Stronger Language
Josh's Point of View.
Helpless wasn't a word that went in the same sentence with the words 'Alpha' or 'Josh'.
But right now I am feeling nothing but helpless as I'm wrapped up in silver chains. Seeing as I'm an Alpha, when I have my eyes set on something nothing is going to try and stop me. Including something that is burning into my flesh and I swear it will hit bone in a few minutes. I knew that nothing good was going to come out of this entire situation from the moment Maya confronted Katie.
Let me make something perfectly clear, I have never and will never touch her with a fifty foot pole. And I think that's what pisses her off the most. She just got back from holiday and it was buzzing all around the pack house how I had found my mate. Seeing as I locked myself in my father's office to do pack work I didn't even acknowledge the rumors. Yes I was in my father's office, in our pack I am the Alpha. In our family though it is a tradition for the new Alpha to challenge the previous, in this case my father and I am still wracking my brain on how the hell am I going to do that… and win.
"Stop fighting." Her touch sends sparks against my cheek which makes me all the more eager to run away with her. "You're going to hurt yourself stop fighting." Her lips make contact with my cheek and I'm more than shocked. That's the first time she's done that. I have to protect her, I have to get her out of here. I can't lose that feeling and I'm terrified for her. I do the only thing I can think of and glance at the woods several times, "I won't run Josh." She all but mouths, I barely hear that.
"Baby girl please." I hear shouting but the fist connecting with my cheek really catches my attention.
It hurt, but nothing I can't handle. I have to focus on Maya, as soon as I see her eyes darken I open my mouth to plead with her to not do anything. But it is too late, she punched him. She punched one of the oldest 'Sepiente Wolves' and if the situation were different I'd smirk at the fact that she made him stumble.
A gust of wind rushes across my face and Maya is calmly being restrained by her hair. Son of a bitch that's mine! SHE'S MINE! I start to thrash again when he speaks up. "You just doubled your punishment. Get that wolf under control Maya. Wolfsbane or lashes?" FUCK NO!
She's thinking incredibly hard and the scratching noise I hear makes me notice that the silver has reached bone. I can't even imagine her in pain and both of those options are terrible. I am going to tear Katie apart, then her father! How dare they defy me?! I know Alpha's aren't above law but she was in the wrong and you better fucking believe there will be hell to pay. "How many lashes?"
"Considering you are his mate, 5 for each offense." She wouldn't be in any pain if she wasn't my mate. We wouldn't be here right now.
'Don't you even effing try and push mate away.'
'What do I do? I can't take on these wolves, she's not running. I can't watch her be in pain! I can't.'
I'm sure my wolf said something but her next word pulled me out of my conversation. "Lashes." She mumbles under her breath and I don't give 2 shits if someone sees me crying. No I'm not crying from my pain, but for her future pain. I'm crying knowing I can't protect my mate, damn it!
Words are being exchanged but I cry silently to myself, I can practically picture her on the post right now. I'm so disappointed in myself, if I can't protect my mate how the hell am I going to successfully protect this pack. Maya will come first, I would give up my pack for her. 'Alpha, what's going on?'
'Leave me the fuck alone.'
I instantly close the link, obviously I'm a little preoccupied Zay. "I'll make you a deal. We will release him out of the silver chains and free from punishment for not doing his duty if you take 5 more lashes."
"NO!" I shout and start to thrash again. No she can't do this, she can't accept my punishment.
I'm about to say I will take it all, I'll take all 13 lashes but I can't even get my mouth open when William says "fine 3." I know what the fuck he's doing. He's hurting Maya as my punishment. I stare into his eyes and give him a death glare from hell, I'll fucking kill him!
"Total of 13?"
"MAYA DON'T!" My intention was to come out strong in hopes my Alpha command would work on her though I knew it wouldn't. She is my mate and a rouge but it came out as more of a plead and I didn't care at that point.
