10

"Whatever you do, don't push the ones you love away."

Amelia's POV

I woke up to shouting.

My body jerked awake and I looked around in sleepy bewilderment.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Kaden snarled glaring at me and Ryan. The beta still had his arms around me and he hugged me tighter.

"Just sleeping." Ryan growled.

Kaden snarled and bellowed, "Why is my mate in your bed?!" He balled up his fists and I gulped.

"What was she supposed to do? Sleep in the same bed while you and that whore have sex?" Ryan shot back and sat up.

"What I do is none of your damn business!" Kaden howled and Ryan scoffed and let me go.

"She's my Luna you're the Alpha; you're both my business!" Ryan retorted and I gasped as he climbed out of bed.

"Just because you treat your mate like shit doesn't mean I have to! That's all you fucking do Kaden! You fuck people's lives up and then get mad when something doesn't go your way! Well guess what Kaden; the world doesn't revolve around you! Your own mate doesn't want you and here you are the morning after fucking a slut, trying to run shit like it didn't happen!" Ryan snarled and stalked up to Kaden. The alpha was trembling with rage.

"Ryan don't make me hurt you." Kaden growled and the beta scoffed.

"You've already hurt me Alpha, now wouldn't make much of a difference." Ryan spat. He locked eyes with Kaden challenging him.

"Oh this is about Rose, isn't it? You're trying to get back at me by screwing my mate." Kaden said in a matter-of-fact tone.

"I'm not like you Kaden. I'd get back at you, but I wouldn't use her as a pawn in my game." Ryan growled sounding offended.

"Did you have sex with my mate?" Kaden growled and Ryan scoffed.

"Does it smell like we did anything? Because we didn't. She cried to me and I held her, that's it. You on the other hand reek of it, maybe you're smelling yourself." The beta growled. A deep rumble came from my mate's chest.

"I did everything that you should've done." Ryan snarled in Kaden's face and his grassy eyes glowed with his wolf's and suddenly they were fighting.

I watched, momentarily paralyzed with shock. My mouth gaped as they punched each other and crashed into the wall. Kaden snarled and Ryan barreled into him and they fought furiously.

I suddenly remembered what I'd told Ryan last night. I'd fight with him. I looked at them going at it and bit my lip.

Not being a wimp or anything, but getting in between the fight in front of me? Yeah, I think not. They were trying to kill each other by the looks of it.

"Both of you stop!" I yelled and they kept fighting. A growl rumbled in my chest and suddenly my wolf returned from her absence, annoyed and not in the mood.

"I said STOP!" I snarled and my wolf saturated my words. The two paused and Ryan pushed Kaden away from him. My fists clenched and I growled darkly. Both were bleeding and cut up, bruises were forming, but Ryan got the worst of it.

They panted softly and looked at me. I glared at both and met Kaden's eyes.

"Don't be a hypocrite Kaden. You can't have sex then get mad about the thought of me doing the same. Just stay away from me okay? It's bad enough I'm living like this." I growled and my mate frowned.

"You're mine." He snarled and I raised an eyebrow.

"Oh really? When did we decide this?" I said laying my chin on my fist and staring at him in mock wondering. What can I say? I got sarcastic when I was upset sometimes.

"When I found you." Kaden growled through clenched teeth.

"Oh so before all this shit? Niicce. Well thank you for clearing that up. I just love you so much now." I said sarcastically and rolled my eyes. Kaden snarled and stepped toward me, but I raised my hand and Ryan growled warningly to the alpha. The beta's green eyes blazed.

"Amelia-" Kaden growled and I turned my head from him.

"I'm going for a walk." I said flatly and walked out of the room. I honestly didn't want to be around him. I wanted to rip him apart, but I knew I couldn't.

I strode out into the crisp morning air. A soft smile came to my lips at the beautiful sun illuminating the scores of trees.

It was beautiful. And Heaven knows I needed something beautiful.

I walked along calming at the grass brushing my ankles.

"Amelia." I paused at the voice, but then continued walking. There was no way I was talking to him.

"Amelia." He growled louder and I scoffed.

"Where are you going?" He pestered and I rolled my eyes.

Suddenly a rough hand clamped down on my arm and pulled me against a hard chest.

