Adonis

9

Adonis' POV

Standing in the doorway to our room I am unsure as to what to do as I watch my female writhing in pain on the bed as my best healer tries to help her, Evelyn assisting with tears silently falling from her eyes having to watch her daughter suffer.

Whimpers and pleas, begging for mercy escape my female's mouth - something I never thought would leaver her mouth she always seems so feisty and strong to me. But this pain has changed her; she's asked me to kill her, to stop the pain for days now as her condition worsens none of the remedies or medicines working to heal her.

An agonising scream rips from Corinna's throat, her tears streaming down her face that has me closing my eyes and turning my back unable to witness her suffering. "That is enough Gwynith, give her sleeping remedies and leave" I order, leaning my head against the wooden door frame hearing the healer collect her belongings and now my female's cries are slowly dulling allowing me to open my eyes again.

"Alpha I have given her something to let her rest in peace, it should last for a few hours and I've left some more remedies on the side; the linen bag is filled with pain relievers, the purple velvet is for sleep inducers. The salve for her wounds and burns is on the side also Alpha" Gwynith informs me, bowing her head, I simply nod towards her watching as she leaves.

"Evelyn" I say, turning my body to see the mother smoothing down Corinna's hair like she is a pup again, she presses a kiss to her forehead as Corinna's breathing evens out as she sleeps. "She is suffering too much" the female says, straightening out and walking over to me I nod "I want you to contact the healers you were telling me of, who helped with her whip wounds. They are to come and heal her" I demand, my eyes flicking to Corinna's sleeping form.

"They don't like leaving the territory Adonis. But for my pup I will try to persuade them" she says, giving me a small smile and a pat on my chest "You are a good male, I am glad you are my Corinna's mate" she tells me leaving before I can reply. Her mother thinks I'm good for Corina now if only I can get my female to understand that as well.

Scanning over Corinna's body, the blanket pulled up to her shoulders hiding the horrific burns and cuts all over her body. Only the tops of her shoulders show part of the burns that she had concealed with her clothes before, I had simply thought that was typical human attire in the human world but she was using it to hide the mutilations on her body. Her face with its own wounds from a silver dagger it seems, the wounds have my wolf growling within me wanting to deliver the same degree of torture to whoever did this to our female - but make their pain much, much worse.

I cannot imagine the agony she had had to have went through to gain those wounds, I hear her screams and pleas for mercy now as we try to amend the wrongdoings but what would she have been like when they were inflicted? The screams louder, filled with more pain, more tears, more of her begging - I have to look away again, shut my eyes so I can't look at her as my mind creates images of how she would've been. My shoulders slump, my head lowering as I know I have failed her as a mate - I should've never allowed her to leave, I should've went after her and brought her to my pack with me not desert her for six years because my pride was too damaged, my heart too broken to try to go after my female who had rejected me; that is why I threw myself into intense training, quickly becoming the Alpha male I was born o be and when I became Alpha a few months ago I felt I was finally ready for Corinna - how could she reject me now as the strongest Alpha male? I would now be able to provide her with everything she would want or desire, she would have care, love and protection from me. But only one day of having her and I've realised I am too late, I have failed. I should've been protecting her for all of these years as then the wounds she has now would have never been inflicted.

"Brother?" Atlas' presence has me straightening facing my brother and Beta who places his hand on my shoulder "Are you alright?" he asks me, his eyes showing his concern for me as they flick over my shoulder seeing my female laying in the bed. "I will be once I find whoever did this to her" I growl out, exhaling breaths to calm myself as I step out of the room Atlas following me and I gently close the door.

"We are all here for you brother, do not suffer in silence. Let us take some of this on or shoulders as well, you are not alone" he tells me, I nod knowing his promises are truthful but I cannot help but feel I should be the only one to care and protect my female, I shouldn't need any help.

We descend the stairs and enter the kitchen where both families are seated at, Evelyn is outside pacing back and forth with a phone against her ear and an expression of concern.

"How is she?" my mother asks "I am sure you heard her scream and pleas to be killed. The healer cannot do much for her so she has to suffer." I state "Do you know who did this to her? Has she told you?" Luca asks, I shake my head growling out my frustration "No" my reply gruff as I fight back a shift, settling my wolf down.

