Chapter 31

Octavia:

December second.

Pulsing. The pulsing of my blood. That's all I could feel and hear as it made its way to my brain. My head hurt immensely and I couldn't handle the aching. What's going on? My body felt heavy and my mind was foggy as I try to recall what had happened. I move my hand cautiously with all the energy I could muster. The cool snow melted slightly underneath my fingertips. The realization that I was suddenly outside and on the ground caused a shiver to run down my spine.

"Tell me, you fool, what do you think his reaction will be when he sees his bloodied and bruised mate?" The cool voice of Jalex travelled through the fresh cold winter air. I focus my energy and force my eyes open to watch the scene unfold.

They're obviously talking about me.

"Neither of us know how he's going to react. He could break down crying and beg for his life." Ted's gruff voice seemed annoyed and almost impatient.

"Ajax is known to be ruthless, even more ruthless than I am."

"Yes, but he hasn't shown that kind of behavior since he took her as his mate. She probably made him soft." Ted scoffs. He clearly didn't fear Ajax one bit. He truly is a fool.

"We'll just have to wait and see," My blurry vision finally focuses on Jalex. He stood before Ted wearing a black T-shirt and shorts, ready to shed his clothes and dawn the fur of his wolf. "Once we get there you can explain to him why you decided to whip his mate with silver chains. That'll be your punishment."

Jalex walks away and into the crowd of soldiers ready to give up their lives for his cause. Ted rolls his eyes and reluctantly makes his way over in my direction. I keep still and close my heavy eyes not wanting to engage in any type of communication with him. I don't even want to see his stupid face.

I stay completely silent and still as he slips a cloth bag over my head and lifts me bridal style. Great, just fucking fantastic. There was a lot of shuffling before everything became quiet.

"I just want to take a moment to do a head count before we invade their lands and slaughter the Alpha family." Jalex says in a joking tone. I could feel the anger build in the pit of my stomach.

Nothing about this situation is funny. He's over here making jokes while back home Ajax is doing everything in his power to keep his family and pack safe.

I'm not sure how much time passed before we started to move, but I could feel the snow flakes gather on my exposed hands. I was still wearing that winter jacket to cover up my scent thankfully or I'm sure I would've have looked like a popsicle by now.

Everything was silent as they marched towards my friends, family and mate. The only thing that could be heard was the crunching of their boots against the snow and the howling winds that blew against us, willing for us to go back.

My headache never dulled and my brain felt as though it was ready to explode against my skull. My face felt swollen and it hurt to even make the slightest facial expression. It wont heal anytime soon due to the fact I have a slight amount silver in my blood stream and silver chains clasped onto my wrist and feet. I wanted so badly to keep my eyes shut forever and give into the darkness that threatened to over come me and take away my pain, but I refuse.

"Where are the guards?" Jalex asks.

No one answers his question and a moment of silence ensues. No one moves, speaks, and I'm sure half of the warriors here held their breath for a moment.

"Wake up the girl." He seemed impatient and for a second my heart rate increases. This is it. We here. I'm home.

Ted places me on my own two feet as if he knew I was awake and would be able to stand on my own. The cloth bag is ripped off my head and for a moment the sun is too bright for my eyes as it reflects off of the pure white snow.

"Where is your mate?" Jalex asks taking a few advancing steps towards me. His eyes roam the length of my face, taking in all the damage Ted had caused.

"How the hell am I supposed to know? You had me kidnapped and abused."

He rolls his eyes before grabbing me roughly by the chin. I wince harshly and gasp as his finger digs into one of the scratches on my face. "Enough with the smart ass remarks. Sniff him out and tell me if he's close or not."

"He's going to kill you." I whisper out breathlessly.

"Do it." He releases me from his hold and takes a few steps back.

I take in a big whiff of the surrounding air, searching for the delicious scent of my mate. The afternoon sun shines brightly and I hope and pray they've had plenty of time to secure every non warrior away. There were many scents that were beginning to fade near the borderline, it was obvious that these people had left their posts a while ago.

I take a small step forward trying to get a better sense of which direction they went in but Ted pulls me back immediately. I flinch and rip myself away from him as quickly as possible.

"Dont fucking touch me you douche bag!" I yell rather loudly in hopes someone might hear me and send for help.

