Wolf Bound

5 - Never again!

Damian

“Damian, wait!”

I sigh as Drew calls my name. I don’t have time for this. I need to get to River and stop Richie from doing those damn tests.

However, I do turn around. Drew and Jai stand together, looking at me.

“What do you want? Because if you’re here to tell me that I was out of line, I don’t want to hear it, Drew.

Drew shakes his head. “I’m not. But Dad didn’t mean to upset you. He’s just thinking about the pack.”

“You have to admit that your mate was hardly cooperative yesterday.” Jai pipes in.

I scrunch my eyes and shake my head. “How did you think she’d react, Jai? River had been through hell! She ran from a place where they tortured her to a place that she thought she’d be safe. But what did my mate get? More torture! I can’t let this happen to her. I just can’t.”

Drew clasps my shoulder. “Damian, no one is going to let anything bad happen to River.”

“Really?” I scoff. “Then why did Dad force her to go with Richie for testing?”

“He’s just worried, Damian,” Jai answers. “River might be your mate, but she’s a stranger here. You told us yourself that River becomes Wolf Bound for months. You cannot possibly know how dangerous her Wolf could become.”

I sigh while scrubbing my hands over my face. I feel like I’m fighting a losing battle.

“Of everyone in this family, the two of you should be the ones on my side. I have always been there for both of you whenever you have needed me. No questions asked.” I look at Drew. “I helped you search for months for your mate without ever giving up. I was by your side every step of the way.” I turn to Jai. “I was there for you when your mate had troubles. I never left you. There is nothing I wouldn’t or haven’t done for the two of you. Not just because you’re my brothers, but my best friends also.”

My brothers look at each other, and I sigh again.

“Is this really about River becoming Wolf Bound, or the fact she was born male and now identifies as female?”

My Wolf growls inside my head. ‘I never had these two down as bigots, Damian.’

‘They never have been, Dixson.’

‘Until it came to our mate, you mean?’

“This has absolutely nothing to do with River’s gender identity, Damian,” Drew tells me with conviction.

“How could you even think that of us?”

I shrug at Jai. “I don’t know what else to think, Jai. I understand that Dad is worried about what could happen if and when she returns to her Wolf Bound state. But forcing these tests on an already traumatized woman will only hurt her further. What would you do if it were one of your mates? Would you stand idly by and let it happen?”

My brothers stare at me.

Drew breathes deeply. “Of course we wouldn’t, Damian. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for Emery or Jai for Mel. We do understand how you’re feeling. But can you honestly promise that River won’t harm anyone once she’s Wolf Bound?”

“No,” I reluctantly admit. “How can I promise that? But what I do know is that River’s Wolf never attacked anyone before she went to that horrible place. Did Dad not think that by forcing this on River, it could push her Wolf forth, and she’ll become Wolf Bound again? Did either of you think that’s fair?”

Jai shakes his head.

“I just want to protect my mate.”

“I understand that, Damian,” Drew tells me.

“Please, let me leave with my mate. It won’t be forever. But River needs to be somewhere she can recover from what she’s been through. Once she has, we’ll return. I’m not trying to go against my Alpha. But I’m an Alpha, too, and I won’t sit back and do nothing!”

Drew nods. “We’ve got your back, Damian. Just as you’ve always had ours.”

I breathe a sigh of relief.

“Thank you.”

“But promise us something, Damian,” I look at Jai. “Promise us that if you need us, for anything at all, you’ll call us. Don’t ever think you’re alone, Damian.”

“Jai’s right. You will always have your big brothers. No matter what.”

I chuckle and let my brothers hug me. Drew and Jai aren’t just my brother’s, they’re my best friends. I would be lost without them.

“Thank you. I’d be lost without you guys.”

“Come on,” Drew smiles. “Let’s go rescue your girl from Richie.”

“You two go ahead. I’ll pack you a bag and meet you by the door.”

“Thank, Jai,” I tell him before turning and rushing toward the infirmary, Drew beside me.

When Drew and I reach the infirmary, I barge through the door of the room I scent River in. My eyes widen when I see my mate sitting on the edge of the bed, her sleeve rolled up, and Richie about to inject her with something.

“What the fuc.k are you doing?!” I bellow so loudly the room shakes.

