Wildling

~~~Jaxson’s POV~~~

Two days. Two fucking days that Ember has been gone. That may not seem long but to know where she is and what she went through before, I can’t think about what she might have to endure.

She had taken Hope on their usual afternoon walk when she was ambushed. I should have been with her, instead I was with Trent trying to get more information from him since Mark was entering Dimitri’s territory. We all knew there was a high chance Dimitri would see through us straight away, so we tried to get more information on where his meeting places were, where guards were stationed; anything to help Mark.

To think I had been in such a good mood after spending the afternoon enjoying some stress relief and a much-needed nap with Ember. We let our guard down.

I had been in interrogation with Sean, persuading Trent into giving us more answers, when I felt a searing pain go into my side. Immediately, I knew it was Ember. A few seconds later the alarm sounded.

The dread pulled at my stomach and rose in my throat as Sean and I raced to the unknown threat. We weren’t prepared for what we found.

In a small clearing near the pack border, a tiny little girl stood sobbing. Her tiny hand clutched a plush bunny by its arm. Its white fur now spotted red with blood. No doubt the stuffing inside was soaked through.

Her broken wails reached our ears causing Sean and Ashton, who had joined, to release ferocious growls. Hope stood in a puddle of blood surrounded by a sea of dead bodies. At least twenty men lay slain on the ground. Hope’s face was wet and sticky with tears and blood. She was so scared and confused that when she saw us, she screamed and huddled in a ball on the ground.

Sean and Ash immediately brought her into their arms, soothing her, as I furiously scanned the area for any sign of Ember.

I shifted and ran around the border trying to catch a scent. A faint scent of mint chocolate wafted through my nose as it led from our pack boundary into unclaimed land that borders Dimitri’s.

Ares and I released a howl of sorrow and anger into the air. Minutes later the warriors joined in. Their friend and beta female has been stolen. I had to get her back.

I set out on a dead sprint through unclaimed land. Nothing would stop me from getting her back. My mind was blank except for anger and hatred towards the assholes that did this. I was running blindly, not caring if anything happened, I just had to reach her. But I was suddenly hit in the side by a giant force. It threw me sideways and we collided into a tree.

Getting up to my feet, I shook my head to clear it, and turned to see Sean’s giant wolf glaring down at me. He snarled; teeth bared. I shift back.

‘Stop this. You will die.’

‘I can’t lose her Sean! I can’t!’ My angry facade broke as tears began leaking from my eyes. I hunched over, sobbing into my hands. I vaguely heard Sean shift back before he embraced me.

“I can’t lose her. I can’t. I won’t live without her.” I mumble between sobs. Sean’s grip tightens as he feels my anguish and despair through the pack bond.

“You won’t. She is strong; so much stronger than she realizes and when she does find that strength, nothing will stop her. But we must be smart about this. You will never get her back if you just bulldoze over there. They will kill you on sight. We need to review security first.” Sean stood up, gently rising me to my feet as he handed me a pair of shorts.

Walking back to the pack house, the solemn faces of the warriors greeted us. Their eyes lit up with sadness and pity causing me to growl. Their throats bared in submission not daring to want to upset me further. How dare they act like she’s gone forever.

In the security room, Sean pulled up surveillance for that quadrant. I clenched my jaw, trying to keep from lashing out, when I notice that the guard who was supposed to be watching the cameras was absent. That would explain how the alarm was raised to late. I could feel Sean’s own anger at their incompetence.

We all watched with bated breaths as Hope and Ember came into view. My heart leaped into my throat at seeing my gorgeous mate being motherly before chaos reigned. Her smile lit up her entire face as Hope made her laugh. A brief smile flickered over my lips watching them together. It faded quickly when I saw a hoard of men stepping from the shadows.

I watched as Ember stiffened, moving into a protective stance in front of Hope. She must have told Hope to run because Hope turned from her, after hesitating, running back behind a tree where she waited, tears leaking from her eyes and a petrified look on her face. Her stuffed animal dropped on the ground near Ember.

As soon as Hope moved, the men advanced on Ember. We all watched as she whipped her knives out, one in each hand as men surrounded her in a circle. No one caring about the tiny girl tucked behind a tree.

Ember bent down and grabbed a fistful of dirt. Standing up, she threw the dirt into the eyes of the men she was facing. Their stance lost as they clutched at their eyes. She was quick to cut them down, their stumbling actions no match for her swift, deadly strokes.

She almost seemed to dance. Her movements quick as she would block one attacker while striking at another. Twirling in circles as her arms reacted almost on their own. She quickly went from twenty men to ten.

