Chapter 27

TRIGGER WARNING. PLEASE PROCEED WITH CAUTION.

Gif above is Danny!

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Danny

The wind whipped across my cheeks through the open windows of the sedan as we sped down the freeway, the many cares that plagued me seeming to lift right off of my shoulders and fly away, out of the window and into beautiful the countryside. My head laid on door of the car as we drove, my fingers tentatively wiggling out into the refreshing air, as if to ask for a taste. A smile pulled at my lips as they danced playfully, being blown back slightly when we picked up speed.

It was a truly gorgeous day, and our road trip around the country was one I'd looked forward to for ages. I loved times like this. They made me feel so free.

"Danny!"

I jumped in my seat with a squeak as I turned to face my boyfriend of three years, unconsciously sinking in my seat at his harsh tone. My eyes flickered along his handsome face before drifting down to my baby blue shoes, wincing in advance for what I knew was to come. My fingers that once drifted freely out in the warm, country breeze found themselves wrapped tightly around the edges of my seat, clenching tightly as if it was my only lifeline while the muscles in my neck seized up in painful knots.

I'd messed up, and I knew what was coming next. After three years of being with him, I'd gotten used to his incessant yelling and harsh tones towards me. But what could I do? After all, he'd saved me when I was at the lowest time of my life.

My fingers twitched as I remembered how broken I was before I met him, cold and shivering on a park bench after my parents kicked me out for being "the faggot they refused to tolerate." When I expressed my intense desire to mated to the same gender that I'd hidden since I was but a pup, they chased me from the territory with nothing more than the clothes on my back.

I came from a conservative pack in deep Texas, one that unapologetically kicked out it's members if they so much as broke a single rule. It was sad, but it was the reality of how I grew up. I hoped that maybe my parents would think differently and accept their only child, but I was so, very wrong.

When he found me, alone in the park, on the brink of dehydration and soaked to the bone due the onslaught of rain, he took me in. He was kicked out from his own pack as well, but provided me with everything I could've ever wanted: clothes, food, and more important than ever, love.

I didn't know that it came with a price at that time, so when his personality took a turn towards violence, I was already in too deep. I'd truly believed that I found my beloved mate that I'd waited so long for, and it didn't matter how badly he treated me. He was my mate, I his omega, and that meant that even when he hit me, it must have been out of love.

"Fuck, I called you like ten times! Are you deaf or something?!" He snarled, turning his concentration from the road for a split second to scowl in my direction. He was intimidating me and he knew it, but I had long accepted the reality of his cruelty.

"I'm sorry, Tobi." I whispered out, my voice soft and gentle as not to inspire him to become even angrier than he already is. "The scenery is just really p-pretty..." I try to explain, but flinched away from him when he turned his head once more to reveal his eyes that swirled viciously with an angry silver hue.

Oh no. Not his wolf.

"You're really pushing it today, Dan." He growled out between clenched teeth, causing my body to tingle with fear at what his next action could be. He was so unpredictable that it was hard to tell; he could either lean over and kiss me or punch the living daylights out of me. I silently hoped that I wasn't subjected to the latter again after my punishment last night; a gaping hole in the drywall at home testament to the how hard my head hit the wall. He got angry at me because I wanted to go out with a friend, someone that he didn't like. I knew better than to do anything without his explicit permission, and my blatant disregard for his rules resulted in punishment.

"I'm s-sorry!" I quickly mumbled out to him, tilting my head to the side and baring my neck in submission to him, hoping the the action would calm him down enough to think rationally and restrain from hurting me again. I felt his eyes on me, taking in my pitiful state of submission before letting out a cocky huff and returning his eyes to the endless road ahead of us. With a quick 'thank you' sent up to the Goddess, my tense muscles began to relax and I decompressed in my seat, fiddling with my fingers to keep my mind from wandering to dangerous places.

"You know, I really don't like hurting you like that." Tobi sighed out, glancing over his shoulder to move into the right lane. "But when you're disobedient like that, I get really angry. And you know what happens when I lose control of my anger." He attempted to justify, making me whimper in my seat when I recalled the worst of his punishments.

