When All Else Fails

Gone Before Being Gotten

Cory

The entire time we packed Luke’s belongings I could hardly contain my excitement. The grin staying plastered on my face. Every time the kid looked at me I could hear him chuckle. I can’t wait to get back home to my mate. He sweet voice, I can’t wait to fix all the damage that’s been done today. To mend her broken heart. To give her the mate the moon goddess wants her to have.

It didn’t take but a few minutes for us to pack everything up and get it in the suv. They really didn’t have anything but a few clothes and school materials. I vowed to myself that I would change this, as I didn’t know this is how they lived. I can fix this, no one should have to live like this. I watched Luke pack up all of his clothes and most looked like they wouldn’t fit right and they are riddled with holes. I could tell by how faded they are that they are all hand me downs and things the other better off members of the pack would throw out.

My mate lived no better than this. That will change now though. We got in the suv and headed back towards our house.

“Luke, I’m going to take you two shopping for new clothes tomorrow. We need to get you some clothes to train in.” I tried to cover up the fact I noticed with training outfits. I didn’t want him to feel bad about it. His smile did’t show any signs of wavering, so I guess I was safe.

The drive back seemed like it took forever. The sky filled with dark purple clouds quickly turning to blue as the sun set behind the horizon. I finally pulled into the drive way and my heart sank in my chest as soon as I saw the front door to the house was barely hanging off the hinges.

We both jumped out the suv. My wolf started taking over as I panicked and sped into the house Luke running in behind me. I followed the scent of the Alpha to my bedroom, seeing him inside my bathroom doorway. He held my mate by the neck, his claws digging into her skin. I could hear her shallow breathing, she was still alive. I raced over to the Alpha and grabbed him, pulling him back into the bedroom. He dropped her in the bathroom, as he was so caught up in choking her that he didn’t realize I had come in.

“Stop! She’s my mate, you will not hurt her!” I put myself in between the Alpha and my mate.

“No, she is my mate. And she’s not worthy of this pack.”

“You rejected her! Remember!” I growled out.

“That doesn’t change the fact she has to die. Just because I cast her off doesn’t mean you get to take this stray in.” He let out a diabolical laugh. I knew he wasn’t actually in control, his wolf was.

“No, the mood goddess gave her to me. Just because you passed up the moon goddess’s blessing doesn’t mean that I will.” Luke ran in between us towards Kat. The Alphas gaze drifted to him.

“So you’ve taken in more than one stray I see.” He took a step towards Luke and I lunged at him, sending us both back into the dresser. Everything atop it sent scattering across the room. The mirror shattering on top of both of us.

“Stop.” He shoved the claws on his hands into my side. I backed away before he could do any more damage the broken mirror crunching underneath my feet. “Stop, you’re not thinking straight.” He growled as he stood up, my blood dripping from his hands.

“Kat wake up!” Luke was bent over Kat attempting to get her to wake up. I couldn’t see how badly she was hurt, but by the sound of Luke’s voice it was bad. She was still breathing though.

The Alpha’s attention went back to Luke and he started moving back towards the bathroom. I couldn’t let him hurt them. My wolf took over and I shifted almost instantly, and in a blur my larger than normal grey wolf lunged at him again. This time we both went through a window and tumbled outside into the grass. I rolled off him and readied myself to attack again. He slowly got up and shook his head. Glass falling from his hair, a few pieces still stuck in his shoulder from the impact. He looked at me, still feral.

“You want to save her that bad. You will defy your Alpha?” My wolf nodded and let out a warning growl.

Hearing all the commotion, people started appearing around us. Mostly warriors from the training grounds, and a few of the elders that happened to be outside.

“What’s the meaning of all this?” The voice boomed from the packs previous Alpha, Shane’s father, Alpha Tristan. Shane’s eyes briefly shot over to him, then back to me.

“Defiance.” He growled out.

“Stop, and explain yourselves. Shift back Beta!” His voice boomed over me, forcing my shift back. Even though he was no longer the Alpha he still held the power to force a shift. I kept my attention on Alpha Shane as I answered his father.

“He’s trying to kill my mate.” Multiple people that stood by observing let out gasps.

“She’s my mate.” Alpha Shane growls out.

“No! She’s not! You rejected her, and the moon goddess gave her to me!” I glared at him as I said it, my wolf restless and trying to take back control. I could see the elder walking towards Alpha Shane.

“She’s not worthy of a mate since I can’t have her.” He looked like he could explode any second. His father approached him and laid a hand on his shoulder.

“Calm yourself, this isn’t becoming of a young Alpha.” I could tell his father was trying to use his Alpha tone to help get his son under control. Alpha Shane closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

I could hear rustling inside the house. Luke had gotten Kat to wake up.

Kat

My hands went straight to my neck as my eyes popped open. I was laying on the floor, plaster scattered around me from where I made impact with the wall. Luke was standing over me pale as a ghost.

“Finally.” He said with a sense of relief. I go to sit up and everything in my body hurts. The last thing I remember was the Alpha with his hands around my neck.

“What happened?” My voice came out very strained. He had bruised my vocal cords when he choked me. Luke look worried.

“Cory is fighting the with Alpha.” He glanced towards the window and I could hear growling. I could also hear other people talking. Voices I didn’t recognize right away, but they did sound familiar. More growling, sounding like its getting closer my heart starts to race.

“Is he winning?” The fact that he even tried to save me is amazing, much less that he is going toe to toe with the Alpha. Luke’s face looked worried.

“I don’t know Kat. Beta got him away from you, and I stayed to try and get you to wake up.” He looked towards the broken window in the room. “There are people out there with them now, I have no idea what’s going on.” I recognize one of the voices belongs to an elder. So there may be hope that Cory is alive and will remain that way.

“Well we can’t sit here and wait. Lets go see what’s up.” I go to get up and can’t control my muffled whimpers because my back hurts. I’m lucky he didn’t break anything when he slammed me into that wall. Luke’s face filled with concern.

“Don’t rush it. You’re really hurt Kat.” I’ve been really hurt all day. The physical pain was a nice break from the emotional pain.

“I’m not. I can’t just sit here and wait. If anything is going to happen because of me, then I should probably be a part of it somehow.” What I really meant was, if the Alpha try’s to kill Cory, I will offer up my life freely instead. Part of me wonders if that’s my wolf talking, or if that’s just because of the little bit of kindness he’s shown so far with how he treats Luke. He did promise to put him first and take care of him after all.

I stand up with some assistance from Luke. We slowly make our way over to the window, I couldn’t hear what they where talking about, but I could see my muscular blonde tan god of a mate, standing there nude. Blood pouring out of a cut on his side.

As I got close to the window Alpha Shane’s eyes snapped open, glaring daggers at me. I don’t understand his feelings since he rejected me. He didn’t seem to care at all when he left the chow hall after crushing my heart. He let out a feral growl, shifting into his very large black wolf, and lunged towards the window. That’s when all he’ll broke loose.