Chapter 59: Chapter 31

DAMON

Natalie can’t stop trembling. I scoop her up and she holds onto me and buries her face in the crook of my neck. She sniffs my skin and I know my scent helps her calm the slightest little bit. I rub her back and hold her tighter.

“Spencer, you and Freya grab all those books and bring them outside of the dungeon. Be quick, this building is getting destroyed as soon as you’re finished,” I command. Spencer gives Freya his shirt and the two get to work.

Finn and Geoff have a tight grip on Owen. I almost want him to run so I can catch him and tear into him…actually. “Geoff, go help them.”

I switch to mind-link. ~“Finn, once we get outside and Natalie is with her mother, let him slip away. I’m going to chase him down. He tormented my mate. I’m going to return the favor. You’re welcome to join in the chase.”~

He snorts a laugh but turns it into a cough. ~“What about the rest of these guys? They need their links back.”~

~“I’ll handle that after they get the books.”~

The morning sun shines on the last few stairs and Realta is pacing outside. I give her a nod. “Realta.”

Natalie lifts her head. Realta’s palm lights up red and she swipes it across Natalie’s forehead. Natalie minutely relaxes and lets out a breath of relief.

Realta swipes her hand across my forehead and I feel her bright link. ~“Now you can contact me should something else happen to my daughter.”~ I set Natalie to her feet and she falls into Realta’s arms.

~“Realta. Don’t kill him, but you’re welcome to cause him any pain you see fit.”~

She looks to me in question. Owen hasn’t stopped squirming since being brought out of the dungeon. Someone shoved his underwear in his mouth and his yelling is muffled by the cloth.

I give Finn a nod and Owen rushes away. I take the time to pull off the boxers then Finn and I make chase. Realta throws her hand toward Owen and his fur catches fire. He slows down to roll in the dirt. Branches wrap around his throat.

~“Realta, you’re taking away all of our fun. You can waterboard him after I rip his nuts off.”~

~“You better rip them off, but leave the shaft for me to play with.”~ I laugh through our link and Owen gets to his feet. He takes off trying for another direction and Finn and I give him a head start. Once he’s about one hundred meters out, Finn and I take off in a dead sprint.

Owen realizes he’s being chased and tries to speed up, but he’s no match for us and I take him down with a swipe of his legs. He rolls in the debris and lands with his stomach exposed.

I keep my promise and swipe my claws through his sack. He howls in pain and Finn takes off one of his ears. I crush his hind leg and Finn swipes his chest.

I tear into the flesh of his hip and shake my head, ripping the skin and sinew. Finn pulls a chunk from his shoulder. I piss on Owen’s face just to let him know how little he means to me.

~“Finn. I promised Realta she could have some fun. Let’s put the bottom floor of our jail to use.”~ I shift and stand over Owen. “SHIFT!” My command is obeyed with a whimper since his body is torn up. “I’m not going to kill you…”

“That’s because you’re weak, you backstabbing motherfucker!” he yells, but I can smell his fear, the cocky bastard.

I laugh and cross my arms over my chest. “As I was saying. I’m not going to kill you yet. I want to see how long it takes before you beg for us to kill you. The Starlight Sister has plans for your pathetic little wee-wee.”

Finn’s wolf barks a laugh and Owen looks like he’s about to piss himself.

“Finn, would you mind dragging him back? Be careful of any vital organs.”

Finn snaps into Owen’s broken leg, causing him to cry out, and drags him toward the territory. I watch in satisfaction as Finn has to get a better grip and tears higher into his thigh.

I get back to my mate and she and Realta are having a silent conversation. Realta swipes a tear from her face. Natalie sees me and rushes into my arms. I pick her up and look at all the books lying on the ground beside Freya, Geoff, and Spencer. “Realta, would you care to do the honors?”

“With pleasure.” Realta sets the building on fire and tears slowly trickle down her cheeks.

I reach out and take her hand. “Realta, for all you have suffered, I am truly sorry. I hope you find happiness to overcome it.”

She gives me a nod and squeezes my hand in gratitude. Her eyes never leave the sight of the burning building.

“I’m going to leave you to this. My pack needs their links returned. You’re welcome to join us later. Finn is taking him to a cell.” I kiss her cheek then hold my mate tight to me. I kiss her forehead and we all head back to my house.

I hand over clothes to the guys then cut my palm. They each lick their thumb and swipe it over the cut. My palm heals and they each breathe a sigh of relief. “I’m going to take a shower.” Natalie kisses my cheek and heads off to her room.

“Damon, I’m going to go to the Redd pack to get my family link back. Natalie is welcome to join us,” Freya informs me.

“Thank you. That will give me a chance to torture that son of a bitch without her here.”