I'd never forget the twisted scowl on his face as he forced me to take all of him all night; egged on by his friends in the room that weren't even slightly phased by the silent tears that streamed down my cheeks while he raped me. I'd learned to numb myself to the pain and humiliation, but my fear of the large men that surrounded me while I was violated carried through my consciousness; causing mind-numbing panic attacks whenever anyone with a similar stature was close. I progressively got worse, until I could barely function around strangers without feeling physically sick.

But Tobi was my mate. He must have known what was best for me.

I wasn't always this way. I used to be full of energy, bouncing around from place to place and sassing anyone that stayed around long enough to listen to me. But due to my drastic shift of circumstances, those personality traits were sucked out of me like a vacuum, leaving behind only the dried out husk of the person that I once was.

"I only do all of this because I love you. Don't you love me?" He asked in a honeyed tone, reaching over to slide his fingers between mine; intertwining them in an intimate gesture. A shiver of discomfort ran down my spine, which he must have misread as pleasure judging by the smirk that pulled a his lips. I nodded in response, too scared to move my lips and answer him, but that seemed to satisfy him judging by how he leaned over and pressed a kiss to my temple.

"See? We're perfect for each other." he praised, and I simply hung my head, staring thoughtfully at the sight of my small hand trapped in his. My throat tightened as I faced the cruel reality of being stuck in this hellish life forever.

The goddess must really have me on her blacklist.

Regardless, I had to suck it up and deal with it. Tobi was my mate and it was my duty to obey his every word.

"Now, be a good boy and get me a beer out of that cooler, will you?" He asked. I hesitated for a moment, gaping at his question. It would be unsafe for him to drink and drive at the same time, but I was so terrified of him at that moment that I stifled my concern and instead twisted my body in the passenger seat to reach for the red, insulated container that I packed before we left the house earlier in the day. Once I got a good grip on it in the fast moving car, I pulled it into my lap and popped off the top, but my brow furrowed as soon as I glimpsed inside.

Wait...

Where was his beer?

My fingers began to shake as I contemplated the situation, frantically pushing my cans of sparking water and plastic containers of apple juice aside as I searched for the alcoholic bottles.

I couldn't have forgotten them! Oh no!

"Hey, hurry up, I don't have all day." Tobi rasped, his fingertips tapping impatiently on the steering wheel as he drove. I choked up, unsure of what to say as I blankly stared down at the contents of the cooler before my lips began to move of their own accord, muttering the self-incriminating phrase that would change my life forever.

"I-I'm so, so sorry, I seem to have forgotten them..."

I whined out in surprise at the sudden jolt of the car as Tobias abruptly swerved all of the way onto the shoulder of the express way, screeching the car to a halt before his head whipped angrily in my direction. I held the cooler tightly in my grasp, staring down into it's icy interior as equally cold spikes of terror slid down my spine like the scales of a slithering snake. It was useless to look into his eyes as I already knew what I would find.

His cold, endlessly black pits would be full of vexation and indignation, making me want to curl up into myself even more than I usually do.

"Get out." he seethed, speaking through clenched teeth. My body began to seize up as I glanced out of my window, only to be met with a vast expanse of towering trees that signaled the beginnings of a forest with no civilization in sight. To make the situation worse, the sun was rapidly setting behind the rolling hills of foliage, meaning that if there were any packs in the area, they were bound to be preparing for night patrols. A useless, rogue, runt of an omega would certainly be terminated on sight.

If he left me out there, there was no way I would survive the night alone. The dark was filled with scary wolves, strange sounds, and probably monsters like the boogey man.

"I said get out, you little disobedient bitch!" Tobias screeched out, and I curled into myself with a loud sob and a panic-stricken shake of my head.

"N-no, please don't d-do this, T-Tobi!" I begged, clutching the cooler as if it were a lifeline while tears began to drip down my cheeks and onto the rapidly melting ice. "I-I-I..." I hiccuped uncontrollably at the idea of being on my own in the scary night, finally looking over to him in a last effort to calm him down. "I'll d-die out there alone!"

"Well, maybe that's what you deserve." The smirk on his face was the last thing I saw before he quickly opened his door and stepped out, walking around the front of the car. The weight of the situation finally dawned on me I began to scream in horror, my chest heaving up and down as I tried to kick myself away from the door.