"Thats enough." Jalex growls lowly and pulls me away from Ted. "Forget it. Let's just fucking get this over with." He turns to face two groups of four men. "Circle the perimeter, kill anyone who sees you or tries to stop you."

"You don't have to do this." I plead. "It's not too late for you to call off your men and go home."

"Oh no, sweetheart. I do have to do this." He sends me a wicked smile and his men race off in opposite directions to circle the perimeter of the pack lands. The cloth bag makes its way back on to my head and someone grips my arm rather tightly and begins to drag me along with them.

I squeeze my eyes shut and drag my feet, trying to delay the inevitable as much as possible. My wrist begin to burn as, whom I'm assuming is, Ted begins to tug at my chains. I pray to the moon goddess, whom many believe to be a myth, for help. At this point I've become so desperate I'll ask anyone for help.

We stop and the cracking of bones erupts beside me and behind me. They're shifting and getting ready for battle. I tug on my chains to see if maybe Ted was dumb enough to let go and shift into his wolf. He tugs back and soon we are moving again. Of course he isn't dumb enough to let go. I still can't believe something like this is happening to me.

Low growls emerge from all around me, even in the distance I can hear them. We stop. I look around and try to squint through the small holes in the cloth bag but it's no use.

"Ajax Black, surrender yourself to me or she dies!" Jalex's voice booms and echoes in silent winter air. Ted tugs on my chains harshly causing me to fall forward. I catch myself with my hands just in time before my face met the ground. The cloth bag is ripped from my head once more allowing me to see. We are in beginning of the pack lands, in a small clearing.

I'm afraid to look up. To lock eyes with my mate, for him to see what they've done to me. Although I couldn't resist. I can feel his stormy ocean blue eyes begging for me to look up at him, and so I do.

Him and all of the pack warriors stand a few yards away from us ready to fight. My eyes lock with his and as he takes in my appearance those beautiful blue eyes immediately turn black as his body begins to shake with rage. Cipher and Sam quickly grab onto him, holding him back as he dares to take a threatening step forward.

Jalex releases an annoying chuckle as he reaches down and lifts me back to my feet. I hang my head shamefully, I feel so weak and useless. Tears threaten to spill past my eyes at the sight of my mate. He so close, but so far away. I search for his scent and I can finally smell it now. It makes my heart feel warm.

"I'm surprised you recognized her. Ted here gave her a little unauthorized makeover but its fine. Her face was much too pretty anyways. Isn't that right doll?" He grabs my chin once more and places a teasing kiss on my cheek, his eyes never leaving Ajax. I struggle and fight in his grasp, but his other arm wraps itself around my torso.

"All of you are going to die the same extremely miserable death." Ajax growls loudly ripping himself away from his sister and his beta. He takes a few steps forward, his eyes pitch black.

"Bring it on." Jalex smiles as his grips loosens on me, I stomp on his foot as I hard as I could before elbowing him right in the face catching him off guard. He stumbles backwards and trips over Cynthia who's constantly up his ass.

I quickly bend down and tug at the chains around my ankles. My hands begin to burn and sting but I only tear at them harder as I hear my name slip past the lips of my mate.

"Come on Octavia." He whispers lowly.

I glance up at him, his eyes become lighter as they fill with worry and my heart cant help but break in my chest. I need him. My wolf finally begins to fight the effects of the silver and the slim chain actually breaks in my hands. Oh my god. It worked?!

Ted's attention moves from Jalex to me at the sound of my silver chains snapping. His thick hands and arms reach out to me but I deflect them quickly and begin to run.

I run faster than I ever have before. The tears spill past my eyes as Ajax and Cipher begin to run to meet me in the middle. I can hear Ted's large feet pound against the snow covered grass behind me but I all I truly cared about was my mate. As my vision begins to blur from all the tears I can feel my chest tightening. Ted is so close, almost being able to grasp at my ponytail.

As soon as Ajax gets closer I reach out to him, our fingertips brush against each other and he latches onto my forearm pulling me into his warm muscular chest. I heave a heavy sob as I shove my cold battered face into him, breathing in his beautiful scent. His arms wrap around me and Cipher releases a vicious growl as she collides with Ted behind me.

Ajax takes several steps back, keeping me wrapped up in his arms. His lips pressing against the crown of my head. "I'm so sorry." I cry out trying to hold onto him as best as I could with these chains still wrapped around my wrists.

