Chapter SEVENTEEN-ALPHA SUMMIT
Two Weeks Later:
Trigger Warning: Abuse and Rape
Ace POV
After the attack two weeks ago, I called our parents and told them what was happening. They were on the first flight back to the States, and of course, Dad had Olivia, who used to be mated to Conrad, come by and explain things that happened after we were all born.
The man Silas killed was Conrad's bastard son, and he wanted revenge for his family. The girl Silas took is Stephen's younger sister Nora. It has been a crazy two weeks. Carlito, Julio, and I were on our way to Dark Moon for the annual Alpha summit, While our parents stayed behind to help protect the pack in our absence.
It put my mind at ease to know my mate and pack were in good hands. Apollo was getting antsy and pacing in my head as we approached Dark Moon.
"Hey buddy, what's with you?" I asked as he whimpered.
"Something is wrong. I don't know what it is, but it isn't good," he said as I looked at Carlito and Julio.
"Hey, are both of you guys' wolves acting strange?" I asked my two best friends.
"Yes, Czar is acting weird, and Catori isn't responding to my mind links," Carlito said.
"Yeah, Jupiter is acting weird, too," Julio responded as we approached the gates of the Dark Moon pack.
Carissa POV
"Matthew, please no!" I screamed as Matthew got on top of me and shoved his cock deep inside my pussy.
"Be a good little whore and give me a son!" he shouted and smacked my face.
*Smack*
"After all the miscarriages from you producing daughters, we will have a son," he growled and drilled his cock deep inside me as I cried tears and closed my eyes.
I heard him growl and grunt as moisture pooled between my legs, and I knew it was blood from him brutally raping me. It wasn't long before I heard him roar and release his seed deep inside me. He pulled out of me, and I rolled over and cried.
"Fail to produce a son again, and I'll make sure you feel more pain than you ever felt before," he growled in my ear and went into the bathroom and slammed the door closed.
For the last three months, I've had three miscarriages due to Matthew's abuse and infidelity. Every time I got pregnant and found out we were having a girl. Matthew would ensure I would lose the pup because he wants boys, not girls.
He wasn't like this when we first found out we were mates. He was good to me after I came to Dark Moon. After Matthew became the Alpha, I started to see the dark side of him that no one sees, not even his parents or younger siblings. First, it was the beatings, then came the cheating with random she-wolves from the pack.
After a while, I wasn't allowed to call home, and Matthew pretended everything was vanilla with us in front of his friends and family.
I heard the shower turn off, and Matthew came out of the steamy bathroom with a towel wrapped around his body. At 6'3, with ebony black curls, dark green eyes, golden-tone skin, and a perfectly sculpted body, Matthew was the epitome of a well-made Greek God, but he was a shitty mate and a lying sack of shit. He looked at me with a smug look.
Alpha Matthew
"Get yourself cleaned up. We have an Alpha summit to prepare for," I took my time getting up out of bed as my body was sore from Matthew's constant abuse and sauntered to the bathroom.
"Giving me a Beta's daughter for a mate instead of an Alpha's daughter."
"What was the goddess thinking of punishing me like this?" I heard Matthew mumble as he went inside his closet to get dressed, and I closed the bathroom door and silently cried.
"Hurry up! And don't be late!" he growled through the door. I slowly walked to the shower and turned the water on.
"Catori?" I called to my wolf and heard her whimper.
"I'm sorry, Carissa."
"Maddox is trying to stop Matthew from hurting you, but he won't listen."
"I understand you are hurting, and we have lost three pups in this mating process."
"However, I won't stop you from doing what you feel is best. I'm behind you one hundred percent," Catori said. I gently smiled at my wolf.
For the last few months, I had considered rejecting Matthew and moving back to Blue Eclipse to be with my brother and family. I just needed Catori to be on board with me, as Maddox was her mate also, and I didn't want to force her to choose.
I quickly showered as the steamy water soothed my bruised body. I washed every inch of myself, trying to remove Matthew's scent from my body. It used to soothe and calm me, but now his scent makes me puke.
"CARISSA!" Matthew banged on the door.
"I'm coming!" I yelled.
I rinsed off, got out of the shower, and dried my body as best as possible. I opened the door.
*Smack*
"I told you to hurry up! Now we are going to be five minutes behind!" Matthew roared.
I wiped the blood from my lip and ran to my closet to get dressed. I put on a dress to cover my bruises, left my hair down, and put on makeup to conceal my bruised face.
"If you see our brother, Catori, you know what to do," I told my wolf as I stepped out of the closet.
Matthew stood by the bedroom door with that same smug look.
"On it, Carissa," Catori said.
I was tired of Matthew's constant disregard for me. If it were the last thing I did, I would have left Dark Moon today.
Carissa
Matthew POV
"Why do you keep hurting, mate?!" Maddox growled.
I had to shut him out often because he gave me a headache, and I was tired of his constant whining about Carissa's well-being. She's only suitable for sex and giving me male heirs, fuck her feelings.
