Chapter 19

The car raced down the road with several other cars following behind us. The small villages and farms that sat on the edge of our territory flew past in a blur of colour. With every passing second, my heart beat faster. I needed to find my mate. What if it was too late? What if she was already dead? I could feel my wolf howling with despair at the thought and I instantly turned my attention to my Beta.

“Hurry up god dammit!” I barked loudly at Beta Adam, who was driving the car.

“I’m going as fast as I can boss” he replied quickly. “I’m already doing 70 MPH in a 40 zone.”

“Well you’re not being quick enough!” I sulked, glaring out the window.

The roar of several engines racing through quaint villages was deafening. Every person that we raced past, stood still, and watched us with open mouths in awe and in shock. Soon enough, a large woodland started to descend upon us, and a robotic voice echoed throughout the car.

“In 500 yards, take the next left.”

I leaned forward and peered through the windscreen looking for a left-hand turn. All I could see was a dirt track, severely overgrown by bushes, but you could clearly see that the bushes had evidently been tampered with. There was leaves and broken twigs scattered all along the tracks.

“There!” I exclaimed, pointing to the dirt track. Beta Adam swerved harshly towards the off beaten road and the car bumped roughly on the uneven ground. Twigs snapped and cracked loudly against the glass and I could feel my self being thrown around the back seat of the car.

A large farmhouse soon appeared in the middle of a large stone driveway. The farmhouse was in total disrepair and was clearly abandoned. It was evident that no one had lived here for quite some time. The cars all piled on to the drive and the drone of several engines finally fell silent and everyone got out, looking around at their surroundings puzzled.

“Why would he bring her here?” a blonde woman asked in shocked.

“This place is a total ruin!” another man hissed. I looked around and my eyes fell on to the large red barn, which in comparison to the house, was still in surprisingly good condition.

“I can smell her scent here. And his!” I snarled in disgust. “Everybody split up. I want that house thoroughly checked and the gardens. She could be anywhere. Beta Adam, you’re with me. Let’s check out the barn.”

Beta Adam nodded his approval and we watched as people set off towards the house. Me and Beta Adam stomped our way into the barn. The scent of Leah and Tom was even stronger in here than outside.

“She has been here boss!” Beta Adam snorted. I inhaled deeply and nodded. You couldn’t miss the foul stench of Tom lingering in the air. My eyes darted around the barn, looking for any possible hideaway spot. Scratch marks in the dirt floor caught my eye and I bent down to examine them. That’s when I noticed the trapdoor, blending in with the mud and leaves.

“Here, help me lift this up. I wonder where this leads too!” I grunted to Beta Adam, as I pulled on the iron handle. Together we quietly lifted the large trap door, to which a bright light, shining above concrete steps, greeted us.

I silently beckoned to Beta Adam to follow me and we carefully tiptoed down the stairs, making sure that we made no noise. As we descended into an underground room, my eyes darted over to a tall unkempt figure standing with his back to us, facing another wall. He had his arms bent at a strange angle and it looked like he was straining against something as his body was uncontrollably shaking.

That’s when I noticed the naked body of Leah, hanging down from the wall by her arms, bound by silver chains. She had her eyes closed and she wasn’t making a sound nor any movement. Her skin was a deathly grey. That’s when I saw the string wrapped tightly around her neck and Tom pulling on both ends as hard as he could.

A sudden white-hot rage burst out of me and without a seconds hesitation, my wolf burst out of me. I could feel my paws bounding across the dusty straw and my canines lengthening, ready for the kill. As quick as a flash, I grabbed Tom around the neck and flung him against the wall as hard as I could. There was a sickening crack and Tom’s lifeless body fell to the floor without a simple word or murmur. I quickly shifted back into my human form and threw my jeans back on.

“You deal with him!” I barked at Beta Adam, nodding towards Tom. I ran to Leah’s side and swiftly removed the string from around her neck. I yanked hard on the silver chains and they instantly snapped, freeing her wrists from their grip. I grabbed my tee shirt off the floor and pulled it over her to cover her modesty, before gently laying her on her back. I tipped her head back and gently blew into her mouth.

“Come on!” I growled at her desperately. I was just about to apply CPR when Leah weakly began to cough and splutter. She began gasping for air and her eyes flickered open.

“Its okay babe, I’m here! Calm down and breathe slowly. Your fine now” I reassured her gently, before scooping her up and cuddling her protectively, burying my nose in her hair.

“I thought I was going to die” Leah whispered sorrowfully. “I’m so sorry!”

