The Surprise Mate

Chapter 9: The Betrayal.

Sunshine's P.O.V.:

When I awoke in the morning I rolled over and reached for Donaldson but only met with cold blankets, telling me that he most likely got up just as daylight started to break on the horizon. So, I got up slipped on a robe that was hanging on a nail and walked across the hall to my room to grab some clean clothes and my sand soap, then I walked to the washroom and started washing up, once I was clean, I got dressed and outside. As I walked out the door, I bumped into Dunkin who had his hand raised as if to knock on the doorframe, “O sorry Dunkin do you have a message for me?” I asked, “O yes as a matter of fact I do here you go ma’am” he reply’s handing me a rolled-up parchment with the servant's seal of a rose on it. “Thank you, Dunkin that will be, all for now” I replied then turned letting the pelt fall into place as I walked over to a chair and sat down then I broke the seal and started reading:

Dearest Sunshine I’m glad to know you are ok, but I must speak to you in person I know where you are and who you are with, I shall explain as much as I can when I see you, until then I need you to stay put and listen to everything Donaldson tells you.

Love Dorothyanna.

(“How in the hell does she know where I am and even more importantly how does she know Donaldson this just doesn’t make any since at all”) I think to myself and decided that instead of going to the nursery like I planned to I would instead go and find Donaldson and find out exactly how he knows Dorothyanna, so I left the hut to go get answers.

Donaldson's P.O.V.:

I finally decided how I was going to tell Sunshine, so I was heading to the hut to tell her when Dunkin met up with me coming from the hut after giving Sunshine her message, I figured so I stopped and waited for him to reach me once he was in front of me, I said “What news do you have for me? Was your trip educational?” I asked, “Umm nothing pertaining to our young lady but there might be a bit of a complication it would seem that the woman that Sunshine sent the message to is in fact umm how can I say this umm she’s your sister my Alpha.” He finally said, “that’s impossible my sister is home in Silver Creek Valley” I say with disbelief, “I have proof sir here she gave me this to give you.” He says as he pulls out a rolled-up parchment then hands it to me and sure enough it bares my families seal of a wolf head. In disbelief I take the scroll from him and break the seal then I start reading it getting more anxious the more I read it says:

Dearest brother I have decided to come see you, I shall be there in a couple days with Adamson it seems that this is a very small world, for the girl you have staying with you is the very same girl we would play with as children, the very one that our parents said would be your destined bride, I shall explain as much as I can to her without exposing our secret, but I urge you brother to not take too long before you tell her your side of things.

Always with love your little sister.

Dorothyanna of the Silverback Wolf pack of Silver Creek Valley.

I’m staring at the letter in disbelief not noticing Sunshine heading my way until she pushes Dunkin out of the way then stops not even a foot away from me.

Sunshine's P.O.V.:

As I arrive to where Donaldson is standing I see him talking to Dunkin as he takes a parchment out and hands it to Donaldson who quickly starts to read it as I approach I push Dunkin out of my way then I stop not even a foot away from Donaldson and start talking before he has a chance to say anything, “How do you and Dorothyanna know eachother is she your lover or something because I’m really confused right now?” I say as I’m breathing hard trying to maintain my calm. He starts laughing so I slap him and ask “why are you laughing I am being serious and there is nothing funny about this once so ever” I say then he replies “actually it is very funny because no Dorothyanna isn’t my lover she’s my baby sister, who until now I thought was still living back home” he says still laughing. “She’s your baby sister O my god I’m so sorry, I feel like such an i***t now” I say as I sink down to ground with a flop the frustration just vanishing from me, then I start laughing to. He crouches down and pulls me into his arms while still chuckling a little he says “ Hay don’t feel like an i***t, neither of us could have known that my little sister and your best friend were the same person since I still thought she was back home and I’m almost positive that she only ever referred to me as her brother if she even talked about me at all, O and by the way just so that you don’t get more confused I believe we both might know someone else as well his name is Adamson does that name mean anything to you?” he asks “Yes in fact I do know him ha-ha he’s the head chef for the royal family that Dorothyanna and I work for in the palace of Sunnyvale Valley, but why do you bring him up?” I ask him.

