Stray Echo

Seeing Red

POV: Alpha Atlas

My stomach turned as I remembered the possessive name that he called her. His Little Doll, as though she was less than, as though she was something to be owned. I feel my Beta and Delta scrutinizing my every movement as I work through what just happened and force Zev back where he belongs.

“Of course, Alpha Brady, as you wish,” I replied after a moment, my voice carefully devoid of any emotion, keeping Zev at bay as he demanded I tear this pitiful Alpha to pieces. I force myself to sit calmly as I watch her stand on one leg and try to serve my breakfast.

Unfortunately, I can’t control the wrathful aura pouring from me as I feel Alpha Brady’s murderous intent aimed directly at my mate. I know my aura is making her uncomfortable, but if I focus on reining it in, Zev may use that distraction to take control, and then all hell would break loose.

Travis and Blaze are also enraged, and I can feel their indignation at the Alpha’s behavior. She suddenly stiffened and I see Brady’s hand gliding up under her skirt, her fear and disgust scenting the air around her the higher it goes.

My aura increased drastically, reacting to the increase in my rage as I witnessed this disgusting act of public violation. ‘How can we get her out of here quickly, without setting him off?’ I linked quickly, balling my hands into fists at my side.

‘Already on it!’ They link back, and I can tell they are working on a solution together silently and undetected. She shivered as he did Goddess knows what under her skirt, and suddenly the scoop of hash brown in her hand hit the table as the tiniest, pained gasp escaped her.

Brady’s aura toward her increases and he rips his hand out of her skirt. Mine rose to meet his as I could smell her on his hand. All the ranked wolves at the table could smell it, and my men turned to me, while his wolves sneered at her. Wanting to stem the sheer terror pouring off of her, I quickly reached toward her.

“No harm done, it’s-”. My words are cut off as Brady jumps to his feet, raging like a lunatic.

“YOU USELESS LITTLE b***h!” he snarled, grabbing her forearms and tossing her into the wall behind her before I could react. I hear her agonized cry of pain and the snap of a bone as her ankle breaks a second time, my vision tinting red. A ferocious growl tore itself from my throat as I stared at this pathetic excuse of a werewolf in front of me. We stare at each other in fury, neither backing down, as I feel her gaze on us.

“Is this how you treat your inferiors Alpha?” I boomed, unable to keep the disgust from my voice. I jumped to my feet next to him and towered over him. The warriors from both packs had stopped eating and were now carefully surveying the situation, waiting for any sign they would be needed.

“How I treat my Little Doll is of no concern to you,” Brady shouted back at me, the name causing my eye to twitch. “The treatment of my personal slave has nothing to do with you, your pack, or the deal I wish to offer!”

All the wolves on my side of the table stiffen in poorly concealed rage at the words ‘personal slave’, a growl slipping loose as my eyes narrowed. I shifted my eyes to my mate instead, to keep from killing him there and then. My eyes softened, my vision returning to normal as I looked at the injuries and scars on her face, hands, and lower legs. She looked down again, hiding from my gaze.

Goddess only knows what injuries she’s hiding under her dress. What could she possibly have done to earn this kind of cruelty? We treat our prisoners better than we’ve seen him treat her. I’m still looking at her when he lazily calls out to her.

“Little Doll, I would like more eggs.” His words dripped with contempt. She immediately pulled herself up from the floor, crumpling with a scream as her ankle gave way beneath her.

I moved slowly to stop her before she caused permanent damage to her ankle, while also trying not to startle her. Moving faster than I’d thought possible in her state, she stood, silent sobs wracking her body as she took a single step before throwing up on the floor.

Before she could try to take another step, I lunged forward and scooped her up in my arms, pulling her to my chest as she shrieked in surprise. She covered her mouth as panic swept over her, causing her to gasp for breath, hyperventilating.

“Shhh, baby, breathe! Feel my breaths and try to match them.” I whispered into her ear, exaggerating my breathing for her to copy. I inhaled her scent, allowing it to wash over me and calm my rage. I angled her into me so she could feel my chest rise and fall. Above all else, she needed to breathe.

Her terrified eyes met mine, and I met hers calmly. I know all my men were mind-linking, debating killing the Alpha and his men right here and now for his treatment of our Luna. All questions of her importance had been wiped out entirely by the gentleness with which I held her now.

‘Leave him!’ I commanded across the link, seeing them all bow their heads slightly in submission out of the corner of my eye. Watching Brady with narrowed eyes as he moved in front of us, I felt my mate’s entire body stiffen, frozen in terror at his proximity. I lift my rage-filled eyes to his, no longer bothering to keep up false pretenses.

“What do you think you are doing?!” He hissed, slipping his arms under my mate and trying to pull her from me. This time, I pulled her closer as she whimpered, trembling again before she wrapped her arms around my neck and arched herself up and away from his touch.

I see red yet again as I smell her fresh blood, feeling it drip onto my shirt. Turning my attention back to the quaking woman in my arms, I tightened my grip a bit as I moved away to put some space between him and us. A menacing growl ripped out of my chest as Zev peered out of my eyes at him. The coward gulped as he finally saw the danger in my eyes. My sight returns to normal when I feel her shaking more, whimpering as she pushes farther into me. She needed to be away now.

“I am taking her to our quarters to be seen by my pack healer. She has obviously broken her ankle several times! I will not stand by and watch you torture her anymore!” I spit out, eyes flickering dangerously between mine and Zev’s as we both turned our heads to assess the weaker man in front of us.

“I demand that you take your hands off my property,” Brady snarls, spit flying. I ignore him, linking my Beta, Delta, and warriors. ‘She needs medical attention now! I suspect he won’t let me just walk away with her. Keep him off us while I take her to my room upstairs.’

Switching the link to just Travis, Blaze, and my pack healer, Cordelia, I gave them their orders. ‘Cordelia, I need you in my room now, Blaze. I need you here with the warriors until things are settled, Travis. Try to prevent a war from breaking out, and then meet us in my room.’

Cordelia melted out of the room toward the stairs leading up. Brady reached towards my mate again and snarled at me. I didn’t even spare him a glance as I turned and walked away from him. Complete and utter chaos explodes within the room behind me as he goes to grab her and my men jump between us, setting off his men as they do.

As an afterthought, I called over my shoulder, knowing my voice would carry.

“Remember who asked who to be here, Alpha Brady? You are the one who needs something from us. This pack is but a bump in the road for my pack. Do not give me a reason to hit it head-on.”

I make my way to the stairs, carrying my mate to as much safety as I can offer in this pack’s land, taking the steps three at a time to my room.