Chapter Four: Shattered Hope

I am warning you now before you began to read, you will be reading sexual content of a rape and swearing.

If you do not like to read about it then don't continue but if you like how the story is turning, then please continue but remember I have warned you.

Scott clung to the ropes that held him up, tears streaming down his face as pain exploded from his bloody back. He lost count on how many times he's been clawed at. His mind became hazy, his body slumped forward that strained against his broken wrists. He wanted Derek to come and save him from this overpowering pain. His wolf cried out when he did, his wolf cried as pain sliced through his body like a wild fire. Scott fought against the strains again, rocking his body to and fro. His broken wrists clicked and slid against the bone. Arching his back, Scott let a pain-filled howl tear at his raw throat. It burned his lungs, stung his eyes and brought on dry tears. After the excruciating pain subsided to a throb, his body slumped again. It seems that the torcher was not going to stop anytime soon since they kept clawing at him. His legs became numb after a deep gash was created on the lower half of his naked body. Scott screamed again, it came out strangled and raw. He began to plead to them but it appeared to fall on deaf ears. "Please stop. Please, please, please" he repeated but when those sharp claws tapped at his butt, his body tensed up. 'no please. Anything but that!' he thought quickly.

Scott felt the restrains loosen suddenly, falling face first into the concrete floor. The cold floor felt nice against his hot and bloody body. Before he could roll over to face his attacker, something was tied around his eyes, blinding him. He heard a dark and heart-stopping (with fear) chuckle. "you might be a great fuck" the voice sounded familiar but he couldn't place it. Before his mind could wrap around on who it was, something was probing at his entrance. Fear flooded in his system, he screamed on top of his lungs as the attacker breeched him. His ass felt split in half by the large male's cock that bottomed out. He began to shake, his screams flew out of his mouth as he began to move at a brutal pace. He could feel his insides tear, blood could be felt in himself. The male reached forward and tried to get his cock to get hard but it stayed flat as he growled and bit him. Scott shrieked as hot flashes of agony flared in his vision, turning it white. He fell unconscious when he felt the attackers semen shoot into his broken body.

Before his mind drifted off from the pain, the last thought went through his mind was 'Why did you let this happen Derek?'

The male pulled out roughly from Scott. "Stupid bitch couldn't handle a little fuck" he sneered as he spat on the broken and battered body. Before he could kick out at the almost dead Scott, he was stopped by a kick to his head by a male in the shadows. The rapist flew back and hit the metal wall, his head bounced off the wall as he landed on the ground with a whimper of pain. "That's enough!" a deep voice called out. "You already scarred the kid for life and dirtied him up" the new voice held a threat underneath their tone. "Go and do a perimeter check. We should be expecting Storm soon" the voice grew darker with excitement.

The male struggled to stand up but did. "Alright" was his reply. He limped out of the room that smelt of sex and blood.

The male stepped out of the shadows and peered down at Scott, mocking sympathy touched his face. "Poor pup" he whispered as he dropped down on his hunches. Reaching a hand out to his face, he grabbed the crooked jaw of the teenager and lifted his face to face him. A weak and strangled growl fell from Scott's mouth. "Hm" the male chuckled darkly. "Even when he's unconscious, the pup still has spirit" he smiled wickedly. "This is going to be fun" dropping Scott's face, his smile never fell as he turned disappeared in the shadows. His cold-hearted laughter filled the air as Scott curled around himself, shaking.

~*~Back with Derek and Birch~*~

Birch lay on the bed with his eyes drawn toward the ceiling, he inhaled through his nose and out his mouth. Derek entered the room silently, his eyes drawn to the Alpha Beta on the bed. "I had changed Scott into an Alpha Beta" he started out. "He has shown skill of one but not the brains of one" he stated. Birch kept talking. "It was not the right time but I had to change him."

Derek stared at him, unmoving. His eyebrows came down in a scowl. "Why did you change him if he wasn't ready?" he asked, crossing his arms while he leaned against the dresser nearest to the door.

Birch turned his sandy blond hair to him, his eyes watered with tears. "I had to do it. He had spoken the words of Rule. I had no other choice!" he pleaded. "I cannot stray from the Rule" his voice lowered to a guarded tone. "You can hate me if you want. I know for a fact Storm didn't bite you yet." Birch stated "But he is waiting for the full moon, when all of our powers are higher"

Derek nodded his head as he pushed himself off the dresser "I understand now" his voice was calm and soothing. "Storm said he will be back in two moons" he answered.

Birch lowered his gaze, pain swirled in his deep light red eyes. "I know" sadness seeped into his tone. "I can feel it when he leaves me" turning his head away from Derek.

The Alpha stepped toward him, sending soothing waves toward the Beta. "Can I ask you a question?" Birch turned his gaze back to him and nodded his head. "How is it to mate by the Old Rule?" he asked.

Birch let a light brief smile line his lips. "It is some what a long process. Why do you want to know?" he asked his own question.

Derek lowered his gaze "Just wondering" his voice hardened, guarding his true feeling.

Birch softened his eyes further as he scooted over for Derek to sit. Derek was stunned and stayed still. "Don't worry Derek, I won't bite you" he teased.