"I believe it was her human" my father says making me look towards him "Why would you think that?" I ask "I saw his behaviour towards her, hateful stares and I witnessed his violent ways." he admits "When?" I exclaim, blood boiling in fury at this newfound information "A year ago, at the restaurant" he says "You never told me about him being violent towards her!" I growl "You didn't want to know. I told you we saw her and you told me you didn't want to hear anymore about it." he says, his eyes tracking my movement as if waiting for an attack as his eyes flash with his wolf's anticipation. Our last fight was when I challenged him and won the Alpha title, stripping it from him - he still isn't used to no longer being Alpha. "You should have told me anyway!" I snarl, he stays quiet just watching me.

"It can't have been him he is just a human, Corinna would've defended herself easily." Luca says "Nolan, did you see her retaliate on that night?" he continues "No. He broke her wrist and she didn't try to stop him nor did she do anything to him afterwards" my father says "It looked as though she was used to it" Atlas says from beside me.

"He walked over to another female and was kissing her but Corinna just watched crying, she didn't intervene at all. Although a male wolf approached her kissed her, touched her -" Apollo says "A wolf" I growl "How many males has she had!" I snarl, my fist smacking the table my being burning with jealousy - it seems she's been with everyone but me, her own mate.

"She wasn't reciprocating, she stopped him but he became angry and then her human joined them asking what was happening" my father says "The wolf left and the human grabbed her and pushed her down onto the booth, she just seemed to let him; she wasn't fighting him. He is most likely the person who gave her the wounds now as back then he had pulled out a silver blade and had it against her neck, I intervened but she as adamant that she was fine. Neither of them wanted my input, she didn't want help" he continues.

"You should've given it to her anyways - taken her away from that human" I snarl "Do not blame your father. It was her choice and she wanted to stay with the human regardless of his treatment to her, the poor pup was too in love to realise how horrid he was" my mother says.

"Adonis, they won't leave our territory but they have said if we bring her to them she will be healed" Evelyn says as she reenters the kitchen "Corinna will not be leaving this territory" I state "Our healer can help her it is best if she's not moved" my mother says "They will give her the best treatment. She needs to see them" Evelyn says, her eyes looking at me sternly "She isn't leaving" I say allowing a rumble to leave my chest, my wolf flashing forward through my eyes and lips raising to a snarl not appreciating her tone.

Lucian steps in front of his female "Calm down Eve" he tells her but she growls angrily at him, stepping to the side of him with a look of disgust thrown his way "Do not talk to me" she snaps.

"Corinna is my pup, she needs those healers help - only the best will do for my female so she will be leaving" she says her own wolf showing her canines. I take a step forward, puffing myself up and letting my power and dominance show, immediately I see a shift in Evelyn as she can see clearly she will never be able to beat me "She is my female and she stays here." I assert keeping my eyes locked on hers before she looks away, beaten.

"I have a few herbs in my bags that they recommended me to crush up and put it in the bath for Corinna to soak in." she says, removing herself from the room only to come back seconds later and begin crushing various herbs on the kitchen counter - her male watching her in silence.

"Do you know who the culprit is?" she asks, keeping her gaze fixed on the task as I assume she can feel Lucian's eyes burning into her skin. "We have reason to believe it was her husband. He must've been abusing her for years" my father says. Evelyn stops. Her eyes raising as sadness comes over her features "Years?" her voice is burdened with pain, her eyes watering unable to hold back her emotions when it comes to her daughter's suffering.

Anger suddenly washes over her features as she snaps her attention to her mate as he takes a step towards her perhaps wanting to comfort her. "No" she tells him halting his movements "This is your fault. If you hadn't whipped her she would have never ran for her life in fear of you, and she would have never went to that human, she would be safe" she spits not even trying to hide her hatred and disgust for him.

Evelyn and Lucian's relationship had been tense for years from what I've heard and witnessed myself. Her grudge against him for the punishment of their daughter has ultimately ruined them, her hatred for him has grown over the years as each time I see them they seem even more distant. That single event has destroyed them.

