Chapter 10: Rolling With The Punches

Tori's POV

When listening to Alpha Dawson tell me that I was basically hording all of Jakes attention as well as Zak and Alex’s my heart began to throb painfully. As if it was telling me that it was all my fault that I was keeping them from finding their mate and keeping them with me all night long.

So, not wanting to be someone else’s problem for the rest of the night do I move to do as the Alpha asked me to do and that was go and find my father. Having properly apologized to each of them quickly, do I then move to run. Hot tears threatening to spill from my once happy face as my world began to shatter.

My tiny black hole now turning into a bottomless pit and with no way for me to bridge the gap I didn’t know what else to do. A part of me feeling like I was gradually losing each of my friends. Even with me knowing that I would soon join them as their Gamma, another part of me still felt like I would be losing them in other ways.

A little thing we all liked to call a mating bond. A bond that I would never get a chance to have. My heart crying out for each of them, because deep down, I knew that I loved them and now, I would never be able to tell them.

Feeling the wetness now make its way down and along my face do I move to make a quick detour. Not wanting my father to see me crying like this nor ask me questions, I move to hide myself from those who would see me. Unaware that I had now drawn the attention of Dylan, Sam and Lilyanna once again. My own personal tormentors since I was 8. Unsure of what I had done to them to ever make them hate me so much.

Moving to lean against a huge tree do I slowly try and attempt to breathe. Slowly trying to calm my racing heart as I go completely unaware of those slowly approaching me until I was completely surrounded.

“Aww… is the poor little baby crying again?” teases Lilyanna, her violet eyes dancing once again with amusement.

“Leave me alone” I growl, not wanting to deal with her bullshit tonight.

“I think not you freak. You almost got us in trouble earlier with Alex. And for that, it simply won’t do.”

“I did no such thing. Alex caught you fair and square. Maybe if your weren’t such a bitch people would actually like you for a change.”

“Why you little liar” growls Lilyanna, her eyes glaring at me intently. Glancing towards Dylan and Sam, do both move to approach me slowly, my back now pinned against a tree as Dylan moves to grab me by the arm as does Sam.

Both holding my arms tightly as I begin to struggle. Secretly wishing that I was strong enough to fight them or at least have my wolf. Neither of which were an option for me at that given moment.

Frowning, Lilyanna moves to bare her true nature. A glare gracing her features as she moves to punch me right in the gut which causes me to double over in pain. Her punch strong for that of a girl.

“You worthless runt. Are you truly that blind or just plain stupid? I’ve known you since you were little. And while you might turn a blind eye to just about everything around you, I sure as hell don’t. I see how Jake and his friends look at you. It’s like looking at someone whose found their soulmate. Their other half and you Tori are theirs” explains Lilyanna, a glare now on her face as she moves to punch me yet again, this time harder.

Shocked, I try not to let her words sink into me. Attempting to hold it together as I’m subjected to all her rants.

“You lie. I’m not theirs. At least not in the way you think I am. As you said it yourself, I’m worthless. A freak. A runt. Who could ever want me for a mate?” I ask her, sheer terror rising at the thought of her words being correct.

“LIAR! Why must you lie to me?” shouts Lilyanna who moves to look at Dylan, Dylan giving Sam full control of my arms as he moves to pin them behind me. Dylan now rounding towards the front of me as he too moves to punch me. His punches a lot harder than Lilyanna’s which doubles me over with a gasp. The wind now knocked from my lungs as Dylan moves to follow through with another well placed punch to the face, my lip now busting open from the harsh hit.

“I’m… I’m not lying to you” I wheeze, attempting to get my senses back in order. Dylan now grabbing me by the hair as he moves to yank up my face. Our eyes locking with one another as he smirks, clearly enjoying his fun way more than he should, given my current state.

“Tori… Tori… Tori… You really should learn your place here. Of course, your lying. I see it in the way you look at them in return. That look of longing. Hoping and praying that you truly mean something more to them. Too bad for you that I’m the one taking Jake from you. He’s mine, now and forever” growls Lilyanna as she moves to approach me.

Her hand now rising as if to slap me against the face only for her claws to catch me along the cheek. Her nails biting into my flesh as she instantly moves to draw blood, the pain causing me to cry out. My cries falling on deaf ears as she along with Dylan continue to torment me.

Each of them enjoying my pain, even as I struggle to stand up. My knees ready to buckle with each strike until the sound of someone approaching us reaches our ears.

“I suggest leaving the poor boy alone if you know what’s good for you. As I’m pretty sure the Alpha won’t appreciate you using him as a punching bag” replies the voice, Lilyanna and her goons now moving to see who had joined us.

“And you are?” asks Lilyanna, almost as if she was bored by him.

“Aaron Duncan, Alpha of Shadowridge. Now do as your told and leave him alone” orders Aaron, his voice commanding.

Shocked at being caught yet again by yet another high ranking wolf does Lilyanna move to glare at me yet again. Her eyes promising me that she wasn’t finished with me yet before moving to storm away. Dylan and Sam both leaving me as well before collapsing towards the ground.

Once gone does Aaron move to approach me slowly. His expression hidden which makes my skin instantly crawl by who he was and what he could possibly do to me of all people.

“Thank you” I offer, attempting to be nice.

“Don’t mention it” says Aaron as he moves to offer me his hand. A hand I hesitate to take.

“Don’t worry, I don’t bite”

Still apprehensively, I slowly move to take his hand, allowing him to help me stand back up. My body now hurting from the beating I just received from Lilyanna and her friends.

“You didn’t have to help me. I’m use to them always hurting me. After all I’m a useless nobody. A runt without a wolf or a scent” I murmur, unsure why I felt the need to tell him of all people. Not wanting to appear weak in front of others, especially that of another Alpha.

“I know that I didn’t have too, but I wanted to” admits Aaron, his voice hiding another reason for helping me until another voice moves to reach my ears.

“Tori? Oh God, Tori”

Alarmed by my current state does Jake move to approach me slowly. His arms now moving to hold me up as Alpha Aaron Duncan moves to watch us carefully. His eyes accessing our closeness, in which I notice, a shiver now running through me as it did. A piece of me screaming that Aaron was dangerous.

“I’m fine Jake. Really I am”

“No, you’re not, don’t lie to me”

“I am though”

“Your not fine and that’s final. Come on, I’ll help you clean up before your father sees you” is all I hear as Jake moves to lead me back towards the pack house, leaving Aaron to his own devices as Jake completely ignores him. His only concern at the moment was me and me only.

Aaron watching us with both curiousness and amusement as a smirk moves to grace his lips. Almost as if he got exactly what he wanted before turning to leave as well. A feeling that would haunt me until we finally met again.