(Malcolm pov)
That f*****g a*****e omega, he thinks he can have what is mine? I have wanted Eleanor Winters since I was thirteen years old.
Seeing her grow more and more f*****g beautiful each year. I had a feeling she was waiting to find her mate, but her confirming it a few days ago drove me absolutely insane.
I needed herâ¦I wanted her..and now she was mine. My dad didnât like the idea of me paying for her, he is too f*****g soft for this role. I put it off like I wanted to save her, that I actually cared for the girl..but in reality, I want her to beg on her knees, to take everything I have to give her and not say a f*****g word about it.
She will be mine for the rest of her life. That beautiful girl is finally mine to torture, abuse, and f**k until I have enough..which I honestly canât see that ever happening.
Especially after today and seeing her fight back..f**k did that turn me on. I would make her pay for that and in the most delicious way. I will let her have one more night with her so-called âfamilyâ and then she is mine for eternity. One more night my sweet Eleanor and then I will have you in my bed and I canât waitâ¦
(Eleanor pov)
After hiding out in the basement for a few minutes we had to finally resurface and get on with lunch and dinner service. Zack was on edge the whole time. What happened really affected him and he kept checking in with me every few minutes. To be honest, I expected that kind of behavior from Malcolm. I thought I had stayed out of his radar all this time but I guess I was wrong.
If we donât leave tonightâ¦I know what waits for me and it will be a living hell. Malcolm doesnât care about me, he just wants to dominate and claim me, not in the mating and marking type of way either. He wants me as his plaything and the mere idea is enough to make me confident that this plan has to work. We went through dinner service the same as usual and talked through our mind link most of the time. Going over the plan to a T as we had to make sure nothing was missed.
Freddy is on patrol at 1:30 am, he is going to have the warriors do a rogue search while we slip by at that time. That will give us enough time to slip out and make our way to the border. At the border there will be a car waiting for us, Helenâs friends Jeff and Penny. They will then take us to the other pack safely. First, we have to reject B***d Moon pack and break our bond. That way they canât come to the River Rock territory and take us back.
Helen decided I should shift in the basement before we leave, that way we will have enough time and any sound from the pain I go through will be muffled from the thick walls.
I still havenât sensed my wolf but I feel really anxious. Helen says it could be my wolf but I have no ideaâ¦Iâm just praying to the goddess it all goes well tonight.
After cleaning up the kitchen and putting away the leftovers we decided to go into the basement and pack everything up.
I wanted to keep my necklace, which Helen said she will put on me after I shift and that was pretty much it. Helenâs friend is bringing us spare clothes and we can just get everything else later on.
We all sat on our cots, waiting impatiently as the air grew thicker by the minute. Could everyone else feel this tension or was it just me? Every person I passed I couldnât look in the eye, fearing they might see our plan written on my face.
Looking at the clock, it was now 11:50 pm. I took a deep breath, my fingers intertwining as I bit my l*p anxiously. Just then Zack walked over, his arm wrapping around my shoulders as he pulled me into him.
âIt will all be okay. I am right here with you.â
He whispered into my link and I nodded my head, resting it against his shoulder as he held me tightly.
Looking around I watched as everyone laid on their cots, no one able to sleep as I studied each person. Helen and Albert laid in bed together, holding hands tightly as he lifted them and placed a soft k**s against her knuckles. The gesture warmed my heart and made me realize tomorrow they could be officially mated and marked. That alone would be worth all of this. The freedom for them to choose and be together however they like.
I dragged my gaze to the twins, the two were also sharing a cot. It looked as if they were talking through their link. Humor on their faces as they told each other secrets none of us would probably ever know.
I noticed Rachel was curled up, her small frame looked so frail and broken. She needed this more than anyone, I donât think she would last a few more years. Her malnourished body alone is such a barrier for her.
Then there was Lucy, she picked at her nails, looking down at her scarred hand as she seemed lost in thought. Something about her stance concerned me. Her eyes quickly darted up, glancing at me, and then looked away just as quickly, not able to meet my gaze. Maybe she was as nervous as the rest of us.
