Hello everyone! Now the countdown to the conclusion of MOMS begins. There are five chapters left after this one. This has been a fantastic journey and I have you guys to thank for that.
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight
Chapter 37
"Edward!" Embry's voice carried with it the desperate tone of one who is about to lose what he holds dear. Nobody had seen the dark figure lurking in the shadows. When they became aware of him it was too late. Edward was semi-conscious on the floor, blood seeping from his nose and ears. Still, the cook was serene; he had been able to vindicate himself. Many years before he had failed his pack and his lover, he was at peace at last.
Embry's sweet voice resonated in Edward's ears. If this was the end of him the cook wanted to look at him with his human eyes. Using his last bit of strength he phased, he was baffled when he realized he felt very little pain during the shift. "I love you." The cook hadn't told Embry how he felt about him while he was in Sam's clutches. He was working overtime to find ways to guarantee his freedom, until then, he didn't want to get Embry's hopes up. He vowed to spend his last breath to make sure the submissive was safe and happy.
His biggest comfort was knowing that the slave would go on to live a long healthy life, protected and free. Months before he wrote down a will in which he left everything he owned to the slave and made Billy swear on Sarah's memory that he would take care of Embry if he was not there. The submissive would be free but he was still a submissive and would be for the rest of his life. This put him at the mercy of any fiend. Ed was certain that it would come to Sam and him dueling to the death, he doubted he would lose that fight but Sam was a cheater and was known for fighting dirty.
In a sea of fast beating hearts, sharp breathing and loud voices the cook could distinguish the softness and strength of the submissive's words. But he was too tired, he couldn't even keep his eyes open, he was fading fast. "Ed please stay with me! Why did you do something so stupid? You shouldn't have, how could you put your life on the line for me." Even with the tears that clouded his vision and the pain that affected his judgment, Embry kept working on the mangled body of the man he loved. He could see the bruises already forming under the skin, some of them caused by broken bones. Edward understood at that moment that he felt almost no pain because of Embry's gift.
As on cue Billy crouched beside Edward taking his hand between his while he observed the slave's hands sliding over the cook's skin. Making an inhuman effort Ed opened his eyes to look at the Aleph. "Billy… remember… your promise." Edward's voice was barely a whisper but could be heard by all those present.
"I gave you my word and I intend to keep it. But he won't need my protection son, he has you for that. Don't argue and don't give up, you hear me? I will not lose you in this horrible place. If you won't do it for yourself, do it for him. I know how much you love him. Buddy you may be an alpha but you're a whipped alpha. Still, I don't blame you for being whipped you know, after the display of power these little submissives showed today I would think twice before angering either one of them." The Aleph knew he was rambling, but he needed to keep Edward with them, to keep his consciousness from going adrift.
Billy moved aside when Carlisle joined Embry and began assessing the extent of his injuries. "His clavicles are broken and he has several broken ribs as well. He won't be stirring any pots anytime soon with that right arm, that thing is a mess. I think there are some internal injuries also; I hope he is not bleeding internally. He would be screaming in pain if it wasn't for you Embry." All through the day he had been in awe with the raw power the two submissives exuded. Since the moment any submissive became a slave everything about them was controlled, never allowing them to reach their full potential. He wondered how different the world would be if instead of keeping the submissives on a leash they took advantage of their talents.
Embry hadn't paid too much attention to what Carlisle said, he was too focused on the man he hoped to share the rest of his life with. "Ed, listen to Billy, don't give up. It didn't matter how bad things got, you never allowed me to give up. You made me promise to stay with you, now I want you to do the same." The slave bent forward and brushed his soft lips against the cold, cracked ones of the cook. When he moved back he saw a minute smile on Ed's lips and hoped it meant that he still had fight left in him. "Anyway there is something you owe me mister and you're not getting out of that."
Carlisle observed the mischievous twinkle in the slave's eye but could make twenty guesses and still not be able to get the correct answer. Whatever it was made Edward smile and that gave the doctor hope for his patient. It took them a while but between Embry and Carlisle they were able to immobilize Edward's arms to help speed up the healing of his collarbone and protect his arm. They ran out of cloth to wrap him with but his packmates ripped anything they could find so they could put together the makeshift slings and wrap his torso. It had been a team effort, submissive, doctor, alphas and soldiers working for the same purpose.
