The Rare Mate

Chapter Six

Zac’s pov

I looked at the state she was in and was overwhelmed with shock. She was covered in blood, her hair was so dirty I couldn’t tell if she was a brunette or if it was just blood and dirt. She was barefoot with cuts all up and down her feet and calves. Her dress was pulled up some and I could see cuts that looked like claw marks peeking out from the hem. I reached down to pick her up when her friend yelled.

“No, please don’t hurt her!” She was being pinned down by James who had sadness written all over his face. On a normal day I would have stopped to ask him what was wrong but I knew my mate was in really bad shape.

“Why would I hurt her? She is my mate.” She gave me a curious look as I walked past her. I turned to my father who seemed to be stunned at her state as well. “We need to get her help. We need to take her to their pack hospital.” 

He quickly shook his head, “no son, we need to get her to the guesthouse and then we summon Tasha.” He said with concern. “I think she is our only hope of keeping your mate alive.” 

“Why?” I asked as more worry filled my chest.

“She should have already begun to heal and she hasn’t, add in how skinny she is, I think we would do better with help from someone we trust.” I nodded my head, he did have a valid point. We made our way to the SUV, I climbed in and kept her on my  lap. James climbed into the very back with the other girl. 

It was only a few minutes before we were back at the guesthouse. I quickly brought her up to the room I share with Luca. Luca quickly ran into the bathroom and grabbed some fresh towels and laid them down on the bed. Once she was laid down on top of them I knelt down on the floor next to the bed. I didn’t know where to even start with her wounds, there were just so many.. “Don’t!” she shouted when I started to reach for her shirt.

I took a quick glance at her then back at my mate, “what happened to her?” I growled and glared at the other woman. 

She flinched before she cleared her throat, “she was being punished.” She said quietly.

I looked over at her and knew my eyes were black, Matt was trying to take over. “Punished for what?” I shouted and stood up taking a few steps towards her.

“Well the reason isn’t really known to me, other than she made a mess of the kitchen.” her voice shook as she spoke.

“You mean to tell me she was punished for a messy kitchen?” her head dropped as I growled at her, “there is more to it than that isn’t there?” I asked as I reminded myself she wasn’t the one who hurt her.

She nodded her head, “yes, sir.” Her voice was barely audible.

“Would you like to share?” My anger was growing and I could feel Matt pulling away as we looked at our mate again. Seeing his mate in such a state could cause him as much pain as it does me.

She nodded her head as a tear fell down her cheek. “Well the Alpha kind of blames her for the death of the Luna. When the rogues attacked they wanted her, I don’t know why but they fought hard to get her.” I slowly walked back to my mate and looked down at her and picked up her hand that was cold to the touch.

I brought her hand to my lips and left a soft kiss on her bloodied knuckles, faint tingles formed where our skin connected. “Please don’t leave me.” I whispered to her when I heard footsteps outside the door.

The door swung open and Tasha stormed in. “You haven’t even been here an hour and already you need help?” She hissed at me. Once she looked down at my mate she stopped in shock. “Oh my goddess, get out, now.” She waved her hand and an invisible force shoved me and everyone else out of the room with the door locking behind us. 

“TASHA LET ME BACK IN NOW!” I didn’t get a response, I tried to bang on the door but was thrown back by a forcefield. I growled in frustration and began to pace back and forth in the hallway. 

Luca tried to calm me down but I threw him against the wall, “what the hell man?” He shouted at me as he stood back up to his feet. “Calm the f**k down! Don’t make me fight you, you know Tasha will do whatever she can to help her!” 

I stormed towards him when I felt hands on my shoulders, “seriously calm down or I will knock you out like I did Luca when he found Margarete.” My dad growled at me. 

I turned to look at him, “why did she lock me out? I am her mate!” I yelled.

“Maybe because you’re acting like a d**k right now.” I looked at the female who said that and began to stalk towards her.

“Maybe I am being like this right now because I have been followed around by her scent since we got here and now that I finally found her I can’t even be in the same room as her!” I yelled, inches away from her face.

She laughed then glared at me, “you think she is going to care about you being her mate? You have no idea what she has been through!” by the time she had finished she was yelling as well. 

That took me by surprise, she was right. Here I am trying to get into her space and we don’t even know each other. “Then enlighten me.” I growled, Matt started to come to the front curious by what she had to say about our mate. 

“I can give you an idea of what she went through, but you will have to actually get all the details from her.” Her tone softened as she spoke but she continued to glare at me.

“Well, speak.” This time it was Matt who spoke, he took over and was losing his patience. 

She glared at me again, “I will speak once you calm your wolf down.” She turned on her heel and strode away leaving me in stunned silence. 

“Since when do you act like this?” Ryken asked surprised by my behavior.

I shook my head and ran my hands through my hair, “I don’t know, since I found my mate and I can’t seem to do a damn thing to help her.” I growled as I plopped down on the floor leaning up against the banister.

