Mason
March 16, 2014
I sit at the kitchen table, running my hands through my hair. It has been two days since the battle. No word or sign of Lana or Landon. Or Jesse…
My beautiful mate, I have failed to keep you safe.
After the Cossitt Pack had retreated, we gathered all our dead and wounded. Landon, Trent, Lana, and Jesse were nowhere to be seen. The Rose Pack and Prowler Pack went back to their territories soon after.
Most of our warriors were badly wounded or dead. We only have ten good fighting men.
Jenny came to me once we got back to the pack house, telling me that Lana ran after the Cossitt Pack, that Lana believes the others are taken captive. That only drove my frustration to new heights.
I don’t understand how Landon does this. I want to punch the next person who asks what my move is to retrieve our Alphas.
“Mason, you need to do something!” Jenny yells at me, standing across the kitchen table.
I look up at her. “What do you want us to do? We don’t have the manpower to take on the Cossitt Pack,” I respond.
Jenny paces in front of me, grabbing her hair and pulling on it. I see sweat form above her eyebrows. She’s scared, nervous.
“I promised to protect her. It was my job, and I just let her go,” Jenny says, her voice in a panic.
“She ordered you—”
“It was my job, Mason!”
I let out a sigh, hanging my head as I rub a hand over the back of my neck.
“We can ask the Prowler Pack for their help,” Jenny offers.
“They won’t help us the second time.”
Jenny punches the kitchen table with such force that the table snaps in half. I lift my eyes up at her as the table crumbles on my lap. “I’ll go. Send me. If I die, I’m nobody.”
“You’re someone to Lana, to Landon and Jesse and me. I will not send you to your death.”
Jenny shakes her head, taking a step towards the back door. “You can’t stop me. You have no control over me, Mason.” Jenny runs out of the house, shifting into her wolf.
I let out a curse, pushing away the broken table. I run after her, my wolf taking form. I catch up to her in no time.
I’m doing this, Mason.
I know. And I’m coming with you. I watch as her wolf smirks, picking up speed. I keep up, running as if our tails are on fire.
Who knows what has happened to Landon and the others by now? They could all be dead. It was foolish of me not to act sooner.
We get to the Prowler Pack in seven minutes, running straight up to the door. Macklin steps out. “I’ve already risked my men’s lives. I will not aid you again.”
“Please. The Cossitt Pack is not annihilated! They will regroup, and they will strike back twice as hard!” Jenny begs, now in her human form. Macklin throws an oversized shirt at her, keeping his eyes off her.
“We will be able to stand against them.” Macklin insists.
“Stand against them now while they’re weak. The casualties will be significantly less if we do it together.”
Jenny was a good speaker. She has a skill at making people see the way she wants them to. However, Macklin is hardheaded.
“I am sorry.” He turns to walk back into the house. The door opens before Macklin reaches it and out walks a man in his mid-twenties.
He gives Macklin a soft glare before turning and running to come face to face with Jenny. I watch as Jenny stares at him, her mouth open and eyes wide. He lifts his hand and runs his fingers along her left cheekbone.
“What is your name?” he asks.
“Jenny Olsen.”
“Jenny Olsen, my name is Tyler Calhon. As the upcoming Alpha of the Prowler Pack, I inform you that we will fight with you.”
***
Lana
Landon never woke up after his beating. He slept through the whole night, and I knew it was what he needed. He needed his strength for his wolf to heal the wounds.
Around midnight, a man came in with scraps. It wasn’t much, a piece of bread and peas. But I accepted them greedily. He left Landon’s portion beside his sleeping body. I could tell by the mournful look on his face that he didn’t agree with Castor’s tactics. I wanted to ask him to free us.
Jesse messaged me in the morning, telling me Trent had woken up and that he didn’t want to talk to me. He was wounded, and he feels responsible for Jesse’s condition.
I tried contacting him multiple times, but he did well to ignore me.
Landon finally awoke midday. At least, I thought it’s midday. It’s hard to keep hold of time down here. He gulped down his food in nearly three bites. I could tell that his wounds have healed quite significantly. However, I could see the scars already forming.
“Did he touch you?” Landon growls. I shake my head, feeling stupid when I remember he can’t see me.
“No. He didn’t touch me.” I let out a deep sigh, closing my eyes. “He raped Jesse.”
Landon lets out a low growl, nearly shaking the ground. “I’m gonna kill him for what he’s done to you, Jesse, and Trent.” I peel open my eyes to stare at him.
“You?” Landon shuffles to the middle of the room.
“I don’t give a crap what he does to me. He can do whatever he wants. It’s hurting you that drives me over the edge.” Always the selfless man, everyone before himself, I just hope that means he doesn’t sacrifice himself to save us.
We sit in silence, listening to each other’s heartbeats and the rattle of the chains. It was driving me insane, sitting down here with my hands tied behind my back. It is incredibly uncomfortable to try to sleep in this position.
My butt is sore from not standing, my back aching and my neck extremely stiff.
I want to walk or even shift into my wolf even for just a moment. I fear sitting like this for so long, my legs will lose their function.
“How are you doing, Landon?” I ask to break the silence.