Inside the warehouse Seth hummed a song his sister used to sing to him when he was little while running his fingers through Jacob's sweat soaked hair. The alpha wouldn't move, not only because of the pain and exhaustion but also because he feared he was asleep and if he moved he would wake up still be tied to that chair. It will take him a long time to recover both physically and emotionally, but he would. Seth had gone through much more terrible things and didn't allow any of it to take away his humanity. He owed it to the submissive to not let what these men did to him take away his soul.
The slave was worried for Edward. He wasn't sure how much time had passed since Carlisle went to take care of him. He prayed silently for his friend, he didn't know much, only that he was hurt but that's never good news.
Billy came back inside to check on Jacob. His eyes met Seth's and what the slave saw in them sent a shiver down his spine. "Billy what's wrong? Is Ed…?"
"He's still with us; I just don't understand why Harry attacked Embry. The submissive is not a threat to anyone."
"He did it because he hates me dad." Jacob's gravelly voice shouldn't have surprised his father but it still did. "He told me that I didn't deserve to live, that after I forced him to brand Seth he hadn't had a moment of peace. Sam probably told him about Embry's gift and he put two and two together. He said I deserved to be punished and I happen to agree with him."
"Nonsense son, this was not punishment. This was torture and revenge. God only knows how long Victor had been planning this. If I had to take a guess I would say years since some of the traitors he placed in our home had been with us for over five years." Billy would never forgive himself for failing to be more proactive with the protection of his home and family.
"Jake you're a good man; you protected me and more importantly, you showed me how it feels to be loved. Yes you made a few mistakes…" Seth took his master's hand and placed it over his chest. There he could feel the strong beat of the slave's heart as it beats for him while the scar with his initials reminded him of his darkest hour. "… but you amply made up for it. I love you so much." The slave's words made Billy sigh relieved that his only son had found somebody who cared so deeply for him. One who would always place him above all others and whose existence would make him a better person. He would demand that everyone treat Seth with respect. There would never be another slave in his land. To hell with the council! He was in charge now and felt very sorry for the man that dared to get in his way.
After Edward was stabilized Quil and some of the other soldiers came inside the building to carry their alpha out. He was too weak to walk on his own. Jacob couldn't phase without risking ripping the stitches Carlisle closed his wounds with. Also, his legs would lack claws and it would be painful for him to walk. Once outside they joined the others, some had gone to hunt dinner for everybody while some just rested under the thinning oak trees. They found a patch of thick grass and laid a blanket over it so Jacob could rest. A few yards away Embry kept Edward company while managing his pain. His red eyes and blotchy face made Seth's heart ache. "Baby, go to him."
"Thank you but no, my place is next to you." Seth was truthful, but felt a tad guilty for abandoning his friend when he was in such obvious distress. Under different circumstances he would've never done such a thing but after almost losing his master he was terrified of even turning his gaze away from him. He feared that if he did, his master would vanish.
"Seth if you're worried about me being upset, don't be. I will always be jealous of him, you know that. After all he was the first one to…" Jacob took a calming breath. "… make love to you. I'm aware that I forced you. I'm such an idiot, to make matters worse I acted like a mindless freak, almost making you both pay for my mistake. I'll never forgive myself for everything I put you through but I'm grateful that you are a much better person that I'll ever be and forgave me." Jacob voice was still hoarse form the hours of screaming but just having his pup beside him filled him with strength.
"What did I tell you about talking of the past Jacob Black? Of course I had to forgive you, have you looked at yourself in a mirror? You're freaking hot." The alpha's crooked smile looked more like a grimace than an actual grin. His painfully swollen face making it very hard to have any kind of facial expression. There was something different about his lover. He seemed happy and relaxed, going as far as being affectionate with him in public.
"As I said, go to him; he needs his best friend." Seth couldn't argue with his boyfriend. He knew that with Embry's history and especially after what happened with Sam, Jacob would be in his right to keep them away from each other. This made the sub even more grateful, his master took the road less traveled and was being forgiving. Maybe this whole nightmare made him mature and realize that there were way worse things than petty jealousy.
Embry's full attention was on the cook; to him, there was no one else in the world. Only when Seth placed his hand on his knee he noticed his friend was sitting beside him. Lifting his eyes from Edward's sleeping form he gave his friend a sad smile before two tears as heavy as the essence of grief itself rolled down his cheeks. Seth rounded his friend's shoulders with his arm and pulled him closer to him tucking a kiss into his hair. All things considered he could say Embry was a happy person, he had a way of finding the silver lining in every grey cloud. "He saved my life, that wolf was going for me, he pushed me and took the brunt of the attack."
"We do crazy things for the ones we love Em. You couldn't have ended with a better person. You lucky dog, how did it all start?" Asked Seth pointing at the cook and his boyfriend.