“Stop! This isn’t your fault. You are safe now. Here, rest against these bales while we sort Tom out” I gently whispered before placing Leah down on the floor. I looked back over my shoulder to see Beta Adam pinning Tom down with his foot.

“Is it dead?” I snapped. Suddenly, a loud noise interrupted us and footsteps of a small crowd of people entered the underground room.

“We searched every were Boss, but we couldn’t... oh...” the voice broke off. A tall blonde-haired man with grey eyes and black tattoos on his arms, came in to view.

“Its ok Giles. We found her so don’t worry. Call the search off.” I huffed.

“I see you found Tom too. Is he dead?” queried Giles, hesitantly.

“No, just knocked out” growled Beta Adam, who bent down and shook Tom roughly. He loudly groaned and cried out in pain.

“I can’t feel my legs! I think you have broken my back. What have you done to me?” Tom cried out, looking nervously at me and Beta Adam.

“Nothing more than you deserve!” I roared at him. “How dare you kidnap my mate and try to kill her! How dare you!”

“Why was she naked? What have you done to her?” yelled Beta Adam, punching Tom in the side of the head, with a sickening crack. Tom yelped out in more pain and coughed and spluttered. A thin trickle of blood began to drip down the side of his face.

“Please, I didn’t do nothing to her. Nothing like that anyway. I had a bit of a play with her, but I didn’t rape her, if that’s what you think! Please, let me live. I promise I’ll never come back!” Tom screeched.

“Give it a rest you slimy little toad. How many chances have I and this pack given you? I spat in anger.

“I’m sorry. I really am. Please forgive me!” begged Tom, whimpering in pain. His skin had turned a deathly shade of white.

“Why did you do it?” Beta Adam growled.

“I wanted revenge on Xavier. He had exiled me back to the Valley. I felt like he had shown me up and made a mockery of me. He has treated me so badly since me and you last fought” whimpered Tom, glancing up at Beta Adam, who was glaring back down at him.

“He made me live in the basement, cooking and cleaning for the whole pack, running around and attending to every one’s need. I was banned from ever having a mate and my own children. Sent away to the basement to hide whenever there was a party or event at the packhouse. Over time, my hatred for him grew. And I wanted revenge.” Tom had now turned his attention to me, and I watched him smirk, before narrowing his eyes.

“When I found out that he had chosen Leah, I knew that I wanted to rip his world apart, like he did to mine and destroy her. How lucky did I feel when I eventually bumped into her and she choose me! It couldn’t have been a better outcome. And trust me, I would have killed her and returned her mangled body to you piece by piece” he snarled.

“You will never change!” I raged at him. I could feel my body shaking. I nodded at Beta Adam who roughly pinned Tom to the floor.

“Go for it boss.”

“Time to pay for your sins once and for all. I’ve given you too many chances and now you have crossed the line. Leah, please, my Luna, look away. You don’t need to see this!” I slowly said, not taking my eyes off Tom.

I quickly glanced over at Leah to see that she had bowed her head and was now looking at the floor. The rest of the room was now filled with the rest of our search party, who had been silently watching the events unfold.

Now was the time to pass justice in front of a room full of witnesses.

I turned back to face Tom and I quickly shifted once more into my wolf form. My canines grew and I could feel the saliva dripping down my muzzle. Noisily, I licked my lips before walking slowly towards Tom. A loud growl escaped my lips and I noticed how Tom’s body shook in fright and I could hear him quietly whimpering and crying into the hay.

As quick as a flash, I leapt towards Tom and Beta Adam and opened my jaws. I felt Tom’s head collide with my canines. I bit down hard and there was a muffled scream. I pulled my head away sharply and the screaming instantly stopped, but I felt the warm liquid pooling in my mouth. The taste was metallic, and I knew that my kill had been successful.

I spat out Tom’s head in utter disgust and watched Beta Adam stand up, letting the decapitated body lay limp on the floor. I shifted back and took the jeans from Beta Adam before slipping them back on.

“What are you going to do with the body boss?” Beta Adam asked casually.

“Leave it here to rot. He has finally got his comeuppance. The threat to Leah has now been resolved. Let’s get her home and checked out” I responded, before turning towards Leah who still had her head bowed. I noticed a large purple bruise rapidly spreading around her neck.

“Let’s get you home and checked out at the infirmary” I whispered before gently scooping her up in my arms and carrying her through the crowd of stunned warriors and back up the concrete stairs.