Some Mate You Are...
Without A Moment To Spare

We entered the room, and he promptly tossed me onto the mattress. He undressed himself and began to climb on top of me, attempting to position himself between my legs. My heart rate began to climb erratically, and I fought back the bile that threatened to rise in my throat. I closed my eyes and tried to imagine myself far away. Anywhere else but here.

Then, Harm suddenly stopped as he huffed in frustration. I could hear the chains that bound my ankle shackles rattling as his feet kept getting tangled within them. And my ankles strained as he attempted to part my legs more than the restraints were meant to allow. Suddenly his weight lifted from the bed, and I opened my eyes, cautiously, as I attempted to determine where he had gone.

He had walked back over to the pants that he had very recently discarded and he was fishing something from inside one of the pockets. He retrieved the item and returned to the bed, holding a small silver key in his hand. I knew this key, I had seen it many times, it was the one that went to the shackles around my ankles. And I watched in surprise as he undid the restraints, tossing them to the side in a clump when he was done.

“Don’t get any bold ideas.” He scolded as he followed my eye-line to the pile of chains that now lay discarded on the floor. “I am only doing this because they were getting in my way. As soon as I am no longer inside of you, they are going back on.”

I figured that it was too good to be true. Though I could still hope. Perhaps he would change his mind once the deed was done. Or maybe, now was the time that I could make my move. I was unshackled and if I incapacitated him quickly enough then maybe I could get away before he could reach the remote to my shock collar. But there was still the matter of the locked doors and sealed windows. I did not know where the keys were, and I was not certain how long it would take me to replace them. Though…perhaps it was worth the try. As I mulled over my decision, Harm had climbed back into the bed. He placed himself between my legs, pleased with how wide he could make them spread for him now, and he hovered over me.

“And before you think twice…know that I have the remote to your collar on hand.” He announced, producing the tiny device for me to see. “And I will be keeping it very close. So, your only hope is to simply cooperate.”

He was right, I realized in despair. As long as he was holding that remote, there was nothing that I could do. My only hope was to play along to build his trust. My stomach turned inside of me. I began to pray to the Moon Goddess to protect me during this time and begged her forgiveness for the betrayal of my mate bond. I closed my eyes tightly and took in a deep breath.

Alpha Harm’s lips crashed down onto mine with such force that it felt like he was purposely trying to hurt me. His lips were somehow, both, dry and sloppily wet, at the same time; they were cracked, and I could feel them chaffing against my softer ones. His hands began to grope over my entire body, exploring me as he had when we were still on the couch. His touch felt slimy against me, and it made me want to crawl out of my skin.

This was going to be even worse than I imagined.

Then suddenly, without another moment to spare, there was a loud crashing, and the house began to shake. Harm lifted himself off me, but still held himself aloft over me. He tuned in to the sounds around him, using the wolf hearing that he possessed, but I currently did not thanks to my constant wolfsbane injections. He was satisfied that everything was alright for the moment and began to lower his weight back down across my body, when another crash rang out, this one even louder than before. Without further hesitation, he jumped completely out of the bed. And I nearly cried with relief as I knew that his attentions were occupied, for the moment, at least.

“Come on Marvel, we’re going to go check out where that noise is coming from.” Harm bid as he held out a hand for me.

I grabbed the blanket off the bed and wrapped it around myself just in case we had unexpected guests trying to make their way in. Rogues had been known to break into places that they believed to be abandoned to use it as a safe place to sleep. Perhaps that was what was happening here. And if it was, I did not want to be entirely exposed.

There was another loud crash as we hurried down the stairs to the main level. It was followed by another and then another. Before we knew it, we were standing in the living room, watching as the front door and part of the cabin wall along with it, crumbled to the ground. The dust clouds billowed into the air and Harm released his grip on me as he blocked his face on instinct.

This was it. This was my moment. It may have been rogues awaiting me on the other side of this wall, but I was willing to take my chances. When was a better opportunity going to present itself than this? I could stay here and be raped. Or I could run into the arms of rogues who may tear me to pieces. It seemed to me that the choice was obvious.

