Her Second Chance

Chapter 2

Tessa's POV

TW: disturbing content, description of attempted assault

"That's it Tessa! Punch that s**t!"

I hit the punching bag with everything I had in me. It went flying, hit the wall bounced back at me and I kicked it, watching it fly off the chain and roll across the room.

"THAT'S IT GIRL GET IT!" Brix high fived me. He was one hell of a trainer. In the seven years I have been hitting the gym and training to fight, I have become a force to be reckoned with.

I took a long look at myself in the gym mirror. Gone is that weak little girl Brent Serrano rejected. I stared hard at my toned body, the slight muscles in my arms and legs. Even if he didn't want me, many others do. I've taken a few to my bed in recent years just to get my frustrations out. It didn't exactly work. S*x was basically another chore with those wolves. The only orgasms I have are the ones I'm giving myself.

As much as I hate to admit it, deep down I'm wondering if Brent will ever come back to claim me. But I know that is wishful thinking. Getting a second chance mate would happen before Brent came back. Brent is married to some Alpha's daughter, though I've heard it isn't exactly a happy marriage. I have been stuck here at Fire Moon since. Training, praying to find my second chance mate, and dodging Honi's advances which have increased the last few months.

Those first few years there were wars and reabsorbing some of the packs that Honi demolished. So the many Omegas that came here apparently must have satisfied him, because he never paid me much attention. The last five months I have desperately tried to adjust my cleaning schedule to avoid him entirely. But it isn't working any longer and I know the time will come he's going to make his move. It's like Honi's been in some mental form of Chess with me.

The last couple of years have been awful. Honi has destroyed bonds by banishing male wolves left and right to make their mates his next conquests. He has taxed us Omegas to the point we are basically working for free. None of us know just where our money is going. Our homes are falling apart and the hospital is in such disrepair that no one wants to go there. But Honi's packhouse is in the best shape! Whatever Honi wants, he gets and makes sure he flaunts it around.

"You still with me, Tessa?" Brix's calm voice lulled me back to reality.

"Sure am. What's next?"

We worked the next hour on sparring and I took Brix, a 6'5 300 pound wall of muscle, down twice. He beamed in total pride. "Tessa, what are you training so hard for?"

"I guess I'm waiting for the war to come to me."

"Good to always prepare for war." Brix agreed.

"Brix, why do you stay here? I know you don't make much money. You don't have a mate. What is keeping you here?"

"I can't tell you anything Tessa, but just know pretty soon all of this is going to end." I was very curious about that but figured the less I knew, the better.

"We're done for the day, Tess. See you tomorrow." I walked to the woods to go to the lake behind the packhouse. I take in the mountains and debate if I should go for a swim, then decide that I should. Just as I went to take my shirt off, I heard a snap of a twig behind me. I spun too fast, both Athena and I on high alert.

"Well well, lookie what I found here!"

Great. Just f*****g great.

"Garrett Luther. Not so pleased to see you. Now will you kindly p**s off I'm getting ready to swim."

"Now just a second there, guess what just happened!?"

I didn't answer. "Alpha Honi finally banished that no count Beta of his. And he's told me he's going to make me his Beta!"

OH F**K! This isn't good. At all.

Careful Tessa. Remember your training.

"And now that I'm about to be a Beta, I need a mate. And I've decided that will be..."

"Definitely NOT me Garrett! Do you think Alpha Honi would even entertain that? I'm an Omega, so he will pair you with someone of ranked blood!"

"Tessa I've had just about enough of you dodging me! Now I let you skirt by when you knocked out two of my teeth, but I WILL HAVE YOU!"

Garrett lunged and tackled me to the ground. Just as he tried to kiss me forcefully, I kneed him in the groin and as soon as he was on the other side, I delivered a heavy punch right to his jaw and felt a pop.

"OOOF! YOU B***H YOU BROKE..." Garrett could barely talk and was bleeding out of his mouth profusely. I grabbed him by his shirt and slammed him against the closest tree.

"Garrett I'm only going to tell you this once. Don't you EVER try anything like this with me AGAIN! I would rather pour bleach in my f*****g eyes than ever let you stick that small d**k of yours inside of me! Now go to the hospital then and have them reset your jaw you f******g crybaby! I HOPE YOU LEARNED YOUR LESSON!!!" I sneered at him and threw him down on the ground.

Garrett got up and ran off towards the pack. I jumped into the lake and swam around without a care in the world for about 20 minutes until I got the mind-link.

Tessa. My office. NOW.

I'm not surprised. Garrett has always been Honi's pet. I got dressed and ran back to the packhouse, meeting Honi in his office. He immediately closed the door behind me, grabbed me and threw me into it.

"I have one of my strongest warriors in the hospital right now with a broken jaw that they are going to need surgery to reset! He says you did it!"