Derek lifted an eyebrow then shook his head with a ghost of a smirk. "I can't sit by you Birch" he stated.

Birch flashed a wicked grin. "Storm and I conceder you our pup so get over here, Son" he stared at him.

Derek shook his head again and sat down near Birch. "So about that long process" he smiled back at him.

Birch stared at him as he spoke. "By the old rule, you would have to rain hunting gifts which you would do for a mate. Show affection toward them-"

Derek cut him off with a light scowl of confusion. "As in touching them?" he asked innocently.

Birch chuckled and cuffed him behind his head. "Just little touches but also opening yourself to them. Letting them see a side you probably don't show to others" he chuckled. "There use to be a side effect with matting by the old Rule. You would need to be by them constantly, that particular person you wanted to mate with, would need to be in your eyesight at all times. The undying need to protect and feed your soon-to-be mate will began to burn into your system. But when Alpha, it will be three-times stronger since your picked mate will be around other male werewolves. You will growl and 'claim' possession of them. Some Alphas had branded their mates by biting them to deep. The mark will stay and it will not heal if the Alpha continued to bite them. Now Derek" Birch stared at him, his eyes held concern. "As a warning, you will challenge Storm a few times since he is Alpha as well. The challenge will show your chosen mate how strong you are and you can take care of them without others help. The battle will be bloody and your Alpha Wolf may or may not loose. This will establish meaning for others to see you are strong enough for that mate. Storm is going to see him as fair game and you will notice me as fair game for the battle. Your mate and I might have a few tussles" Birch's smile turned wicked again. A glint appeared in his eyes. "Your mate will want to show you that they can take care of themselves with our without you. Don't take it to heart when they seem.." he paused. "Out of it?" he questioned himself.

Derek's eyes widen in shock "I-I will challenge Storm?" he asked. "Why?!"

Birch chuckled and shook his head. "Not only him but probably anyone else that tries to touch your mate. If they do not back down then you might kill them" Birch straightened his face and his eyes harden. "When you are mating by the Old Rule, it would have been your father you fight against since your wolf will want your mate and theirs, to be comfortable in the pack. To be accepted without a doubt. It will be hard for your mate if they are not Alpha Beta" he stated. "An Alpha Beta takes after the Alpha, they are use to having their mate away with battle or perimeter checks but they cannot go for long since it keeps both their wolves under control"

Derek blinked in confusion. "So your saying that our wolves will mate and they will need to be by one another?"

Birch nodded grimly. "That is until you mated under the full moon. It will ease and please your inner wolf to know they are not alone in having to control you and them all at once."

Derek was beyond confused. "What do you mean they are the ones controlling you?"

Birch sighed and let his hand lay on Derek's arm gently. "When you are angry, sad, happy and those other emotions, your wolf feels them and operates your brain in bring that emotion out or pulling it in. Depending on the situation. Now with your mate in a horrid situation, your wolf's rage will tip the scale and you will do an involuntary shift. You will kill any wolf, human, hunter and or other super natural that may be causing your chosen mate harm. Get what I'm talking about?" he asked with a light squeeze to his arm.

Derek lowered his gaze to his hands. "What happens if the wolf chooses and not you?"

"Your wolf is doing what is best for the both of you. When your wolf chooses, it is for a reason" Birch answered. "Your wolf is a natural Alpha, it will choose a mate for you. That chosen mate is what you are missing in your pack"

Derek closed his eyes and inhaled. "What am I missing in my pack?" he asked.

Birch frowned. "A 'mother' figure" his voice rose on the word 'mother'.

Derek's eyes flew open. "A what!?" his shock apparent on his face.

Birch smiled gently again and nodded. "They can talk to the Alpha Beta when it comes to mating, the females will anyway. It is different for males, their father will show them. The Alpha Beta will have more 'gentle' feelings for them then an Alpha will do."

Derek stood up quickly from the bed "I'm going to bed" he stated with a light growl. "I need to think this over before I do anything" with that spoken, he marched out of the room and walked down the hallway toward his room.

Birch lay in bed with a deep frown "Oh Derek, you don't know the worst part" he thought bitterly. Lowering his gaze to his lap, Birch silently slid from the bed and stood up. Stepping toward the window, the lowering waning moon drew patterns on his skin. 'please Storm hurry" he whispered in his native tongue. Cracking the window open, Birch turned after a few heartbeats. Soon as he was near the bed, a low howl came to his sensitive ears. Snapping his head toward the window, he stepped hesitantly toward it. "Storm?" he whispered. A sickening smell drifted to his nose, Birch held back the vomit that tried to rise.

Taking another slow and hesitant step, Birch peered down at the lawn in front. He gasped in horror and jumped out the window. He howled out his pain and shock "STORM!" Landing heavily on his feet, he rolled with the blow.

Rolling onto his knees and hands, he began to crawl forward as the water dam broke for his tears. Birch let a high pitched howl tare from his throat. "STORM, STORM" he kept screaming.