Tasha’s pov

I looked up at Jeremy as we snuggled in bed together, he twisted my hair in his fingers. I laid my head down on his firm chest. “What’s wrong?” I asked him.

He slowly shook his head, “nothing, I am just worried, I have a feeling something bad is coming.” 

I sighed as I started to leave soft kisses on his bare chest, “mmm, well I don’t see anything bad here.” 

“Hmm, you’d be right.” He leaned forward and grabbed my chin gently pulling me to look at him as his lips captured mine.

I got up so I could straddle him, I looked down at him as he began trailing kisses down my neck and chest. Moans escaped my mouth when I felt a tug in my head. I tried to ignore it but it continued, I groaned, “what’s wrong babe?” 

“Someone is summoning me.” I told him.

“Who is it?” He asked, I could hear his annoyance in his voice.

“I think it’s Zeke. Something is wrong.” I said. I quickly stood up and started grabbing clothes.

“We finally get some time without the boys and you get summoned away.” He said his voice was cold.

“I know, I am sorry babe. This is the downfall to taking over Sylvia’s spot as well as my own position as guardian.” I said as I pulled on a pair of black leggings. 

He sat leaned on his elbow and supported his head with his hand, “want me to go with you?” I sighed as I pulled on a sports bra. 

“Do you think you need to come?” I asked him as I walked into our closet.

“Well how urgent do you think it is?” He called after me.

“Well he is still summoning me, so I am guessing pretty urgent.” I finally decided on a simple black long sleeve v-neck with the words caffeine goddess in bright pink bold letters. 

“I am coming with you then, I don’t want to let you go somewhere potentially dangerous without some back up.” He said as he walked into the closet in all his glory.

I bit my lip as I looked at him, “that’s not fair.” I said pointing to his nakedness. 

“What? Don’t like what you see?” He asked tauntingly.

“That’s not the issue, I do like what I see but we need to get moving before he gets Ryken to summon me.” I shuttered, with Ryken’s added powers I always get sharp pains in my head. 

He walked over to me and gave me a quick kiss, “pack an overnight bag and I will be ready in a few minutes.” I nodded my head as I grabbed what we needed for the next day. 

I threw the bag on the bed when I felt more tugging, “babe, let’s go!” I shouted over my shoulder. I jumped when I felt his arm wrap around me.

“Okay, let’s go.” he whispered. 

I felt the familiar jolt in my stomach as the world spun around us, when it stopped I was surprised to see us standing in a very lovely living room. The walls were a soft gray with one being a bold blue with a white fireplace. The furniture was all white with throw blankets and pillows. I turned around and found Zeke, “what took you so long?” He asked as he jumped up.

“It has been less than ten minutes since you started summoning me. What’s going on, there is no way you guys have already started causing trouble already.” I said as I crossed my arms.

“We actually have a dire situation. Zeke found his mate but she is in really bad shape.” My eyes grew wide and my hands dropped to my sides going into instant guardian mode.

“Show me where she is.” I was excited that he found his mate but was worried about her condition. Zeke doesn’t normally overreact to situations, if anything he tends to underreact. 

“Upstairs, follow the yelling.” he said, motioning his arm towards the staircase.

Once I was upstairs I easily found them, I threw open the door, “you haven’t even been here for an hour and already you need help.” I looked at the body on the bed, she was next to death. I threw my arms up forcing everyone out of the room. I made sure the door was locked and protected.

I needed absolutely zero distraction, I could see these odd swirls of light twisting around her, one was bright white and the other was dark black. “Oh my sweet girl, what did these people do to you?” I asked her knowing she wouldn’t answer. I walked over to her and placed my hand on her slowly rising and falling chest. “I promise I will make you better.” 

I used my power and made her clothes vanish and gently turned her over onto her side, I gasped as I saw the strings of flesh hanging off her back. I swallowed hard and ran to the bathroom. I found a handful of towels and quickly soaked them in cold water. I ran back to her and started dabbing them when I saw something silver glint between two pieces of hanging flesh.

I picked it up and instantly knew what it was, these were banned by Zeke and Jane within the first few months of becoming the new King and Queen. They were banned because it was a terrible practice. The barbs of silver would rip into the flesh like a fish hook and rip out more than normal, add the fact that it’s silver and these alone can be deadly for a wolf. Especially one who is weak and malnourished. 

I stood up to get a little bowl to put it in but something caught my eye. I stopped and looked back at her. I was shocked to see her deep purple eyes looking at me, I put my hands up in a surrender motion to show her I meant no harm.  “I am here to help, will you allow me to help you heal?” She looked at me completely terrified, before letting out an ear splitting scream. 

Magnolia’s pov

I could vaguely hear voices around me but couldn’t make any of it out. I tried to focus on my wolf but she was gone, I couldn’t feel her at all. I tried to yell, scream, move, anything that would tell me I am truly alive and not just a spectator in my own body. 