“He bit her. She had a mark on her breast and on her…” She looks to Geoff and Spencer. “Lady parts. I don’t know if he penetrated her, but he was out and right there when I knocked him off of her.”

I close my eyes to get control of my anger and sorrow for my innocent mate. I let out a deep breath. “Thank you, Freya. Please inform Alpha Redd that Owen is here and he’s welcome to pay him a visit if he cares to. I’m glad you were here for her. I’m glad you’re in our pack.”

Geoff holds her hand. “I am too. Now let’s go get our bond back.” Freya’s cheeks slightly color but she looks to me. I give them a nod and they leave.

“How is she going to get the family link back?” Spencer asks me.

“I’ll show you in a minute. Spencer. You should’ve come straight to me last night when he told you his plan. My mate was possibly raped and my dad was almost killed.”

“I didn’t think he would go through with it. I mean he’s my friend, we grew up together.”

“I get that, but so did I. I told you that I didn’t take over the pack for power. I told you that I had a very good reason to challenge him. You knew that I didn’t want him anywhere near my mate! Natalie was put in danger because you let him.” I’m so pissed, but I take a few breaths to get control of myself and Spencer hangs his head.

“I’m sorry, Damon. I didn’t know that she’s your mate and I didn’t know Owen was capable of going through with his plan.”

Samuel and Marlena knock on the office door. I wave them in and hand over my knife to Samuel. Samuel follows my instructions and Marlena thanks me after their family link is reestablished.

“Your dad is still in the hospital, if Natalie is able to heal him.”

I shake my head. “He’ll have to heal on his own. She doesn’t have her power right now. Maybe I can ask Realta later.” I look to Spencer. “Do I need to punish you, or have you actually learned something?”

“I’ve learned. I don’t know what your plan is for Owen, and I don’t want to know. I trust your judgment, Alpha. Please tell Natalie how sorry I am.”

I feel Natalie outside of my office. “You can tell her yourself.” I look up at her sad turquoise eyes. I open my arms for her and she rushes into my embrace. “Feel better, love?”

She shakes her head. “I think it’s going to take a while.” She looks to Spencer. “What reason do you have to be sorry?”

“I knew that Owen had a plan to kidnap you. I didn’t think he would go through with it. I’m sorry that I didn’t warn you, Luna. Please forgive me.”

Natalie looks to me and I keep my face straight. She looks back to Spencer then nods.

“Spencer, you’re responsible for bringing every one of those books back to the pack house by yourself. I want you finished before dusk. Marlena, please let me know of any changes in my dad’s condition. Samuel.” I give them a nod and they leave.

I sit down in my chair and pull Natalie into my lap. “Am I making you uncomfortable?”

“No, you’re the only thing that makes me feel better.”

I tuck her wet hair behind her ear, the rest is pulled up into a messy bun. “You used my shampoo?” I like my scent on her, but I love the vanilla scent of her shampoo.

She just nods.

“Can you tell me what happened? I understand if it’s too hard.”

“He was talking on the phone when I woke up. It was to someone named Gray. He was talking about helping him after they get Dec’s pack. Then they were talking about the camp. Damon, I think they’re in danger. All those women and pups with no males and no training…”

“I’ll let Dec know. He sent me info on all of the alphas and their betas a while back. Gray is an alpha in South Carolina. I met him at the summit, I got the feeling he didn’t like me. He’s actually Owen’s uncle, his mom’s brother. What else did you hear?”

“He told me that my mother was raped repeatedly by his dad. She never told me.” I close my eyes for all that Realta suffered.

I hold Natalie’s cheek to have her look at me. “Did he succeed with you?”

Her jaw trembles and she looks down. Her head shakes telling me no he didn’t rape her, thank the Goddess. She plays with the string of my sweats then pulls it out and throws it into the garbage. “What’s that about?”

Tears fall over her cheeks. “He used his to tie my hands behind my back. He ripped my clothes off and tied my leg. He gagged me with my own panties…” She loses it and sobs into me. I hold her and give her as much comfort as I can.

“Shh, I’m here. You’re safe now. We don’t have to talk about it unless you’re ready.” She nods against my chest then begins to calm after a long while.

“Freya is going to the Redd pack later to get her family link back. She invited you to go with her.”

Natalie nods. “Will you come with?”

I shake my head. “I have something else to do… Unless you need me with you?”

Natalie runs her fingers through my beard. “I’ll be okay. I’ll have my mother come with me.”

“I was actually going to have her help me.”

Natalie looks at me in question.

“I have Owen in a cell.”

She gets an ‘Oh’ face then cuddles back into my chest.

“Relax, my Starlight. I’ll wake you when Freya gets here.”

Natalie nods then closes her eyes. I rock her gently and hold her tight to me. Pretty soon her breathing changes and her body relaxes.