Lana
March 20, 2014
Today is the day Castor dies.
Today is the day Landon executes him.
Landon is going to shift into his powerful white wolf, and in one lethal blow, he is going to tear Castor’s throat out.
It’s a painful, gruesome death. It is worthy of Castor, however.
I stand at the bottom of the staircase, watching as Jesse, Jenny, Mason, Trent, Sarah, Natalie and Landon all converse and eat the breakfast placed before them.
Trent’s eyes are sad, his body tense, yet he watches Natalie with such a protective expression. He’s never going to rest easy, not after what he has seen and what has been done to him. Natalie is so young and innocent; he will fight to keep her away from such cruelty.
Jesse is putting on a good facade. She told Mason all that was done to her were whippings. But she needs to tell him the truth. He needs to look the bastard in the eyes and tell him that he did not win; that he did not take his mate from him.
Landon is still tormented from what he saw. He cries in his sleep; thrashes around. He even wakes up, screaming, coated in sweat. His back is healed; however, it is marred. If one runs their fingers over it, they will find it like the bark of a tree, just not as rough.
I am still haunted by the faceless child that was taken from my womb. I was powerless to stop it. I just sat there as he drove the knife into my stomach and butchered my baby.
Last night, I had the pleasantries of experiencing morning sickness. That bastard got me pregnant, and it only made me sicker.
Anger consumes me as I stare at my family, broken and scattered.
I storm into the kitchen, grabbing vial I had set aside for this moment and place it in the pocket of my jeans. I also grab a large steak knife, slipping it under the back of my jeans and covering the hilt with my shirt.
I walk through the dining room, causing everyone to look at me as I run out of the house. I sprint across the backyard, heading straight to the prison adjacent to the house. I pull open the steel door and run down the steps, past the two guards and right into Castor’s holding cell. He’s chained up by the hands, just as he tied us up.
I deliver a punch to Castor’s face, causing him to laugh. “You think this is funny?” I scream, punching him a few more times. Castor spits out blood, glaring up at me.
“I think it’s pathetic.” I let out a scream as I punch and kick and slap. I let all my pent-up anger escape.
“You sought out to destroy us! You planned to scar us. To impregnate Jesse and me! But I refuse to have your child!” I pull out the vial and take a step back from Castor, smiling. “Watch as I kill it.”
Before I could stop myself or think twice, I place the vial to my lips and gulp down the putrid liquid. Perhaps I’m not smart enough to have the baby aborted, instead; but I had to have him watch.
“You want to be with your child? Well, let me take you to him!” I unsheathe the knife from my jeans only to drive it up, right in between his ribs, so it punctures his lung. I stare into his eyes as he coughs up blood, drawing out the knife.
“Lana!” I hear Landon yell from behind me. Took them long enough to get here. I turn to face Mason.
“Punch him,” I say. Mason holds a confused expression as he looks at Landon and then Jesse. “I said punch him!” I scream. Mason doesn’t refuse, walking up to punch Castor in the gut. “Punch him like you want to kill him.”
Mason looks over his shoulder at me, letting out a sigh. I’m doing you a favor, Blondie.
Mason delivers blow after blow until Castor passes out.
I let out a contented sigh, slumping against Landon as the poison finally gets to me. “What the hell did you do?” Landon yells, running his hands over my body to find the source of the pain. When he reaches my stomach, he gingerly touches where the small baby resides, and I moan in pain.
“I will not have his baby,” I declare. Landon’s eyebrows furrow as he scoops me up in his arms, walking us out of prison and to the infirmary.
Landon places me on one of the cots as a pack doctor comes to check on the womb. Landon sits next to me, holding my hand as tear rolls down his cheek.
“Landon…” He kisses my hand, offering me a sad smile.
“It’ll be over today. Once he is dead, it will all be over.” I reach up and place a hand on his cheek.
“It won’t. You will still have the dreams, Trent will still be cold, and Jesse will still be living a lie, and I will never stop blaming myself for our child’s death.” I cry, surprised there are even tears left to shed.
Landon’s body shakes with a sob as he leans forward and rests his head on my chest. I slide my fingers into his hair, holding him close as we cry.
One would think that all this crying was unmanly. But with Landon, I expect nothing else. Landon is the definition of a man. He’s toned and sexy and protective. But even a man has a breaking point—and his was losing his child and watching his mate get raped.
No man should have to endure what he went through. I would be concerned if he wasn’t crying as much as he is. He’s broken, just as I am. And as he tries to put me back together, as he claimed, I will be doing the same exact thing. I am the only one who can.
The doctor announced the child dead. After ensuring there is no damage that my wolf won’t be able to heal, he sends me back home.
Even though this child was made from an evil man during a very cruel situation, it was still a part of me. And it’s hard not to mourn the loss of it. But there is no way I could have even carried that child in my belly for another day. The mere thought of it is a betrayal to my own miscarried baby.
