The Alpha who Loved Me

Chapter 1

***WARNING GRAPHIC ABUSE IN THIS CHAPTER***

(Ava's POV)

It's been 8 years since that day in the basement with Marcus when I was nine and once again I was in the basement breathing through my gritted teeth, as I tried not to smell the stench of my blood. My brother Marcus who was also my Beta now was whipping me for coming home late from school. When he was done with my lashings he released the chains holding me up by my wrists and let me fall to the ground in a crumpled heap. I heard the door open and smelled my father's scent as he walked down the steps to the basement. "What did she do now Marcus?" My father, Randolph Raul Schmidt asked.

"She was late from school and smelled like Drew." He spat out.

Andrew Logan, he was the same age as my brother Marcus sitting at 21, and was also my Alpha. He had been at the school today picking up something for his mother my former Luna when he saw me rushing out of the school doors. Being the only person in this pack who has ever been nice to me he offered me a ride home. Even though I had repeatedly told him no I was fine he kept nagging at me until he used his Alpha voice compelling my wolf AnnaLeese to submit to him.

Because of this I now laid here in a crumpled heap on the dingy basement floor, I could feel the blood from my punishment running slowly down my back. With all the strength I could muster I stood up and looked at my father, he had piercing blue eyes and neatly kept black hair with tinges of grey peeking through. His skin was tan and looked leathery from years of being in the sun training with all the pack warriors. You see my father is the former Beta, even though he has stepped down and has passed the reins on to my brother Marcus he is still as strong as when he was still the Beta.

You see wolves have ranks, you have the Alpha, who is the first in command and leader of the pack, then you have the Beta who is second in command and then there is the Gamma. Whenever the Alpha has to leave our territory for pack business he will usually leave the Beta in command, unless the presence of his Beta is needed, then the Gamma is left in command.

When my father finished climbing down the stairs he walked over to me and backhanded me throwing my head to the side with the force and splitting open my lip. "Why were you late from school, but most importantly why did you smell like the Alpha?"

"I-i-i-." I stuttered trying to form a complete sentence but it was hard, I was wincing from the pain of my now split lip.

"I... I...I." My father mimicked me. "Quit your stuttering and answer me, girl."

"I had to work on a project for a class that's worth 50% of my grade. When I was leaving Alpha Andrew was heading to his car and he offered me a ride home, I denied him multiple times but he then compelled me to let him take me home. I didn't have a choice." I cried.

Grabbing my hair and putting his face as close as possible to mine, "You better not be lying to me girl, because if you are what your brother just did to you will be nothing compared to what I will do. You're not allowed friends, you know this. And you're not allowed to do the project for school."

"But if I don't do the project I won't graduate!"

"I don't care, you "going" to school is just to keep the pack from asking questions. You're nothing and it won't matter if you graduate or not. In fact, Monday morning I am going up to the school to withdraw you from school. It is time for you to know your place, and that is to be our slave." Letting go of my hair he walked away and started going back upstairs when he got to the landing he stopped and turned around, "Don't just stand there go get cleaned up and start our dinner, if it's not ready in one hour, I will drag you back down here for another beating and I may not stop until you are dead."

I nodded my understanding and then watched as Marcus started to follow our father upstairs with an evil smile on his face. I waited until I heard the front door open then slammed shut before I headed upstairs to take a quick shower.

Once in the bathroom I started the shower and started to strip my clothes off, I looked at the shirt I had been wearing and threw it in the trash can in disgust, it was ruined. When I got in the shower I winced at the sting of not only the freezing cold water but also the pain radiating off my back from my punishment. As quickly and gently as I could I cleaned the blood and grime off my body. Once finished I stepped out and grabbed a towel gently wrapping it around my body. Turning around I looked at the damage my brother had done this time. As I was taking in the sight before me I felt my wolf whimper.

"AnnaLeese, I don't know how much longer I can survive this," I said.

With another whimper, I felt her struggle with the pain I was in. "Your birthday is on Sunday and it’s the full moon

"No wonder father is willing to take me out of school Monday, I'll be 18."

"18 and finally you'll shift. Remember what we talked about."

I nodded my head in acknowledgment. When AnnaLeese first came to me she told me that if I could hang on until I was 18 she would get me away from here once I shifted, but not a moment before then.