"No! No! Please don't make me, I-I'll do a-anything for you!" I pleaded as he approached my passenger door. My words didn't seem to phase him when he opened it and grabbed my ankle to pull me to the edge of my seat before leaning close into my red and tear-streaked face to examine it like a painting.

"Good, then get out of my fucking car." his words dripped with honey and I'd never seen such a fake smile as he fisted my hair in his tight grip, yanking me out of the car with so much force that I flew a few feet - headfirst - straight onto the asphalt.

The cooler landed hard on top of my back, knocking the air from my lungs as my body hit the ground hard, my face scraping against the rough surface. A few of the heavy cans hit me on the head while the ice and chilly water spilled all over, drenching me to the bone. I could only lay there and groan as I tried to move my body, desperately trying to recover fast enough to get back into the car and not be left in the middle of nowhere.

I was scared. So scared.

I silently begged that he would find the heart to not leave me on the side of the expressway like this, as vulnerable as could be to any Werewolf packs in the area. However, my hopes were quickly squashed like a bug on a windshield when the sound of the engine revving fell on my ears.

"N-NO! PLEASE! DON'T LEAVE ME HERE!" I screamed desperately, tasting blood as my gums bled from the impact. I knew he could hear me, he had enhanced hearing just like any other wolf, but my words fell on deaf ears as he blatantly ignored my hopeless cries and drove off.

But not before crushing the toes of my right foot underneath his back tire.

Yet another scream of anguish ripped through my chest, but it was cut short as my lungs protested, instead leaving me sputtering in mind-numbing agony as I writhed around on the ground. Thank Goddess there were no cars on this rarely-driven route, or else I would have a panic attack to add to my rapidly growing list of afflictions.

I don't know how long I laid there, crying silently in distress while my throbbing, crushed toes screamed for attention. I watched Tobi's sleek, black car drive off into the distance through a blurry sheen of tears, and when the sky began to tint a symphony of oranges and blues, I knew that I had to find a place to sleep for the night. That is, if I survived it.

Mustering up every ounce of strength that I could from my tired limbs, I pushed myself up to my feet - or foot, as my right one was practically useless. With my omega healing, it would take at least two weeks to get back to its former glory, and that meant if I got attacked tonight, I wouldn't even be able to attempt to run to safety. With survival in mind, I tucked the only two not-busted bottles of apple juice - my favorite drink - into the waistband of my shorts before rubbing at my neck where my tense muscles began to bunch up again. My shirt was dirty and smeared with blood that dripped from my mouth and scraped cheek, but I had no choice but to don it as I limped slowly - painfully - into the dense trees.

I was the epitome of pitiful; an injured, runt of a rogue omega, reeking of my own blood in the territory of another pack with no way to contact anyone. If I had a cell phone I would possibly be able to contact someone, but the luxury was yet another thing that Tobias restricted me from having.

He didn't like it when I spoke to others, and a cell phone would only give me a way to make friends. Only sometimes was I able to sneak on his phone and escape my cruel reality by indulging in dramatic Werewolf stories written by humans on some website called Wattpad. The stories about perfect mates that found one another and lived happily-ever-after were my favorite, and I only wished that my life could be a story like that, one that thousands would read with envy.

But obviously, mine was far from it.

Instead, I trekked through the rough terrain, wincing with every step as I moved deeper and deeper into the unknown. I was unsure of how far I was moving from the road, at some point I'd zoned out completely and moved on auto-pilot, keeping an eye out for a cave or any semi-safe place that I could rest in for what very well could have been the last hours of my life. Tears dripped endlessly down my cheeks, stinging the open cuts that I sported on my cheeks. I didn't bother wiping them away anymore, because no matter how much I tried to stop them, they were relentless.

I was exhausted beyond belief, and every rustle of branches and movement of the wind made me jump in fear when the sun finally set, leaving everything shrouded in darkness. I could barely see six feet in front of me, even with my enhanced night vision. Plus, it was getting cold, and I had nothing but the thin clothes that stuck to me like a second skin due to the thin layer of sweat the formed as I walked. I felt sick, and my stomach churned with nausea as I tried to push on. It didn't take a genius to know that I wasn't going to get much further.

