Chapter Forty-Two
For the third time that night, Freya woke up without knowing where she was.
Her eyes were blurry, and she could feel the wound in her head throbbing.
She had her hands bound again, this time to a bed, and the meaning of that filled her with goosebumps.
Not only was the room exceedingly cold, but she remembered what had happened the last time she’d been tied to a bed.
No ... she wouldn’t go down that road. She wouldn’t allow it.
Swallowing hard, she bravely tried to put her fear aside and analyze her surroundings.
But how could she do that, with her vision so blurry?
Her arms ached from the position she was in, and in addition to the terrible headache, she wasn't very clear-headed.
A pair of glowing eyes shone in the dark.
“Hello, Freya.”
She knew that insidious voice. It was cold, detached, almost as cruel as Lewis’s. The gray form approached the bed and she blinked, trying to recognize him.
“Don’t you remember me? I’m wounded.” With a feigned tone of sadness in his voice, he continued, “After all, we did have some pleasurable moments together...”
She blinked and suddenly she remembered him. Her heart raced, while her breathing quickened. Anxiety reared its ugly head, and she began to hyperventilate.
This ... thing ... had been one of Lewis’s associates.
Once had even participated in the hunt, although Lewis didn’t allow him to rape her, as he would feel it too, despite not being truly mated.
But he let him beat her and isolate her in the dark, with her eyes and ears covered.
Without knowing where she was, or with whom, without being able to protect herself against the blows she was sure would come.
Without two of her senses, her body shut down to protect itself. That much she remembered.
She also remembered she woke up the next morning dirty and sticky.
She gasped when the man came into view. Time hadn’t passed for him. The same slicked hair, the same olive-colored eyes, the same sun kissed skin ... and the same predatory eyes.
“Last time I couldn’t really taste you properly because John was ... well, let’s say he was a jealous bastard, wanted you all for himself. But he’s not around here anymore, is he? And now I get to fuck you all I want...” he almost chanted, approaching her with calm, pondered steps.
She tried to fight her restraints harder, but she only managed to hurt herself in the process.
He tutted.
“Why are you in such a hurry to hurt yourself? You have me to do that for you. And I do love when you bleed, you do so exquisitely well...”
“Don’t touch me!” she snarled and something like surprise flickered in the man’s eyes. He knew her submissive, almost broken, part; not this one, the Freya that Ciaran and Declan had glued back together and healed, the mated woman.
The air seemed to grow heavy with fury, and something like bloodlust passed on into his eyes.
“You used to be much more agreeable. But don’t worry, I’ll take that fight out of you again. I’ll rape you morning, afternoon, and night, and I’ll break you completely before ending you.”
“Do that and my mates will destroy you, limb by limb,” she snarled, and for the first time, something like surprise appeared in his features.
“Mated? You’re mated?”
“Yes.”
Brutally, he ripped the collar off her shirt and observed the mark on her neck with judging eyes.
“My spies are doing an awful job of keeping me informed, I’ll have to have a word with them. But don’t worry, they’ll feel their mate be fucked to within an inch of her life every day. You’ll be nothing more than a cum dumpster when I’m finished with you.”
And Freya saw with horror that he was already unbuckling his pants.
Not again! She thought desperately and started to thrash, trying to release her wrists.
“Yes, do fight, please. I love it when you fight, it just makes me harder.”
He placed his hands on her neck and pressed, just enough to cut off the airflow, while trying to tear the pants she was wearing.
“Don’t touch me. Help!”
She’d found her voice and screamed, kicking wildly, but he was stronger and the fight only seemed to excite him even more.
“No, no, no...” she chanted, her eyes full of tears. Not again, not again, please. Declan! Ciaran!
And then the sweetest sound she’d ever heard.
Howls. Wolves howling and approaching, several of them, startled and confused her attacker, enough that he jumped out of bed and fastened his belt.
She felt a giant wave of relief wash over her when she sensed her attacker leaving the room.
It was still dark, illuminated only by candlelight, but at that moment it was a blessing.
The sounds of fighting reached her ears, the growling of various powerful animals and the breaking of bones.
Clearing her throat, she tried to scream, “I’m here! Help me, please.”
Her throat ached, and her voice came out hoarse from the force with which he had squeezed her neck, so she wasn't sure if anyone would hear her. But the sounds seemed to be getting closer, and she had no idea if that was a good or bad sign.
The door shattered into splinters of wood when an animal was hurled against it, followed immediately by others. They were wolves, their snouts smeared with blood, the metallic smell polluting the air.
There were growls, barks, and finally ... silence.
Freya’s breathing intensified, panic setting in. She could see two wolves, their snouts covered in blood, approaching. And then, where the wolves were, Ciaran and Declan emerged, their naked bodies covered in blood from various wounds.
She almost fainted with relief when she recognized them.
“Little one...”
“Angel...”
Her eyes filled with tears and she pleaded, “Please release me...”
With a flick of the wrist, they released her and embraced her, careful not to hurt her. They smelled of sweat and blood, and something underneath, as if their wolves were still present at the same time.
“Take me home, please...” she pleaded, and tears fell from her tired eyes. “I want to go home...”
“Hospital first. You have a gash in your head and a nice bump to top it all off.”
“I’m sick and tired of hospitals, just take me home.”
With their mate in their arms, the twins reached a silent compromise. She needed to be seen by a doctor, and she needed to rest. They could do both at the Alpha’s house.