Page 4

Scarlett

M y eyes blaze as I push him away with strength that I did not even know I still possessed. A menacing growl tears from my lips, not just any growl, but one of an enraged alpha.

He stumbles backwards. He had been so focused, so fucking distracted with what he was intending to do that I catch him by surprise.

My eyes burn with fury, and a deadly aura surrounds me.

I leap forward and scratch him across his face, the smell of blood satisfying me as he snarls and backs off. I breathe hard as I look at him. I’m not at my best. I can’t even get my claws out, but there is no way I will ever let anyone take advantage of me. The Goddess has made me a goddamn alpha, and I will not fall.

I can’t shift, and these nails will have to do, but I’m all good with the slow end that is inevitably coming his way. He deserves every ounce of pain I will inflict on him.

“Fucking bitch!” he snarls, lunging at me, rage blazing in his eyes, his face contorted. I stand my ground, ignoring the pain of my heat as it shoots through me just as he hits me across the face.

I stumble backwards, but I barely feel it. Nothing is more palpable than the fury that is burning like an endless inferno within me.

“I gave you a chance. I told myself maybe you were fucking drunk that night,” I sneer as I walk towards him.

“And? Who cares if I wasn’t? Who do you fucking think you are?!”

“I care!” I shriek, my voice trembling. I rush forward, closing the gap between us and grab his erect manhood, digging my nails into it as he howls in pain, grabbing my wrist.

The smell of blood and fear are mixed in the already strongly filled air.

“You don’t fucking deserve to live,” I snarl menacingly as I let go, disgusted, as he falls to his knees, clutching his bleeding bits.

I glare down at him with pure hatred. There’s no way a rapist deserves any mercy. And that is what he is. It makes me feel good, knowing he won’t heal, not with my ability. If the Goddess has given me anything good in life, it is this gift.

“And what? You think you can end me?” He gets to his feet, extracting his claws as another jarring shot of agony rushes through me. He sniffs the air. “See, you want me.”

I look at him with loathing. Is he that delusional that he’s twisting the fact I’m in heat into some demented notion that I want him?

“I don’t think I can end you, I know I can. And no one will hear you out here, right?” I say quietly, feeling sick to my stomach at what he tried to do.

“Scarlett, don’t you dare! Do you think you, a fucking charity case of this pack, can get away with this?! Hurting me, a Delta?” His eyes flash as he lunges at me, but I ram my shoulder into him, dragging my nails down his chest with all the strength I can muster.

“And do you really think they will let you get away with this?” I whisper, another shooting spasm rushing through me. “If somehow we both make it out alive? Do you think they’ll believe you are innocent?”

“There’s not even a mark on you, and when they come, I’ll tell them you were in heat and needed someone to fuck you. And these? I’ll say you got carried away. Trust me, they’ll believe me when they realise you were spreading your legs for your brother too.”

“Hey!” I snarl.

“I have proof, and I think soon they’ll be right here.” Smirking, he glances at the opening as if listening for something, and that’s when I hear the faint howls in the distance.

“There is no fucking proof. They’ll realise what is happening here!” I hiss.

“What? Do you think I haven’t noticed how quickly you heal? You, on the other hand, have no proof. I’ll say it was consensual!” he spits as he grabs me by the hair, dragging me onto the ground. I hit the ground violently, feeling pain rush through me.

“Grandma Amy is witness to it,” I mutter, tasting blood in my mouth.

Why is it that every sick guy who learns of my quick healing wants to use it against me? As if it means they can get away with everything?

I have had enough. I scream in frustration as I roll onto my back and try to get up, only for him to straddle me and try to pin my arms to the ground.

It is now or never. I have no other option but to end this myself. Those howls are far too far away. They won’t get here even if I scream for help. I am going to black out at any moment as well.

“That old bitch can’t say much. She wasn’t there when I took you,” he spits, hitting me across the head, and that’s when I make my move, one that even he isn’t expecting.

“I don’t need proof, because I’m going to deliver your punishment for attempted rape myself!” I snarl. And the moment those words leave my lips, I grab his dick and balls in my hand and with every inch of strength I can muster, I rip them right off, gagging at the sickening sight before me.

Hank’s agonising screams fill the cave, echoing off the walls. I drop the piece of meat to the ground, my stomach churning. I back away, knowing he will bleed to death. I turn to leave, unable to remove the image of what I just did from my mind, and leaning forward, I bring up everything I have in my stomach.

I drop to my knees, my stomach heaving as I wretch, puking out the contents of my stomach until there is nothing left. I wipe my mouth with the corner of my battered shirt. My entire body is trembling violently.

I stumble to my feet only to fall to my knees again, the sound of howling now drawing closer.

You’re too late.

Pain and sadness fill me. If I hadn’t been strong enough, they would have arrived too late and he would have finished raping me by now. I would have been raped. I am the only one who can protect me.

