Willows Salvation

Chapter 3

With only a few minutes to spare the warriors from the Blood Moon Pack pulled up in front of the Midnight Café. Christopher and his beta stood outside looking down at their watches. Leo punched Chris in the shoulder and said, "See I told you that they wouldn't back out". Christopher rolled his eyes. As the Warrior in the passenger seat stepped out, he looked at Christopher and stated, " She didn't want to come so we had to drug her." Then he started pulling her from the backseat feet first letting her head crash onto the pavement below. Grabbing her by the back of her shirt he swiftly laid the bruised and battered Willow at their feet. Got back in the SUV and was gone.

Willow was unconscious still but that didn't stop the pain from searing her back and sides that her mother wrapped too tight or the burning in her leg as the Wolfsbane fought her inner wolf from healing her. The wounds were threatening to soak through her clothes as they still bled. Her face had started to heal for the most part leaving some black and blue puffiness around her eyes, a few cuts, and the new scrape on her forehead from the pavement. Her inner wolf was trying so hard to heal her but was getting blocked by something and was running out of energy.

"What do we do now Chris. They just threw her down. No Clothes or belongings. Just this ragged fragile little girl." Leo was looking from Willow to Christopher. Trying to make sense of what had just happened.

"We take her back to the manor and lock her in a spare room. She will wake soon, and I don't want a fight on my hands. I have big plans for her and now that she's here It's time to put that plan into action."

"What plan"

"To start my revenge. She is a part of the Blood Moons pack. Her pack link will be open. I am going to put her through Hell. I want her father to feel the pain and suffering and loneliness I put her through. Then I will start to get my plan of attack together to wipe them all out."

With that Leo picked her up and placed her gently in the car. As he did, he felt her body scream out in pain, but no words escaped her mouth. He thought to himself she must be having a bad dream. He got in the driver's seat with Christopher riding shotgun and off to the manor they went.

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Willow woke with a blood-curdling scream that could be heard throughout the manor. Her leg was on fire where the dagger had been, and her back didn't feel much better. Her breathing was labored so she knew her ribs hadn't yet healed. She was crying from the pain and also with a little bit of relief. She finally sat up in bed with much effort and started to look around the room. It was a much nicer room than hers at home. Bigger even. It had four doors. One she figured was the door to get out, one the bathroom, and one the closet, but couldn't figure out what the fourth was for. There was a huge curtain panel, so she figured the window was there.

A knock sounded at the door and a young woman named Athena came in. "Oh, good your awake," she said. "We were getting worried about you."

"Worried about me? Why?" Willow croaked out. Until now she didn't realize how dry her throat and mouth were. **Coughing** "May I have some water?"

Athena smacked herself in the forehead "Well yes, of course, you can. I'm sorry. After being asleep for 5 days you would think I would know that. Let me go and get you some"

Willow tried to sit on the side of the bed wincing and catching her breath as she did. Asleep for 5 days? Why weren't my wounds healing? Her leg was so heavy and burned with pain, the skin on her back was so raw still that each movement made her want to stop. She finally got her feet on the floor and stood up though a bit unbalanced. She made her way to the doors on one side of the room trying the first, yup that's a closet she thought. Moving to the second she opened the door to a bathroom. She went in and flipped the light on. turning her back to the mirror she pulled up her shirt, undid the bandages and gasped. She wasn't the only one though, Athena had come back in with her water and wanted to see if she needed any help. The bandages that her mother placed were stained red and were still wet. She must still be bleeding. Which made no sense.

Willow went to turn and confront Athena and fell to the floor. "Please don't say anything. Please. I don't want anyone to know what I have been through. This place is going to be my Salvation and my wounds will heal." With a look of horror on her face, she asked "What in the Hell!  Who did this to you? What happened?" The flashback started and Willows's eyes went as dark as the night above. She shook her head, "Promise me you won't say a word.".... "Are you going to tell me what happened?"....... "No, but please trust me my wolf will heal me it's just taking longer than expected!" Trying to put a smile on her face to comfort Athena and gain her trust.