So, although I was far from safe in the open clearing I found myself in, I decided to give up and curl up underneath the closest sycamore tree; an old one whose low branches did their best to hide my tiny body from the eyes of anyone that walked past. I only hoped that tonight was a night for lazy patrollers, and they wouldn't catch the disgusting scent of blood and sweat that I reeked of. I shook violently underneath the leaves, wrapping my arms around myself in an effort to conserve body heat while my teeth chattered and my toes and cheek throbbed in pain.

I couldn't get a wink of sleep; I was much too scared to close my eyes. The hours rolled by torturously slow, and the night dragged on much longer than any other night I'd ever experienced - even the one where I was used until the first rays of sunlight streamed through the window. This was much worse, my stomach continued to churn and my body was on the brink of shutting down.

A rustle in the branches across the clearing caught my attention before it could do so, and my body instinctually ceased all movement. My breathing was practically nonexistent as I willed myself to become one with the tree, my back molding around the base of the trunk and my teeth digging into my fleshy, chapped bottom lip in an attempt to force back whimpers.

They'd found me.

"I'v been sensin' the rogue 'round this'n here area, Beta." stated a masculine voice, and my eyes widened when I realized how large this man must have been. My body began to shake involuntarily at the mere thought, and no matter how hard I tried to stay still, my mind betrayed me.

There was only one thought consuming my consciousness.

Get far away from these men. They'll use you just like he did.

To move from this spot meant certain death, but my rational and instinctual mind were at war with one another.

"Alpha has been informed and is on his way as we speak. You know how he enjoys getting his uncontrollable temper out on any rogue that dares enter our territory." the man that I assumed was the Beta replied, making my throat tense up with white hot panic while a fresh wave of tears filled up in an instant. "Let's find him before the big guy gets here, eh?"

I was facing certain death. There was absolutely zero hope left for me anymore and my wolf Benny knew just that, whispering his undying love for me before receding into the back of my consciousness to rest. I didn't blame him, I wouldn't want him to have to bear the pain that I was sure awaited if this Alpha was as vicious as his subordinates made him out to be.

My body was limp when a large, powerful hand reached out to grab the aching ankle of my left leg, dragging me like a doll into the middle of the field. My face dragged against the ground, and I barely felt the scraping of rocks against my skin when they flung me onto the ground on my back, knocking the air from my burning lungs.

There was not an ounce of energy left in my body to fight, and I didn't dare open my eyes in lieu of a true panic attack taking over at the sight of the large men I knew were hovering over me.

"He's a cute one. What's an omega like him doing wandering around here alone? Must've done some really fucked up shit to get kicked out of his pack." the voice of the Beta spoke, and I must have looked as if I was dead because I felt two beefy, cold fingers press against my neck to check my pulse.

"Hell, still 'live. Shit, I'm sittin' on this'n, bet'cha hun'erd big 'uns he won' last but two hot minutes when boss get to 'em." I could barely understand the words of the man with the ridiculous accent that laced his every word, one of which I couldn't even identify.

The Beta chuckled, obviously amused by the words of the other man. "He's almost here, just wait until we can see what damage is done before you go making bets."

A rustle in the trees from the same direction as before prompted a single tear to roll down my cheek, going unnoticed by the two men as they seemingly directed their attention to the third approaching figure that I sensed.

I had to take deep breaths to keep from hyperventilating from the sheer dominance that this newcomer resonated - no, demanded. Not only that, but he smelled absolutely delicious. A mixture of fresh apple pie and a natural, earthy musk that made my body turn into a little puddle of goo on the forest floor.

"Alpha Cahill! Caught the 'lil twerp for ye', hidin' in the branches of ye' Syc'mor over yonder." I could practically feel the proud smirk of the guy, but the air quickly got tense as a menacing growl filled it.

What was going on?

"You fucking idiots. How dare you treat your future Luna in this manner?!" came a voice so demanding, deep and sexy I think that I died and I went to heaven.

But I was also so confused.

Luna? Who is the Luna?

"W-wha'?... We were just tryna' protec' the borders, Alpha." pleaded the accented man with a shaky, obviously hesitant laugh. "Wha' do ya mean, future Luna? This 'en here is a rogue, ya' see?"

A monstrous roar ripped through the air, and the sound of claws ripping through flesh made my eyes fly open in fear, a scream piercing the silent night as I desperately scooted away from the men across the clearing, holding out my tiny, trembling hands in front of me in an effort to shield my body from them.