"Mom you can't blame him for everything, he didn't force Tom to abuse her and he didn't make her love him" Luca voices as Evelyn continues with her preparation of herbs, Lucian standing where he originally was, unmoved, unphased by her words as he's probably heard them all before.

"Adonis will you help me bathe her" she asks gathering everything, I nod following her out of the room and upstairs. "Use the main bathroom" I tell her, opening the door and ushering her in as she turns the taps on beginning to fill the large tub with water mixing in her assortment of herbs. "Don't give her anymore of the sleeping remedies, she needs to be as alert and awake as possible." she says "The pain medication?" I ask "Perhaps keep it to a minimal, she needs to flush everything out f her system so we shouldn't put anything more in there. Only give it if necessary" she advises.

I leave her and enter my room where my female is laying, her eyes now open staring at the ceiling "You're awake" I say, announcing myself and coming to the side of the bed. She doesn't seem to notice me, her eyes glazed over as if she's so deep in a memory everything else is blocked to her.

"Corinna" I say, placing my hand on the top of her head, she instantly flinches, her head snapping in my direction with eyes wide filled with pure, unhinged fear. A couple blinks make her see clearer "Adonis" she breathes relieved; if it were any other circumstance I may have kissed her - my name form her mouth drives me insane.

I give her a few seconds to calm down as her breathes even out but still have the gravelly sound to each inhale and exhale due to the silver blocking her airways, her heartbeat is the most worrying; either extremely slow or very fast. When I'm in here at night laying beside her I listen to her heartbeat and when it stops my breathe stops in sync until it starts again, that's when I exhale. The gasp between each beat are sometimes so long it makes me think she's passed.

She moves her head slightly before flinching "Get off of me" she hisses, I raise a brow retracting my hand "I won't hurt you Corinna" I tell her but she only rolls her pale blue eyes before glaring at me "Just leave" she wheezes, suddenly breaking out into coughs. I pass her a glass of water when she's done as I sit on the chair beside her bed. I have to help her drink by tipping the cup for her, she gingerly lifts her hands and tries to swat me away with the small amount of strength she has but I'm unmovable. It only takes a second before her hands drop limply beside her and she drinks what I give her.

"You see, I only want to care for you not hurt you" I say placing the cup back "Unlike your human" I add which makes her stiffen "Do not talk about him" she says, her glare hardening - her eyes seeming to look like glaciers, freezing me with her harsh stare. "I am only telling the truth Corinna. He has been hurting you for years hasn't he? He was the one who's put you in this state, years of abuse catching up on you" I say "Do not speak about something you know nothing about. I'm tired, leave" she spits.

"You loved him despite him hurting you" I continue "I love him" she corrects causing an immediate growl to rumble from my throat "How? He abused you, look at what he's done to you but yous till love him" I scoff, trying to suppress my growing possessiveness all I can imagine is sinking my canines into her to stop her thinking about that human and make her see, make her understand I am her male.

"Stop" she demands "Stop what? Telling the truth?" I question "I did doubt that he had been abusing you because I thought that you wouldn't stay with someone like that and just let him do anything - explain to me why you stayed because I don't understand Corinna." I say but she turns her head away.

"Do you think he loved you when he hit you? When he abused you with silver? He could've killed you, he probably should have because it seems as though you're on the edge of life with that much silver given to you over so many years you should be with the Moon" I say "He didn't love you" I state "Shut up" she seethes.

I lean forward, bringing my hand to the side of her face making her flinch but I ignore it, turning her to face me. "If he loved you he would have never hurt you Corinna so do not be angry at me for telling the truth, be angry at him for taking advantage of your love and loyalty by abusing you." I say softly, seeing the pain in her eyes free for me to see.

"Come. Your mother and I are going to bathe you with some herbs and remedies your mother's healers recommended, I want you to get better my female." I say, standing up and pulling the covers off of her revealing her wounded body. Bandages covering most of her to keep the salve on her skin but some of the burns and cut and damage skin peeks through. She doesn't say anything until my hands slide under her back and thighs making her immediately hiss in pain "Stop" she croaks, "This needs to be done, I am sorry" I say, scooping her up into my arms; the small movement causing her to cry out, her arms wrapping around my neck and squeezing as if trying to distract herself from the pain.