"Fine I will do it. Josh I swear to Goddess if you react when they release you I will reject you." My wolf and I literally feel like we're dying. All of this and she threatens a rejection, I could die and probably feel better than I am right now. My wolf releases a pain filled howl of sorrow and disgust of himself for not intervening yesterday. If I wasn't trying to get on Maya's good side I would have. I feel the chains fall from my body and my entire form is shaking. My wounds start to heal rapidly now that my wolf was threatening to take control.
'Calm the hell down' I snap.
'They hurt mate, we kill them, we save mate, mate loves us!'
'She'll reject us if we retaliate. She's doing this for us!'
That shuts him up real quick, but it doesn't last long. 'Kill Katie.'
'With pleasure.'
Riley and Maya are whispering by the time I recover and get my wolf to stop trying to gain control. I hear, 'everyone will see'. Maya simply shrugs and something along the lines of, 'bound to happen'. My senses still aren't acute from the silver. Ass holes. Lucas calls her over and he's both worried and furious, all the pack members are. They're all fuming with the knowledge their future Luna was about to be punished for a ridiculous crime that wasn't her fault… entirely. I start to shake again and I mentally yell at him to 'Stop', I just want to wrap her up in my arms and kiss her senseless.
Next thing I know, we're headed towards the pack house for her punishment. I could have kicked her off the land for a few days, she would have understood but no I was to effing selfish and now we're here. Goddess please help me get through this. No, please help Maya get through this.
I deserve the pain.
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"Let me take the punishment." I growl.
William smiles and shakes his head, "she's the offender. Twice now. If we let this slide because of your inability to punish your members we would look weak. I am not particularly fond of uprisings."
"Fuck you." I seethe. This had nothing to do with uprisings and the damn grin on his face tells me he knows it. I glance at the whipping post being put into the ground and clench my fists. I spin towards Zay and Farkle, "That shit comes down as soon as we're done." I glare towards William, "I don't need these medieval tactics to keep my wolves in line."
Maya is being guarded by 3 of the 'Sepiente Wolves' and they won't let me near her. William and I have already thrown a few punches, and it would have gone further if I didn't catch a glimpse of her eyes. She wasn't looking at me, she was completely zoned out as if she had no idea what was about to befall her. "Lucas let me do this." I hear Riley snap and I think that's the first time I've heard her get mad.
"No it's going to put you in pain."
I saunter towards them in an effort to distract myself. Even though my tears were constantly falling out. "I have taken care of her since I started to learn how to heal at age 6. I know her body the best, I know how she heals, I know how to keep her calm and I dare you Lucas… I dare you to try and stop me from healing her like all the other times in her life."
"Stop." I command and they both bow their heads towards me, "Riley what do you mean all the other times in her life?" She's about to answer when a number of gasps catch my attention. I spin around and at first I was confused, is everyone just now realizing how beautiful my mate is? That's when I see them, lines all down her back.
Scars.
On my mate!
Son of a bitch! My hands start to turn into paws and claws while I release a monstrous growl. I feel 3 sets of hands holding me down as I try and will my wolf to calm down. I'm only going to make things worse for her. But how dare someone even think of harming her that way, now I know what the hell Riley was talking about. Why was she whipped so often? "Riley you will take care of her with the pack doctor's assistance."
"Alpha-"
I throw my heated glare towards my beta, daring him to challenge me right now. His wolf, though extremely powerful is no match for mine so he bows his head in respect. "You all know why we are here today." William announces and my death glare flickers towards him, "We need to show this rogue she is not above law, and we need to show her where she belongs."
"SHE IS MY MATE! FUTURE LUNA OF THIS PACK! THAT IS WHERE SHE BELONGS!" I snap how the hell dare he come on my land. Call her a rogue, and say she doesn't belong here. We are her family, I am her family.
"AND YOU WILL LOSE YOUR POSITION AS ALPHA IF YOU DO NOT HOLD YOUR TONGUE!"
I don't even give a fuck about my Alpha position, my father can have it back and give it to my twin brothers. I just want Maya safe, and unharmed. I'm about to say that when the angelic voice of my mate is shouting at me, "JOSH!" I blink and let a few more tears fall, after telling me with a simple head gesture to stop she looks away.
"Do you know why you are being punished?"