"He started visiting me after the whole Carlos incident." Embry lifted his head looking around nervously, trying to spot the person that could've added another link to his chain of adversities. Thankfully he was nowhere to be seen at the moment. "Ed is such a wonderful loving person. He made sure I ate, cleaned my wounds when I was hurt and gave me all the love and comfort he could without putting me at risk. He even bathed me when Sam left me chained to the wall for days. Lately he had not bothered to leave the keys so the servants could undo the chain. Edward has been trying to find someone bold enough to help him free us but everyone is just too afraid of Black and Uley. What about you? How long have you two been an item?"
"Since the end of spring." Seth' smile was infectious and filled his friend with happiness. He was thoroughly amused by Embry's the surprised expression. If they weren't under such stressful circumstances he would've laughed out loud.
"Damn, no wonder you ran faster than I've ever seen a wolf run. You were a man on a mission to save the one he loves. It's so romantic." Embry said with a twinkle of tease on his face. Seth rolled his eyes at his friend's cheesy comment. He wouldn't tell him he disagreed. There was nothing romantic about leading a mission to rescue his lover from the lowlife that kidnapped him.
"We're two lucky guys Seth. Life is smiling at us at last. We have two men that love us, we have our freedom and we have each other." They cleaned off each other's tears before melting in a brotherly embrace. They fought the good fight and their souls became stronger than anyone could've ever guessed.
"Excuse me, are you Seth?" A wolf that the slave didn't recognize tapped him in the shoulder to get his attention.
Seth hesitated before answering; it would be a long time before he trusted anyone new. "Yes, may I help you sir?" Of course, he answered shyly, his voice low and his eyes turned away from the stranger. He struggled to find his voice but he still talked to him and that was one step in the right direction.
"I'm Ivan, Emmet's beta; it's an honor to meet you. He talks about you all the time. We're about to leave, we want to take Em back home. He will be fine, but will definitely heal faster surrounded by his family." There was sadness and longing in Ivan's voice. Seth wondered if he had feelings toward the alpha.
"I don't know sir; you will have to ask my master." Seth still held on to a good part of his slave mentality. Like the letter branded on his skin, the instinct to obey and submit was part of his psyche. For fifteen long years his life depended on total obedience, that was a tough act to follow. He knew he had earned his freedom; he trusted Billy to keep his word and couldn't wait to get home and give Jacob the surprise.
"Of course. I'm sorry; we're not used to the technicalities surrounding submissives. Slavery is not allowed in our region. Emmet has been the determining factor and the motor behind this movement. It's another one of many reasons why we all love and respect him." The word love lingered in the beta's lips longer than the others. Excusing himself he walked in Jacob's direction crouching beside him to exchange a few words. Seth knew his master very well and even from a distance he could feel the tension in his body produced by the request. Jacob waved the submissive closer and he was beside him in no time.
"Love, Emmet wants to say goodbye and I can't prevent you from seeing him. I'll ask Quil and a few others to go with you, I can't be too careful when it comes to my pup." Jacob shifted slightly on his spot to look at Emmet's beta. "I trust him but I don't trust anyone else, not even my own shadow. Know two things, he is mine and I will not hesitate to make you pay if any harm comes to him." The wolf nodded in understanding before standing up as Quil approached them.
After Jacob gave Quil some instructions he and three other wolves escorted the submissive to the spot where the Canadian packs made their camp. Emmet was lying on a blanket very much like Jacob was. Seth felt his heart soar at the same time it hurt for seeing his friend in such condition. Still, even with all the injuries he managed to give his old friend the best smile he could manage. "Hey squirt!"
Seth ran to his friend kneeling beside him and giving his a soft hug. Even though he was very gentle the alpha still hissed in pain. Seth smiled and made an exaggerated gesture of pointing his index finger right at Emmet's nose. "Don't call me that. You and Leah tormented me enough with that silly nickname. How do you feel?"
"Like I was dropped on my head twenty or thirty times. Aside from that, I'm peachy." Seth had no choice but to laugh at his friend's funny and slightly confusing answer. "For the longest time something has been racking my mind. You two were not only master and slave when I visited you right?" The slave nodded.
"No wonder the whole arrangement seemed very odd to me. I understand why you couldn't tell me; after all he didn't leave your side for one second, stood there like a darn guard dog. Pretty much like those four over there." He said looking in Quil's direction. "What's with you people and security details?" Both friends laughed heartily, they shared the general feeling of elatedness that permeated in the camp. There had been losses on both sides but everybody felt that something good would come of all this.