“What the hell was that?” Jesse snaps as soon as we exit the infirmary. She is by herself, waiting for us.
“He needed to do that. He would live in regret if he hadn’t.”
“No. He will never know!” Jesse says.
“He has to know, Jess. You have to tell him.” Landon holds tight onto my hand as we continue to walk back to the house. “You have to,” I tell her.
“He’ll hate me,” Jesse whimpers. I stop walking and turn to face her, my eyebrows creasing together into a frown. I pull her into a hug. “He’ll despise me.” I shake my head, giving her a tight squeeze.
“No. That’s not possible.” I step back, putting my hands on her shoulders. “He could never hate you.”
***
Jesse didn’t tell him. I was a little frustrated, but I didn’t know nor understand the situation she was in. Landon was forced to watch. Even if I didn’t want him to know, he did.
But if he hadn’t… Would I have kept it a secret?
I look at Landon and see the pain that consumes him. I see sorrow and defeat. Would he be better off not knowing?
Not telling him would only cause a rift to come up between us. And right now, Landon is the only thing that is keeping me together.
Landon holds me close as we lay in bed, listening as the pack prepares for Castor’s execution. I lift my hand ups and trace the contours of Landon’s clothed chest. He hardly ever sleeps without a shirt now, afraid if he leaves his shirt exposed while he’s vulnerable, he will be whipped again.
“Your touch brings me so much peace,” Landon whispers. I look up to see his eyes shut, looking, in fact, peaceful. I smile softly, closing my eyes as well. Landon draws lazy circles on my back.
As I lay beside him, I think back to Landon’s dream of Mae. Our beautiful golden-haired daughter. Will we ever have that? Will we ever be able to be intimate again, enough to conceive a child?
“We will try,” Landon says. I prop up on an elbow, looking down at him. “Probably not for a while, but we will try.” Landon reaches his hand up, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear, offering me a small smile. “Only when you’re ready.”
I nod, leaning forward to give me a short and sweet kiss. Landon lets out a soft moan, giving my waist a gentle squeeze. I roll out of bed and out of his arms, reaching a hand out for him. “Come, let’s kill this son of a bitch.” Landon arches an eyebrow at my language but complies.
We walk down the stairs and out to the backyard where the pack has set up a small stage with a large pole in the middle. I feel my stomach drop. In just a few moments, Castor will be kneeling up there, with his throat being torn open. I wondered if Landon should be the one doing it? I understand he’s seeking out revenge, but will this put his nightmares to rest or just rouse more?
Jenny steps beside me, looking over at me with a fire in her eyes. “I’ve been waiting for this night. He deserves what he has coming.” I was glad Jenny wasn’t held captive and tortured. We need one strong woman here. However, it saddens me to know she will be leaving us soon.
“Where is Tyler?” Landon asks.
“At his home. I told him I just wanted to be with my friends tonight,” Jenny says. I smile, nodding my head in gratitude.
Jesse and Mason come to join us, and I look around for my brother. “Where’s Trent?” I ask.
“Keeping Natalie away,” Mason answers, looking at me warily. He probably thinks I’m psychotic. That I need some sort of professional help.
But you will be coming to thank me one day, Blondie. You will rest easier, knowing you threw in a few punches to the man who raped your mate.
I wrap my arms around Landon, giving him a squeeze as he kisses the top of my head. He then steps out of my arms and walks toward the stage, the same moment the prison doors open, and Castor is brought out.
I am surprised to see all the members of our pack gathering to watch. Even members of the Rose pack have come.
Castor is tied to the pole, his back facing us. Landon stands to the side, glaring down at him. He then shifts into his wolf and bares his teeth. Saliva drips from his canines as he salivates at the thought of killing Castor.
Landon saunters forward, stalking his prey. The hair on his back is standing up, bristling with anger. I watch his claws dig into the wood of the platform they are on. Landon gives his shoulders a small wiggle before he pounces.
He leaps forward with such grace, his mouth closing around Castor’s neck. Just as quickly as he jumped forward, Landon springs back, a large chunk of throat within his grasp.
Blood pours from Castor’s neck and the sputtering sound he makes echoes through our large territory.
Once he grows silent, I am met with overwhelming peace. Landon instantly shifts back, accepting pants from a Gamma before he walks towards me. I brush the blood from his lips before I meet him in a passionate kiss.
The packs cheer; at the death of Castor or at us, I don’t know. I’m betting it’s on Castor’s death. But I ignore them, grabbing onto Landon’s curly hair and tug tightly, kissing him with urgency.
“You did as you promised.” I pant, resting my forehead against his. “You promised to save all the women from Castor’s cruelty. To avenge me.” I pull back to place my hands on either side of Landon’s face, rubbing my thumbs along his cheek bones. “It is done.”