Storm laid on his side, facing the house with deep gashing up down his body. His eyes were a liquid red as he kept his face tight in a silent snarl. "No Storm.. Please.. No" he kept whispering. Reaching forward, Birch stopped his movements when Storm growled at him. Snapping his hand back, Birch whimpered and whined. "Storm it's me. Birch!" he pleaded. "I'm your mate!" his voice wavered and broke with despair. He reached forward again, his time he was snapped at. Birch stopped moving and stared at him.

Derek came running out of the house "BIRCH WAIT!" he hollered at him. Storm let an earth shaking, ear splitting and heart stopping snarl roll from his throat and out his mouth. Birch stayed still as Storm rose from the ground to lean over him, protecting him. Derek glared at him, Birch lay unmoving. "Birch step away from him" Derek commanded.

Birch rolled onto his back, Storm snapped his gaze down to him and growled warningly. "Storm needs me" he whispered. "Like I need him" Birch reached up again and laid a smooth hand onto his face.

Storm growled at him, opening his mouth to let the moonlight glitter against the blood that stained on him. Derek took a step forward, Storm's attention was brought back to Derek. Leaning forward again, Storm wound an arm around his mate, claws digging into his hip. Birch stared at him, moving his smooth hand further up his face to where it lay on his cheek. Gently, he coaxed his mate to look at him. "Storm" he said breathy. "Come back to me" gravitating toward him, he sealed their mouths together tightly.

Derek turned his head away as Birch began to pour every ounce of love and tenderness into the one kiss. Storm tightened his grip again, blood swelled under his claws and his teeth bit against his mate's. Growling, he lowered their bodies to the ground. When Storm pulled away, he was still not calm.

"Windless valleys roll and slope,

The rain began to fall,

Heaven and Earth began to call,

Soft voices cried out,

Their love rained down,

Staining the soul a dark beautiful red,

The moon howled,

Wolves prowled"

Lowering his gaze back to his mate, Storm stared unblinking. "Birch.." it was a soft and weak tone.

Birch watched his inner wolf began to fade back, his eyes turned back to the original color before becoming an Alpha. White. "I'm here" he whispered, the Alpha Beta felt the claws shrink back to normal nails.

Storm whispered "Birch" before falling on top of him. Weak from the full transformation.

Birch held him close, petting his hair softly while humming in his chest. Derek stared at them, confused. "As I told you before, when in full Alpha mode, their Alpha Beta mate can only tame the beast and calm them." He hummed low as he turned his attention to the milking morning sky. "The moon is red" he whispered. "He must have spilt blood"

Derek blinked, his eyebrow twitched. "What do you mean?" his voice hardened and became annoyed.

Birch sighed "Storm had killed either innocent blood or from a battle he created." Closing his eyes, he inhaled and exhaled. Derek stood back, hesitant to take a step forward. "You can help me bring him to the room" he stated.

Derek nodded, hesitantly stepping toward the Alpha. Getting a closer look at him, he saw deep gashes that healed very slow and the bruises that dusted his skin seemed worse up close. Growling his irritation, Derek reached down and grabbed his arm. Pulling up slowly, he didn't expect him to be this heavy. With effort, he got him in his

hold. His legs cried out at the strain and his back hurt.

Birch stood and reached toward Storm. "I got it from here" he whispered. Derek was doubtful about having Birch take him. Reaching forward, he cradled him in his arms. He swayed as he walked without a problem. Derek was now angrily confused and tired. Sighing, he began to walk back to his house but stopped when a scent hit him. 'SCOTT!' his mind sparked awake as he threw his head back.

Expecting to see Scott there, alive and well but saw one of the young pups standing back. His dark eyes watched Derek wearily. "Jackson" he greeted with a grit of his teeth.

Jackson walked forward, a smug smirk on his lips. "Hey buddy" he growled.

"Where's Scott?" is all Derek spoke, his voice cold as ice.

Jackson stared passed him and up to the window where Birch stood with a silent snarl on his lips. "I don't know" he lied.

Derek stayed still as Jackson took a step forward to where they were shoulder to shoulder. "I can smell him on you"

Jackson let a dry cackle fall "Well then, you had better give me what I want or your little bitch dies" Jackson snarled. Derek snapped his head toward him and snarled but nothing was there.

Turning his angered expression to the window, he saw Birch standing with a sad frown. Shaking his head, he made a quick pace to the house. Rage boiled under his skin as he stomped up the stairs and toward his room. While passing Birch in the hall, he saw the sad tear stricken face. Sneering, he entered his room and slammed the door behind him. Growling, Derek walked to his bed and threw himself down. Closing his eyes, he tried to force his mind on something else but Scott kept appearing in his mind. His wolf was uneasy to know the pup was in trouble. 'GET UP HUMAN! WE NEED TO SEARCH FOR THE PUP!' the inner wolf snarled. Fighting to gain control. Derek sighed and rolled onto his back, his eyes kept close. "What help will we be if we don't get sleep? We'll just be tired beyond help! WE WON'T BE HELP!" Derek snapped back. The wolf stayed silent as Derek forced himself to sleep. He could feel the wolf prowling in his mind, trying to find a weak spot so he could control the body. Shutting his body down, a single thought ran through his mind before sleep caught him. 'Scott, I love you'