I gripped the table with a crushing force, bending it slightly as I watched one man get a hit on her. His knife sliding into her side like butter. That must have been what I had felt. She barely reacted before shoving him away and doing a roundhouse kick on him, knocking him out. She twirled her knife until it was pointing backwards, and stabbed one man who was approaching from behind, in the stomach. Once her knife made contact, she quickly yanked it up with such a force that it went from his stomach all the way out of his shoulder. Filleting him in one strike. He was dead before he hit the ground.

She was tiring a bit. I could see her stance fall slightly and her breath heaving in pants. Five men remained. Her body began to emit a white, hot glow. The remaining mens’ eyes widened at the sight of her. She puts her arms to her sides raising them to hip level, her palms up facing the men. A blue streak of what looked like lightning crackled from her fingertips. Multiple strikes releasing from her hands as she struck down the remaining men.

She heaved a breath and raised her head as she watched the last man fall. Gazing around her, she seemed to take in the damage.

“Damn.” I heard one warrior mutter as he watched her. His eyes were wide with awe and maybe a bit of fear towards her. Everyone mumbled their agreement at watching how swiftly she dispatched all those men.

Something caught her attention as her eyes snapped up towards where one of the cameras were hidden. My breath caught in my throat as I saw that her eyes were turned white. The white receded into her natural color and I could see the fear evident in her eyes.

At the bottom of the screen, we watched a man step forward, Hope screaming in his arms as a knife laid against the delicate skin of her neck. Ember’s face twisted into fury and disgust. Two more men joined the one that held Hope.

I saw Ember’s eyes dull as she realized she had no way out. She spoke something and the men nodded. She pointed at Hope as the other two men advanced on her with a silver net. The man threw Hope off to the side and lunged towards Ember. She punched one of the men who held one end of the net, struggling with him. But by the time she had the upper hand, the two others had the net again and threw it over her.

She stood completely still, knowing she lost. Her eyes glanced towards where Hope now laid unconscious. I could see wisps of smoke coming from her skin and I realized the net was burning her. She didn’t show her pain. She raised her head in determination, looking directly into the camera. She knew they were there. Her eyes never breaking away from the camera until one man punched her from behind, knocking her out.

Her legs gave out and she collapsed. I was forced to watch on in despair as they dragged her away. Guilt ate at me knowing I wasn’t there with her. I swore to protect her, and I failed. She was forced to keep herself alive, no one aiding her or coming to fight beside her. She was alone like before. I hated myself.

She had protected Hope at all costs. And the cost was herself. Ashton laid his hand on my shoulder once they were from view and I could no longer see her. I continued to stare at the screen hoping to get another glimpse. I could feel Ash’s and Sean’s own guilt as well as gratitude towards what we witnessed. She had kept their baby alive.

That was two days ago. We were in the dark. We couldn’t reach Mark and the devices we had on him weren’t working. We knew he was alive but other than that, we were at a loss. They knew exactly where to find her and the specific time.

Sean, Ashton and I were in the control room watching surveillance, trying to find anything that looked odd. A few warriors filtered in and out as they made their rounds.

Suddenly, the screens all went black. We scrambled to find what went wrong when they flickered back on. My heart bounded in my chest as Ember appeared on all the screens. She was in a field chained to a post, her back facing the camera.

Gasps and whispers started to clamor around the room as warriors spread the news that we were currently watching Ember in what seemed to be real time. People began filtering in, men and women alike. Luckily, the room was big enough to fit all. I could barely notice anything beyond my angel being on screen before me. I gulped down the bile that was slowly rising in my throat. I knew that what we were about to watch was going to sicken every person in this room.

Sean and Ashton stood on either side of me, their hand on my shoulders trying to provide me a bit of comfort as well as being prepared to hold me back if needed. The screens suddenly switched to different angles and distances.

A man stood facing the camera, his red eyes twinkling in sadistic mirth. His lips twitched into an ugly smirk as he stared into the camera. The room shook as I growled at the sight of him.

Suddenly, background noise filtered into the room. Not from us. I could hear murmurs from the video. Whispers that were so faint I couldn’t make out the words. Dimitri grinned.

“Hello Jaxson.” Dimitri sneered. Ember’s body stiffened slightly as her head raised. She didn’t know cameras were on her. “I’ve decided, for touching what’s mine, you will be forced to watch and feel whatever she goes through.” He points towards Ember. I snarled at his use of mine in reference to Ember. Like hell she was his.

“We decided to set up a little live stream here so you can watch what goes on.” Ember’s shoulders slouched hearing his words. One camera suddenly switched view to show her face.

Oh, my angel. Her face was void of emotion. Her eyes cast down, glaring at the dirt in front of her. My eyes flickered quickly between all the screens, trying to keep eyes on Dimitri, the entire view of what will happen, and Ember’s face all at once. Dimitri let out a nauseating laugh.