Not wanting to get another beating I finished drying off and went to my room to pull on some clothes. Wearing a simple plain white baggy long sleeve shirt and a pair of workout leggings I walked out of my room into the kitchen and started to prepare dinner. Luckily, tonight we were having stew and because of that I had started the crockpot before I left for school this morning, all I needed to do now was make the cornbread. Humming to myself I went about getting everything together. Just as I placed my father's bowl on the placemat in front of his seat at the table, he and my brother walked in the door. Without saying anything I stepped back and bowed my head looking at my feet.

Once my father and brother were seated at the table my father spoke, "Go get yourself a bowl and take it to your room. I don't want to see you for the rest of the night."

"Yes sir."

Not wanting him to change his mind, I quickly grabbed the bowl I had prepared for myself before they walked in, with the hope that they would allow me to eat tonight, and took it to my room. Sitting down on my mattress, I slowly ate the stew, once I was finished I grabbed my backpack and started to pack it with simple clothes that would be easy to change into once I was on the run. Also, not wanting to make my father and brother suspicious I only packed clothes that wouldn't make my bag appear like it was stuffed. This included leggings for a couple of days and a couple of long sleeve shirts as well as panties and a couple of sports bras. With a sigh, I sat back down on my mattress and leaned my head to the side attempting to hear the sounds in the house. Since I was told that not to be seen again tonight, I didn't have to worry about cleaning up the kitchen until in the morning which meant that I would have to get up at least an hour earlier than normal, so I would still be able to get all of my chores done.

The only thing I heard was the sound of the TV in the living room, so I leaned back and grabbed my journal that I kept between my mattress and the wall. I kept it there because it was the only place that my evil father and sadistic brother never looked. Opening it up I went to the last entry and started to write down today's events. Ever since I learned how to read and write I would keep a journal that detailed when they "punished" me that way I could always remember what had triggered their anger so I didn't do it again. When I finished I placed the journal in my backpack along with the other things that I had already packed. Feeling exhausted even though it was only 7 pm I set my alarm for in the morning and laid down on my stomach eventually drifting off to sleep.

(Author's POV)

After Drew had dropped Ava off at home he went back to the packhouse. When he walked in the door he was notified by one of the omegas that there were visitors in his office with his father. With a look of confusion on his face, he thanked the omega and proceeded to walk upstairs to his office on the fourth floor. This floor was only for the Alpha and his family and included The Alpha and Luna's suite, their respective offices as well as a couple of other rooms. The packhouse was a house with several floors. The first floor was for any guests that may be visiting, the second floor was for the warriors and the wolves that chose to live here once they turned seventeen. The third floor had two separate wings and they were for the Beta's family and the Gamma's family. Currently only his Gamma lived on the floor as the Beta's have chosen to live in their own house a couple of miles away from the packhouse.

When he reached the door to his office he saw that it was open and he could hear his father's voice. Sighing deeply he walked into the room and everyone turned their attention to him. He saw that his father was seated in the chair behind his desk. The man was the former Alpha and still made himself at home whenever he came to visit so he wasn't surprised to see him there. "Andrew." His father Arnold Logan said excitedly standing up to let his son have a seat. The man was massive, he had broad shoulders and thick biceps from years of training and keeping the pack strong. Standing at just over 6'3 he was slightly shorter than Drew who was 6'6, the man had jet black hair and pale grey eyes, which he also shared with his son. "Let me introduce you to our guests."

Walking over behind the desk I turned and looked at the two gentlemen that were seated on the side. They both looked to be high ranking wolves. One had a hard jawline with a hint of the days' stubble starting to peek through, his hair color was a sandy blond that hung low to his shoulders but was well maintained. He had the build of a warrior and eyes that resembled the color of the Caribbean Sea. The other man also had the build of a warrior and the jawline of a hard man, his eyes were softer than that of the man next to him and instead of blonde hair, he had brown. When he heard his father clearing his throat he directed his attention back to him waiting for him to make the introductions.

"Gentlemen this is my son and our current Alpha Andrew Logan, Andrew this is Alpha Wolf and his Beta Matthew Miller."

Walking back around his desk Drew extended his hand to shake theirs. "Welcome To Lotus Grove."

They murmured a thank you and then watched him as he went and sat down behind his desk.

"Now, please excuse my bluntness but why are you here?"

