Chapter 1

I don't think I can take it any longer. My boyfriend (if you could call him that) Jesse, has been holding me captive for… I don't even know how long. You would think that since I'm a mind-reading vampire-wizard hybrid, that I could just take care of this situation without a problem. Except, there is a problem, that problem being where I'm currently being held.

Whenever Jesse goes to pack meetings, he leaves me locked in the basement, beaten and raped. That's how it has been for as long as I can remember. No matter how much I beg for him to let me out, he just keeps me here where he can get at me whenever he wants. The only company I have is my pet dragon, Starfire, whom, for whatever reason, only I can see.

However, I cannot, will not, stay here and just accept the abuse any longer. I have to get out of here. Get as far away as I can. One problem will be deciding where to go, because I know that once I start running I can't turn back. I won't be offered a second chance. I'll run and never come back. The second thing, though, is that when I start running it's a given that Jesse and his pack will follow. They'll do everything they can to hunt me down.

There has always been a window down here, but I've always been afraid of opening it. Now, I run to it and find it locked. I began casting reductos on the it. The spells are weak due to the crude wandless magic, but with a bit of force from Starfire, the window finally shatters outward. I pull myself out and make sure that Starfire has gotten out as well before beginning to run as fast as I could. I shift to my Animagus form, a snow leopard, after several paces to help me run faster.

I had barely shifted into my Animagus form when I caught the faint sound of growling. Something, or possibly someone, is growling. It's not close by, rather some distance away. Despite this, a cold fear still ran through my veins, just adding to the array of emotions my escape has stirred up within me. I feel desperation grabbing at me. I have to get away. I have to run as fast as I can - faster than I have ever gone before. My aching muscles don't matter; fear is pertinent.

Suddenly a new and unfamiliar scent filled my nose, startling me. It smells of werewolves. However, these aren't the ones that belong to Jesse's pack. These new, unknown wolves are just up ahead, and even were I to turn around and run in the opposite direction (which I have already decided I can't do) they would know I was there. I continue towards them, hoping with every fiber of my being that they will allow me to pass without asking too many questions. I only want to get through. That is, until I smell my friend Crystal, her familiar scent sending relief flooding through my system, and I call out to her with my mind, "Help me, Crystal! Please don't take me back!"

She hears me and responds, "Don't worry, Draco, we won't." Howling resonates through the forest as she calls her pack. Her white fur appears in front of me and I stopped beside her. We heared the sound of heavy paws pounding into the ground and I turnned to look at the source in time to see two wolves appear. One of the wolves, a wolf with a gray coat, runs straight to Crystal, while I come face to face with the biggest of the pair. The large wolf with completely black fur stood, glaring, while I stood cowering under his gaze.

I want to look away, but his brown eyes hold me captive. For a moment, the entire world seemed to vanish. All I could feel is warmth filling my chest. It only lasts for a short moment, fading as quickly as it appeared.

"What is going on, girl?" the black wolf thinks as he continues to tower over me, "What's with the snow leopard?" I whine and Crystal stepped up in front of me, as if to shield me from his gaze. All I have right now is Crystal's word that they won't send me back to Jesse. I know nothing about these two other wolves, but there is no way Crystal has the authority to stop them if they decide to send me back.

"Sam, stop it!" she shouts, surprising me and standing up to the bigger wolf, who was, apparently, called Sam. "He is a friend of mine and he is hurt! There is another pack that will be here soon and I don't think we should be around when they do arrive," she says.

All I could do is beg, I lower myself to the ground and whimper out, "Please don't send me back! He'll kill me this time. Please, please..." I know I sound pitiful and once upon a time I never would have lowered myself to such practices, but those days are long gone and all I care about now is remaining free from Jesse.

Sam huffs and looks away from me, shifting back to his human form. "Don't worry, we won't," he says. He pulls on a pair of shorts that have been tied to his leg and the other wolf changes back as well.

"Sam, we have incoming," the other, unknown boy says.

The pungent stench of Jesse almost knocks me off my feet. He stunk of other female wolves and sex; it made me sick to my stomach. I dash away from Crystal to hide a few yards away, allowing some thick bushes be my cover.

Jesse slid to a stop in front of Crystal and the other two werewolves, shifting back into his human form. He states, "I am Jesse, Alpha of the Makah Pack." He continues to talk as he scans the area, trying to find me. I slow my breath and try to keep as still as possible, to keep myself hidden, but the fact that I grow more nervous by the second wasn't helping. "I'm looking for my boyfriend. He is a snow leopard shape-shifter. You wouldn't have happened to see him around would you?"

"No, I am afraid that we haven't seen him." Sam replied. "If that's all, I'd appreciate it if you made your way back to your own territory." More of his pack appears behind him, blocking my vision of Jesse.

"Are you completely sure?" Jesse pressed for more information, looking more than a little frustrated, but definitely wary at the growing size of Sam's pack. "I smelled him when I crossed over the border. He must have run this way."

"Why would he be running away anyway? Trouble in paradise?" Sam snipped at him, taking a step towards the smaller alpha.

Jesse glared at Sam and clenched his jaw. "Oh, nothing to concern yourself with." Jesse didn't move from his spot, but he yelled out, "I know you're here! You're mine, Draco! Get your ass over here now!" His voice echoes through the trees, but I don't move.

Sam steps closer again and yells, "Get off my land! Take your friends and go. You know the laws, now leave, while I still allow it."

Jesse attempts to push past, but he is shoved back and Sam grabs his throat. Sam grips it tightly for a moment before throwing him away.

Jesse climbs back onto his feet and throws one last glare before he turns and leaves. Taking a deep breath, I wait a moment longer and leave my hiding place, returning to the pack that had just saved my life. I shift back into my human form and Sam steps forward, holding out his hand.

"Hi, I'm Sam," His voice is soft and calm, different from how it was before and I cannot help the calming effect it has on me.

"I'm Draco," I say through my mind. I reach out and shake his hand. Crystal wrapped her arm around my neck and turned me to face the rest of the pack and starts the introductions.

"This is Embry, that is Paul, over there is Quil, Jared, Seth and Leah. Everyone, this is Draco," she paused, "He is like me, but he... he is a… wizard."

"How come he isn't talking?" Seth probes. He leans forward to peer at me with inquisitive amber eyes.

Black spots danced in my vision and I opened my mouth as if to speak. Shocked gasps sounded tiny and far away in my ears. I know what they've seen - the empty cavern that once held my tongue. Dizziness and fatigue finally overtake my senses. I pitch forward suddenly. Muscled arms wrapping securely around my middle are the last thing I register before sliping into the fog of unconsciousness.