“My back is numb. My ribs are killing me, and my hand is already healing. How’s your stomach?” I don’t know why, but for some reason, the way he answered the question was off. I know I just have it all in my head, but I don’t want to lose him. Sitting down here is frustrating to him, and I know he feels as if he has failed us, just like Trent… men and their pride.
“It’s much better, nearly fully healed now,” I whisper, looking up at the lights. They’re dim, barely giving us any light. However, my eyes are used to the darkness. I can see Landon perfectly.
He has his head hanging, and his shoulder hunched. I know he’s not telling me the truth.
“How bad is your back? Really?” I ask.
Landon lifts his head and opens his mouth to answer. He’s cut off by the door opening. My eyes flicker over to Castor who walks in with a bag slung over his shoulder, slamming the door shut. He storms over and punches Landon right in the jaw.
I let out a loud gasp, watching as my mate falls to his side at the sudden impact. “What are you doing?” I scream.
Castor pulls out keys, uncuffing his handcuffs. He then pulls out an iron collar from his bag. He clasps it around Landon’s neck, chaining it up to the bolt his hands were tied to
Landon gets to his knees, spitting out blood. Castor walks up behind him, delivering a blow to his raw back. Landon lets out a roar of pain. I watch with disgust as Castor again beats my mate. Why is he targeting him?
I just want him to have his way with me and leave us alone.
Castor kicks Landon in the face, and I see a tooth fly across the prison. I growl as Landon drops forward on his hands. Castor walks around Landon as if examining his work. He grips Landon’s hair, tilting his head back so he can look at his bruised face. Landon tried to push Castor’s hands away, but Castor was already walking towards me.
I glare up at him. I am not afraid of him. I know what is going to happen; there is no use to fight against him. Castor unbuckles his belt, pulling it through the loops.
“Don’t touch her. Please don’t touch her,” Landon begs from across the prison. I stare at him as Castor grabs the back of my neck, pulling me away from the wall. He shoves me to my stomach, grabbing my pants. He rips them off. I gasp, keeping my face pressed to the floor, eyes on Landon. He turns his head so he can listen to what is happening. “I’m going to kill you.”
Castor ignores Landon, shucking off his pants. I begin to cry as I know that this is it. It’s actually going to happen. He’s going to rape me.
He places his belt around my neck, pulling hard, so I am lifted off the floor and pressed against his chest as he shoves himself into me.
I scream, not in pain but in pure disgust. My heart breaks as Landon roars, thrashing against his neck collar. Tears roll down his cheeks as his eyes glow blue.
“No! Don’t watch, Landon!” I shout.
Castor chuckles behind me, leaning forward to place a kiss on my neck. “Watch me as I mark her, Landon.” I thrash against him.
“No!” Landon yells. Castor wraps his arms around my waist, stilling my actions as he sinks his teeth into the junction of my neck. I cry out in pain. It burns. He’s not my mate, and so my body is trying to get rid of Castor’s mark.
“You sick bastard, I’m going to kill you! You sick bastard!” Landon screams. I sob as I watch my mate try and try to get to me, no matter the pain that he felt.
Castor had his way with me for a good ten minutes, effectively leaving bruises on my arms and hips. I honestly didn’t mind all the bruising. I just wanted him to get the hell away from me.
By the time he exited the room, I curl into a ball on the floor and sob. Landon doesn’t speak for the longest time, just stares at me with blue eyes that shine in the dark room. I can feel his anger, his hunger for revenge.
“I’m so sorry, Lana,” he whispers.
“I-it’s no-ot your fa-ault.” I stutter.
“I should have been able to protect you. To stop him.” I close my eyes, just wanting to go to sleep. To forget about where I am and drift off to a happy place where Castor will not hurt me.
“I just need to know that you’re with me, and you’ll never leave.”
“I’m never going to leave you, Lana. I promise.” A smile twitches on my lips at his words. It brings me comfort, just hearing him say it.
Tears flow as I lay against the cool wall, my body extremely overheated.
What kind of man does this? I knew he slept with women, but he never chained them up and forced them into it. Most of the women consented in sleeping with him. But to beat and cut open women is just masochistic.
He’s a monster. I can’t believe I ever lived in this pack and thought he was a good Alpha. It’s scary what the loss of a mate can do to someone.
I could never see Landon becoming such a disturbing man even if he does lose me. It’s horrifying to think that he ever could.
I hear a loud thud from outside the door, causing me to lift my head. Landon turns to look over his shoulder the same time the door is thrown open. I expect Castor to storm in. However, he doesn’t.
It’s Jenny. I let out a soft sob as she runs toward me, throwing her arms around me. “What did he do to you?” she whimpers, reaching over and snapping the cuffs off me. She sits me up, slowly helping me move my arms into their rightful position. My aching shoulders groan in protest, but I don’t care.
I scramble to my feet and run over to embrace Landon. He grabs onto me, sobbing into my shoulder as I cling to him. “I love you. I love you.” We both repeat over, and over again to each other.
“Sorry to break the reunion. But we need to go.” I lift my head up at the deep voice of Mason.
I let out a sigh of relief. “Blondie.”