In the last three months, I ensured that any female pup she would have would cease to exist. I'm an Alpha. I should only have male heirs for Dark Moon once I retire. I growl at the thought.
"Giving me a fucking Beta's daughter instead of an Alpha's daughter," I snarled.
The goddess liked punishing me. Once Carissa came out of the closet and walked toward the door, I grabbed her arm roughly. Maddox growled in my head.
"Stop hurting, mate, or you will regret it!" he said and retreated to the back of my mind. I scoffed and rolled my eyes.
"Listen up, you little whore. Be good and smile."
"Make me look good, or you will regret it! Got it!" I growled in her face as I squeezed her arm tightly.
"Yes," Carissa said. I got in her face.
"Yes, what?!" she had tears emerge from her eyes.
"Yes, Alpha Matthew," she said as I nodded and pulled her down the stairs toward the front of the pack house.
My Beta, Micah, waited outside while my Gamma ensured everything was prepared for the summit. Once we were outside, Carissa straightened up and put a smile on her face. I quickly mind-linked her.
"Don't fuck up, or your punishments will be worse," I saw her shiver from fear, and I smiled proudly as the first set of SUVs halted before the pack house.
Carlito POV
We were the final ones to arrive at the Dark Moon pack. Czar was still antsy and pacing in my head. I knew Something had to be wrong for Carissa not to respond to me.
"Czar is Catori, okay?" I asked my wolf as the SUV stopped in front of the pack house, and I saw that little shit Matthew standing out front with my sister and his Beta.
"I don't know, Lito, but we are about to find out," he said.
The Omega stepped up and opened the door, and Ace, Julio, and I stepped out and walked up the steps toward my sister and Matthew. I looked toward my twin as Matthew greeted Ace. She looked pale and unhappy.
"Something is wrong, Lito. I'm trying to connect with Tori."
"Give me a minute," Czar said as I eyed Matthew, and he gave me a smug look.
"Beta Carlito, nice to see you," I sneered at him and grabbed his hand, squeezing tightly as his eyes widened. I smiled diligently.
"I could say the same about you, Alpha Matthew," I said mockingly. Matthew scoffed and pulled his hand away.
"He's been hurting her! Kill that piece of shit!" Czar snarled. My eyes widened as my wolf spoke.
"I have been talking to Tori, Lito."
"That little shit has been raping and abusing our sister!"
"Kill him now!" Czar was on a rampage as I looked at Matthew again. I looked at Ace, and he silently got the message.
"Not here, Carlito. We will fix this personally," Ace linked me as I panted and tried to control Czar.
I wanted to kill the lying sack of shit for hurting my sister. I could tell by her eyes that he had been doing this for some time and why she hadn't called. He wasn't allowing her.
Ace POV
When I saw Carlito's look, I knew something was up. It wasn't until Apollo connected with Czar and spilled the beans about what Matthew had been doing to Carissa that I finally understood the meaning behind Carlito's look.
I knew this wasn't something new when I saw Carissa's eyes. Matthew had been doing this for some time, and he wasn't allowing her to call home and let us know she was hurting. I saw the murderous look in Carlito's eyes and quickly mind-linked him.
"Not here, Carlito. We will fix this personally," I told him and watched him try to control his raging wolf.
I couldn't believe the type of person Matthew was. He was one of my best friends from Alpha training, but after today, our alliance with Dark Moon will cease to exist, and Matthew will pay for his crimes dearly.
After all the greetings, Matthew and Carissa led us inside their pack house and to the conference room on the second floor. I looked at Carissa and noticed she was walking with a limp. I looked at Carlito as his nostrils flared and his eyes turned a deep onyx black. I grabbed him by the shoulder.
"Calm down, don't show our hands yet," I whispered, watching as he closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths.
Once inside the conference room, we all took seats as Matthew started the meeting. As the meeting progressed with boring talk and useless shit, I silently texted my Dad and Carlito's parents about what Matthew was doing to Carissa. To say our parents were furious was an understatement.
Dad had to keep Carter at bay from running all the way here in wolf form and tearing Matthew to pieces. Dad gave the go-ahead to withdraw our alliance with Dark Moon and said he was getting Alpha Miles on the phone as we spoke about his son.
"Now that the boring stuff is out of the way, let's get to the alliances, shall we," Matthew called out.
Redwood was first to go with a yes, Midnight Moon with a yes, my cousin Spencer from Silver Moon with a yes, and then my other cousin Samson from Crescent Moon said yes. I saw Matthew smiling and looking proud as if he had won the lottery.
"That's right, asshole, keep smiling," I thought as it was our turn to vote.
"No!" I shouted as every Alpha looked at me.
"Come again, Alpha Ace?" Matthew said and sat up straighter.
"My answer is no, you piece of shit," I saw Matthew's eyes widen and heard him growl.
"Alpha Ace, what is the meaning of this?" Alpha Wendell from Redwood Pack asked.
"Growl at me again, Matthew, and I will rip your damn head off."
