Chapter 20

leah’s P.O.V

Warm air hit my face as we ascended through the trapdoor hatch and back out into the barn. Golden beams of light shone weakly through the dust that hovered in the air, illuminating the barn and the way out.

I lay limply in Xavier’s arms and I could hear muffled footsteps behind us. I weakly turned my neck to see a small group of people, who I recognised as warriors and hunters from the packhouse, following us. I turned my head back to Xavier and snuggled into his chest. His bare skin kept me warm and I was surprised at how soft his skin was, even though I could feel the hardness of his toned body underneath. My neck was so sore, and my throat was burning with pain, but I felt safe and secure in his arms.

I could stay here for ever.

I inhaled deeply and the strong aromatic smell of aftershave filled my nose, sending my senses into overdrive. I looked up at Xavier and gently smiled to myself, before lifting my hand and gently caressing his face. Xavier looked down at me in surprise, before gently planting a lingering kiss on the top of my head. His lips felt soft and warm and his touch made me tingle all over.

He really must love me if he has rescued me twice already. Maybe I should give him a chance I thought to myself.

“It’s ok baby, you are safe now. Tom has gone and one day, you shall be mine” Xavier whispered in my ear. I closed my eyes and leaned in further to his chest, burying my nose into the small smattering of hair.

I so desperately wanted to love Xavier but how would my wolf feel. And when would I get her back?

We made our way out of the barn and I briefly looked up, to see where Tom had bought me. I caught glimpse of the dilapidated farmhouse surrounded by thick twisted trees, and I shuddered. It looked creepy and really wouldn’t look amiss in a haunted horror story. Xavier’s voice broke my thoughts and I turned my attention back to him.

“She is coming in my car with me back to the packhouse. Thank you everyone for helping today. You shall be rewarded in due course, but right now I have other pressing matters to attend to” Xavier said, nodding at the rest of the hunting party, before carrying me to a large black SUV. Beta Adam hopped in front of Xavier and dutifully opened the back door. Skilfully, Xavier slid into the back of the car, still carrying me in his arms and slid across the leather seats. I felt my legs rest on the leather, and I shivered gently. The leather was cold on my bare legs and Xavier’s t shirt barely covered the tops of my legs. As if on cue, a slamming sound from the back of the car echoed out and Beta Adam once more appeared by the door.

“A blanket for the Luna. She needs to be kept warm and it will give her some more privacy at least” he whispered gently, glancing at me briefly before looking back at Xavier.

“Thank you, Beta Adam. That’s very thoughtful of you” Xavier replied, graciously accepting the blanket, and gently placing it over my body, then leaning over to pull the door shut with a heavy slam.

The blanket was made of soft wool. The material was thick, but it wasn’t particularly heavy. I noticed how the blanket was a deep shade of purple, which also happened to be my favourite colour. Gratefully, I pulled the blanket over me and snuggled in. I could feel the warmth creeping back over my legs and I instantly felt a lot better. The car roared into life, briefly jolting me backwards in Xavier’s lap. I instinctively put out a hand to steady myself.

“I’ve got you. Just relax. Don’t worry, I won’t let you fall baby” Xavier soothed, gently running his fingers through my hair and smiling down at me.

“Thank you” I whispered looking back at him, gazing deeply into his eyes. They were a dark shade of brown, almost black and they shone brightly under long black eyelashes. He gently leaned forward and rested his head on mine.

“Please baby, accept me. Let me love you. Let me give you the life you deserve.” Xavier whispered.

My mind flashed back to all the things that happened with Tom and I felt my body tense up in fear.

“I can’t. Not right now. I’m not ready to let another guy in. Look how Tom turned out” I replied quietly.

“But I’m not like that!” Xavier snapped loudly, anger briefly crossing his face, causing me to flinch and shrink away in his arms nervously.

“I’m sorry baby. I didn’t mean to scare you. I want to love you, to protect you, give you everything. You’re the one that my wolf has chosen, and I want you too! I never pictured any of this in my mind” hushed Xavier, pulling me closer to him protectively.

“I need time. Please!” I begged. “I’m not ready. I hardly know you. I can’t just jump into bed with you and accept Lunarship and let you claim me if I don’t know you” I pointed out. “Tom was different. He was supposed to be my mate.”

