Chapter 48 ~The Awakening: Ancient magic~
(Fiona's POV)
I never thought I'd be repulsed by Beckett’s touch one day. I once craved him so badly that I couldn't think of anything else but being his mate.
And here I was, cornered in a dungeon at Ashridge, about to be taken advantage of by Beckett.
His palm was still on my mouth, clamping it shut to prevent me from shouting. I bit down on his hand with a tight clench of my teeth in defense.
‘Argh!’ he groaned sharply, jerking his hand back and staring at it as if checking for blood.
I took this opportunity to once again scream at the top of my lungs. I wished someone would hear me and come to save me.
My left cheek tingled as I received a resounding slap from Beckett.
“Keep quiet!” He grunted. “No one is going to hear you, anyway.”
He was right. The pack houses were quite a distance from the dungeon, and most people would be drunk and asleep.
Slowly, my screams reduced to quiet whimpers as I realised the helplessness of my situation.
“Good girl.” Beckett whispered into my ear when he noticed I'd stopped screaming. “We used to do this all the time. Why are you acting brand new, Fiona?”
His hands were climbing up my trashy dungeon gown and clutching painfully to my thighs. I tried slapping them away, but he was much stronger.
“Please, Beckett,” I was close to tears now. “Stop.”
He laughed devilishly and groped my ass. “Yeah… that's the stuff.”
His eyes were darkened with lust now. “I never thought I'd say this, but I've missed your body.”
I thought of every defense tactic I knew, but every time, Beckett was one step ahead.
He tsk’d. “Stop that, little wolf. You should know it doesn't work on me.”
By now, my panic had given way to fear.
Fear that I'd never be able to get myself out of this situation.
As his hands continued to grope me and were threatening to pull away my underwear, rage grew rapidly in my chest.
Suddenly, there was a surge of heat that overtook my body, and a ringing in my ears.
My vision was slowly turning blurry as I felt a surge of energy in me.
A bright light escaped from my hands on Beckett's body. In an instant, the light burned through.
Everything happened so fast.
I saw a scary shadow on the wall in the shape of a bipedal wolf-like beast and Beckett must have seen it because his eyes widened almost out of their sockets.
He went flying across the room and hit the iron portcullis of the dungeon. In an instant, he was bleeding from his facial orifices.
I heard a rough snap from the impact. I winced. Was that his rib?
I was in utter shock. What the fuck just happened and how did I have him flying across the room?
I stared at my hands, which were shaking with wild tremors
My body began reacting violently to the sudden surge of energy. A hot burning feeling erupted in me.
I was feeling a lot of things at the same time.
I collapsed to the floor as a seizure tore through me, and I lost consciousness within seconds.
–----
“Hello…”
I woke up in a blur. I was incredibly weak. I could barely see the figure standing in front of me.
“I'm Doctor Mel, Ashridge pack's resident doctor.” The voice was that of a female. “I know you're dazed now from exhaustion, but I'm here to take care of you.”
It felt nice to finally hear the voice of a seemingly nice person after days of inhumane treatment.
Slowly, my vision restored, and I felt less disoriented.
Doctor Mel? She seemed even younger than me, with a not-conventionally-pretty but round-cheeked, kind face, the type that grows on you.
“You were brought in when one of the dungeon cleaners noticed you and the Alpha on the floor.”
I looked around with fear. “Where's he? Beckett.”
And there he was, lying not so far from where I lay. On another bed in this ward.
My breathing quickened.
She must have seen the look on my face because she waved a hand. “Don't worry. He's still unconscious."
I needed to confide in someone at the horror I just went through.
I lowered my voice to an audible whisper. “H…he tried to-”
Dr Mel shushed me. “I know. I saw the scars on your thighs.”
I almost breathed out with relief. Finally, someone I didn't need to explain myself to!
“And,” she continued. “I've seen the maltreatments. All I can say is no one deserves to be treated that way.”
Some of Ashridge elders walked in through the door, wearing cold looks.
I hoped they didn't overhear what we had just been saying.
“Dr Mel, how is Alpha Beckett?” One elder asked.
Their healer walked towards the lying form of Beckett and placed a hand on his head to read his energy.
Dr Mel shook her head. “I'm afraid, not so good. But I'll try my best to make sure he's okay.”
The healer spoke. “Not just his human body, but his soul. His wolf is in silent pain and he possibly won't be able to shift for the next few moons.”
Soft gasps went round the room.
An Elder spoke up. “This is ancient magic!”
All the elders turned to me with aghast looks on their faces.
They were wondering what I was. I could tell even without reading their minds.
“Dr Mel, let's have a word with you.” One elder said.
“Okay?” She nodded.
“Outside, please.” Their shaman was glaring at me as he spoke to Dr. Mel.
“Sure thing.”
They went outside. Leaving me alone with my thoughts on this uncomfortable situation.
I turned in my bed and almost fell in shock when I was met with Beckett's piercing gaze. “Trying to rat me out to the doctor, I see?”
I deadpanned.
He groaned in pain.
“If you let anyone know, I'll have a silver blade pierce your skull. You beast!” he seethed.
The word pierced through my heart.
Was I really a beast?
What was I, anyway? A lot has happened and I'd be deceiving myself if I said I wasn't scared.
What will Xander do when he finds out what I am?
From being helpless for so many years, I was suddenly endowed with powers I knew nothing about.
I stared at my fingers as the door to the ward flung open, and the elders returned.
“Alpha Beckett.” They all surrounded his bed when they saw him awake. “What happened?”
“She attacked me.” Beckett pointed a finger at me. “She's a witch!”
They all looked at me with looks that could kill.
“What are you?” Their healer asked me.
I froze.
What was I?
Dr. Mel cleared her throat, saving me from what would have been a disastrous event. “My patients need to rest. Both of them.”
They gave me final looks as they dispersed, one after the other.
Before Dr. Mel left, she handed me a paper that read.
I'll help you escape. Do you trust me?