Donaldson's P.O.V.:

After a moment of silence while I tried to figure out how to phrase my answer carefully so as to not give away too much until my sister gets here to help with the telling of the secret then I say “My sister is on her way here as I’m sure she’s already told you and she is also bringing Adamson with her as well” I say then I wait for her response. Suddenly there came the sounds of screaming and the smell of smoke so I say to Sunshine “we’ll finish this conversation later for now go to the healing hut with Dunkin and stay there while I go check it out, you’ll be safe with him” then I take off running and wait until I’m out of her field of vision before I shift form and start running in my wolf form to go and investigate what’s going on.

Sunshine's P.O.V.:

I start running for the healing hut when out of nowhere something strikes the back of my head and carried by my momentum forward, I fall hard to the ground my vision starting to go dim all I can see is Dunkin standing there with a pistol pointing at me and two figures standing beside him then all goes black.

Donaldson's P.O.V.:

All around me is chaos there were woman with children running for cover anywhere they can find it, warriors and other pack members in various stages of transformation were fighting with other wolfs (that I’m not sure if they’re part of a rival pack or just rogue wolfs). While some of these other wolfs were in their human form carrying torches and burning huts or dragging woman towards a group of women who were huddled together surrounded by men staring and leering at them. I quickly headed for the group of men surrounding the woman and started tearing into the first guys I met until they’re all either on the ground dead, dismembered, or severely injured. Then shifted partially so that I had a human head and told them to either shift and fight if they were able to, or to head for the nursery with the other mothers and woman who were unable to take form at the moment (do to being pregnant). Then I told them to bolt the door only opening it if they look out the window first to see that it’s another woman needing shelter, other wise not to open the door for anyone other than me. Once they did as I ordered, I continued attacking and freeing other woman sending them all to the same place. Then there was the sound of one of the enemies calling for a retreat as wolfs gathered up there wounded who weren’t either dead or to severely injured and left. Soon there was only the sound of the wolfs who were left behind moaning or cursing the retreating figures of their comrades, who had left them behind. 

Those who could be saved and used to get information were taken to the holding area, (where the wolf shifter who attacked Sunshine that first day was also currently sitting at), meanwhile the ones who had no hope of surviving were put out of their misery, and then all the bodies were piled together and burned. I went to the nursery and told the woman and mothers that it was safe to come out. Once I made sure that all the fires were out, and the dead taken care of I went to the stream to clean up before I headed to the healing hut, eager to hold Sunshine in my arms. Just to feel her warmth, to have that heat wipe away this cold feeling of dread that has plagued me since I left her side.

Sunshine's P.O.V.:

I awoke to complete darkness laying on my side on a cold hard ground with my arms tied behind my back and my legs tied together as well when I tried to speak, I noticed I also had a cloth tied over mouth, so I was only able to breathe through my nose I smelled the air and all I could smell was dust, rust, and a muskiness. I tried to see if I could hear something, but the only sounds I could hear were the sound of water dripping somewhere to the left of me all this tells me that I’m in a basement of some kind but that’s all it tells me. At least as far as location went, I also know that I’ve been taken hostage by people's unknown all I do know is that Dunkin was the one who pistol whipped me on the back of the head and knocked me out so I’m not even sure as to the reason behind my capture since there is no way that he knew I was royalty or is there? I don’t really know or care. All I know is that I am cold, hungry, and hurting also that I need to go to the bathroom badly which all this tells me that I’ve been unconscious for hours.

Suddenly there was the sound of feet coming down the steps and towards me I start trying to push myself back away from them but after only a couple of slides I am up against the wall and can’t go any farther backwards so I just sit there listening for the footfalls to get closer then I swing my feet and manage to connect slightly with some ones legs but not enough to trip them instead I get a slight groan from the man then he slaps my face once, then some guy says careful we don’t want to mark up her face. Then the guy that slapped me slowly takes off the blind fold covering my eyes, the brightness of the light blinds me for a few seconds then they slowly adjusted, and I can see three men were standing around me. The guy who I’m guessing is the one I kicked and who slapped me was off to my right rubbing his legs (so at least I hurt him) he was I’d guess around mid to late 30’s Hispanic, 6ft tall, with a muscular build and short military cut black hair. The guy off to my left was Dunkin looking down at me with an apologetic look as he kept shooting glares at the guy to my right so I guess that he was the one who told the guy to not leave marks on me, (“yea thanks a lot like that will improve my situation any you backstabbing son of a b***h”) I say in my head as I shoot daggers with my eyes at all three of them but especially at Dunkin.