"Shh, it's not your fault ducky. I'm here now." He whispers into my hair. I knew this war was no where close to being done but I felt so relieved and safe here in his arms.

To my disappointment he pulls back slightly. He grabs onto the silver chains that clad my wrist and  barely winces as he tugs on them with all his strength, they break. I throw my arms around him once more and he pulls me back into him placing a sweet kiss on my lips.

A sickening snap and cracking sound resounds through the crisp cool air around us. I turn around suddenly remembering that Cipher was fighting Ted.

The rising and falling of her chest was rapid as she tried to regain her breath. Ted's limp body lay before her on the ground. Her back towards us, we all watch as she bends over to pick something up.

I nearly choke on my gasp as a wave of shock over comes my body. She turns to face us all, with the head of my abuser and captor in her hands. I'm sure if I had a weak stomach I would've vomited all over the place.

The smell of death and blood reaches my nostrils and I step back into the arms of my mate.

"Ted meant nothing to me, but you shall die anyway!" I could see his pearly white smile from here as Jalex waved forward the wolves whom had shifted early.

"Ajax-" I choke out as I turn to look at him. His beautiful face was contoured into a look of anger and rage. Anyone would be foolish to not fear him.

"Go to the med camp and have them remove the silver cuffs from your wrist so that you can start  healing." He barely even looked at me before waving his freshly shifted wolves forward, ready for battle. I simply nod my head.

There was no way I could fight along side my pack in this condition. I need to heal and I need to do it fast. I'm wrapped in my mates arms one last time as he breathes in my scent, it barely last a second before he was giving me a shove in the opposite direction to where they had set up a med camp for the injured.

When I arrived at the med camp everything was silent as I'm sure everyone was probably using their heightened hearing to listen to the fight. I stumble through the doors of the medical building, feeling dizzy and slightly nauseous. Oh goodness gracious. I trip over my feet and nearly land on my face before someone catches me.

"Luna! Are you alright?" A female voice asks in a very anxious manner. "I need some help over here!" She calls out.

"These cuffs... I-I need to get them off." I blink multiple times as the room starts to spin and black dots blur over my vision.

In the distance a few nurses and a doctor are rushing towards us with a hospital gurney.

"What's going on?" A male voice asks as I'm lifted up and placed on the gurney.

"She has multiple lacerations to the face and her wrists are cuffed with silver. Her temp is rising by the minute and she nearly fainted when she walked through the door." The girl who caught me spews out quickly as the push the gurney down the hall at a fast pace.

"Luna, you're safe now and we are going to take great care of you." The male doctor says while lifting my eyelids to shine a light in my eyes.

The girl was right, for every minute that passed I could feel my temperature rising. At this point my skin was slick with sweat and my lungs felt compressed, I knew in my head that oxygen was making its way to them but it didn't feel that way. More black dots began to coat my vision and I can feel myself slightly lose consciousness.

In a moment of fear I grab onto the hand of the girl who caught me. I'm tired of blacking out and falling unconscious I need to stay awake. I need to get better. I need to get back to my mate and fight along side him.

"I'm here Luna, we've got you."

I'm lifted again and placed on a hospital bed. A few more people come in and I can feel them working at the cuffs to try and remove them. Other members of the medical staff begin to tend to the wounds on my face and inserting an IV so that I could receive the proper fluids to rehydrate.

I watch a lot of medical dramas...

Time seems to pass by quickly and with every waking moment I feel worse and worse. My anxiety continues to peak every time I think of my mate and pack out there fighting for each other and for themselves. A dull aching sensation begins to take over my entire body and the medical equipment next to me begins to sound and beep loudly, causing the nurses around me to jump into action.

The male doctor comes into my line of vision, a weary smile and nervous look on his face.

"Luna, I hate to ask you something so personal... but have you completed the mating process?"

Holy shit. How could I forget? I couldn't really feel the effects of my heat because of the silver chains but now that they're gone...

"I-I'm in heat." I choke out my throat suddenly feeling very dry.

He nods his head before whispering something to the nurse beside him.

My eyes drift over to the window wishing and willing that I could be on the battle field. I hate being weak.

A loud painful howl pierces the air and a few low viscous growls follow.

A male nurse bursts through the door of my room panting heavily. "Doctor, patients are piling up and some are pretty severe. We need an extra pair of hands."

