04

It’s not only my mother, but a complete stranger. I’m not safe with anyone. If someone who’s supposed to love me unconditionally hates me, why did I think someone who knows nothing about me wouldn’t ?

I’m an unwanted waste of space…

« Come here, » he demanded, not giving me a choice by yanking my hair and touching my face with it. I fought him, pushing against his legs and turning my head to avoid him, though I had limited movement because of his tight grip.

« Your fighting only turns me on, » he spat, grabbing my jaw with his other hand and forcing my mouth open. I punched his thighs and used my legs trying to break free, yet I wasn’t strong enough. He inserted himself into my mouth and I cried, feeling him force my head further until I gagged. His unshaven hair itched my face and I dug my nails into him, using every bit of my strength to push away but I couldn’t.

I’m just too weak.

I’m filthy.

My arms dropped and I silently sobbed, feeling him start to pull back before ramming himself back in and making me gag again. This made him go faster, hurting the roof of my mouth with his rough thrusts and I couldn’t breathe. He never slowed or stopped for several minutes.

« Oh god, » he moaned, quickening his pace before finally coming to a halt. A warm liquid hit my throat and I choked, a foreign heat lit inside me and strength suddenly went charging through me.

I bit down on him.

He hollered, ripping back and punching me into the wooden cabinets. His hands held himself and more heat coursed through me, giving me the strength and courage to shakily stand. He was too distracted with his bleeding member to look at me so I turned to the open window and escaped.

« Jade ! The whore bit me ! She fucking bit me ! Ah—god ! » I heard him scream followed by the door slamming.

« That’s it ! I’ll fucking make her wish she was dead ! » She replied, sending the previous heat in me back to dormancy and replaced it with terror. My common sense kicked in and I turned, bolting into the woods for the second time.

My ankle disagreed with my choice but I didn’t dare stop, knowing whatever pain my ankle is giving me is far better than what she has planned next.

I ran for another five minutes, too afraid to stop knowing she’ll catch me. My aching legs dragged me toward the sound of rushing water and I was panting for air, slowing to a halt when I approached a mid-sized waterfall with visible rocks below. A frown took over my features and I swallowed harshly, taking a step back in fear.

I can’t turn back and I can’t go forward. I’m cornered.

« Angelica ! Get back here right fucking now ! » Jade’s voice echoed in the early morning air and I lifted my gaze to the sunrise through the trees, it hardly lit the sky but it was beautiful.

Birds started chirping all around and a small breeze rolled through, planting a tiny smile on my lips at the sight and feel of being free.

After ten years, I finally taste freedom.

Closing my eyes, I inhaled the fresh scent of nature and let my tears dry out. The beautiful sounds around me melted away all fear and anxiety I was feeling, from the rush of the waterfall to the chirping and flapping of the birds.

I wish I were a bird…

So I jumped.

Axel Moretti’s POV

I crossed out the page and slammed the pen down, lifting my bored gaze to the moron sitting across from me. He eyed the paper and swallowed, his jaw tightening in annoyance upon seeing my rejection.

« I’m a bit offended you thought I was idiotic enough to sign this, Alpha Terri, » I shot him a flat look, leaning back in the chair and rubbing my chin. He looked down in shame and I narrowed my eyes at him, « what ? You have nothing to say ? I might be young, but did you really think I’d give up the most valuable piece of my land in exchange for five new warriors ? Trainees to be exact ? »

« I’ll give you seve—«  he started, shutting his mouth when I put up my hand.

« Enough, » I growled, turning my attention to the window to admire one of the many beautiful sunrises the spring brings. It calms me drastically when morons like this come in here mocking my intelligence.

« Alpha Moretti—«  he was cut off again when the door opened and my Beta rushed in covered in water, but there was something different about his scent that made my wolf unsettled.

« I don’t mean to interrupt, Alpha, but this is an emergency ! I need to talk to you, like, now ! » He breathed. Terri sensed the urgency and surprisingly caught the hint, standing up and giving me a nod before leaving the room. I rolled my eyes and ran a hand down my face.

« What now ? » I sighed, watching him drip water all over my wooden flooring as he opened his mouth with hand movements, however, no words seemed to make it over his tongue.

« Don’t get mad but… » he managed to spit out, inhaling deeply, « I found your mate last night so I followed her into a store with Liam and I think we scared her but I didn’t say anything because I thought my wolf made a mistake until just now I happened to be on a run and seen her fall down the waterfall so I ran to her before she hurt herself and now she’s unconscious in my room because I don’t know what else to do with her, » he replied all in one sentence, panting afterward with a nervous smile.

My body stiffened and my wolf snarled, clawing his way to control but I kept him back, « my mate ? » I glared, disbelieving his ramble. I was supposed to find her years ago but I didn’t, even after traveling pack to pack lining up every mateless female I was unsuccessful. How could he mistakenly find her ? Is she rogue ?

« Show me, » I got off my chair and followed him out of my office, making our way down the hall and up a flight of stairs. We reached his room and he opened the door, except my wolf was furious to find her curled up on the floor.

I growled threateningly and he widened his eyes, « I-I didn’t want her in my bed because she’s wet, besides, you would’ve killed me for rubbing my scent on her ! »

« Just leave, » I snarled, sending him running down the hall with a few stumbles as he tripped over himself. I then took a deep breath and entered the room, closing the door behind me and frowning at the foreign scent emitting from her.

She’s… human ?

‘It’s mate ! We have her ! She’s here ! She’s really here ! We have to take her home,’ Dax purred, wagging his tail and prancing all around my mind like an excited puppy.

Ignoring him, I quietly made my way over to her sleeping figure and knelt down, softly peeling the wet hair off her cheek and clenching my jaw at the sight of her scathed face. She was as pale as a vampire and her face was covered in small, dark cuts. There was also a bruise covering her right cheek.

My wolf started growling and I blocked him out before I lost control. I don’t know anything about her kind aside from the fact they’re fragile beings. If she fell in the water, the rocks definitely busted her up. The river is dangerous for even us and we’re much stronger. If Blaine didn’t get to her when he did, I’m sure she would’ve died, and the thought alone put both me and my wolf in a frenzy.