"I'm a submissive Em and this place is crawling with dominants. It wouldn't surprise me if a few try to jump me. I hope that doesn't happen, but hope can be an unattainable luxury sometimes."
"Seth if you don't mind me asking, how did you two go from master and slave to lovers? I know he was really bad to you, fuck, he even carved his damn initials on your chest. How the hell could you fall for him?" Seth remained silent. "Answer me, damn it!" Emmet's voice kept rising, putting everyone on alert. Quil gently placed his hand on the sub's arm to help him up. He needed to take him away from the apparent threat.
"Em I'll answer you but you need to calm down. Jacob has a good heart, when his defenses came down and I was able to take a peek inside him I liked, no, I loved what I saw. I saw a human, not a perfect entity but a person with a bad side and a good side. Before my eyes he went from a cruel man to a shattered broken one, eventually turning into a wonderful loving man. He loves me and doesn't care about what my body has been through. To him my scars are beauty marks and my past is a nightmare that will never repeat itself." Seth spoke slowly; his deep melodic voice captivated all who heard him.
Unable to hold back tears Emmet's conflicting emotions came to the surface. His heart swelled with joy for his friend but his spirit was crushed. The man he had been dreaming about since learning he was still alive had slipped through his fingers. Seth's explanation didn't matter, in his mind the slave was brainwashed and didn't know any better. "I wanted you to love me like you love him. I'm jealous of the way your eyes shine when you speak of him. You're the main reason we came here today. I was afraid of what the westerners would do to you if Jacob was killed. Please promise me that if you ever find yourself in the need of a friend that you will count on me. My home will always be open to you; with me you will never be hurt or go hungry. I love you Seth, and always will."
Seth's heart filled with compassion and love. He ran his fingers affectionately through Emmet's hair; the alpha closed his eyes enjoying the gentle touch of the submissive. The one that hadn't been loved by anyone except his sister suddenly found himself in the position of having two equally wonderful men pinning for his attention. He wished he could love them both with the same intensity but that was not possible. In his mind and spirit there was only one name and that was Jacob Black. For so many years he had felt alone in a world that wanted nothing but to keep him down. A world that had been so incredibly cruel to his kind that if he hadn't lived it he would've doubted all that evilness existed. That world was slowly disappearing leaving in its place a dream. "You have my word my friend, if I ever need you I will not hesitate to contact you. Now I want you to promise me something, open your eyes and your heart to those around you. I love you my friend, but I'm in love with him. While you're with your head in the clouds the opportunity to be loved and be really happy could be right in front of you." Seth lifted his eyes and found Ivan a few feet away watching the scene unfolding before him. His eyes shone with tears he was desperately trying to hold back. There was no doubt about it, a look like that cannot be faked, he was in love.
After kissing his friend's forehead the sub joined his master again. Jacob had not been able to rest, looking intently in the direction of Emmet's camp. If he had been well enough he would've gone with his pup not only to assure his safety but especially to keep Emmet's paws away from him. There was a small part of him that would always fear that one day Seth will open his eyes and realize he had been lying with the devil itself. That day would be the last of the alpha's miserable existence, after living with an angel there was no way he could descend back to the earth to live among regular men.
Seth sat next to his master who moved so he could rest his head on the submissive's lap. That was the place he wanted to be for the rest of his life, at his puppy's mercy. "I love you." Jacob's love declaration reached the slave's heart making it swell with emotion.
Jacob's words didn't go unnoticed by Carlos who was just returning from canvasing the area for bodies. As the forever lazy bum that he was he left his men to do the job while he came back to the camp with the excuse of talking to the Aleph. Carlos was appalled and disgusted by Jacob's actions. In his eyes, Jacob was putting the whole house to shame. It was unconceivable that the son of the Aleph could be mated with a mangy dog. "Billy, aren't you going to do something about that?" Carlos stopped and looked in Jacob's direction.
"I'm afraid I don't follow, my friend."
"I just heard Jake tell his bitch that he loved him. You have to put a stop to this, Do you have any idea how bad this makes all of us look? We'll be the laughingstock of the Nation." Carlos waved his hands frantically trying to make a point. He couldn't believe that Billy could be comfortable with whatever was going on between Jacob and the slave. He became loud enough that all those around him could hear everything. Even though he couldn't decipher the words Seth felt a knot form in his stomach, he just knew something bad was going on. The slave furrowed his brows together, his expression becoming somber. Carlos was many things, but to the submissives he was a corrupt man that was a slave to his urges; he was a dangerous monster. He was a very unhealthy presence in the manor.