Drew thought that he saw the lips of the man he could only assume was Alpha Wolf twitch before they opened to speak.

"Well to be blunt, I am here for my bride."

Drew glanced at his father and saw him sigh then looked his direction and nod. Returning his attention to the Alpha Drew said "And just who is your bride and why do you believe she is here?"

With a frown, Alpha Wolf looked at Drew's father instead of at him and said, "You mean to tell me that you never told your son of our arrangement?" There was an edge of hardness to his voice.

"That is correct, I didn't feel the need to because the arrangement was based solely based on if the Lotus Grove pack would ever need and alliance with you for resources. If we never needed the resources, then we would still go through with the alliance once you reached your twenty-fifth birthday if you had not found your mate yet."

That was when the Alpha smiled. "I celebrated my twenty-fifth birthday this past weekend, and I have yet to find my mate."

"Okay, that still doesn't answer the question of who your bride is."

"Drew, its Ava."

Drew snapped his head in his father's direction, "Ava?"

With a nod, his father proceeded to explain. "The arrangement was that he would marry one of the daughters of our high-ranking wolves, seeing as your mother and I were only able to conceive you and we haven't had a Gamma in years that only leaves Ava."

With a sigh, Drew nodded his understanding and stood up from his desk, "I will go and inform Marcus." Turning his attention to the two gentlemen he said, "You're more than welcome to accompany me, however, I feel it would be best if I break the news to Marcus on my own, he's rather fond of his little sister."

Alpha Wolf stood up and nodded his understanding. "I will not accompany you but my Beta will, you are more than welcome to speak with your Beta on your own and Matt will stay outside. I would like to leave tomorrow morning with her."

Drew nodded understanding the suspicious nature of the Alpha. "Of course, Beta Matthew if you'll follow me we will go over there now."

Together the two men walked out of his office and down to the garage getting in his brand new 2020 Jeep Wrangler Sport, it was a two-door version and was blacked out with tinted windows and all the bells and whistles that could be put into a car.

"This is a nice Jeep." Beta Matthew said as he swung up into the passenger seat.

"Thanks, it was a present from my parents for my twenty-first birthday."

Glancing at the clock on the dashboard Drew said, "Arnold and Marcus should still be awake, but Ava is more than likely in bed."

"It's not even seven-thirty."

"She has always been in bed by seven-thirty."

(Matthew's POV)

Matt scratched his head thinking that was weird and wondering just how old the woman was. When they pulled into the driveway of a decent size house suitable for a Beta's family he asked, "How old is this Ava?"

"She's seventeen, she'll be eighteen on Sunday." Putting the Jeep in park Drew started to get out and Matt followed him, standing back whenever Drew started up the steps.

I watched the Alpha of this pack walk up the stairs to the house and take a deep breath before knocking on the door. It only took a few minutes before it was opened and a man that looked to be the same age as the Alpha came into view.

"Drew?"

"Marcus we need to talk."

"Okay, sure come in."

When the Alpha went inside I turned around and leaned against the rail to the porch.

"Rafe?" I said mind linking him.

"Yes." Came his reply.

"She's only seventeen."

"Have you seen her yet?"

"No, but something seems off."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm not exactly sure, on the way over here the Alpha said something about how she is always in bed by seven-thirty, and ever since I can't shake this strange feeling," I replied. Glancing up at the front door.

"Okay, stay on alert I will be there in a few minutes."

"Sure thing."

(Rafe's POV)

Standing up, I looked over at the former Alpha and asked, "I've changed my mind, I think I will go down there with them"

The former Alpha nodded, and said "no problem I will take you."

It took us a few minutes to get down to their garage once we were there Arnold took a set of keys off the wall by the door and proceeded to walk to a blacked-out SUV following I walked around to the passenger seat. Right as we were pulling out of the driveway I got a mind link from Matt.

"Rafe you need to get here now!"

"What the f**k is going on."

"Just get here!" Matt yelled through the mind link then blocked the link.

(Drew's POV)

When Marcus let me in we went directly to his office. Once settled I got straight to the point. "Ava's arranged to be married."

Looking at my friend I briefly saw anger flash into his eyes before he gained control and just stared at me hard.

"What do you mean?"

"When I got home tonight the Alpha and Beta from the Black Diamond pack were waiting for me with my father in my office." I paused and looked at him. "My father made an arrangement with their pack."

