Survival

Survival

Luna Kayla POV

Julie dresses me in a white gown and a white veil. She does my hair and my makeup. I look in the mirror at myself when she finishes painting me to cover the bruises on my face and neck. "I think you did a good job," I say to her. I want to scream and run from this place, but Alpha Ranon would kill her if I ran. He would blame her and kill us both.

"I am sorry for all of this. Just try to be compliant. Please, Kayla, I beg you to try to make him happy," Julie begs me. She is crying as she pleads with me. I wonder did he threaten her or does she really feel for me. How can her own brother treat her this way?

The packhouse is practically empty right now. Only a few wolves and she-wolves remain behind with Julie and me. It is strange the packhouse is not echoing the growls and taunts of the other wolves. It is peaceful for the first time since Alpha Ranon brought me here against my will.

"He will not bring you back here tonight. He will take you to his home. Be good to him, do what he says, and you can survive the night. You do not want to be brought back here and handed over to the wolves as a gift. That is exactly what he will do if you disobey him. He will go out and kidnap another wolf to be his bride. It will be easier on you away from the packhouse. You do not want to be a packhouse pet," Julie says.

I shake my head to let her know I understand. I do wonder how many there have been before me. Why did he want me so bad that he killed my husband, our family, and our packs? Was it my rejection? Did that push him over the edge?

In my mind, all I can think about is running. I am in so much pain that I know I will not get far if I run. With all of them chasing me, I would be dead before I got to the treeline. If I did live the torture, beatings, and being raped by all of them, that would kill me or make me wish I was dead. Maybe Julie is right, and I should comply with him, smile, and try to survive for now.

The door opens, and a tall wolf comes into the room, where Julie tries to calm me and prep me for my night with Alpha Ranon. Not sure it could be worse than what he has already done to me, but Julie seems to want to help me. "We are ready for the blushing bride," the wolf says. He reaches over and touches my breast.

"Leave her alone; she belongs to your Alpha," Julie snaps at him.

"She will not make it as his. I bet she will be a packhouse pet by the end of the week. I plan to get to the front of the line. I want to make her scream," the wolf says, reaching into my dress. I back away from him and scream as loud as I can.

My scream distracts the wolf and gives Julie time to punch him in the face. He backs away from her. "Get out, or I will tell my brother you touched me. I know that will not go over well with my brother," Julie threatens the wolf.

"Bring the bitch out. The guests are here, and we are ready to get this over with so we can start the real party," the wolf laughs. I wonder what the real party is and if it has anything to do with me.

Julie hugs me, and the two of us walk from the room and toward the front of the house. Julie seems distracted as she helps me out the door. My legs begin to buckle as we make our way toward Alpha Ranon. I cannot help but start to cry as Julie lets go of my hand, and I walk toward Alpha Ranon alone. When I reach Alpha Ranon, he leans over and grabs me around the waist hard. "Stop your fucking crying, or else I will beat you so badly tonight that no one will even recognize you," he whispers into my ear.

"Sorry," I say to him.

I look over and notice a table beside us. It is a table with shackles, just like the discipline table. "What is that?" I ask him.

"For the party after the wedding," he says. He smiles at me, a devilish smile. I begin to cry. I cannot stop. I can feel my heart beating in my chest. I scream out.

"PLEASE, SOMEONE HELP ME!" I scream as loud as I can. No one moves. No one cares.

"Get that bitch!" Alpha Ranon growls.

I turn and begin to run toward the treeline. Please let me make it away from here. I can hear Alpha Ranon's wolves howling, growling, and taunting me as the wolves run toward me. I listen to their calls and fight over who will get me first. They will kill me, but not if I get away. I feel someone beside me as I hit the treeline.

Julie is running with me. "Shift and run; I will try to fight them off," she says. I shift into my wolf and run, but I am hurting. My legs are weak. I am weak. My wolf cannot heal me, and I will not make it. I see someone ahead of me. A group of them made it ahead of me. No, that is not Alpha Ranon's wolves. It is someone else. Someone that can help me get away from here.

One of the wolves grabs me, and I fall into his arms. I am tired and hurting. "Little wolf," he says so kindly.

"Please do not hurt me," I cry.

He wraps me in his embrace, and I fall into darkness. "She passed out," a male wolf voice says. I hear others talking and then a commotion. I cannot open my eyes. I am falling into the darkness farther and farther. The darkness feels like a warm blanket. I do not fight it. I need to heal.