"P-please! D-don't hurt me!" I begged, choking on a sob as my stomach once again began to churn, stomach acid making its way up my throat before I fell over onto one side, heaving up whatever meager amount of food was left in my stomach. My eyes watered as I clutched at my burning throat, my body beginning to quiver when I caught sight of the men out of the corner of my eye.

Just as I hypothesized, they were absolutely gigantic, especially rival to my measly hight of 'barely-scraping 5'5"'. The one who I assumed was the beta was standing tall with a look of boredom as he watched me while the accented man rolled around on the ground, nursing a massive, bleeding wound in his stomach and cursing up a storm. However, the last man held my gaze as I collapsed pitifully onto the grass beside my puddle of stomach acid.

I'd never seen such a handsome face before, such a perfectly proportioned man. His mouthwatering scent reached me even across the clearing, but even so, I was absolutely terrified when he began advancing dangerously towards me. I couldn't help but bare my neck to him when I sensed his dominance once more, even as I drifted in and out of consciousness.

This man was powerful, but somehow my body was not repulsed when his arms slipped gently around me, almost as if I were a fragile, priceless antique that could break with one wrong move. In fact, Benny woke from deep inside of me, howling softly in satisfaction as delicious tingles began to devour my weak body whole, easing me into unconsciousness.

"Damn, he's burning up. I can feel his body heat from here, man. When's the last time you heard of a Werewolf running a fever?" The Beta inquired in a curious tone. I whined when my stomach churned once more, the shadows of the dark night beginning to swirl around me in incomprehensible patterns. The irresistible man that held me immediately replied with a feral growl, effectively shutting up his Beta before he leaned down, sweet breath fanning my ear.

"I'm taking you to safety, lovely. You'll never have to be on your own again." I barely registered the smooth bass of his voice and the feeling of being carried like a princess through the trees as I drifted off, strangely content and safe in the strong arms of this mysterious stranger.

❦

I woke with a startle, feeling trapped beneath layers of... blankets? The feeling was almost surreal. I hadn't awoken surrounded by such luxury since I got kicked out of my pack, and even then the scent that engulfed me right as I came back to my senses was one that I'd definitely never encountered before last night. Not only did it soothe my racing mind, but it also gave rise to certain... problems in my nether regions. I whined aloud, clapping my hands on the back of my pants as I felt slick begin to leak out of my entrance, only to realize that my bottom was bare.

What the heck?

I quickly sat up in the bed, my hair a wild mess atop my head and my eyes wide as I glanced around frantically, analyzing the state of my body that seemed to have been stripped of the clothes I was discovered in. The only thing that covered me was a soft, navy blue knitted sweater that must have belonged to a freaking giant. The shoulder of the fabric slipped halfway down my right arm, the sleeves made my hands look like mittens, and if I were standing I would bet that the hem would fall just above my knee. Sometime during the night - due to my erratic sleeping habits - it must have bunched up to reveal my bare bum, and I winced when I noticed the wet spot on the white sheets below me, heavily tainted by my slick that refused to stop flowing.

And I immediately knew that it belonged to the same man that made my heart do summersaults as he carried me to safety last night, as the heavy, but incredibly soft fabric was practically drenched in his enticing aroma. To reenforce the rogue thought, Benny forced himself to the front of my consciousness to whine out for said mystery man, and I snapped back at him with a warning. We already had a mate, and there was no room for us to think in such a dirty way towards another man who probably already had a mate of his own as well.

However, despite the fact that I tried to tell myself off, I couldn't help but picture the face of the Alpha in the back of my mind- the one whose features were sculpted to utmost perfection.

My eyes whipped to the side of the room and I gasped in surprise when the creaking of the large, mahogany door on the far side of the room snapped me out of my thoughts. Alarmed, I quickly dove to the furthest corner of the bed and pulled the thick duvet over my head as I began to shake violently, closing my eyes tightly while holding onto my breath.

No.

Please not now.

Not a panic attack.

The door opened and closed with a creak and a woosh of air that made me whimper pathetically, my fingers digging into the soft cover that hid me from view. I must have looked absolutely ridiculous, sitting there like a tiny lump in the corner of the bed with covers thrown over my head like a child on halloween, but I didn't care. I only wanted to keep myself from harm, and although derisory in the realm of protection, the blankets were the first thing that came to mind.