Xavier sighed and nodded. “No, you’re right. Fine. We will take it slow. How about a date night? Once you have recovered, of course.”

“Yes, I’d like that. Thank you” I replied gratefully, feeling a lot calmer. I wouldn’t be making the same mistake of falling for someone quite so quickly this time around.

I felt the car turning to the left and I quickly glanced out the window to see the car crawling up the drive of the packhouse.

“We’re home already?” I asked in shock.

“Yes. He really didn’t take you far and after reading his records, it wasn’t hard to find you. which reminds me, I must update Tom’s file. I’ll do that while your being checked over” Xavier smiled.

The car came to a sudden halt and the door opened and fresh air came flooding into the car. The cool breeze was nice on my skin, after being huddled up in the warm blanket. I felt Xavier slide out of the car, with me still in his arms and march towards the house.

“Are we going up to the infirmary?” I ask.

“Of course. Where else would I take you? We need to make sure you’re not severely injured like last time. Don’t worry, I’ll stay with you if you want me to” murmured Xavier.

“Yes please” I gushed. Xavier’s presence was oddly soothing. We hastily ascended the stairs and 2 large brown doors greeted us. Xavier barged them open with one shoulder and a busy hospital wing soon came into view.

“Xavier! You found her. Quick bring her into room 1 and we will check her out!” a voice rang out. I glanced up to see the doctor from last time march up to us.

“Doctor Danielson!” I exclaimed.

“Hello Leah. Good to see you again, even if it is in dire circumstances. Glad to see you are alive this time though” winked the doctor before pushing open a brown wooden door and nodding towards an empty room. Xavier carried me into the room and gently placed me on the hospital bed.

“Excuse my, erm, nakedness” I blushed.

“Don’t worry. I’ve seen it all before” laughed Doctor Danielson, glancing nervously at Xavier before quickly adding “Not necessarily on you mind!”

I felt his cold thin fingers lift my arms up and gently turn them in his hands before briefly examining my legs. He turned his attention to my neck and shook his head.

“Can you lift up your chin so that I can have a look at the bruising?” he asked gently. I slowly lifted my chin and the touch of cold fingers connected with the hot welted skin. The doctor gently poked and prodded my neck which caused me to yelp out in pain, and Xavier growled warningly.

“I’m sorry sweetheart” the doctor soothed before carrying on “You have extensive bruising to the neck area and a possible bruised windpipe. It isn’t crushed which is good news. Plenty of rest will help that heal, but you’re a fast healer anyway so give it a couple of days and you will be right as rain. I just need to check your back ok?”

“No!” I yelled out, remembering the whipping that Tom had given me earlier that day. There was bound to be marks and I didn’t want them seeing that.

“Leah, what is going on?” growled Xavier worriedly, stepping forward and crouching down beside my bed.

I sighed and closed my eyes. “I don’t know what he did to me while I was asleep, but once I had woken up, he done stuff to me. He gagged me and had me tied to the wall in silver chains while I was totally naked. He spun me around and…”

“Carry on” the doctor prompted gently.

“He whipped me with his leather belt and he also forced his fingers inside of me until I bled” I sobbed, covering my face with arm in embarrassment.

“Help me roll her over Xavier” the doctor asked and slowly, I felt my self being turned over onto my side and the t shirt gently being lifted to expose my flesh.

“Oh my!” gasped the doctor in shock. A loud growl echoed around the room and I knew it had come from Xavier.

“I am glad I killed that little scrote. How dare he mark our Luna like this! Leah, do you know how bad your back is? There are purple welts all over your back and buttocks. At least thirty, if not more. I’m so sorry he did this to you!” growled Xavier angrily.

“Some of these will scar I am afraid Leah” the doctor replied. “Plenty of Arnica cream will help the skin heal. Now, you said he assaulted you down there. Will you let me briefly examine you?”

I glance up at Xavier who didn’t look too pleased at the doctors request.

“I’m staying in the room” he snarled.

“Of course. It will only take a few seconds” reassured the doctor looking at me. I watched him put a large sheet over my legs. “If you could bend your legs and let them fall back on to the bed that would be great.”