The doctor seems hesitant, but without a second thought I urge him to go and help others.

I stare at the ticking clock on the wall above my door. Thirty minutes. Thirty minutes have passed since I have been laying in this bed. The doctor, Jack, gave me a heavy pain killer laced with a herbal plant to make it effective on wolves and I've been feeling ten times better. My face is nearly one hundred percent healed and my temperature is slowly returning to normal. I have to get back out there.

I watch carefully as a few nurses filter in and out of my room. Every time the door opens I catch a glimpse of the chaos outside. Screams of pain and anguish travel up and down the hall. White lab coats coated in blood and torn clothes are constantly being tossed in to the laundry and trash bin.

The moment my room is empty I begin to rip off the wires that are attached to bags of fluid and medical machinery. Thankfully they did not make me change into one of those hospital gowns, so I'm still dressed in my regular clothes. I have five minutes before the next nurse walks through that door. The moment I'm disconnected one of the monitors begins to go haywire, making loud noises.

In a panic I unplug everything from the outlet in the wall and hobble over to the window. Once my feet make contact with the white blanket of snow I sprint towards the clearing where I had left everyone.

Blood stained whatever was left of the white blanket that coated the ground. Dying grass was exposed from where wolves fumbled and fought with each other. Lifeless bodies laid throughout the field being stepped on or over has the surrounding wolves fought for their lives. The smell of blood became so pungent I nearly choked on it, I could practically taste it on my tongue and in my throat.

Pushing back the tears that welled in my eyes I search for my mate. I spot Cipher first, her charcoal gray wolf tearing through the throat of an enemy and turning around just in time to fight off another one. Sam's large brown wolf took on at least three wolves at a time, taking a few hits here and there but pulling through in the end.

My chest felt tight as my heart clenched at the sight of one of our wolves falling to the ground, an enemy grasping at their throat with razor sharp teeth. Their life ended with one sharp snap. I heave a sigh as the tears push through and spill onto my hot cheeks. Anger fills my entire body and I can feel my wolf trying to break through. To avenge the death of all who have fallen in our name.

I grasp onto the nearest tree, a sob wracking it's way up my throat. I never wanted this, for this to be my life. I never wanted to cause anyone harm. I can't help but feel at fault. I collect myself and my emotions just as someone clears their throat behind me.

Turning quickly to face them, I nearly make myself dizzy. It's him. Blood, slowly drips from his hairline and the tip of his right ear. He seems out of breath and tired. A crooked smile graces his lips at the sight of me.

"Well... you're looking much better, aren't you doll?"

Anger consumes me once more and all I can see is red as I launch myself at him with my claws extended. My claws scratch their way down his cheek, drawing blood before my hand balls up into a fist. I punch him until my knuckles become raw and bloody feeling like a weight is lifted off my chest every time my fist connects to his face.

I lift my knee onto his chest as he punches me back a few times. I place all my weight on him, pushing down hard with my knee. My hands grasp onto his throat willing the oxygen to leave his lungs and never return.

I barely even think as I squeeze tighter and tighter. His hands shove and push at my chest as he struggles to breathe. Fear seeps into his electric blue eyes before a sinister smirk takes over his lips.

A brown blur flashes by taking me off guard before I'm knocked to the ground, the air ripped from my lungs. I gasp for a breath of air before turning onto my stomach and crawling away. Two wolves have arrived to aid their leader, whom is not me obviously. I scream bloody murder as someone latches onto my ankles and drags me back. I'm lifted up by the hair and a sharp pain aches through my chest as I am kicked in the ribs.

"Leave her to me." Jalex sighs as he collects himself and moves to stand in front of me. You could easily see the mark of my hands around his neck and new cuts and bruises were forming on his cheek. Stupid bastard, he deserves so much worse.

He wraps his long fingers around my upper arm and drags me along with him, the wolf and the man who aided him following closely behind me. Jalex maneuvered through the chaos of fighting wolves and blood spatter flying throughout the air. He manages to get to the center of the clearing unharmed. I search for my mate, sniffing out the air. The smell of blood is much too strong and I can't find him anywhere.

My heart rate increases ten fold as horrible thoughts begin to flood my brain. What if something horrible has happened to him? What if Jalex fought him and won? He might have captured him... or even worse...

Stop. Stop thinking like that. He's a ruthless and strong Alpha. He's fine.