I shook terribly, most definitely giving away my hiding place on the bed. The alluring scent that drenched the entire room multiplied tenfold when the door closed, informing me that the huge, breathtaking man that made my body betray me and do unimaginable things was mere feet away from my current position. Just the thought made my toes curl and my bum pump out strenuous amounts of slick. Surprisingly, even though he may have been the largest man I've ever seen, his presence wasn't sending me into a fit of paranoia. Instead, it worked as a calming agent, allowing my mind to take a chill pill and calm down from it's earlier beginnings of a panic attack.

Just who is this man?

As if he could read my mind, his strong, sonorous voice graced my ears. His tone was soft, almost loving and sexy as could be as he addressed me, the bed dipping down as his heavy body sat on the edge of it.

"You must be so scared, but know that you're safe." He sighed out, and I felt a shift on the mattress as something lightweight was also set on top of it. I desperately tried to stay as still as I could, tuning into the sound of my soft breaths to remain calm - even as copious amounts of slick spilled from inside of me like a waterfall. "The very last thing that I would do is hurt you. My name is Rayson Cahill, Alpha of the Crescent Falls Pack. And... I have fair reason to believe that you are my mate."

My body froze.

There was no way. I had a mate already. Sure, I hadn't been marked by Tobi just yet, but he always told me that he would someday! And sure, both my body and wolf called out to the hunk of a man that sat on the opposite side of my barrier of covers like a whore, but that didn't mean... It couldn't mean-

"NO!" I squeaked out, my body reacting on instinct as I peeked my eyes out from behind the covers, tears of denial already beginning to well up in them. "I-I-I h-have a mate a-already! You have me mistaken for s-someone else!"

I didn't miss the flash of pain and unalloyed rage that pierced through his endless green eyes (reminding me of the forest which he saved me from) as well as Benny's soft whine of pain.

W-wha?...

"That man you reeked of was not your mate." Rayson growled out, spitting out his words as flashes of feral red creeping into the corners of his irises. I was so confused and scared at that point, and tears that reflected those emotions began to blur my vision as he continued. "That rogue was a killer. One that was kicked out of his pack for killing his true mate in cold blood." he seethed, thick fingers digging into the white covers as if he wanted to rip right through them. In all honesty, his red eyes and tense muscles were all scaring me, and a sob escaped my throat with the realization.

There was no way that Tobi did that... Is there? He always told me that we were mates, but was I too blind to see the truth? Too desperate for love notice that there were none of the foretold sparks of mateship between us - the same ones that crackled between this larger-than-life Alpha that sat confidently before me? After all, he never did tell me why he was kicked out of his pack - it was yet another one of the things that he had strict rules about. Asking about it would surely end with bruises.

I sobbed out in realization.

I'd been so naive...

It was a weird sensation, but the very core of my soul told me that Alpha Rayson was telling the truth, almost as if he passed an instinctual lie-detector built straight into my body. I choked on a soft sob, my hands shaking as I slowly lowered the cover into my lap; not confident enough to look him straight into his eyes but gathering enough courage to whisper out a question.

"So... I-If we're really m-mates... Then T-Tobi... h-he lied to me?" I stuttered out, tears dripping onto my pale hands and creating little puddles. Rayson sighed, and I peeked up at him from underneath my eyelashes as he ran a hand through his hair.

"He didn't even tell you his true name. His real identity is Luc Patore. An Allied Pack captured him about sixty miles outside of the territory, high-tailing it out of the state, and he's being transferred here as we speak." Ray explained, and I visibly relaxed at the news.

Although, as soon as that weight lifted from my shoulders, another, heavier one suddenly fell on top of my shoulders as I realized just what I'd done.

I'd given my virginity away to someone who wasn't my mate. My body had been taken advantage of by someone who'd lied for his own benefit. He took the one thing that I'd cherished and vowed save for that special one.

