m going to let Bryn have his fun first, get some of those urges out of his system, and all the while she’ll know that no one is going to help her. She’ll still die, it’ll just take longer.”
“And here we were thinkin’ that Bryn was the one that was no’ right in the head. I can see where he gets his crazy from.”
“You know? You must have had to do a fair bit of digging to uncover that. Ahhh, I see, that’s why you missed the full moon.”
Since Daniel’s answered his own question he doesnae need anythin’ further from me. I let ma wolf senses roam the room, lookin’ for any advantage. Bryn’s vibratin’ with excitement. I doona need extra senses tae tell me what it’s centred on, you could probably see his hard on from across the valley. That small time wanker is completely in a thrall tae Daniel. He’d jump off a fucking cliff like a lemming if his Alpha told him tae. Daniel is calm, and that’s fuckin’ scary in itself. Murder, torture, what he’s plannin’ here; it doesnae phase him at all. He’s a walkin’ definition o’ a fuckin’ sociopath.
I’m still searchin’ for an edge, some way that I can get the better o’ all three o’ them, when Bryn puts his hand on Becca. I can see her tense and grit her teeth. I can feel that she’s determined no’ tae cry out. She wants the fucker tae get as little as possible outae her. The red mist is descendin’ again, in time with his filthy paw as it’s slidin’ over ma lass’s skin. Rage isnae goin’ tae do me any good now. I need tae keep ma head. When he squeezes one o’ her breasts, hard, causin’ her tae screw up her face in pain, the feelin’ in me expands. It’s like molten metal in ma blood, everythin’ in me feels slow and thick, pushin’ at ma skin from the inside. It grows and it solidifies. I know what I can do with it now.
I take the feelin’ in me, I own it, and I push it out, push it at them. Bryn’s hand freezes. I can feel all three o’ them go still. Three o’ them is a lot tae control like this, just with the power o’ bein’ Alpha; but Rob’s such a weak arse he barely fuckin’ counts. I cannae move them around like puppets, no’ yet, but I can stop them from doin’ anythin’ else for the moment. They stand like statues whilst I fiddle with the knots at the back o’ me. They must have let Rob tie me up whilst they kept Becca down. Fortunately for me he’s done a shite job o’ it.
Once I’m free, I pull her from under Bryn’s touch and untie her. I need tae make sure she’s okay, but I cannae take the time now. I turn her tae me, hide her body against mine. Just the feel o’ her next tae me increases the power o’ what I can feel. When she slides her hands around me, under ma sweater, seekin’ tae feel ma skin, tae hold me, it amps up the voltage some more. I realise that this is what the mate bond is between Alphas. I doona know what the extent o’ it is, but we’ll use what we’ve got for now.
“You three are goin’ tae leave our home. I’m no’ goin’ tae give you all the satisfaction o’ killin’ you now. I’ll no’ be provoked intae doin’ it where the pack cannae see, where you cannae be held accountable for your sins. Now get your filthy arses outae here.”
Rob, the weakest one, walks like a zombie tae the door. I can see that Bryn’s aware o’ what’s happenin’, but he’s no strong enough tae fight it. Daniel is. I can feel him push me back, he’s strong enough tae be an Alpha in his own right after all. He’s goin’ tae work his way free of ma influence, until Becca raises up and presses her face intae ma neck. The feel o’ more o’ her skin against mine, the whisperin’ heat o’ her breath, it gives me more strength. Daniel’s still no’ fully under ma control, but it’s enough tae get him down the stairs and outae the door after the other two. I keep Becca gripped tight tae me. It’s awkward gettin’ down the stairs like that, but it’s necessary until I can make sure that the door is locked behind them. Only when I know that they’d have tae kick the door down tae get back in do I breathe again.
I feel Becca’s knees give, and she starts tae slide down ma body, but I’m no’ about tae let her collapse here on the cold staircase. Plus, I want another barrier between us and them before I relax too much. I pick her up and carry intae our home. I’m about tae take her intae the bedroom, just tae get her away from the mess in the livin’ room. I doona want her bein’ reminded o’ what just nearly happened. I stop because I can feel her shakin’ her head against ma chest. She’s sayin’ somethin’ but I cannae hear it, it’s just a whisper. I lean down tae catch her words.
“What is it, lass?”
“Shower. I need to be clean.”
I can understand that, but it worries me that they hurt her worse than I thought. I switch direction and head tae the bathroom. I get the shower runnin’ one-handed, but when I try and let her go so that she can get undressed, her knees give again. I doona want tae scare her if they’ve hurt her, and that feelin’ rips through me like a jagged blade, but there’s no way she’s goin’ tae be able tae stand in the shower by herself.