"Answer me when I'm talking to you." Kaden growled and I pushed against him.

"Amelia stop." He growled as I tried to shove him away.

"You had sex with her!" I yelled and hit at his chest. He growled softly, but I didn't care. I hit him harder again and again.

"You heartless bastard! You had sex with Amy! Why am I paired with you?!" I screamed and punched his hard chest. He held me to him as I hit him.

"Stop this nonsense." Kaden growled and I managed to slap his face. His cheek reddened and his eyes shown with shock and pain, then he frowned.

"The only nonsense is you! I wish you weren't my mate! I wish I'd never found you!" I cried out and shoved him yet he still wouldn't let me go.

"Shut up." He growled and crushed me against him as I tried to break from his hold. I hit at his chest again and punched him, but he held me fast.

"Let me go! I hate you! Let go!" I yelled and tugged against him, clawing, hitting, hell I even bit him, but he wasn't letting go.

"Stop being overdramatic." Kaden growled and caged me against him and I completely lost it. Yet for some damn reason I couldn't shift.

"I reject you!" I screamed and Kaden growled darkly. He grabbed my shoulders and squeezed.

The alpha gave a sardonic laugh; a snarky smile playing on his lips.

"That only works if I accept it." Kaden snarled then added, "Nice try sweetie, but no one leaves me. Especially not you." He growled and gripped my throat. He squeezed my windpipe and I gasped for air. My fingers clawed at his hand, but his grip was iron.

"Next time you want to be defiant, I'll make you wish you'd never been born." He growled and shoved me away. I landed on the ground drinking in precious air while Kaden stood over me.

I already wished that I was never born... that'd be nothing new.

"Get up." Kaden growled and I stood on my feet and looked away from him.

Soft sobs rushed from me. I wanted to just run and run and never look back, but my feet were rooted to the ground.

"What the fuck is happening here?" A deep familiar voice said and I turned and gaped at the blue-eyed beta.

*****

I watched Axel roll over in the cell and groan. He sat up slowly and rubbed his temple. I looked on as guilt crept through me.

Kaden had beaten the hell out of him because Axel had jumped on him once he saw me crying. I could tell the beta hadn't seen the whole confrontation just the end with me crying, but he was mad. Unfortunately Kaden was already pissed as it was and Axel lost the fight. Kaden had almost killed him, but I stepped in. No was was my mate going to kill my savior.

Speaking of my mate... Kaden and Ryan had to leave for some meeting and I'd rushed to Axel as soon as they were gone.

"What the hell were you thinking?" I asked him and his blue eyes snapped to me.

One eye was swollen and dried blood marred his face. Bruises covered his body... well what I could see from his clothes but I'm assuming he's just as bad underneath.

"Hey Amelia." He said with a grin and I frowned at him.

"Hey? Hey?! Are you insane? He could've killed you!" I yelled and he blinked at me his small smile dying away.

"I just wanted to make sure you were okay..." he said softly and ducked his head.

I let out an exasperated sigh, "Axel you can't just waltz into someone's territory. Especially not Kaden's and ask to see his mate; what did you think would happen?" I asked tilting my head. Axel watched me with piercing eyes and moved closer to the glass separating us.

"I guess I wasn't thinking straight. I want to ask you a question Amelia and be truthful; has he hurt you?" My eyes widened at his inquiry and I shook my head.

He gave a bitter smile, "You're lying. What did he do?" Axel growled rage burning in his eyes. I looked away from him and he placed a hand against the glass.

"H-he fed me wolfsbane." I said softly leaving out the other stuff.

"He what?!" Axel snarled and leaped up and began pacing around the cell. He paused suddenly.

"Did he hit you?" He asked and before I could answer he nodded curtly and punched the wall.

"I'm going to kill that bastard. You're his mate; he can't do that. You're so... I... Why the hell would he do that? You deserve... so much better. Does he know what you're father did?" He said staring at me with those blue eyes of his. I shook my head.

"It's not like we're exactly close." I breathed and Axel let out a low whining growl.

I looked at him and sighed.

"No kidding." Axel growled and finally sat down and crossed his arms. A murderous look gleamed in his blue eyes.