The third guy was about 6ft 5in Caucasian, he has a muscular build also with a military cut blond hair. He places a tray of food down in front of me then he removes the gag and says, “my name is Stephon you already know Dunkin, and this is Jake I’m deeply sorry about Jake striking you and I’m sure you are wondering why we have taken you hostage but before any questions you may want to ask you need to eat”. Stephon says “So, I’m going to have Dunkin untie your hands so you can feed yourself then I’ll untie your legs so that you can walk to the potty and use it on your own and we won’t restrain you again unless you start trouble like trying to hit one of us or escape you will be restrained again am I under stood nod your head if you understand” Stephon says and I reply with a nod of my head because I believe him and I’m in no shape to try to yet anyways. I started eating the tray of food as soon as my hands were untied it consisted of only 2 eggs, 4 bacon and 2 slices of toast with butter on it despite the size of the meal I was still hungry he then gave me a cup of water which I downed in one gulp then drank the second more slowly after wards Dunkin helped me up and when I had trouble keeping my balance enough to walk he slid my arm across his shoulder placed his arm across my back then with Stephon leading and Jake walking behind me we headed up the stairs as were walking I whisper into Dunkin’s ear and say “You just wait until Donaldson finds us you’ll wish you never helped them take me you are going to regret this” I say “trust me you don’t want him to come looking for you because that’s exotically what they want to happen you are merely the bait in the trap set for him” we finally reached the bathroom and thankfully they all three stayed outside the door covering sadly though the window was too small to fit through so I used the potty washed up some in the wash basin then I went back out a little more stable on my feet so Dunkin just walked on the side of me ready to catch me if I stumbled then we walked to a room that had bars on the window, a bed big enough for only one person, and no other kinds of furniture.

I looked a questioning look towards Stephon, Dunkin, and Jake “we thought you might be more comfortable and there for more cooperative with us if you not made to continue sleeping in the basement, but don’t try to escape there will always be two guards standing outside your door if you need anything ask the guards and they will walk you to the bathroom and they’ll send someone to get you whatever else you need, if you start causing problems though it’ll be back down in the basement and Jake will be guarding you and he’s not as nice as those two outside and me o and Dunkin will be one of the two watching you at all times”. “When will I be getting more food, I’m still hungry? How long have I been here? And why am I even here the only person I know is Dunkin and that tells me nothing at all?” I say. “You have only been here for about half a day, it is noon now, so you’ll get supper at around 5 or 6 this evening and well wake you up for breakfast at around 9 or 10 tomorrow morning and I’m sorry but the portions have to be small we don’t have a lot of food we barely survive as it is, as for the reason you are here I’m sorry but that will have to be a conversation for tomorrow, see you for the evening meal goodbye” he says and walks out leaving me all alone.

Donaldson's P.O.V.:

As I reach the healing hut my sent of smell tell me that Sunshine isn’t there before, I even walk into the hut which makes me uneasy even before my mother comes running up to me “What’s wrong?’ she asks. “Have you seen Sunshine this evening”? I ask her “I seen, her walking towards here, but she never came in, so I thought maybe she went back to the hut instead then I got slammed with woman and children and wounded pack members, so I had my hands full and was unable to leave to go and find her or you I’m so sorry” she says almost in tears. “It’s not your fault mom I should have made sure she got here safely I shouldn’t have left her alone with only Dunkin to protect her, if I find out that son of a b***h is behind her going missing, he’s going to regret it I promise you that, I must go if I hurry, I might be able to pick up her scent and follow it”. I say as I walk out “yes of course but please be careful this could be a trap for you and she’s the bait, I love you son I’ll pray for both of your safe returns” she says as I leave I walk to where I left her alone then follow Dunkin and her footsteps going towards the hut then they stop about 5feet from the hut where I see two other pairs of feet come up behind them and the impression of where someone (most likely Sunshine since it’s too small for Dunkin) fell face forward onto the ground then three pairs of feet (one set deeper indented as if they were carrying something slightly heavy) heading towards the forest once I reached the forest I’d have to rely on the scent trail rather than a visual trail with the thick underbrush and all.