As the little room fills with steam, I undress her as gently as I can; and maself as quickly as I can. I get her under the hot spray and simply hold her. It’s all I can do for now. At first she’s clingin’ tae me like a wee child, but it’s there again, the bond. This much contact skin-tae-skin is what she needs. I can feel her strength returnin’ feel her take her own weight, feel her stop tremblin’.
“Sweetheart, is there anythin’ I need tae know about the way they hurt you?” I can barely get the words out, but if she’ll answer, I need tae hear it.
“No. You got here
in time. You’ve seen all there is to see.”
I step back a little tae check her over. Most o’ the smeared blood is washed away, but I make sure what little there is left is gone. My lass is goin’ tae be covered in bruises tomorrow.
Now it’s my turn tae cling tae her. I was so close tae losin’ her. I kiss her forehead as I brush her hair outtae the way. She’s still got her face buried in ma neck, but I can feel that she’s breathin’ in the scent o’ ma skin. She’s drawin’ more strength from me and I’ll no’ stop her, but we cannae stay in here forever.
“Come on lass, time tae get you dried off.”
She can step out by herself, but I help her anyway. We dry each other. I suppose, it’s a little like grooming. I guide her intae the bedroom and we slide under the covers. I just need tae hold ma mate tonight, hold her close and know that she’s safe. It occurs tae me that we’ve no’ eaten anythin’ since god only knows when, but she’s exhausted and I can feel her slippin’ intae sleep. I’ll make sure she’s fed when she wakens. For now, she needs tae rest.
I cannae sleep. It’ soothin’ tae lie in the dark and feel her body warm against mine, but every time I close ma eyes I see that scene when I walked intae the flat. I see her bleedin’, bein’ held by them, like the after-shadow o’ lookin’ at the sun. There’s a strong instinct in me tae stay awake, tae be alert so that I can protect ma mate.
As I listen to Becca’s breathing, deep and even, I wonder whether Daniel and his cronies’ll dare tae turn up on the full moon now. I think they will. Daniel still believes he’s strong enough tae fight me for the pack. Bryn and Rob are too dense tae think any different.
It doesnae matter tae me if they run. I’ll hunt them down. I know Aidan and Cooper will be about as happy with Daniel as I am, and they’re already no’ the biggest fans o’ Bryn’s. When they find out what he.... I doona finish the thought. It makes me tense and I can feel Becca respond tae that, even in her sleep. I concentrate on her tae bring ma calm back, her scent, the silk o’ her hair. I will keep her safe.
Chapter Twenty Nine
I’m sure that there are lots of things that are more fun than sitting on your sofa explaining to your best friends exactly what happened when three people you know and at one time trusted, mostly, barged into your flat intent on torturing you and then killing you. I’m sure there are; maybe root canal surgery, or having your fingernails pulled out, or being run over by a bus. Maybe. If you think of any, let me know.
It was an unfortunate necessity, and it had to involve some detail. We would look weak if we got to the meeting point tomorrow, got ready to change, and our closest friends were shocked by what they saw. It would have signalled a lack of trust. I’ve shown both Donna and Michael the bruising and the marks. It wasn’t enough to tell them, they had to be prepared for it. I haven’t healed them by changing intentionally; they will serve their purpose as evidence for the rest of the pack. Tomorrow the colouring of the bruising will have deepened, the impact will be greater.
Callum also needed to explain to all three of us what the protocol is for a fight to lead the pack. We need to know what to expect. I’m pleased to hear that the fight will take place in wolf form; to my mind that evens the playing field. How tall you are, your weight, the length of your reach; it’s not as important when you’re on four paws. Apparently the pack themselves form the ring, all in wolf form. The reason is threefold. It keeps the combatants on an even footing, no jumping off high crags or hiding in ditches. Everyone’s a referee, and everyone in the pack can see everyone else. It’s very important that the Alpha wins the fight on his own strength and merit, not because his opponent has been hamstringed by an invested party. The only way in which the fighters can draw help from outside is through their ties to the pack. In its way, this shows their strength and merit as well. If an Alpha is really up to the job, he’ll have more of the pack behind him. It’s not easy to win control of a pack that doesn’t want you there.