Jalex releases a mighty howl causing nearly everyone to stop and look at him. I look at him in shock as all of his warriors begin to retreat back into the forest from the direction we originally came from. They run back home, turning away from battle with one simple command. Everyone seemed confused, including me.

A large majority of the CrescentBlood pack remained and gathered around our enemy, who still held onto my arm tightly. What is he doing? Why is he calling off his wolves?

My thought shift immediately as a pure black wolf descends from the crowd, coming to stand in the center facing us. My wolf stirs and begs for a release at the sight of her mate. His wolf form is beautiful and majestic. All my previous worries dissipate at the sight of his unharmed wolf form. His midnight black fur was matted with the blood of others but miraculously not his own. I could feel my temperature rise as my heat heightened. His presence is probably triggering it.

"You really should've taken care of your mate." Jalex sighs as if he's bored of this entire situation. As if it isn't his fault we are standing in a bloody battlefield.

Ajax shakes out his fur before shifting back into his human form. Cipher's charcoal gray wolf appears next to him with a spare pair of pants for him to cover up. My cheeks flush at the sight of his gorgeously nude body as I try my best not to take in all of him.

"Do you know what happens when you wait too long to complete the mating process?" Jalex speaks again as he takes a step forward, pulling me with all of his force so that I stumble over my feet and trip.

"I don't see how any of this applies to the fact that I'm going to murder you." Ajax growls out between clenched teeth, his fits balling up at his sides as he tries to contain his anger. "Hand over my mate before I decide to castrate you in front of my entire pack."

"When you wait too long to mate, a virgin shewolf will go into heat." Jalex says loud and clear for everyone in the clearing to hear. I can feel my blush redden as the temperature in my body rises. The more he talks about it and the longer I am in the presence of my mate the more I can feel its effects.

Ajax's entire body goes rigid as his eyes darken until they're nearly as black as his wolf. He takes large advancing  steps towards us causing Jalex to react quickly.

Pulling me in front of him he uses me as a shield against my mate. One arm wraps around my neck while the other snakes around my waist. "If you come any closer I will kill her!"

Ajax stops midstep his eyes meeting mine. Anger, frustration, fear and lust circled in what seem to be the bottomless pit of his black eyes. He was conflicted on what he should do and I want nothing more for him to rip Jalex to shreds and wrap me back up into his strong arms, keeping me safe forever. Although, I knew it wouldn't happen that way. He needs to be smart about it.

"Hmm," Jalex hums as he sweeps my ponytail off of my shoulder and buries his nose into the crook of my neck. I cringe slightly, and struggle against is hold, feeling repulsed by him. "I can practically smell the heat rolling off of you in waves. It's like a beacon, begging me to come to you and relieve you of your pain." He whispers, his lips brushing against my ear.

Ajax releases a vicious growl from deep within his chest as he begins to stalk over to us, his entire body shaking angrily as his wolf dared to escape. His pitch black eyes began to shift as a red glow emitted. Jalex grasps onto me tighter in a moment of fear before making a foolish decision. A decision I'm sure no one saw coming.

Red hot flames pour throughout my veins as a piercing scream erupts from my throat, causing my lungs and vocal cords to feel as though they had be set on fire. A loud painfully angry growl rips through the air and surrounds the clearing. The trees begin to shake, scaring away the birds as my head feels as though it will implode any second now. How is this happening? How could he do such a thing?

Ajax is running at us full force now, his eyes glowing a blood red. Jalex rips his fangs from my neck just in time to drop me onto the cold ground. I can't move as my entire body becomes rigid. Pain spreads from head to toe, covering every centimeter of my body. I want to cry, scream, and vomit all at the same time, but I can't. I can't do anything beside writhe and shake in unbearable pain. A new wave of extreme heat overcomes my body, causing my throat to dry up and my lungs to feel as though they're shriveling. I lose all of my senses, sound, touch, hearing, vision in the matter of seconds causing me to feel disconnected.

I was forcefully marked... again.

THE END.

Author's Note:

This is the last full chapter I will be writing for this story!!!!!! (I'm sorry)

This is exactly how I had planned to end it for a long time now and I can't believe I have actually finished it. Now just because this is the last chapter it does not mean that I am done.

IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT

I do plan to write an epilogue so expect one last update.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

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xoxo