From what I can gather so far Sunshine and Dunkin were headed towards the healing hut when two other male wolfs joined them, then someone probably Dunkin (since there was no sign of a struggle and he obviously left with them voluntarily) knocked out sunshine then one of them (again probably Dunkin) lifted her up onto his shoulder and following the other two carried her off. Why though is what I don’t understand is mother right is she the bait for a trap laid for me and is it because of the mate bond, is it because she the princess of Sunnyvale Valley? (Yes the moment I read the letter from my sister I knew who she was right away but since she felt better claiming to be only a servant in the palace I let it go I’m certain that when she felt safe enough she’d tell me the truth and why she wasn’t in the palace) or are there more sinister reasons behind her capture I don’t know, and I won’t know until I find her and the assholes who have taken my mate from me. The sound of two wolfs running caught my attention and sent me on high alert until the scent of family and of pack reached my nose then I relaxed a little while I waited for my sister and Adamson to arrive as soon as they reached me they changed into human form and started to reach down for their clothes “Don’t worry about getting dressed your just going to have to change form again anyways someone has taken my mate, and yes I accept it Dorothyanna so don’t waste your breath. We are first going to get a couple more wolfs then were going to track these bastards down and get her back, now switch back to your wolf forms and wait here for me I’ll be back” without waiting for a reply I headed over to where Thorin, Mikelle, Derrickson, Rexington, and Mathison were all standing told them what was going on and that I needed them to come with me then we stripped down tied our shorts to our ankles and shifted into our wolf forms, we ran back to where my sister and Adamson were waiting then with me in the lead started running while following Sunshine’s scent.

Sunshine's P.O.V.:

Dunkin brought me a dinner of rabbit stew and bread later that day again I ate it down so fast that I barely tasted it and still didn’t feel full, then I gulped down 2 glasses of water, when I was done I was again escorted to the bathroom and when I was done I was taken back to my room where I laid down on the bed and cried myself to sleep this continued to be the norm for me over the next few weeks and still I was never told why of course I knew what Dunkin had said but I didn’t know if I could trust what he says to be the truth not after the fact that he’s partially the reason I’m even here instead of safe back at camp with Donaldson, I missed him terribly and he often would be in my dreams which became the main source to keeping myself sane. Knowing that he would come for me and take me away from this horrid place. After a month of being on my best behavior they let me go outside and walk in the fresh air guarded of course but it was still nice to be able to go outside occasionally. One day while walking outside I heard my guards talking Dunkin was busy else where’s (they have kind of relaxed a little more around me occasionally they would even ask me how I was doing and telling me about what to expect for the next meal to be, sometimes they’d offer me the rest of their meals which I would turn down politely) any ways I heard them talking to eachother and when they mentioned my name I slowed down just a little so I could hear what they said:

1st guard “So apparently the boss man said that Donaldson will come for Sunshine because she’s his long-awaited mate and there is no way that someone like us could ever refuse the need to save their mate, I’ve never been mated before, so I don’t know if that’s true have you ever found your mate before?”

2nd guard “Yea I have been mated before but she died 2 years ago during labor with our son he didn’t survive the birthing either, but I agree if she would have been captured I would have moved heaven and hell to get her back, trust me he’ll definitely come for Sunshine he can’t help it after all if you lose your mate 9 out of 10 times you never find another mate I mean sure some may get married and have kids but it’s not the same as it would be with your mate”.

I started walking my normal pace again trying to figure out what they meant when they said I was Donaldson’s mate I mean we barely even known eachother for very long and we’ve only slept together once so what do they mean by mate hmmm that’s a question for another time, “Ok let’s head on back to the room” says the 1st guard so I turn and walk back to the room once inside I lay down and fall asleep exhausted.