I nodded and carefully and bent my legs and let them fall as I was told. Quickly the doctor glanced down and once again, I felt his cold fingers gently poke and prod at my sensitive skin. I jumped in shock.

“She has slight bruising and a few internal grazes, but they will heal up nicely by themselves. The bleeding has stopped anyhow” the doctor said matter of factly, while washing his hands at the sink.

“Does she have to stay here?” asked Xavier, glancing at the doctor.

“No, she can go with you. She just needs rest.”

A loud knock interrupted us, and Beta Adam walked in. “Sorry for interrupting Boss, but I thought the lady would like some clothes to cover herself up with.”

“Thank you, Beta,” I replied. “If you all would like to wait outside while I get dressed please that would be great” I said as I carefully sat myself up and slung my legs off the bed.

Beta Adam passed me a bundle of clothes before walking out with Xavier and the doctor. Quickly as I could muster, I slipped on some black lacy underwear, blushing at the thought of Beta Adam seeing my knickers, before slipping on a pair of black leggings. I carefully took Xavier’s t shirt off and placed it on the bed. I put on the matching black bra and a long grey top. He had even bought me my favourite pink slipper boots which I gratefully slipped on.

How thoughtful.

I tousled my hair over my shoulders so that it fell in loose waves and I made my way across the room and slowly opened the door, to find Xavier stood outside guarding the entrance.

“You look nice” he said, glancing down at me. “Ready to go?” he asked, holding out his hand. I nodded and gratefully took his hand in mine, feeling him gently squeeze my hand in his.

“Where are we going?” I asked quietly.

“I’ve just got to nip to my office and finish writing up Tom’s file then I shall take you to your room and get you tucked up in bed.”

“My room?” I stutter nervously.

Xavier glanced down at me and frowned briefly. “Unless you want to rest in my bed. I promise I wont touch you. But if you feel safer…?”

“Why don’t you stay with me, in my bed, just for tonight?” I asked slowly. Xavier nodded and gently kissed the top of my head before leading me to the staircase. Slowly we descended back down to the first floor where all the offices were and made our way to the end of the corridor where a private sign looked back at us.

This looks familiar I thought, remembering when my Dad dragged me in here, kicking and screaming.

We entered the large airy office and I look around. I never really checked this place out last time I was in here. I was too angry and pissed off to even care. I notice two large floor to ceiling bookcases, filled with books, lined up against the wall on my right. In the corner, by the window was a round glass table and 3 chairs, there was paperwork scattered all over the top in an unorderly fashion. Directly in front of the window was a large wooden desk and black leather computer chair. There was an expensive looking computer set up on one end of the desk and a couple of silver photo frames on the other end. I glanced around the rest of the room and noticed a row of filing cabinets in one corner and a large marble fireplace, filled with logs, ready for the next time it was lit. Beside the office door, on the back wall was a comfy looking couch.

“Go on” Xavier soothed, nodding to the sofa. “Lie on that and get comfy. I won’t be long.” I watched him grab a file from a filling cabinet and casually sit as his desk. He noisily began to type at his computer. Intrigued, I walked over to see what he was writing.

As of July 2019, Thomas Blackett is now deceased, killed by the Alpha of the Bluemoon Clan.

Thomas Blackett was eventually destroyed for the continuation of harassment and physical attacks on the Luna of the Bluemoon Clan. He tried to rape the Luna in the basement at the packhouse and severely beat her.

He was sent to the Valley of the Outcasts for his attack, where he promptly escaped and made his way back to the packhouse, where upon arrival, he kidnapped the Luna and took her to his parents abandoned farm house, where he tied her up and physically and sexually assaulted her.

Death by decapitation.

Signed: Xavier Black. Alpha of Bluemoon.

“You have a file on him?” I asked shocked.

“Yes. We make files on any troublemakers that we have in the packs, so that we can keep an eye on them. I must update his file then I’ll send this update to the Werewolf Office in the city and then I’ll be done.” Xavier responded.

He quickly tapped for a few moments more before a printer hummed into life and a piece of paper nosily ejected out from under the desk. Xavier logged the computer off and slipped the piece of paper into the file before standing up and putting the file back in to the filing cabinet.

“Right. Let’s get you upstairs and settled in to bed!” Xavier ordered, before scooping me up in his arms and marching me back towards the door.