That fact sent me into a fit of sobs, and I hung my head into my hands as I cried for what I'd lost. I registered Rayson's gasp of surprise in the back of my head, and my body compulsively leaned into his large, broad chest when he took me into his arms. I cried so hard, my face scrunching up in emotional distress as he rocked me back and forth. It was the first time since that one night when Tobi- no, Luc raped me that I was comfortable in another's arms. The first time I willingly allowed someone else to touch me. It just felt so safe, so right to be with him.

My previous neck ache returned as I laid my tear-drenched cheek against his hard Pec, taking deep breaths in an attempt to calm myself down. The slow circles that he was drawing on my lower back helped to soothe me as well, and the gentle vibration of his chest when he spoke made me whine softly.

"What's wrong? I'm here. Will you please tell me what is on your mind?" he pushed, albeit considerately with a soft tone of voice. It soothed my mind and body, and before I knew it I was spewing my guts to him unapologetically.

"I-I'm so sorry! I w-wish I wasn't so stupid! I let h-him use me!" I sputtered, my fingers holding tightly to his knitted sweater that draped my body as I looked up at him. Ray's expression was one of empathy, and he didn't waste a moment before tucking me into his lap securely, not particularly caring about the slick that steadily dripped down my legs as he held me.

"Shh, shh. It's alright. There's nothing either of us can do about that now, and you will forever be absolutely perfect in my eyes. If you choose to accept me as your fated mate, then I will cherish you so much that when I claim you, we will start over. The past won't exist, only the brilliant bright light of our future." his words made my stomach twist in happiness, but I hiccuped, knowing that I had to tell him the entire truth.

"No, you don't understand! He-he... He r-raped me!" I choked out, turning my face into his chest as I felt him begin to shake with rage.

Only this time, his muscles bulged as he slid my body out of his lap gently, blood red eyes piercing through the door as his jaw clenched dangerously. It was as if his temper was suddenly flicked on with that tiny bit of information, and his ridiculously loud roar of anger that shook the walls indicated just how enraged he was.

I jumped when the door banged open, hitting the wall behind it hard, and I whined in fear when a large man who I vaguely recognized stood in the doorway.

The Beta.

"Luna, you need to get out of this room now! Alpha Cahill's temper is practically uncontrollable, and we can't risk you getting hurt!" He yelled in a panic, flailing his arms as if that would make me move faster. "Please!"

I nodded quickly, although scared to my very toes as I swung my legs over the side of the bed. As I did so, I noticed faint, purplish bruises on my pale skin from last night, as well as the fact that the previously crushed toes on my right foot seemed to be completely and miraculously healed. As I loped towards the door I snuck a glance over my shoulder at Ray, noticing how his shoulders shook and his biceps bulged from the strength that he put into fisting his hands. I could tell he was battling a war with himself, and it seemed like his anger was winning.

As if confirming my suspicions he suddenly rose to his feet, blood red eyes locked on me where I stood in the middle of the room. His nostrils flared as he stared me down, making me feel like a tiny, frozen pea on the ground.

"R-Ray? A-are you alright?" I chanced, hoping it would buy me a few seconds to get to the safety of the other side of the doorframe.

Is this what I was destined to deal with? An Alpha werewolf who was a slave to his temper? I knew he didn't mean to lost himself like this, but the idea of it all still scared me. What if he got angry in the middle of the night and I had no one to protect me?

"ALPHA RAY! THAT'S YOUR MATE!" exclaimed the Beta who didn't dare step foot into the room, obviously trying to make him see reason.

To my absolute dismay, Rayson didn't respond, and instead began advancing steadily - dangerously - towards me.

"MINE." he growled possessively, baring sharp, flesh-ripping canines as his arms slipped around my small waist to slam me into his chest. I let out a high-pitched scream of trepidation, anticipating the feeling of his sharp fangs penetrating my throat to rip it straight out, but instead I felt immense surprise when his arms... Relaxed?

"Oh my god..." whispered the Beta as he stared wide-eyed. "No one and nothing has ever been able to tame Alpha Cahill's anger like that." he spoke with a tone of pure disbelief.

I risked a glance at Rayson to find him staring down at me, those beautiful, bright green eyes welling up with unshed tears as he held me close. I breathed out in relief as his arms tightened, caging me against a broad chest that I found myself never wanting to leave.

