His Mistreated Mate
Chapter 12

My head snapped towards Jared suddenly as I felt the blood in my veins run cold. Biting my lip slowly, I finally managed to utter out a croaked demand for an explanation.

"What do you mean you have found James and Julianne?" I stammered slowly. "Where were they and what were they doing?"

"We found them running along the northern border," explained Jared carefully. "The Blood Red Pack let off a warning that said they had two intruders matching James and Julianne's description, running towards them, so we quickly made our way over there."

"Ever since the news of their crimes got out, the wolf pack's all want them dead," Jensen continued gleefully. "They thought if they could get over the northern border, they could get to the airport and flee the country." "However, the Blood Red Pack is the worst pack you can run into," nodded Jared. "They're not called Blood Red for nothing. Anyway, our little duo managed to get to the border only to replace a wall of snarling wolves waiting for them." "So, what happened?" Blake butted in angrily. "Did the Blood Red Pack arrest them?"

"No, as James and Julianne had one more trick up their sleeves," replied Jensen. "They ran along the northern border line but on our side, hoping to replace a weakness on the Blood Red Pack's side so that they could slip in. Because they were on our side, the Blood Red Pack couldn't do anything but just give chase."

"When we showed up, the pair was exhausted and they very quickly surrendered,” smirked Jared. "They realized that they weren't getting through the border anytime soon and they were outnumbered by a lot on both sides." "And are you sure that they can't escape?" I asked nervously. "Are they definitely secure?"

"Oh, they won't be escaping anytime soon princess," Jared smirked gleefully. "They are entirely at our mercy now!"

"What have you done to them?" I asked slowly, carefully studying Jared's face for any hint or clue to Julianne and her boyfriend's fate.

"They are in the prison wing so what do you expect?" laughed Jenson loudly. "We've chucked them in a silver cage with silver shackles around their wrists and ankles and there are at least 15 guards watching over them. They won't be going nowhere!"

"Good job you two," nodded Blake happily. "Right, let's get out of here and shut this place down. I've got important matters to attend to back at the house, obviously and I'm sure you will want to go and check on your parents."

"I need to go and face my demons first," I breathed gently. "There are some answers I need to hear from them before I go and see my parents."

"Hey! Listen!" Blake whispered gently pulling me close, allowing his musky scent to fill my nose. "You don't have to go and see them straight away if you don't really want to. I won't let anyone hurt you ever again. I promise you that!" "I know but if I don't face them now, then I don't know when I will ever have the confidence to face them again," I replied confidently. "Besides, they need to see what I have become and that even I won't show them mercy."

Smiling, Blake pulled me into a long hug, tightly wrapping his strong muscular arms around me. Hungrily I breathed in his scent one more time and felt my senses ignite. Everything I ever needed in this world was now standing in front of me and it made my heart burst with happiness that he was mine. Slowly, I peeled myself away from his embrace and gently pecked him on the lips before walking towards the staircase. Silently we all made our way up the creaky stairs and piled into the murky kitchen before snaking our way through the house and out of the front door and back into the bright sunlight.

"Ahh finally!" Damian exclaimed loudly. "Fresh air and no putrid smells. I can finally breathe again! That place was disgusting!"

"Disgusting or not, at least you are still alive and well, unlike some of the people we found today," warned Blake clearly. "Come on. We need to get back. Alistair, Damien, sort this place out if you will. I want all of Libby's stuff out of there and then torch this place if you must. I want no remains of this housed left!"

Alistair and Damien nodded before turning back towards the house and disappearing out of sight. Silently, I marched towards the car and jumped in the front, Blake quickly re-joining me in the seat next to me. The car revved noisily into action as we sped back down the road in silence. I stared out of the window, only briefly acknowledging the blur of colours speeding past as shops and houses raced past. My mind flipped to my barely alive parents, and I felt my eyes prickle in response, while 101 questions began filling my brain.

How were they both alive? Was my mum kidnapped by Julianne all along? Did James know about my parents below the house? What was Julianne even thinking? What was she going to do with my parents? Surely, she wouldn't have kept them, prisoner, forever? And how did she even subdue both of my parents? They were warriors back in the day and were strong as old carthorses. Did Julianne ever love my dad? She was my mum's best friend! Why!?

Before I knew it, our car had skidded to a halt back outside of our packhouse. Unclipping my belt, I opened the door and jumped out, feeling the crunch of the gravel underneath my feet. Patiently, I waited for Blake as he walked back around the car and gently grabbed my arm before guiding me towards the house.

"Are you still sure you want to go and see Julianne and her filthy piece of shit boyfriend?"