"First of all I can't tell Jacob who to love; he is an adult and more than capable of making his own decisions. Second I don't give a flying fuck about what the nation thinks of us. We have been keeping appearances for far too long and we're not doing that anymore. Didn't you see what happened here? We thought we were so careful and the pot was brewing right under our noses. While we were busy showing to the world a lie, the truth was being exposed to all out enemies. Third that bitch like you called him saved my son's life in more ways than one. That's something for which I'll be eternally grateful. Damn it Carlos, you're Jake's godfather don't you care at all about his happiness?"
"Of course I care about his happiness. Do you honestly believe that being ridiculed because of the company he keeps will be good for him? Wake up and smell the roses, in this world if you're not the one on top you're the one everybody steps on. What's so wrong about the way he has been behaving? He only did what any dominant would do. We all have our duties, soldiers, servants and submissives. Why do you want to affect the balance of things? If something is good you don't mess with it you leave it alone. Keep in mind that if the council gets a whiff of this nonsense you could lose everything."
"Oh Carlos Carlos, Carlos, stop being so stupid, who do you take me for? It was a rhetorical question. I know you couldn't care less about me or my son, the only person you care about is Carlos Cisneros. The level of comfort you enjoy in my house is too important to you. Just so you know, you will have to change your mind if you want to stay in my house. From now on these two submissives and any others we meet will be respected. No more beatings and no one will force themselves on them. Leave Seth and my son alone and go spill your venom somewhere else." Billy's mask of calmness was falling one piece at a time. Carlos represented the mentality of most wolves. The task before him seemed unattainable but not impossible. The Aleph had faith that what the wolves witnessed during Jacob's rescue would open their eyes. These men could be the first ones to change but they would definitely not be the lasts.
The conversation was interrupted by a wolf that looked like he had seen a ghost. His hands were shaking, his eyes were wide and his breath raggedly moved in and out of his body. "Excuse me sir you need to come with me. While canvasing the woods on the southeast side we came upon… I can't even say it. Please come with me so I can show you." What Billy saw in the wolf's face told him that whatever spooked him had to be really bad.
Carlos and Billy walked briskly, curious of what awaited them. After about five minutes they arrived at a clearing and came face to face with the most horrific image any of them had ever seen. Nothing could've prepared the Aleph for what he saw. It was something taken out of a book on medieval torture. A pole of approximately six inches in thickness and close to ten feet long laid vertically fixed to the ground. Its thickness seemed to decrease as the eyes traveled up the stake. The pungent scent of the blood that saturated the floor around the base was overwhelming but it was nothing when compared to the reason for all that blood.
Perched on the top was no other than Sam Uley. He was still alive but judging by the amount of blood and condition of the body he didn't have long. If he hadn't been a wolf he would've been dead already and his agony would be long over. Impalement was a known punishment technique for traitors. The torture device had been inserted through the rectum, gravity pulling his body down and playing the role of executioner. Sam must've had a huge debt with karma. Instead of the pole moving straight through his abdominal cavity it had traveled along the spine and exited through the back, below his left scapula. Instead of death claiming him and ending his suffering, he had been left to die a slow painful death.
Carlos thought that this torture was very fitting for the extent of his crime. Billy brought his hand to his mouth to cover it as he shook his head in disbelief. A part of him wanted to turn around and leave him there to die. The more dominant side of his personality was suffering for the man he loved as a son. His heart filled with compassion for the doomed wolf. He thought that nobody deserved such a cruel punishment. He wasn't that different from his own son, they had committed similar barbaric acts. The only difference was that while Jacob had repented and vowed never to fall into that deep chasm ever again, Sam's cruelty had escalated to unbelievable levels. There was a lot Embry hadn't told anyone, he didn't see the point of reliving his horror story.
"We need to get him down from there. Any suggestions on how we can do this without hurting him any further?" Billy needed to help him, if he didn't he was no better than Victor or even Sam himself. He could call Embry to help ease his pain but he couldn't ask the submissive to do such a thing. It was his decision to help him but he wouldn't force anyone to do the same.
"Why would you do such a thing? Did you forget what he did to Jake? Anyway he is a goner, his insides must be shredded. There is no way he could recover from something like this. I will not get my hands dirty for him." Stated Carlos, several men nodding in agreement.
"I want to do it because it's the right thing to do. Carlos, the only thing that sets him apart from you or my son is his treason. You're even too lazy to help a dying man; you should be ashamed of yourself." Answered Billy curtly.