When I woke up, after around twelve hours of solid sleep, I felt much more like myself, stronger. Of course a lot of that had to do with the man in bed next to me. The soreness from the bruising only kicked in when I tried to move. That was less good. By tomorrow my upper arms and wrists are going to be a mass of black and blue. There are finger print bruises on my hips. There is quite a lot of discolouration around the bite mark on by breast. At least I don’t need a tetanus shot, and once I’ve changed tomorrow, it shouldn’t scar. My face is a bit of a picture. Since I was slapped, repeatedly, rather than punched, there is less swelling. I can still see out of both eyes and there are no fractures in the bones; but it still hurts to do anything like smile. The split in my lip isn’t helping with that either.
It all looks a lot worse than it is. I’m lucky that Bryn and Daniel were sketchy on their homework. If their planning had been better, I would be dead now. It’s unlucky for Daniel that they failed because all they’ve done is brought Callum and me even closer together, if such a thing was possible. Since he pulled me out from under Bryn’s hand last night, we’ve barely stopped touching in some way, even if it’s just a brush of fingertips.
There’s been another strange side-effect. I’m not sure if it’s a post traumatic stress thing, whether it will wear off. Usually, I can close myself off from other wolves. If I don’t want to feel what they’re feeling, I don’t have to. Sometimes, I have to make a conscious effort to ‘feel’ more. If I don’t want them to know what’s going through my head, I can keep them out. The ability to switch to silent mode has completely disappeared as far as Callum is concerned. I asked, and it’s the same for him. I had to laugh when he warned me that the standard female response of “I’m fine” wouldn’t work anymore.
Donna and I are on the sofa, both tucked into a corner each. Michael is perched on the arm behind Donna, his arm around her shoulders. Callum is on the floor by my legs, stroking smooth circles on my legs with one hand. My fingers are winding in the hair that lies over his collar. I can see from Michael’s glances every so often that if we weren’t discussing such dire subjects, he’d be making jokes left, right and centre.
Now that we’ve finished Wolf Fight Club 101, we’re onto other matters. Callum’s filling us in on some of the details from his conversations in London and Belfast that he didn’t have chance to tell us before. Namely that Bryn’s pretty much been a career rapist and murderer since puberty.
“Cooper knows o’ one attack in London for definite. They fairly much caught him at the scene. Cameron confirmed he’d been at it for years in Ireland before that.”
“He didn’t stop when he came to Manchester.” Three sets of eyes turn in my direction.
“Stating the obvious, I know. They admitted it last night. Bryn’s been busy here, not just me and that girl. There’ve been others. They burn the bodies and scatter the ashes on the moors.”
Callum’s hand tightens on my leg. “They told you this, lass?”
“I was trying to stall for time. I told Bryn we knew about the girl in the canal, and then they admitted what they’d been doing.” Callum’s hand resumes its stroking.
“On the moors? Our moors. We’ve been running over those poor dead girls?”
Donna has gone pale, again. I only nod. The very thought of it still makes me nauseous.
“If he knows we know about this, he might try to run.” Donna reasons.
“He’ll no’ get far if he does. We’re no’ on our own. Cooper, Aidan, they want him puttin’ down almost as much as we do. They’ll back us. If he tries tae run they’ll help us tae hunt him.”
Michael’s expression is one of pure disdain. “He’s too stupid to run. Bryn thinks he’s invincible. No wonder, he’s had some pretty strong people dig him out of the shit.”
“Aye, that’s ma way o’ thinkin’ too. But he’s wrong. If no’ tomorrow night, then some other, that bastard is goin’ tae die by ma hand.”
I lay my palm on the back of Callum’s neck, more by way of agreement than in any attempt t
o calm him.
“You concentrate on Daniel, that’s the fight you have to win. Let us and the rest of the pack worry about Bryn. After the last full moon when they saw him going for Becca, when they see her tomorrow, they’ll all want a piece of him or at least any of them with any sense will.” At least we can rely on Michael to keep a clear view.
“Doona worry lad, I’ll no’ get distracted. But Bryn’s last breath is mine. The man that laid hands on ma mate answers tae me.”
An idea occurs to me. “Is there any way we can make some use of him?”
“What do you mean?” Michael asks.
“Your task force is still looking for a murderer. Since Bryn is actually guilty, is there no way we can give him to them?”
“Alive?” Michael looks even more perplexed.
“Of course not, we can’t risk that. But isn’t there anything that’ll connect him to her? Bite marks or something?”
“Not sure you haven’t been watching too much CSI, Becca. But you’ve got a point. The other girls have given some descriptions; some of them have worked with the e-fit bods. They’ve come up with a bit of a mix, as we thought they would, but one or two of the e-fits look very familiar. We can’t put Bryn in a line-up though.”
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