"Yes," I nodded gently. "Though I'm not sure where I'm going but I need to do this. You can come with me if you want, but please, just take me to them."

Blakes sighed slowly before beckoning me to follow him. Silently, I followed him through the front doors and across the hallway towards the staircase. Puzzled, I watched as Blake pulled open a wooden door hidden behind the grand staircase and pointed down some concrete steps.

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"They are down there," he mumbled quietly. "Would you like to go first?"

Nodding, I squeezed past Blake and made my way down the concrete steps into the dungeons. The sudden chill in the air hit me instantly, making my body shiver gently. The walls were damp and cold, but they weren't green like the basement back at the house. Somewhere below me, I heard the echoed drip of water hitting the floor in a surprisingly calming rhythm. As I continued down the steps I entered a large square room, with long walls entirely made up of silver cages, lined with guards who were stood still as statues. I shuddered at the thought of them and inside, I could hear Mya growling in a warning. In the middle of the room was a large desk which was home to many computer screens. As I stared at them curiously, I realized it was CCTV footage inside each cage. It was only then did I notice that two of the little screens showed that there was a person contained within the bars. I looked up and scanned the room until my eyes fell onto the corresponding cage. Slowly, I stood up and tiptoed towards the bars before peering in at a slumped figure leaning against the wall. Slowly they lifted their head and locked their eyes with mine. I gulped nervously as I studied the ragged, dishevelled, and bloodied face of James.

"What happened to him?" I asked nervously to no one in particular. "Why is he covered in blood?"

"Because he put up a fight like a little girl, when he arrived down here," Jared's voice rang out, making me jump. "As soon as he saw the cage, he seemed to get a little life into him."

I spun around and saw that Jensen was also standing in the room beside his brother Jared. I didn't even hear them come in, but I felt more at ease seeing two friendlier faces down here. Turning back around, I laid my eyes on James and coughed loudly, our eyes meeting once more.

"Are you okay?" I asked curtly. "How are you doing in there James? Are you enjoying being tied up in silver?"

"It burns and it is making me weak," moaned James pitifully. "Please, get me out of here!"

"Ahhh, never mind eh," I mocked sarcastically. "Now you know how my parents felt, being kept prisoner in the basement!"

"Basement? What basement?" James stuttered in shock

"Oh, come on James," I replied stiffly. "The basement under the kitchen floor! Behind the locked door!"

"I don't know about any basement! I swear!" protested James gruffly. "That door was always locked. She told me your parents were both dead!"

"Well, they went!" I snapped back angrily. "We found them, both alive, draped in silver cages and surrounded by wolfsbane. They're now in the hospital wing being treated and they may not make it yet!"

"Well, I'm sorry to hear that," replied James, "But I'm having nothing to do with that! I didn't know they were there! That's the truth!"

"Yeah, well I'm not here about that!" I replied in a bored fashion. "I want an explanation of what you did to me! Can you remember that!"

"I'm sorry," James sniffed slowly. "I didn't mean to hurt you! I promise! I can't offer an explanation for why I did what I did. It was wrong of me, and I know that! I live with the guilt every day knowing that I hurt a pup!" "But you still did it!" I yelled furiously, feeling my anger beginning to surge. "There must be a reason why!"

"I did really like you," James began slowly. "Not in a mate way but in a way that someone loves someone. I thought that one day I would leave Julianne, take you with me and make you mine. I wanted to love you, look after you and treat you right. I guess my emotions ran away with me and believe me, I didn't want to punish you! Juliane made me do it and every slap or punch ripped through me like a branding iron!"

"You're a liar!" I screamed angrily. "You can't even look after yourself! You're a raging alcoholic and a dirty perverse old man. What made you think that I'd ever run away with you and be yours! You deserve everything coming to you! You really do!"

"What are they going to do to me?" James mumbled sadly. "Kill me? If so, do it now to end my suffering. I can't live without you Libby. I adore you!"

Behind me, I heard Blake growl in anger at James's word, but I gently lifted my hand to hush him before turning my attention back to James.

"I don't know what they are going to do to be quite honest," I smirked. "And whatever they do will never be enough. This is the last time you will ever lay your filthy eyes on me! I hope you rot!"

And with that, I stormed away from James's cell and marched towards Julianne's. Briefly, I paused to catch my breath before standing in front of the bars and looking down, hoping to see an equally weak Julianne before me. But before me sat on the floor, albeit in pain, was a fresh-faced Julianne. She wasn't dirty or ragged like James, but her usual calm composed beautiful self. Before I could say a single word, Julianne lifted her head and focused her bottle-green eyes into mine before smiling evilly and muttering two small words that sent chills down my spine.

"Hello, Libby..."