I crawl weakly to the edge of the cave. Each move excruciatingly agonising. My burning body is killing me, and just when I am about to step out, I see the shimmering golden-brown of Elijah’s wolf fill the entrance. His eyes roam over me as if searching for any signs of injuries.

Some injuries are to the soul…

He shifts back, his heart racing.

“Baby, I’m here,” he whispers, falling to his knees in front of me. I move back, causing a flash of hurt to fill his eyes. He reaches forward slowly as if worried I’ll react if he makes a sudden move. I can see the hurt in his eyes, but it’s too late.

He gently cups my face with shaking hands.

“Red…”

I look at him feeling numb. I can see the fear, devastation, and worry in his eyes, but it does nothing for the hollow feeling within me. As much as I love him, he chose her over me. I crawl backwards away from his touch, not missing how his eyes are flickering between the two shades of blue.

I scoff internally. All men are the same. All he wants is my body, but when push came to shove, he still chose Fiona.

My heart shatters a little more. I wonder if I will always be alone.

Elijah

The smell of blood had fucking terrified me as I rushed ahead of everyone to reach her. Dad didn’t want me to come because she was in heat, and if I hadn’t been so fucking worried, I would have reminded him he loved to call us siblings.

“What did he do?” I ask softly. I’m fucking terrified. My heart is in my throat, the state she’s in… and it’s not her heat that has her acting like that. The intoxicating smell of her arousal is driving me nuts, but the worry I feel for her keeps me in control. “Talk to me, baby girl.”

She remains silent, and that’s when I look behind her, at the convulsing body of Hank, his hands clutching his crotch, realising he is taking his last breaths.

Whatever she did, he won’t survive it. I’m about to turn back to her when I spot something on the ground. My eyes widen when I realise it’s his… dick.

Fuck, she castrated him. My stomach churns. He sure must have deserved it. I look at Scarlett as she gets to her feet. She wouldn’t have done that without reason, and just the possibilities of what could have happened, with her in heat and… Her eyes are glassy and empty and there’s blood splattered on her.

“Did he…?” I start to ask as I stand up, fear filling me as I choke up, unable to ask if he had sexually assaulted her. She looks at me, an empty smirk finding its way onto her face.

“Who cares? You were too busy protecting someone else tonight. At least I know where your priorities lie, Alpha,” she whispers.

The pain and hurt in her voice doesn’t match the empty look in her eyes, but those words hurt so fucking badly. I feel suffocated, my heart breaking with guilt and regret.

I failed her. Fuck, I failed her.

“No… baby, no listen to me, it’s not like that, you are my…” I stop when she raises her trembling hand.

“I beg you, Alpha, you can question me when I’m better,” she whispers harshly as several other wolves appear behind me. All are mated wolves, and a few are females. Uncle Nick shifts into human form, concern clear in his eyes. He has some pants from somewhere and pulls them on.

“Scarlett, honey.” He steps inside and she stumbles towards him. “Goddess, what happened, dear?” Uncle Nick asks as she looks up at him, as if debating whether to speak.

“Will you take me home, Uncle?” she whispers weakly. She’s clearly not strong enough to continue on her own, not in heat when many wolves are trying to control themselves. He nods, giving her a gentle smile. But I know him, he’s worried. His eyes scan the cavern, but not for one second does his concern for her falter.

“Of course, I’m here,” Uncle Nick says softly. Bending down, he scoops her up in his arms, glancing around once more before he turns.

I’ve informed the Alpha, let’s return. For now, this will stay between us until the Alpha deems fit, he says clearly to us all before he begins running down the steep path.

I stand there unable to move. I don’t know what happened here, and that is fucking terrifying. But one thing is clear; Scarlett is shutting me out, and this time I don’t know how deep the damage is.

“Alpha, orders?” Aaron asks, now shifting to human form. Hey, you ok? You look… not so good.

I gaze up at the moon. “Throw his body in the cells. No one is to go near him. I want an examination carried out on him and his fucking dick. If even an inch of Scarlett is on him, I swear…” I mutter hoarsely, my voice cracking.

Aaron places a hand on my back, concerned, and I don’t really care what anyone thinks. I’m unable to act like I’m ok.

“Understood. I’ll make sure it’s examined ASAP and I’ll oversee it myself,” Aaron replies before he begins barking orders to the others. I look at the marks that cover Hank’s body. It is clear Scarlett had fought despite being in heat. My brave warrior.

Once again, she had to protect herself. Even though I promised to always be there for her, I wasn’t.

Even now… she is in pain, but she doesn’t want me. That very rejection causes a gut-wrenching pain to tear through my body. Losing control, I let out a growl of pure agony and rage as I shift, making all my pack members flinch as I leap out of the cave and into the forest.