Keeping the blanket tightly pinched across my chest. I took off running as fast as my legs could carry me. I burst forth from the newly formed hole in the wall and out into the night air. I could hear Alpha Harm screaming at me to stop, but I did not listen. I could not risk staying with him any longer.

And that was when my eyes finally landed on the group before me. The previously unknown heroes who had rescued me whether that had been their intentions or not. Though, there were many wolves and men that I did not recognize. However, more importantly, there were many wolves and men that I did recognize. Standing dead center of the group were my father, Alpha Griffith and Enzo.

“Marvel!!!” Both my father and Enzo cried simultaneously.

I picked up speed, overcome at seeing them, and preparing to run straight into the arms of the wolves that I knew. Yet, as I did, Alpha Harm burst through the hole in the wall after me. Holding the tiny black device in his hand that I had completely forgotten he still possessed. In my excitement over my potential freedom, I had failed to remember that I was still collared. And as Alpha Harm switched that collar on, I collapsed to the ground from the sheer force of the impact of the shocks wracking their way through my form.

“I told you, Marvel!!! You are mine!!! I will kill you before I let another have you!!!” Alpha Harm cried, as he cranked up the intensity level of my collar.

I screamed out for a moment but my vocal cords were quickly silenced, being shocked into submission by the overwhelming force of the electricity running through them. My mouth was open but not a sound could make its way through as my throat constricted in on itself.

“He is doing this to her somehow!” Enzo growled.

“We have got to stop him!” Another shouted in response.

“Daray, you’re with me!” Enzo instructed.

And through my blurry vision, as the tears began to pour from my eyes, I could see Enzo and Daray shift into their wolf-forms and begin charging at Alpha Harm. Alpha Harm shifted as well, dropping the remote as he did so. He headed straight for Enzo, which allowed Daray to complete the actual task that he had been assigned as soon as they were able to mindlink in their wolf-forms. He made a beeline for the remote.

My father and Alpha Griffith had rushed up to me. My father held me close and attempted to soothe me the best that he could. While Alpha Griffith did everything in his power to rip the collar from my neck. Soon Daray reached the remote, and he hurried back with it, giving it to our Alpha who immediately disabled the device, freeing me from the electric shocks that had been plaguing me.

I clung to my father continuing to cry. I had never felt more relieved to be wrapped up in his arms. It reminded me of when I was a tiny pup and I wished for him to carry me everywhere. It was the kind of comfort that only a parent could give.

I could hear the snarling and gnashing of teeth behind me. But I did not care to watch. I knew Enzo well and, after spending so much time together, I knew Harm fairly well also. I had no doubt that Enzo would best him. Harm was rather unintelligent and lacking in skill. Once Enzo forced him to submit, Harm would be taken into custody by our pack and made to pay for his crimes.

Or so I thought…

Instead, I heard the sickening crunch of bones as one of the wolves began to howl out in torment. I looked up just in time to see Enzo as he held Harm pinned to the ground. His chestnut fur, glistening and matted with fresh blood. A wild look in his eyes. Alpha Harm let out one final pleading whimper and Enzo merely shook his large head in disgust and denial. Then without warning, he stomped down hard on Harm’s neck which had been precariously dangling between two pieces of broken furniture.

With one final crunch, Harm’s neck was snapped completely, and he was brought to his untimely end. Enzo howled out in victory and many of the others present responded in kind, whether in their wolf-forms or not. Enzo had won. I was finally free. Though in that moment, it all felt a little surreal. I could not help but wonder if I was actually dreaming or if this was truly my life.

I had been planning to disappear into my mind while I was being raped by Harm. Perhaps this was all simply an elaborate illusion that I had created while he had his way with me. I had not expected to be rescued after so much time had already passed. It was hard to believe that any of this was actually happening.

But as I could feel my father’s strong hand smoothing down my hair whilst I cried against his chest. And I could hear Alpha Griffith beginning to bark orders to the others. I knew that this had be happening. It had to be reality. Or, at least, I needed it to be.

When Enzo finally shifted back into his human form, he hurried to reach me, pushing past the throng of wolves that were attempting to enter the cabin where we had been staying. He reached out for me, crying out my name. But as my father prepared to pass me over to him, I turned away, and forced myself back into my father’s hold. He was the only one that I wanted to comfort me. Enzo had not ever really wanted me anyway.

