Surviving My Fate

Chapter Eleven Ian Returns Part two

Ian’s enjoying being the predator hunting his prey and it is obvious. I hear him busting down each door in the hallway. I know he can smell me and hear my heartbeat.

He’s well aware of where I’m hiding.

“Come on Cass, you know you want to come out and play.”

I stay silent. I won’t give him the reaction he’s hoping for.

He growls loud and deep his wolf must be at the surface.

There’s only one door left between Ian and I. It’s becoming clearer that Carter isn’t going to make it on time. The wood gives way as Ian’s foot crashes through. He retracts his foot and suddenly his face is staring at me through the hole.

“Found you” he growls reaching in to unlock the door.

I will not run. I stand my ground. Chin up, shoulders back, meeting his eyes head-on.

“Someone’s feeling confident” he laughs the sound is cold and insincere. His eyes hold hatred and nothing else.

In a flash, his hand is around my throat and I’m being slammed to the floor. All the air leaves my lungs. Pain shoots through my back and my head spins having bounced off the hardwood.

I won’t let him win. I don’t make a sound. I don’t let the tears fall.

His nose moves to my neck inhaling my scent. I know I smell different Melody has told me that ever since Carter and I started the mating process by having s*x.

“You f*****g w***e” he squeezes my throat tighter causing me to see spots. “His scent is all over you. I knew you were cheating. Did you move here for him?” He yells directly in my face. I can feel particles of spit decorating my cheeks and lips.

Still, I don’t speak.

Angered more by my silence he slams my head off the floor once more. I’m bound to have a concussion from the force. I’m barely keeping myself conscious at this point.

“Let’s see how well your little wolf likes this” Ian growls as he releases my throat shredding my dress with his claws. He pulls my panties so hard my hips raise off the floor before they finally rip from my body.

He has me pinned down and no matter how much I fight, I’m no match for a wolf.

“You f****d him today didn’t you?” his growl is so close to my ear that it leaves it ringing.

Please hurry Carter.

I’m vaguely aware of Ian undoing his pants when he slams into me. I’m the furthest from being turned on and the pain radiates through my already aching body starting in my core. Tears are threatening to spill over and I’m thankful Alex isn’t here to witness this.

“You’re mine” that’s the last thing I remember hearing when I feel his sharp canines pierce my neck for the second time. Involuntarily I scream then blackness overtakes me.

Carter’s POV

I’m sitting in my office contemplating our current situation. One of the pack warriors informed Levi there had been a breach on my territory earlier this afternoon. I was busy with Cassie and told Levi to handle it since he’s the gamma. One rogue shouldn’t have been that hard to detain, but here we are heading into the evening with a rogue still on the loose.

Cassie should be on her way soon and I want her and her son to feel safe. I look down at my phone right as she calls and quickly hit answer before the first ring concludes.

“Hey baby you on your way?” Not able to help the smile that comes to my face.

“He’s here.” Her voice is so full of fear sending Cain and I on high alert.

“Cassie who’s there? Are you okay?” I’m worried for my mate's safety. Since I’m on the phone with Cassie I can’t call Marcus so I mind link my beta “somethings going on protect the pack, keep Alex safe at all costs” cutting the link I immediately mind link Levi “grab a couple of our top warriors and get to Cassie’s, send the rest to the pack house” they both reply at the same time “yes Alpha.”

I’m already down the stairs by the time Cassie squeaks out “Ian.”

With my enhanced hearing, I manage to hear her front door caving in and his voice taunting her.

“I know you’re in here Cassie, come out come out wherever you are.”

“Please hurry Carter” she begs and Cain takes over my bones break as I shift into my large silver wolf dropping my phone right outside the pack house.

Cain is running as fast as our legs will carry us jumping, weaving, and dodging any obstacle in our path as we cut through the woods. The one thought we share is getting Cassie. I’m going to kill him Cain roars picking up his pace even more.

We’re almost there when we feel it stopping us in our tracks for a moment as we recover from the sudden bout of pain radiating from our heart. “The son of a b***h is r****g her,” I tell Cain so he understands why we’re in such pain. Instantly we’re running again the next wave of pain is intensified sevenfold but we don’t stop. “Must get to mate,” Cain growls out releasing a powerful howl that shakes the trees sending flocks of birds scattering. We hear our warriors respond with their own howls from close by and push onward.

Cain bounds onto Cassie’s porch still in control, the sound of glass breaking draws us to the back of the house where Cassie’s room sits, the coward must’ve run off. “Levi take the warriors and chase the rogue.” Cain and I order.

We smell blood seconds before we step into her room to see our beautiful mate laying unconscious and naked on the floor. Cain relinquishes control and I shift back running to her side. The motherfucker tried to mark her again and the blood is spilling down her neck in waves. I grab her torn dress throwing it over the bite and pressing it down to staunch the bleeding. Then I throw her blanket over her body cradling Cassie to me as I storm out of the cabin. Levi bursts through the woods, shifting back, he slips on some basketball shorts he had tied to his ankle and opens the door to her Honda.

I slide into the back seat my mate in my lap.

Levi runs into the cabin to grab her keys then he’s back jumping in the driver's seat.

The entire ride I can’t take my eyes off my mate.

I’m so focused on her breathing, listening intently to the sound of her heartbeat growing weaker, I don’t even realize where we are when we pull up outside the clinic. The car door swings open and I let out a growl gripping Cassie tighter in my arms.

“Alpha, we need to get her inside to be seen” the pack doctor doesn’t wait for me to respond, she simply reaches for Cassie again.

***

They wouldn’t let me stay with my mate during surgery and I haven’t been able to calm down since. Marcus and Levi had to keep me from killing the pack doctor reminding me she was Cassie’s only hope.

“Alpha” my head snaps up meeting the doctor's eyes. “Is she going to be alright?”

“Yes Alpha, she is strong, she will need you and the mate bond to get through this though.” I’m being led to the room Cassie has been placed in and the sound of the monitors draws my attention as we enter the room. “She’s stable at the moment I’m assuming when you arrived and scared him off he chose not to release her simply ripping the muscle, skin, and tendons away. It’s going to leave a nasty scar.” My eyes trail the course of the wires and I find they’re all attached to a helpless Cassie laying on the hospital bed. Her face looks serene in her coma-like state. The doctor said everything so calmly each word angering the already pissed wolf. Cain is fighting to get out and destroy the imbecile who dared harm his sweet mate.

“Leave” I order brusquely exerting my Alpha aura.

The door closes with a click and I move to be beside my mate pulling her into my arms again “I’m so sorry I didn’t make it in time Cassie, please forgive me” I beg allowing the first tears to escape.

Cassie’s POV

I’ve been shrouded in an all-consuming darkness fighting for a way out.

Is this death?

Did Ian succeed in finally ending my life?

I feel the inkling of something ancient beginning to unfurl inside of me. It feels as if it’s a part of me. It’s new, also old. Somehow I know It’s always been here it feels familiar.

Suddenly the light I’ve searched for appears and I walk into it without hesitation.

I open my eyes to the sound of monitors beeping erratically and people in scrubs rushing toward me.

Where am I?

Where is Alex?

Where is Carter?

Did Ian get him?

Did Ian get away?

The more thoughts that flood my mind the louder the machines get. It’s piercing my eardrums.

Please make it STOP!

Tingles erupt on my face spreading from where they are I feel the warmth seeping into my cheeks. I open my eyes once more meeting Carter’s and everything becomes silent.

“Carter” it comes out as a croak. My throat is dry and sore.

“I’m right here Cassie, I’m not going anywhere.”

“Alpha, I need to examine her now that she’s finally awake.”

How long have I been out?