"Yes." Why does this have to happen to her?
"You are aware of the law?"
"Yes." Hasn't she been through enough? With those scars on her back I have no doubt.
"You chose your punishment as lashes and you will get 5 for each offense plus an additional 3 whippings so your mate Alpha Josh of the Twilight Pack will not receive punishment for his inability to deal out a punishment. You will receive a total of 13 lashes."
"Yes."
'Dr. Packwood ready the best infirmary you have. Also Beta Lucas' mate will be taking lead you will assist.'
'What will I be dealing with?'
The crack of the whip makes me cry again. I hear it connect to her skin but she makes no noise, I do though. I'm growling, shouting, whimpering and crying. 'Lashes.'
I can smell her blood as another crack echoes throughout the field. Zay and Farkle begin to hold me down knowing I'm about to run after her. They each grab an arm, I don't even feel it when I'm tackled to the ground by someone else. I'm yearning to see her, on the fifth lash she cries out and I fight harder to get to her. That sound alone destroyed everything inside of me. That sound will stalk my dreams for the rest of my life. Eric, one of the 'Sepiente Wolves' saunters towards me and grasps my neck to pull me to my feet. All the while my mate is getting punished. "Behave."
"Fuck you." He tightens his hold on my neck and with my elbow I connect it to his arm and he loosens his grip to where I'm touching the ground again. I punch him in face, once. Twice. Three times until I'm pulled off again by Farkle and Zay. I turn my focus back towards Maya and see her torn up back, I shudder and start to beg. As an Alpha it goes against our nature but I don't even care. "William I will take the rest of her punishment, I'll take more. I will take 50 lashes! Please fucking let her go!" He doesn't listen as the whip kisses her back again.
The most agonizing and heart wrenching scream fills everyone's ears. I fall to my knees and punch the ground. That will haunt me for the rest of my life. She falls off her knees and of course there's someone to help her back up. That's fucking it! I start to stalk towards her when chains wrap around me again. "Straighten up pup!"
"What's wrong Eric? Pissed off that your hundreds of years older than me and I just beat the shit out of you?" I know I'm more than likely going to get fined for this at some point, seeing as the offended gets the offender's money in circumstances like this but I don't care.
'Last one.'
I glance around me and notice everyone is crying. Riley is sobbing uncontrollably while Lucas is looking on with a tear stained face. For both his mate and Luna. Zay and Farkle barely are able to look, a few more pack members that emerged from the house are looking upon the situation in horror. That's when I see Katie, we make eye contact and I can see her shake with fear. "You should be." I say in a surprisingly calm voice but I think that terrifies her more. I will personally take her across the pack lines so Maya can handle her, after I have her in my cells for one week… at least.
Before I know what's happening the chains fall to the ground and I spring into action towards my mate. "Stay with me baby girl." And she doesn't. She blacks out with a smile on her lips. I try to pull her into my arms but she is attached to the post. "GET THE FUCKING CUFFS OFF NOW!" One of the law wolves is fumbling with the keys and not wasting another second I take the searing pain of the silver cuffs and rip them off of her hands. She falls face first into my lap and I clutch her head in my hands. "Maya baby I'm so sorry." I cry and kiss her temple over and over.
"Let me-"Riley reaches out for her and I snap at her hand.
"DON'T TOUCH HER!"
Lucas gets in a defensive pose after pushing Riley out of the way, "Alpha I know you're mad as we all are. Riley is trying to help, remember you put her in charge of taking care of your mate. We can't do that if you won't let us get near her." He tries to reason with me though I can see he's more than pissed at my wolf trying to bite her. I bury my nose into her hair and inhale deeply. I try to sort out the burning smell of her skin, the scent of her blood and her actual sweet aroma.
"Alpha." Riley tries again and by the sound of her voice she's pleading.
"Please don't take her away from me." I look at her with tear filled eyes and grasp her even tighter. "Please."
"Alpha I'm sorry but she can bleed out." And somehow that snaps me back into action. I lift her off the ground, I will myself to not look at her back as I sprint with her in my arms towards the pack house. Riley and Lucas are right behind me as soon as I make it inside Dr. Packwood is waiting with a stretcher.