Suddenly the voices were gone and it was quiet, I felt the cold air around me like a blanket was ripped off. Then I felt something cold and wet on my back before I felt a sharp pinch. My eyes flew open and I could see a woman I didn’t recognize standing in front of me. She was examining something in her fingers as she was walking away but she froze and looked at me. 

She put her hands up and said “I am here to help, will you allow me to help you heal?” I didn’t know who this lady was and I sure as hell didn’t want her to help me. So I did the only thing I could think of in my weakened state, I screamed as loud as I could.

She jumped in shock and covered her ears. This could just be a trick like it was the first time he whipped me. They told me that I was forgiven and that they would help me. Instead they had done something far worse.

Flashback one year ago

I was starting to wake up, there was a dull beeping sound. I gently opened my eyes and found myself in the hospital. One of the pack nurses was standing next to me smiling. “Hey sweetie, how are you doing?” I didn’t answer, I didn’t know what to do. “Don’t worry, the alpha brought you here. He says it’s time for you to heal up and for us all to move on.” 

I could feel a weight lift off of me. I was finally going to be forgiven. I felt myself start to smile, something cold was dripping on my back before they began to wrap it. “Here, I am going to give you something to help you sleep, it will help the rate of healing.” I nodded my head and slowly drifted off to sleep.

When I woke up I wasn’t in the hospital anymore. Instead I was chained to a wall in a room in the pack house, I looked around and everyone in the room was gawking at me. My eyes grew wide when I saw the alpha walk up to me. “Well finally you’re awake. I guess you were given a bit too much sedative. You were out a bit longer than I would have liked.” He growled at me.

I could feel the terror run through my body. “What’s going on?” I asked, my voice hoarse looking at all the people in the room. Fear ran through me when I realized they were all men and there were about ten of them.

“What’s going on?” He then laughed maniacally, “what’s going on is the next part of your punishment, you’re the reason I lost my beloved mate less than a month ago.” He growled out.

“I didn’-” His loud growl cut me off. 

“Everything that happened, all the pack members that were lost in that battle is on your head. Now you can help some other people.” He motioned with his hand towards the other men in the room. 

I looked around and the other pack members in the room and realized every single one of them were licking their lips or staring at me. I looked down and panic took over, I was completely naked other than a thin sheet that was tied around my neck to cover me.

He turned to the men, “here you go men, as promised.” He grew his claws out and with one quick slice cut the sheet. I watched as it fell away and crumpled on the floor. “Don’t stain the carpet boys.” They all pounced on me at the same time.

End flashback

I shuddered thinking about the day I lost my virginity. I lost it to ten pack members who took turns with me. It was going to be far worse this time, I knew it would be. 

I stopped screaming and just curled up the best I could and cried. Why couldn’t I just be dead already. It would have been better if I had died instead of my parents or the luna. I knew I was a strong person, I fought so hard the day he took me to be whipped for the first time. I managed to knock out a dozen fighters before they got me. 

I opened my eyes and the woman stood there her brown eyes wide in shock. I didn’t know what she was going to do but I knew better than to trust her. Ignoring the pain in my back I jumped up and realized I was once again naked. I looked down quickly and huffed. 

“I’m sorry I had to undress you, your dress was soaked in blood and I needed access to your back.” She spoke softly and not once did she try to stand up. I looked toward the door and slowly inched my way towards it. “The door is sealed shut to keep everyone else out. I needed to concentrate while I worked on you.” 

Her tone stayed soft and part of me wanted to believe her, but I couldn’t. I had been lied to far too many times. “I need to leave.” I attempted to growl at her but it came out more like a croak. 

“You can’t leave, I need to help you, you will die before your wolf can resurface. I will not allow you to die.” Her tone was soft yet firm as she slowly stood up. 

She took a step forward and I took a step back. She crossed her arms and sighed, “look I am a witch and if you don’t let me help you I will knock you out so I can help you. I don’t care what your mate has to say about it.” I could tell she was annoyed but I didn’t care, she wasn't someone I trusted.

I shook my head, “I don’t have a mate.” I took a step away from her as she again took another step in my direction. 

She smiled at me, “can you feel your wolf?” She asked me.

I tried to swallow but my mouth was too dry. “I won’t answer your questions.” I responded.

She sucked in a breath, “I take that as a no. Look, you were whipped with a silver knout, those were made illegal a long time ago. If you were to let the king and future king know that your alpha did this to you then we have enough cause to remove his alpha title.” 

I shook my head, “you’re tricking me. I am being tricked again.” I took a step back and yelped in pain when I hit the wall. 

I heard her gasp, “please be careful.” She said calmly but I could hear the worry in her voice. I turned around to face her and the room spun around me again. 

I tried to call to my wolf but she wasn’t responding. “Mattea, please.” I whispered as I watched darkness encase around me.

“I am sorry sweet girl, I need to do this.” I tried flailing around but I couldn’t move, I knew she had done something.

“What?” That was all I could get out.

Last thing I heard was her words, “I am sorry, I will help you.” I couldn’t get my hopes up, I just couldn’t.