"He tried to assault me." I don't miss the twitch in Honi's eyes.

"What are you talking about!?"

"Garrett has been trying to get in my pants for years. Today he tried it and found out I am not the one." I snarked.

TESSA BE CAREFUL!

No Athena. If we get banished we get banished! I'm done!!

I'm not talking about banishment at this point it will be a dream. What if Honi tries what Garrett just did!!

S**T!

"Did that warrant breaking his jaw!?" Honi shouted.

"YES! I'm not the first woman Garrett has tried to force!" Suddenly Honi was in my face with his hand on my throat.

"Do you know the accusation you are making right now!" He growled at me.

"It's the truth!" I hissed, staring Honi straight in the eyes.

"You are going to have to convince me." Honi let me go and his face was inches from mine. "Females lie all the time. How can I be certain you aren't lying?"

"Are you kidding me right now?! Ask many of the Omegas here and they will tell you the same thing!" I shouted at him and instantly regretted it. He slapped me right across the face.

"Remember your place Omega!" Amos hissed, his face literally right in my neck. "Goddess you smell delicious Tessa!" I'm 5'8, but Honi was 6'3 and all muscle. He easily towered over me and when he pressed against me, I felt how aroused he was. Panic gripped my throat.

Keep talking Tessa. P**s him off! Athena encouraged.

"For years that f*****r has went around this pack sleeping with she-wolves by either seducing them or blackmailing them. Garrett is certainly not below assaulting them. I'm sure he's done what he tried to do to me to other women! And if he ever tries it again I will put him SIX FEET UNDER!" I shouted right in Alpha Honi's face. That earned me another smack.

"I have known Garrett Luther since he was a teenager! He doesn't have to r**e! Women fall at his feet!" Honi shouted at me.

"Well this one didn't!!" I pointed at myself. Honi raised his hand again and slammed it right by my head.

"I don't know where this little spitfire came from but I am rather enjoying this. It's been a long time since a woman has intrigued me so much. And you have Tessa, for many years. I've watched you, you know. You are an enigma! You obey me without complaint even when I know you don't agree. You work hard and train harder. THIS is the real you, and has been all along. I see you now. And you and I both know what the penalty is for what you just did."

"I know even you can't deny me my right to fair punishment. That new Council that just formed up in Boise decided that!" I snarked. I heard about that Council and am glad to see Alphas like this mother f****r are finally getting their just deserts.

Honi laughed right in my face. "That's where you are wrong, b***h! Until September 1st I'm still the law here. And I can banish you, or I can kill you. Or, you and me can get into my bed and I will make all this to disappear. Which will it be?"

F**K!! Athena?!

Make him banish us! I'd rather die than be with this thing!

"Hmm. So I have to let you f**k me, or you will banish or execute me. Like I told Garrett today I'd rather pour bleach in my eyes than have s*x with you. So I guess that leave me two choices then, right?" I laughed trying to act fearless.

"Wrong choice Tessa." Honi picked me up. "You and me are going to get to know each other, then I'll decide what else to do with you!"

Tessa we're going to have to fight him and run!

Just as I prepared to head butt Honi, he put me down and appeared to be listening.

"Alpha, you need to let me in!" It sounded like one of the guards and Honi opened the door.

"Alpha your nephew. The one you banished a few years ago? He's on his way here to challenge you!"

"Is he now!" Honi laughed. "That twig Amos?! My brother Crow's boy?"

"Yes, the rightful Al..." The guard stopped too fast when he saw me in the room.

"Tessa? Return to your home. Our conversation will have to be held another time."

I ran out of the office and back to my cottage. I went straight into my bedroom and began stuffing everything I held dear into a bookbag.

Athena we need to go. Now.

Tessa don't you remember Amos?

I did vaguely. Amos Rainwater was a couple of years older than me. Amos's father Alpha Crow Rainwater died when Amos was only ten. Honi took over the pack with the understanding that he would hand it over to Amos when Amos turned eighteen, but that didn't happen. Honi got rid of Amos not long after Amos came of age to take over. From what I remember of Amos he was tall but pretty weak, probably because Honi wouldn't let him train with the other warriors. If he is still as slim as he was back then, I don't see how he will survive a battle with Honi.

Tessa, let's stay and see what happens but keep the backpack packed. If Honi wins the challenge we split, if Amos wins we stay and wait and see.

I don't know Athena. Do we really want to stay in a pack ran by another Rainwater?

Do we really want to be out there with the rogues?! What if Amos wins and he isn't as bad as Honi at all? Athena had a point. As well as Brix trained me, in the end I don't know how long I'd last out there.

You're right Athena. Let's stay and see what happens.

Maybe this Amos Rainwater will be a good thing for this pack if he can survive the challenge. One can hope, right?