"Lay her face down." He instructs and I do as he says and kiss her temple again.
Riley waltzes inside calm and collected and follows us to her room. "Doctor please start a drip." She says as soon as we enter the room. I am gripping onto Maya's hand until it is taken firmly from my grasp, I start to growl when a hand on my chest stops me. A pair of brown doe eyes stares at me incredulously, "Alpha he has to start a drip for her medication. If you are going to be a problem I will throw you out myself."
"I am not leaving her." I growl.
Lucas steps in front of her and stares me down, "I know you are hurting as we all are but if you so much as growl lowly at her again I will not hesitate to react."
"Watch your tone beta."
"You need to calm the hell down for your mate! How would she feel if she knew you were being an ass to her best friend?!"
And that brings me back to reality. I shake my head clear and sit back down in my chair. "Thank you doctor, she's AB positive in her blood type please get me a few bags and set them in the warmer."
Riley moves so gracefully in here and she's one hundred percent calm, while my wolf and I are howling in pain. I watch as she puts more medication in her IV, I find it weird that she's using an IV normally we're just stabbed with needles. I'm about to ask what she's injecting when she begins to speak, "This is to constrict the blood vessels Alpha, to prevent her from bleeding as much as possible. I've already administered some numbing medication. She can't feel anything from the neck down." Lucas watches her with awe and adoration as she continues to do her work, "I give her an IV because we're going to be here for a few days and she hates constantly being stabbed with needles. One needle, one time and she gets the meds and fluids she needs." I nod my head and stare at her angelic face, her ivory skin that is softer than anything I've felt, and those plump lips that are calling my name.
"Alpha I suggest you step out for this." She doesn't stop what she's doing as she tears the shirt apart and unhooks her bra. Goddess her back, I start to sob again and inch my chair closer to her bed. "Lucas please get restraints from Dr. Packwood."
"Restraints?!" I do everything in my power to swallow my growl.
"Yes Alpha." She replies coolly while carefully cleaning her back by wringing water on her torn skin. "Maya has a bad habit of thrashing in her sleep from nightmares. No doubt she will have some from the events of today." Riley stares at her mate and lifts her brows, "Now Lucas." With a swift head nod he leaves while his mate continues to wring water out on her back.
"She has nightmares?"
She simply nods and reaches for the familiar brown bottle beside her, I'm thanking Goddess she can't feel anything right now. It should be me, I should be the one in pain not her. I know I still have to meet with the 'Sepiente Wolves' but I have no desire and they can wait. Or they can leave and I'll be perfectly fine with that. Riley pours the whole bottle on her back before continuing, "I've mentioned before she's had a terrible past Alpha. It still haunts her." My heart clenches as I stare at my mate, "I stayed with her one night after I found her and I had a few bruises on my stomach the next morning. She didn't know, I didn't tell her." I watch her wipe a tear away discreetly and get back to work with a needle in hand. "I'm sure you have a strong stomach but fair warning." I know she's about to stitch her up and I gesture for her to continue.
"How often was she punished in her old pack?"
Riley stiffens slightly before continuing, "Depends on what you mean by punished?" I furrow my brows in confusion, "In front of the pack?"
I slowly rise from my chair and harden my tear filled eyes. "Are you saying what I think you're saying?"
"Take it however you wish Alpha but to answer your question vaguely… every day." I know she's being cryptic for the sake of her best friend's trust but you can't say shit like that. However, considering that my mate is bleeding out in this hospital room I tend to focus on her more. "My dad taught me to heal because of her. He saw how much I wanted to help and knew me being best friends with my rebellious friend that it would come in handy. Even if I chose not to pursue it."
I somehow manage a small smile, I should have known that she would be rebellious. Make sense, she is now. I just thought that was the rogue in her. "I've got them." Riley instructs Lucas on how to attach them to the bed and soon her arms are tied down.
"Is this necessary?"
Riley stares at me with all seriousness and nods her head, "You'll see."
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Let me know what you think. Next Chapter is in Riley's POV