"To answer your question, Alpha Wendell, I don't align my pack with a rapist and an abuser," I said, and everyone looked at Matthew.
"Alpha Matthew, care to explain?" Alpha Wendell asked, and I saw Matthew begin to sweat and stammer.
"He's...ly...lying he.. doesn't kn.. know a da.. damn thing," Matthew stumbled over his words like a fool. I smiled proudly.
"If he's lying, why does your Luna look terrified to be near you right now?" Wendell asked as Matthew sneered at Carissa.
"Touch my sister, and I will rip your head off!" I saw Czar at the surface, and his eyes were onyx black.
I heard a ping and checked my iPhone. Dad has sent warriors here, and Carter was at the gate with Matthew's Dad coming toward the pack house.
I smiled and looked toward Carissa, and nodded for her to move away from Matthew. He growled, and she froze in her spot. He was going to grab her, and I saw a blur as Czar had Matthew pinned to the nearest wall by his throat. Carissa quickly moved between Julio and me as Czar held Matthew to the wall. The other Alphas had moved away silently.
Matthew POV
"Let me go, you worthless Beta!" I shouted and clawed at Carlito's hand as he held me. He was damn strong for a Beta wolf.
"I told you. You would regret hurting, mate."
"Now you are on your own," Maddox said.
I heard the doors slam open as my Father and former Beta Carter walked in with a murderous look.
"Czar, put him down," I heard Ace tell his Beta.
When Carlito refused to release me, I felt an immense aura and looked toward Ace. His greenish-blue eyes glowed, and his wolf came forward.
"Beta Carlito! Drop him!" the Beta finally submitted to his Alpha and dropped me with his head bowed, and I gasped for air.
"What the fuck was that immense aura," I thought as my Father came around the table toward me.
"Matthew, what is the meaning of this?!" my Father shouted.
"I get a call from Antonio wanting to pull out of our alliance because you have been abusing and raping your mate?!" my Father roared. I growled at my Father as he growled back and stepped toward me.
"I haven't done anything to her."
"She is my Luna. Her job is to produce male heirs and be seen, not heard!" I shouted as my Father's eyes went wide.
"Where did you get such a disgusting thought like that from?!" my Father roared.
I heard whimpering and sniffing and looked over at Carissa as she sobbed.
"Carissa?" my Father called her name gently.
"Would you like to tell me the truth?" Carissa looked at him and then at me as I sneered at her.
Ace stood beside her in a protective stance, and I growled at him.
"Shut your mouth, Matthew!" my Father shouted at me.
Warriors flanked me as my Father sat in a chair, and Carissa told him everything that had happened since she came to Dark Moon. I growled as she told him about the abuse, raping, and cheating with other she-wolves. Carissa finished as my Father turned to me and gave me a smug look of disgust.
"You are no son of mine."
"From this moment, Matthew Tyson Lockwood, I am stripping you of your Alpha title and sending you to the elders for further punishment."
"You are a disgrace to the Dark Moon pack!" my Father shouted as I growled at him, and he roared back as his wolf came forward.
"I am taking over as Alpha until your brother finishes his Alpha training and comes home!" my Dad snarled. The warriors held me down as I tried launching for my Father.
"You can't do this! I'm the Alpha of this pack!" I roared.
I saw Carissa coming forward with her brother and Father flanking her.
"I, Carissa Lucia Hernandes, reject you, Matthew Tyson Lockwood, as my mate," Carissa said. My eyes widened as I howled with pain and fell to my knees.
"See what you did? I've accepted on your behalf and set her free."
"She deserves better than you, and I deserve a better human."
"I hope the mother of the moon sees fit to give me a second chance," Maddox said. I growled at the disrespect.
"All of you will pay!" I shouted as the warriors dragged me away.
Carissa POV
It felt great to be set free, and Maddox accepted the rejection on Matthew's behalf. He said I deserved better after repeatedly apologizing to Catori and me. He also noted that he hoped the moon goddess would give him a second chance and that he would become a better human once Matthew deserved his punishment.
I felt sorry for Maddox. He didn't deserve Matthew to be his human, so I silently prayed to the moon goddess that he would get his second chance at happiness. Alpha Miles also apologized and wanted Ace to reconsider his decision on his alliance with the Dark Moon pack.
Ace said to give him a few days, and if Major is more different from his brother, he will consider the alliance. After packing my bags, I heaved a sigh of relief.
"Catori?" I called to my wolf.
"Yes, Carissa?" she responded as I smiled.
"Are you okay?" I asked as she howled.
"I'm happy to be free of that abusive man," she said as I smiled.
My Father and brother came in afterward and grabbed my bags. We made our way down the stairs and out of the pack house. My Father held me close as we entered the SUV and drove back toward Blue Eclipse. I sighed.
The first I was going to do was visit the pack doctor and get a morning-after pill. I wanted no pups from Matthew's bloodline growing within my womb. It would not be wrong, but I didn't want my pup to grow up and hear the story about their Father.
"I just hope Mom was in a better mood," with that thought, I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.