Bringing her into the bathroom strong scents of various flowers hit me in a unique blend as the water seems to have a slightly milky tinge to it, various salts on the side tell me what's been used and a few sprigs and petals float atop of the water which has slight steam evaporating form it. Evelyn stood to the side immediately comes over and kisses Corinna on the head, "Take off her bandages then I'll lower her in" I instruct.

Evelyn cautiously removes each piece of fabric covering her wounds until Corinna's body is bare, her wounds free to see and he bones of protruding form her skin tell me of her undernourishment, I have to suppress a growl as I can only imagine the life she has been living for six years all due to that bastard human.

"I've whipped up a few creams and pastes to use, coupled with the salts in the water it should draw out the silver and clean out some of the wounds to prevent any infection. The healers warned there will be a lot of blood" Evelyn says, her eyes regarding her daughter with concern "It will hurt Corey but it needs to be done my pup" she says, kissing Corinna's head again. "Just do it quick" Corinna says, her head leaning against my chest, her whole body shaking in my arms from the lack of strength and the amount of silver within her.

As soon as her body touches the water she screams, her eyes widening in shock but I still put her in until her body's submerged. I can hear the sizzling of her skin, bubbles forming in the water as she screams in raw pain, tears streaming from her eyes and her grip on me tightening "Adonis! Adonis! Please no!" she shrieks, her pleads to me have me wanting to give in to her but I know she needs it for her health "I'm sorry" is all I can say as her mother comes to the other side, dipping her fingers into a cream with her own tears falling from her eyes - both of them sobbing as she applies the cream, rubbing on each part of Corinna's wounded skin causing her to further scream and sob until her voice it too horse and broken so only whimpers and whines can sound out but each one has my wolf whimpering himself hating that she's in pain.

"I'll do anything Adonis just please stop, stop, stop" she begs, her icy blue orbs staring into mine in desperation but I can only apologise and continue on, rubbing the cream into her skin. It sounds as though she's being tortured, screams expressing her intense agony echoing in the bathroom and I'm sure the pack can hear her suffering.

When Evelyn's hands reach Corinna's stomach to distribute some cream, Corinna's screams intensify "Please! Please! Just kill me, kill me!" she cries, her mother's sobs join Corinna's screams and cries. "I'm sorry. I can't" Evelyn barely gets the words out as she stumbles out of the bathroom, I see her fall to her knees sobbing from the pain of seeing her daughter suffer. Her male is beside her instantly, cradling her but she pushes him away, screaming at him.

"You promised you wouldn't hurt me Adonis" my female sobs, her body convulsing in my arms, blood now colouring the water as it flows from her body. Her screams are just croaks and cracks of her voice, but fat tears stream from her icy eyes as she regards me "This is to help you" I assure her, feeling guilt weigh on me "You lied" she accuses, whimpering from my hand massaging the cream in "This is to help you Corinna I'm sorry you're hurting" I say, placing a soft kiss on her forehead "Get off!" She screams "I hate you! I hate you!" she cries, each time the words stab into my heart.

Corinna's cries start to quieten and when I pull back her face her eyes seem glazed, until she falls limp in my arms as the intense pain has pushed her to be unconscious. I can't help but be relieved as now I don't have to witness her pain, hear her agonising screams and pleas to be killed and her confessions of hatred for me.

When it's finished I have to redress her wounds, ensuring her bodies coated in the healing salves that despite being put on repeatedly haven't seem to have done anything for her. I lay her back in my bed, gently pulling the covers over her body and placing a kiss on her forehead "I'm sorry" I whisper to her, I felt like I had further let her down with breaking a promise I had made only two minutes prior - I had hurt her, no it was not intentional but I still did so she has every right to feel betrayed.

I leave the room, closing the door so she can sleep in peace until the pain inevitably wakes her up sweatign and screaming.

Climbing down the stairs I'm greeted with the tense atmosphere of our living room, everyone's eyes turning to me "How is she?" my mother asks I just shake my head unable to put Corinna's state into words.

"We're leaving for Silver Eclipse as soon as possible. Lucian can you grant us with protection whilst we are there?" I ask him "Of course, you know you and your family are welcome anytime" he responds "We leave at sunset"