“Marvel?” Enzo questioned, the sorrow in his voice radiating with how dejected he felt.

However, I refused to respond to him. I did not even want to look at him. I did not understand what he was doing here. He had been so thrilled to see me gone. Why would he want me back now? Although, I was not prepared to discuss that with him just yet. So, I clung to my father even tighter instead.

“I am sorry, Enzo.” My father offered in apology. “I think that she is just in shock.”

Enzo nodded in response, keeping his thoughts to himself. But I knew that he knew better. It was wolf’s instinct to seek out their mate when they were hurt or in danger. Yet, I had chosen to ignore that innate nature in favor of returning to the comfort of my parent instead. He knew that spoke volumes, even if he did not know exactly what or why.

“Alpha Enzo…” A male approached that I did not recognize, and I instantly tensed.

“Beta Zaccai…” Enzo replied with a nod of respect.

“We need to discuss these matters further. You were not meant to kill Alpha Harm. What is our pack to do now? His father has passed. And Harm had no Luna and no heir.” He pressed.

“Wait…what happened to Alpha Walter?” Alpha Griffith interjected.

The death of the former Alpha of the Blood Moon Pack was news to him. He knew that Alpha Walter had been looking to retire, just as he himself had. But he had heard nothing of his passing. Information that he felt he was entitled to as a neighbor of Blood Moon.

“He and our late-Luna had been taking an evening stroll together through the woods. They were not all that close to the border, which makes the whole thing more mysterious. But they were ambushed by rogues who managed to flee before anyone was even aware that they had been in our territory. Both were dead before we could reach them. Alpha Harm had desired to keep the matter private while he grieved. Though, seeing as what he was up to out here…” The Beta stated as he glanced at Marvel before looking towards the cabin that she had been held captive in. “It seems that his grief took on a strange form.”

Alpha Griffith merely huffed in response. As Enzo had so many weeks ago, Alpha Griffith could understand the Beta’s desire to follow the instructions of his Alpha, particularly, during a difficult time. Still the matter did not sit right with him. However, for now, he would let it go. Right now, Marvel needed their focus and attention. He would consider the matter of the late-Alpha Walter at another time.

“I am sorry that I acted out of anger and betrayed our original agreement, but I am not sorry that he is dead. He was harming Marvel right in front of us. I could not allow that to continue.” Enzo explained, putting himself back into the conversation, trying to be diplomatic, but remaining as cocky as ever. “As for who will become your pack’s next Alpha, I would say that they have already had a good candidate all along. Of course, your pack will have to agree. But I believe that Alpha Zaccai has a nice ring to it.”

Zaccai considered Enzo’s words for a moment, and you could see his struggle to keep a smile from forming on his face as he imagined himself an Alpha. He had been leading the Blood Moon Pack in Harm’s absence. He certainly knew how to handle the job. And to be honest, even when Harm had been present at the pack, he had never been a very good Alpha. Zaccai had spent much of his time cleaning up after him and taking care of responsibilities that Harm would neglect. Perhaps this turn of events had worked out for the best.

“Beta Zaccai! Alpha Enzo!” A warrior called over from the gaping hole in the house. “We have something that you should probably see.”

They looked in the direction of the warrior who hastily waved them over.

“You can stay here with your mate.” Beta Zaccai suggested. “I will take a look at whatever they have got to show me and I’ll report back to you.”

Enzo looked in my direction one final time. As I turned to bury my face further into my father’s hold, Enzo sighed in disappointment.

“Get Marvel out of here. Take her home.” He instructed my father, who responded with a nod, before Enzo addressed Zaccai. “I will go with you. Marvel does not need me right now.” The last sentence he spoke stinging like knives as I could feel the sense of betrayal behind them.

“Good.” I thought to myself. “Now he knows how it feels to be unwanted…just like me.”

My father lifted me into his arms and gently began carrying me away from the scene. Away from the horrors that I had experienced inside that cabin. Away from the psycho who had trapped me there, knowing that he could hurt me no longer. And away from a mate who only pretended to care because others expected him to.