I was lost in thought when I didnât realize someone else must have snuck up on me and began to speak.
âHello.â
The female voice said, causing me to turn my head around to see who it was. Zack looked down at me, his eyebrow raised as he pulled back.
âYou okay Elle?â He asked with concern.
âI thought I heard something, thatâs all.â I spoke softly, thinking I must have been tired.
âYou did hear something, it was me.â
The voice said once more, making my eyes go wide as I suddenly felt herâ¦my wolf, she was here. She was here.
âYou came.â
I breathed into my mind, speaking to my wolf for the first time.
Zack sat up straighter, smiling brightly as he watched me.
âShe is here isnât she?â He asked excitedly as I nodded my head.
âI have always been here.â
She spoke matter of fact, her voice elegant and strong.
âWhat is your name?â
I linked curiously, feeling her strong presence more by the minute, wow was she strong.
âKari.â
She responded proudly and I could feel her sitting down, her head held high.
âKari..itâs nice to meet you.â
I said kindly and I felt her tail wag for a brief moment before she composed herself once again.
Helen walked over, kneeling in front of me and took my hand gently.
âWhatâs her name Elle?â She asked with tears in her eyes.
âHer name is Kari.â I said with a smile, my senses already growing stronger as I could hear and smell so much more now. I quickly looked over at Zack, trying to see if maybe our mating bond had snapped into place.
I studied him, smelling his cedar and orange scent. It was a little stronger but nothing I hadnât smelled before. He smiled half-heartedly, giving me my answer right there. He was not my fated mate..but honestly, that didnât matter. I still wanted Zack, I would be his chosen mate if he would have me.
âHe is a good man.â
Kari spoke again, almost startling me as I forgot she could hear all of my thoughts too. He is a good man..and I think that was Kariâs way of saying she would approve of our chosen mate.
âI still want this Zack, if you do too.â
I whispered to him through our link, causing his eyes to shoot to mine. His hands reached forward and cupped my face, pulling me into him and kissed me deeply. Zackâs gesture took me back as I closed my eyes, relishing his sweet touch as Helen cleared her throat and the twins laughed. I felt my stomach flip as his touch felt so much more now. My senses heightened and his lips tingled against my own. I knew it wasnât as intense as the fated mate bond could be, but this was more than enough for me. This was exactly what I wanted..he was what I wanted.
âYou will have plenty of time for that later.â Helen chastised, tisking as she slowly stood. Zack and I pulled away, my cheeks growing red as I nodded my head.
âWe better start the shift, it could take a while.â Helen added gently and glanced to Albert who now stood and walked over towards us.
âElle, this is going to hurt like hell, I wonât lie.â Albert said, placing his hand on Helenâs shoulder as I took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
âWe are strong.â
Kari said, her words giving me courage as I stood up quickly, taking Zackâs hand as he held it tightly. The feel of him warming me gently as I walked to the clearing in our room. We pushed all the beds back towards the wall so there was enough room.
Lucy just sat back, not even moving from the bed as she looked down at her hands. Something was going on with her.
âItâs better if you get down on all fours, that way you are already in position.â Albert added, smiling softly as I let out a deep shuddering breath.
âOkay, should â¦.I mean..do I take off my clothes?â I asked nervously, feeling embarrassed all of a sudden.
Helen laughed, placing her hand on my shoulder.
âMaybe just the pants, jeans are pretty restricting.â She nodded, looking towards Zack.
He quickly cleared his throat and let go of my hand.
âI will be right over here if you need me okay Elle?â He asked and I smiled nervously at him.
After he walked away with Albert right behind him, I quickly took off my pants and tried pumping myself up. Okay, we can do this, we got this.
âOkay, what next?â I asked Helen, looking at her confidently as I bent down, crouching on all fours.
âNow you go into your mind and hand all control to Kari, she will know what to do. Just relax, and it will be over before you know it.â Helen said with a hint of worry. Rachel and the twins walked up and stood next to Helen.
âMake sure you take deep steadying breath,s Elle.â Danielle said softly and I nodded my thanks to her as I closed my eyes.
I took a deep breath, going into my mind as I felt Kari there with me.