I heard shudders and whimpers spread through the room. Quickly glancing, I saw the women Ember rescued as some of the viewers. Eyes wide in fear and resentment towards the person who had enslaved them and worry and heartbreak towards their savior.

“You may be questioning how we caught her so easily. Why don’t you say hello to your dear friend.” He held his hand outstretched as he gestured off camera. Soon, a muscular frame came into view, handing a sliver tipped whip to Dimitri.

Yells and growls of outrage filled the room as Mark turned to face the camera. A brief flicker went through his eyes before his gaze turned hard and cold.

“He was her friend! How could he do this!” Someone yelled. Sean’s grip on my shoulder tightened as I kept clenching my fists to remain in control. My breaths quickening. My gaze set on the whip in Dimitri’s hand as he began to unravel it, walking towards Ember.

“This is going to hurt.” I grit my teeth and groaned out louder than I was intending. Everyone’s eyes snapped to my trembling form. “Sean you’ll have to hold me back.” He nods firmly.

“Time for pain.” Dimitri murmured before raising his arm back then snapping the whip forward. I tensed as I watched the tendrils of the whip come closer and closer to Ember’s back.

Ember stiffened and raised her head at the impact. Her jaw tightened and eyes glazed over.

I groaned as I felt the lash mark burning into my skin. My eyes remained on my mate’s face. Whatever she goes through I would stand with her. Her pain is now my pain. I will not let her suffer alone. I yelled in pain at the second lash, falling to my knees. Ember still refused to make a sound. Mark flinched at each whipping turning away slightly before it would hit Ember as if he couldn’t bear to watch. Ironic since he’s the cause of her being there.

Dimitri continued intent on spilling blood. Her strong facade was slowly breaking at every lash that rained down. A tear slid from her eyes as her face twisted into one of agony after the fifth lash.

“How is she not screaming.” I heard someone whisper, their voice breaking as they watch their strong beta breaking before them at the sight of his mate. A strong male that could barely take the pain she was going through yet she barely uttered a sound.

I was breathing out in short, sharp pants. My back blazing in fire. Intense pain blossoming from the slightest muscle twitch. My nails had grown into claws and embedded themselves deep in the concrete. Desperate to grab on to something before I completely collapsed.

“Why isn’t she doing anything? Doesn’t she have powers?” One warrior whispered among the group.

“More than likely they have injected her with something that keeps her powers at bay.” Sean murmured as he watched his dear friend get tortured right in front of them. He couldn’t look away no matter how much he wanted to.

Ember’s shirt was hanging off her back in tatters. Blood oozing from the open lashes that could be seen. Her eyes continuously fluttering back in her head as she fought to stay conscious. At his next blow, she screamed in agony, tears slid faster from her eyes as she clenched them closed tightly. After the fifteenth lash, she had had enough and collapsed forward onto the post. Her head flopping to the side as she passed out.

“That’s enough. For now. Maybe next I’ll let you feel what it’s like to have your mate fucking someone else. Feel the pain as I fuck her senseless. My dick inside her tight, warm little cunt. Mmm.” I snarled in outrage but could barely move. “I hear it’s particularly agonizing.” He laughed victoriously before the feed shut off.

I trembled, desperately trying to fight off Ares who was absolutely enraged. If I let him go now, he would kill anything in his way.

“Get everyone away.” I growled out, sounding slightly feral. No one needed any other incentive as they all dashed from the room. I groaned out trying to keep control. “If I lose control, he will kill anything. I can barely keep him back.” Sean’s eyes glistened with unshed tears as he watched me battle my wolf. He can’t lose his mate. Not again. The broken look on Sean’s face turns to shock as he looks behind me.

A whimper met my ears along with the sniffling of someone desperately trying to keep in their tears. “Jaxson.” Alex whimpered. He sounded so broken. It instantly snapped Ares back into control.

I turned quickly to see Alex furiously wiping the tears from his face. His lower lip trembled as he fought his sobs back. I ran to him, snatching him into my arms for a crushing hug. He broke down in my arms, my shirt becoming wet with his sorrowful tears. He clutched at me with a tight grip. I rubbed his back as my own tears leaked from my eyes. My heart hurt. He had seen it all.

“I failed to protect her. I’m so sorry.” I choked back a sob. Alex’s grip tightened.

“You did more than I ever could.” I heard him mumble. I pulled him back to look him in the eyes.

“I will get her back. I promise. Nothing will stop me from bringing her home.” I just hope I can keep this promise without dying first.

A/N

Phew! Longest chapter ever! Hope you liked!

3038 words! A record for me!