It was amazing how in that moment I realized that every second of my life had led up to that exact point in time. All of the pain, suffering, and turmoil that I went through all began to seem worth it just to be cocooned in this man's arms. A man that I hadn't even known for twenty-four hours, but had already wriggled himself past the boundaries that held my heart tightly in a grasp of cement and barbed wire. A man that taught me what it meant to be loved, and that my rocky past didn't break me, but formed me into who I am today.

After I met him, our relationship remained in abeyance for weeks as I got used to his presence. We slept in the same bed, enjoying one another's warmth while we shared sweet dreams of our future together. He took me on countless dates, and whenever I was with him I somehow got the courage to go out in public among strangers, while he was able to curb his temper by simply holding me in his arms. Ray taught me how to live again, and as I got even more comfortable with the pack, the sassy Danny that I'd once known began to emerge from the shadows once more.

He was a doting mate, one that heeded my every beck and call. My favorite gift from him manifested itself in the form of a black neck pillow which soothed my troublesome muscles - and I took it wherever I went. I fell for him over time, but when I did I fell hard, and with every single cell of my being. Sooner than later, we were attached at the hip, never going more than a few tens of feet away from one another. He was my rock, and I, his.

I'd finally found my light at the end of the tunnel - and he was more than I could have ever asked for.

❦

Berlin

I smiled tearfully at my parents as they sat in front of me, Dad curled up in Papa's arms as Papa delivered countless kisses to his mate's mating mark. Somehow, the large man managed to sneak back into the room while Dad told me his story to scoop his mate back up into his lap. Dad giggled in excitement at the attention from his mate, although his twinkling eyes never left mine.

I'd have never guessed that Dad was so strong; I suppose looks really can be deceiving. He'd had such a hard life, and I never even knew.

It was then that I knew why he told me this.

If Daddy got through it, I could too. He wanted me to know the importance of what I couldn't see at the time, that being just how deep the love of a mating bond ran.

It was what made Osias step back and give me the time that I needed to realize that everything wasn't about me. I never asked him if he thought that I was dirty. I hadn't even given him any time to speak to me since we got back from the compound rescue mission, as I was always busy jumping to conclusions and pushing him away.

I could only hope that I hadn't realized all of this too late.

"You see, bubba? Things will always get better. I found your Papa, and we created three perfect sons, even through aaaall the pain that I endured." Daddy grinned with glee, his arms wrapped like a vice-grip of love around Papa's neck as he kicked his feet, the black neck pillow sitting in his lap while his oversized knit sweater hung low to reveal the smooth shoulder of his right arm. My larger father simply grunted, nodding before raising an eyebrow and scratching his head.

"Your Dad is right. Hell, we should've made more of you. You should see how your Dad is in bed, little power bottom. He's like a little jumping bunny when he rid-"

"OH MY GODDESS, WILL YOU EVER SHUT THE FUCK UP AROUND OUR CHILDREN?!" whined Dad as he smacked his mate with his neck pillow over and over, although the action was gentle and clearly amused my Papa, who simply leaned over to give Dad a soft smooch of apology.

I groaned aloud at their regular bickering, stroking my round tummy as I prayed up to our new friend the God/dess that I wouldn't subject my children to this torture when I got old like my parents. I finally learned what Papa's ridiculous nickname for Dad - bunny - means and it's an innuendo. I should've known.

"Dad, Papa. Thank you." I smiled sheepishly at them before leaning forward to kiss each of their cheeks, playing with the hem of my long shirt as I stood up before speaking.

"I think I have a relationship to fix." Dad winked at me in response, wiggling in Papa's lap with obvious intent in the roll of his hips before blowing me a kiss that I smiled at.

"Of course, bubba! You better go get your big, bad Alpha back! Meanwhile... I'll deal with this one..." The last line Dad uttered was thick with seduction, and I quickly scurried out of the room as I caught sight of Dad tackling Papa down to the ground, making him grunt before grabbing his hips. Papa's deep voice said "close the door on your way out" and I shivered.

They were so disturbingly active. One of these days they were going to break a hip.

I hurried down the hall towards Osais's study, one hand cradling my bulging tummy and our beautiful child as I smiled brightly, feeling rejuvenated and more than ready to be back into the incredibly safe, strong arms of my mate.

And maybe inspire some make up sex later.

After all, being pregnant has made me incredibly horny.