Richie blinks while moving away from River. “Damian, I’m doing what Alpha asked me to do.”

My eyes widen, and I grit my teeth. “He asked you to inject my mate with Goddess only knows what?”

Richie opens his mouth, but Drew snaps. “Save it!” My brother yells. “I’ll speak with my father about this, but you are not injecting River with anything.”

“Damian,” River whispers my name.

I look at her, looking at me with sadness in her eyes.

What the hell has Richie been doing to my mate while I was talking with my brothers?

I make my way over to River and cup her cheek. “What’s he done to you?”

“I haven’t done anything!”

I snap my head to Richie and growl. “I wasn’t asking you.”

“I suggest you keep your mouth shut right now, Richie.” Drew growls.

I look at River. “What did he do?”

She shakes her head. “Nothing. He talked me through some things, then he was going to…” She stops talking and lays her hands on my chest. I can feel how much she’s shaking in fear, and that cuts me up inside.

“He was going to do what?”

“Inject me with Wolfsbane to see if it triggers anything.”

My eyes widen, anger fills my veins, and I’m struggling not to kill Richie!

“What the hell?!” Drew yells. Richie looks at my brother, visibly shaking. We all know how dangerous Drew can be when he’s angry. Roman, Drew’s Wolf, is powerful, and no one wants him to turn on them. “Who the fuc.k told you to do something like that? You could have killed her!”

Richie shakes his head. “No, Alpha Drew. The amount wouldn’t have caused River any damage. It’s just part of the tests I need to perform.”

I shake my head. “You are not testing my mate in any way.” I slide one arm under River’s legs and the other around her back and lift her into my arms. She gasps while wrapping her arms around my neck. “Come near her again, and I’ll kill you, Richie. That is a promise!”

“Wait,” Richie yells as I walk out of the room with River in my arms. “You can’t take her anywhere. This is Alpha Leander’s orders!”

I ignore him, but Drew, on the other hand, smacks Richie so hard in the face that he flies across the room. He hits the wall and slides down it.

I watch as Drew crouches down in front of Richie. “Listen to me and listen good. No man would stand idly by while his mate was tested on like a lab rat. Regardless of what your intentions were, forget them.”

“But Alpha Leander…”

“I’ll speak to my father. As a Doctor, you should know the mental anguish you could be causing an already immensely traumatized young woman. What is it? You enjoy harming women?”

Richie shakes his head at Drew. “Of course not.”

Drew nods. “Good. Now, stay away from River, and don’t put stupid ideas in my father’s head. You wouldn’t want me to come back here and end you. Now, would you?”

Richie shakes his head. “No, Alpha Drew. But can I just ask what happens if she becomes feral again?”

“She’s not feral!” I yell.

Why am I even bothering?

It’s not like it sinks into Richie’s stupid brain.

“Damian,” River whispers. “Please, can we get out of here? I don’t feel so good.”

Fuc.k.

‘Drew, I need to get River out of here. Can you deal with this?’ I ask through the mind link.

‘Go ahead, Damian. I’ll talk to Dad as well. Try not to worry about anything but your mate right now. But remember, if you need anything, then call me and Jai. Also, don’t let your guard down. There’s a reason Dad and Richie are worried about River. If she becomes Wolf Bound, call me, and I’ll be there to help you.’ He replies.

‘Thank you, brother.’ With that, I walk away with my mate.

Now, where to take my mate?

‘There’s always the cabin,’ My Wolf tells me. ‘It’s not too far away, but enough that we won’t be disturbed for a while. Plus, it’s surrounded by trees, and River could relax there.’

‘That’s not a bad idea.’ I mumble. ‘You will help me protect her. Won’t you?’

Dixson laughs. ‘Do you even need to ask?’

I chuckle. ‘No. I’m sorry.’

‘Let’s get out of here, Damian. River needs us.’

I smile as River lays her head on my shoulder. I kiss her forehead. “Come on, beautiful. Let’s get out of here.”

“Where are we going?”

“Somewhere safe and quiet. Somewhere, no one can try forcing you into something you don’t want or need.”

River lifts her head. “Are you going to stay with me?”

I smile. “Of course, I am. I will never leave you, River.”

She nods and rests her head on my shoulder again.

No one will ever hurt my mate and get away with it. Never again!