Carlos avoided Billy's eyes and accusatory gaze but nodded in understanding. They needed to come up with a plan quickly. At the end they agreed the best course of action would be to dig on one side of the pole while some of them held Sam's body so it wouldn't topple down. Once on the floor they untied Sam's hands but debated whether or not to remove the stake. Pulling it out would probably cause enough damage to put the wolf out of his misery.
Sam opened his eyes to only a slit and lifted his face to look at the man that cradled him in his arms. Big fat tears slid down the Aleph's tortured face. "I'm… sorry." Whispered Sam, his voice rough from what probably had been hours of screaming.
"I know you are son. I forgive you for everything." Sam's blood stained hand weakly held on to Billy's waist as he cried softly in his lap. He knew he didn't deserve anyone's forgiveness. He realized too late that Billy would've never hurt him the way Victor did. He dug his own grave with his greed and envy.
"You have to rescue Embry, I left him chained." Sam spoke with difficulty, as blood chocked him. "They raped me, all of them, it hurt so bad. Please let me die with some dignity, pull this thing out of me."
"If we do you'll bleed to death, son."
"I'm dead anyway." Billy knew that Sam was right; it would be a kindness to end his suffering. He held Sam tightly before he gave the men a signal to pull the stake out. A chocked scream left Sam's lips as he dug his nails onto Billy's flank while they pulled the torture device out of him. A torrent of blood seeped out of Sam's body soaking the ground and Billy's clothes. Seconds later he took his last breath and his heart beat for the last time.
"Please bring some of the cloth you're using to wrap the bodies of our fallen brothers. I don't want anybody to see the condition of his body. We'll burn the bodies of our enemies and bury the bodies of our packmates. Their bodies have to return to the earth intact so they will reach the land of our ancestors." He stopped to look at Sam's peaceful expression. "You're with your parents now, rest in peace son."
After saying one last goodbye to those they lost the pack began the slow trek back to the manor. With Billy carrying Jacob and Quil carrying Edward it was impossible to go faster than a trot. It would take them at least one day to get back home but this was a journey they were happy to make. Seth walked beside his father-in-law in his human form to make sure that Jacob wouldn't fall off his father's back. They tied him with a bed sheet around his father's body but he was very weak as the wounds were taking longer than expected to heal. They stopped several times for Carlisle to change Jacob's dressings. When the pain transformed Jake's features, the slave whispered sweet nothings in his ear that invariably took his attention away from the pain. Carlisle just smiled and shook his head at Seth's antics. The love they had for each other transformed their lives and made more than one man wish for the same.
They arrived at the manor at twilight, tired but happy to be home at last. Jacob and Edward were taken to Carlisle's makeshift clinic for observation. The trip had not been kind on their bodies and they needed to rest for their healing to pick up. The doctor needed to give them something for the pain so Embry could rest. As it was he had been using his gift to keep Edward painless for more than twenty-four hours and he was exhausted. He didn't mind though, he would do anything for his Edward. "Eddie, the doctor is going to give you some juice to help with the pain and make you sleep. Go ahead and rest, I'll be here when you wake up. I love you, crazy wolf." Embry kissed Edward softly before exiting the clinic followed by Seth.
Billy informed the submissives that he would put together all the necessary paperwork to make their freedom official. He would do it in the morning though, he was too tired from carrying his son for hours and wanted to call it a night. The submissives could barely contain their happiness. What they had been dreaming about for more than a decade was within their reach. They wouldn't have to put up with any wolf molesting them anymore. Nobody had the right to hurt them and they wouldn't have to wear their collars ever again. The symbol of their status as subhuman servants would never again adorn their necks. What filled their hearts with so much joy and happiness that they could scarcely contain it was that they would be allowed to love.
Seth allowed himself the luxury of dreaming. His wedding day would be the most memorable experience of his entire life. He saw himself declaring his love to his master in front of everyone without fear or reservation. Jacob looking at him lovingly, his eyes misty like early morning dew from the overwhelming emotions brewing in his heart. He saw himself trembling as he stood before the man he loved holding hands as they promised to love and cherish each other for an eternity. Their eyes would reveal what inhabited their hearts, what words failed to describe. He dreamed of simple things, walking hand in hand through the fields, returning to the waterfall where they made love for the first time, lying on the grass counting stars. He even dared to imagine the impossible, his petite body round with their child. A little baby that would be a living expression of their love. That little angel would prove that something wonderful could come out of the worst and most desperate circumstances.
"Planet earth calling Seth." Embry waved his hand to get his friend's attention. He had just emerged from the bathroom after taking a shower and found his friend sitting on the bed in a deep trance.