She could see that Willow was full of anguish and despair as she asked what happened. So, she played along with her for now. "Let's get you a bath and some clean clothes. "Oh, that's right you have no clothes." Athena said, "I wasn't allowed to bring anything with me. Just what I have on and I am surprised I am wearing this." Athena looked at her and saw the pain flash in her eyes again. She noticed the color change. "We are about the same size, I think. I will go fetch you an outfit to wear." Willow looked at her and said "Thank you, Uhh Im sorry whats your name?...Athena... Thank you Athena.Just one thing though please nothing tight." With that Athena nodded and came right back with an over-sized t-shirt and some yoga pants. "This is all I could find," she said as she reentered the room.

She helped Willow undress and got her in the shower. She ran and fetched clean bandages and hurriedly stripped the bed of its sheets and blankets just to find bloodstains everywhere. All she could do was wonder what in the world had this poor girl been through.

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Leo and Chris were in the study discussing the daily operations of the pack. Working on a new workout regime for offense and defense combat in battle. Discussed how the wounded were healing then finally the small unconscious creature upstairs.

"It's been 5 days since she arrived here, Chris. Surly to the goddess above you would think that she would have woken by now!"

Christopher stared straight ahead. You could see in his eyes he was wondering the same thing, but he never voiced it out loud. "She will awaken soon enough. I have a feeling much sooner than we think"

"I hope your right Chris and they didn't just hand us over a bartering chip in a coma that will be of no use to us."

"No, I can just feel it." And he could. As soon as the small frail frame was laid at his feet something hit him like a buzz. He could smell something unfamiliar on her but couldn't pinpoint what it was. His inner wolf, Ezra, had become very anxious. He could sense something was wrong too but neither of them could figure it out.

Christopher was lost in thought when Leo said, "Hey let's go for a run, maybe it will help clear your head and we can patrol the border at the same time."

They walked down into the little town set up near the manor where all his pack resided. Stopping to talk to this one and that one along the way, slowly making their way to the wood line. No sooner had they stepped into the woods, their enhanced hearing picked up the scream from the Manor. They both stopped, looked at each other and headed back to the manor at a full run.

Bounding up the stairs to the room Willow was kept he started to open the door and Athena stopped him saying "I'm sorry Chris. She is indecent. We need just a few moments."

"What in the Hell. Let me in. Who screamed? I could hear it on the other side of town.?

"It was Willow." trying to think up a good lie and fast. "She woke up frightened not knowing where she was and screamed. All is good now. I will fetch you when she is back in bed."

"Once she is dressed bring her to the study. I will be waiting." Her Alpha commanded.

"I'm sorry Christopher, but I cannot do that. She is still too weak to walk down all those stairs. I know it is unorthodox, but I will fetch you when she's decent and back in bed."

Willow was hiding in the doorway to the bathroom holding onto the door frame. The shower she just took felt so amazing, as she was finally getting clean, but it also sent new pain sensations through her body as the water and soap made their way into the still-open wounds. She let out a sigh of relief that Athena didn't spill her secret and once the door closed Athena came back to quickly bandage her wounds.

"Tell me again why you want me to keep quiet. These wounds really could use some medical help. Let me take you to see the doctor please." She pleaded once more.

Willow just stood there holding the door frame, shaking her head no as Athena wrapped her wounds again trying not to scream and cry out in pain.

Willow said nothing the rest of the time Athena was there. She didn't want to relive that day. She wanted to move on. She sunk into her mind to talk with Willa her wolf. "What is wrong that my back and leg won't heal?" All she heard was wolfsbane. Are you kidding me? That son of a b***h tried to poison me too? Again, a simple yes. Have they even started to heal? No. It wasn't like Willa to be so quiet. Something was wrong. Little did she know Willa used the last of her strength to tell her those 3 short words. 

Athena finally gave up asking, helped Willow dress and got her into bed. I'm going to fetch the Alpha now. I will also bring you some food." And with those words, she was gone.

Only then did Willow start to cry. Finally letting out the tears from her pain she was holding back.  She sunk down into the bed and found herself slumbering again where the events of this week played all over again.