After a few more tries Seth was brought back to the here and now. "Sorry Em, my mind was a hundred miles away. I never thought about my future, knowing that nothing good awaited me there but everything is different now. We're not slaves anymore, now we can be happy, we can love, we can do whatever we want!" Seth paced back and front before his friend, alternating between flapping his arms while jumping excitedly and wiping the tears from his eyes.
Embry didn't remember when the last time he felt so happy was. The only occasions in which he had experienced any kind of joy was when he was with Seth. That little guy turned his world upside down. He would be eternally grateful that through Seth he obtained his freedom. If it hadn't been for his gift and his determination to find his master he would probably continue to live in forced servitude. He joined Seth in his celebration, they danced without music, they hugged, they cried, the best thing was that he knew they could choose the path to follow. The only thing he was sure of was that he wanted Edward by his side. He had been his friend, his companion and his protector. Thanks to him he could trust dominants again. Not all of them were after his body, not all of them wanted to hurt him.
"Seth thank you thank you thank you, I owe my freedom to you, brother! Do you know the first thing I want to do?" Seth shook his head in negation. "I want to run, to run like the wind, to follow my instincts and see where they take me. I can't wait for Ed to wake up; I've been fantasizing about him and can wait to see how reality and fantasy compare." Seth noticed the pink tinge in his friend's cheeks and looked at him questioningly.
"What is your dirty mind up to?" Asked Seth with humor in his voice. He grabbed his friend's hand and guided him to sit on the bed and he sat beside him.
"Edward and I are yet to make love. He is such a gentleman. He is letting me choose when we make love. We came close a few times but I stopped him when things got too heated. I felt… actually I still feel like I don't deserve him. My body has been used and abused by countless men. I'm dirty and I don't want to soil him." It was incredible how a human being could go from complete happiness to utter despondency in matter of seconds. Bitter tears began to choke him making him gasp for air. Sadness, rage and pain took over his thoughts.
"I understand how you feel brother; believe me when I tell you he doesn't see you that way. Some time ago Jake wanted to please me in a way that I considered demeaning for him. I'm going to tell you what he told me on that occasion. Your body is beautiful, perfect and clean. The only dirty ones are the men who abused you. I know Edward and I know you, you two will work it out. If you need time to come to terms with your new reality I know he will not pressure you into anything. Trust him." Embry brought their interlaced hands to his face and kissed his friend's hand softly. He loved Seth; he was the brother he always dreamed of having. His friend spoke the truth; Edward never pressured him into anything. He was a real man; he was considerate and kept true to himself.
"You're right Seth, I'll trust him. Now go shower man, you reek!" Laughing like he didn't have a care in the world he jumped off the bed and skipped to the bathroom.
"What's with the skipping? I don't know how you have the energy, I'm so tired." Out of habit Embry stood up and started walking to Seth's blanket.
"I'm just too happy Em. By the way feel free to use the bed, it's super comfy." Embry tried the bed and sighed contentedly. He smiled for no reason at all before drifting off to sleep, feeling at peace with the world.
As Seth walked out of the bathroom ready for a good night sleep a loud knock on the door awakened Embry and set them both on high alert. The submissives exchanged looks but ran to open the door worried there could be something wrong with their lovers. Instead they came face to face with a demon from hell itself. Carlos and his posse stormed inside the room not even bothering to close the door behind them. The subs cursed their lives, just when they were celebrating their freedom they had to be reminded that they will always be submissives and will be at the mercy of any dominant. "You two are leaving right now. You're lucky I'm in a hurry or you would be leaving this place with a pronounced limp. Guys get this filth out of here and remember what we talked about."
Carlos' men pushed Embry and Seth out into the hallway. The submissives didn't understand what was going on. It had to be a joke, they saved Jacob's life, they were not slaves anymore. "What are you doing? We don't want to leave!" Seth was livid; these men were trying to separate him from his master. That was something he wouldn't have. Jake had asked him numerous times not to leave him and he had no intention of leaving him when he needed him the most. Embry cowered into a corner, the memory of the last time he had been in Carlos presence still fresh in his mind
"How dare you raise your voice at me?" Carlos slapped Seth across the face so hard his upper lip split, making blood drip down his neck. "I gave you an order and you will comply. You'll shut up and march out of here like good little bitches."
"Why? Talk to Billy, he is ok with us being here."
"Billy? You're such an idiot; who do you think gave the order to get you off the property? It's one thing to have his son embarrass himself behind closed doors; it's something very different to have everyone witness this aberration. Do you honestly think he would allow this to continue now that it's out in the open?" Seth felt like somebody had punched him hard pushing all the air out of him. This had to be a lie; the Aleph couldn't be so cruel. He knew how much Jake loved him and how much Seth loved his son.
"Please let me talk to Jake. I need to at least say goodbye." He doubted the Aleph had anything to do with this but if he did he was not the honorable man Seth thought he was. He didn't even have the decency to tell him in person, he cowardly hid behind a closed door while his minions did his dirty work. Still Seth's focus wasn't on the Billy, it was on Jacob. He needed to reach him; he couldn't just take off without giving him an explanation.
"No way, you two leave now." Seth reached out to hold Embry's hand. The poor wolf stood frozen against the door shock and fear dominating his actions. He knew the extent of Carlos cruelty. What worried him the most was thinking of the disappointment in Edward's face when he wakes up and finds out he abandoned him.
"Embry needs to stay with Edward. Billy cannot possibly object to them being together." Embry was grateful that his friend was coming to his defense since at the moment he was totally useless. He was between a rock and a hard place, on one hand he didn't want to leave Edward and on the other he didn't want Seth to venture out on his own. Any way he looked at it he would lose.
"You're more stupid than you look. No dominant will bring shame to this house. You are two disgusting bugs that deserve to be crushed. Billy is too lenient and doesn't want to kill you. It's a good thing that I never listen to him. Guys I'm tired of talking to these bitches, let's go." One wolf rounded Seth's body with one arm and covered his mouth with the other while another grabbed his feet to carry him out of the house. Two others followed suit with Embry and dragged the submissives out of the house. They fought back with all their might, a huge surge of adrenaline pumped through their bodies making their hearts pound frantically in their chests. Unfortunately they were overpowered and were carried out. It didn't occur to either one of them to phase. Years of controlling their wolf left them incapable of being spontaneous and this would prove to be disastrous.
The dark moonless night helped Carlos and his associates by cloaking them in darkness. The route they took out of the property was deserted. The few wolves that were running patrol were distracted by one of Carlos' people. He kept them on the side opposite to where the submissives were being dragged through. Both Embry and Seth struggled, twisting against their hold which earned them a few punches and slaps for biting their hands or kicking so hard their legs came off the hands that were restraining them. The submissives couldn't even cry, they were scared but mostly angry. They refused to believe that Billy would succumb to something so low. Seth was convinced this was Carlos doing, Billy probably didn't even know what was happening.
After three hours of running with the submissives in tow the wolves stopped for Carlos to give them his final instructions. He needed to get back to the house. The last thing he needed was for somebody to become suspicious. "Guys I have to get back, you have your orders. You're gonna make sure they never come back. It will be a relief not to see your ugly mugs again. Edward is freaking lucky that you two won't come back." He said, turning his attention to the submissives. "If you did he or Quil would pay for it. If either one of you had the audacity of setting foot on the Black's property you or anyone who stood by you would be struck dead. Who do you think will run to meet you two losers? Of course nobody will kill Jacob, but the cook and his friend will be a free for all. You would be responsible for their deaths."
"This is bullshit! You have no authority. You're lying, nobody would attack Edward or Quil, they are pack brothers for goodness sake." Seth had nothing to lose. The only thing he had left had been taken away from him… his hope.
Carlos had enough of the disrespectful dog. His hate fueled rage reached its limit. He grabbed Seth and slapped him across the face until the submissive's face became red and blotchy. While he assaulted the submissive two of the wolves held Embry back. Seth was filled with pure fury and hatred poisoned his soul. He remembered he was not wearing his collar and could phase to defend himself. His whole body began to shake with the imminent shift. "Don't you dare phase if you know what's good for you. I'm sure you don't want to bury your fellow whore, do you?" The sub had no choice but breathe deeply to push his wolf back. Carlos then let go of his neck and kicked him to the floor. Seth instinctively curled his body toward himself to protect his stomach. The dominant was savoring the moment and sating his sadistic tendencies, making his wolf whine ashamed of the person it inhabited.
Thankfully the assault didn't last long and Seth was able to crawl to his friend who immediately got to work easing his pain and healing him. "Get out of here!" Ordered Carlos, one of the wolves yanked Seth's arm hard making him stand up. Embry and Seth held on to each other, fearing that if they didn't they would crumble to the floor in a mass of despair.
"Remember your orders, make sure they're never found and cover your tracks." The submissives refused to acknowledge Carlos words. Did it mean what they thought it did?