"Okay, what does that have to do with Ava?"

"The arrangement was that one of the daughters of the three high ranking wolves would marry the Alpha of the Black Diamond pack should we ever be in any need of their resources. If we never needed their resources the arrangement would then be put into effect once the Alpha reached the age of twenty-five providing they hadn't found their mate yet."

"So, I'm guessing he has reached the age of twenty-five and is nowhere to collect his bride, which just happens to be my sister since there are no other daughters among the three families."

I nodded my head, feeling the anger Marcus was trying to hide radiating off of him. "He wants to leave with her in the morning."

Marcus nodded and stood up, "Very well, I will let Ava know as soon as she gets up in the morning."

Nodding I stood up and started to walk out of his office. When I got to the door I turned and looked at my best friend. "I'm sorry Marcus, father never told me and honestly I don't think he thought the arrangement would happen."

Walking out of his office I showed myself out. Walking out of the house and down the steps, I headed over to where Beta Matthew was standing, and that's when I heard the most blood-curling scream come from inside the house.

Not wasting time both the Beta and I ran into the house and followed the screaming into the kitchen and what I saw made the color drain from my face.

(Marcus's POV)

As Drew talked and I listened, I worked hard to control my anger, the stupid b***h had gotten to him somehow. There was no way that I believe this bullshit about an arrangement between the packs. She had somehow managed to ask Drew for help. All I could think about was making the b***h pay.

When Drew left all I could think about was killing her, there was no way in hell I was letting her go to the Black Diamond pack, even if they were the largest and most feared pack in the central USA. As Drew walked himself out I went straight to the basement, not even bothering dragging her down there grabbing my nine-tail and a hammer I walked back upstairs and straight to Ava's room. When I opened the door and I saw her sleeping on her stomach all I saw was red going over to her I swung the hammer in my hand and brought it down hard right in the middle of her back.

When I did this she let out the most blood-curling scream I had ever heard come from her lips. With a smile, I tossed the hammer to the side. Now that I have her attention I raised the whip and just started swinging, not caring where my blows landed, she continued to scream and I just smiled and laid into her, "That's right b***h scream, did you think that Drew would be able to help you!"

"I don't know what you are talking about Marcus!" She screamed as she tried to get away from me, but because of the blow from the hammer, she couldn't move.

"I don't believe you! What have we always told you! No one will help you and no one will ever love you! You are a useless waste of space. Don't worry though, you aren't going to make it out of this alive." Right as I said this I felt something crash into my side and pummeling me into the ground. "What the f**k!" I screamed dropping the whip and getting back on feet. When I did I saw a man I had never seen before circling me in a fighting stance, "Who the f**k are you." I screamed.

"Someone that's going to teach you how to treat a woman."

"Yeah right," I said and then attacked.

(Rafe's POV)

As soon as I got the last mind link from Matt I opened my mouth to tell Arnold to go faster when I felt the car already gaining speed. Looking over I saw a hard look on the man's face, "What the f**k is going on? My Beta just told me to get there Now."

"Andrew mind linked me as well." The look on the man's face was gradually getting angrier and I just knew whatever was going on was bad.

We swerved down a driveway and came to a screeching stop, before he had even finished putting the car in park I jumped out and rushed up the stairs to the front door that stood wide open. Following the noises, I heard I ended up in the kitchen and going over to a door that I assumed was a pantry. Inside I saw Matt beating the s**t out of a man.

"You're the one that is useless you piece of s**t," Matt was screaming, "Do you get off on beating women is that what it is."

I was about to ask Matt what the f**k was going on when I saw a slight movement in my peripheral. Glancing over I saw Alpha Andrew going to the other side of the room and leaning down talking to someone. Without even realizing what I was doing I walked into the room and when I got to where I could see around Matt and the unknown man he was pummeling my breath caught in my chest at what I saw.

There was a girl, lying flat on the mattress trembling in fear as Alpha Andrew tried to talk to her. She was completely covered in blood and kept repeating something over and over that sounded like "I didn't do anything. Why?"

All while this was happening I could feel Gabriel, my wolf, starting to pace and get agitated. "What?" I asked him.

"I don't know. We need to go to her though."

Without even thinking I did what he said and started to walk towards the girl. When I stood next to Alpha Andrew and looked down at the girl I saw a huge bloodstain covering her shirt in the middle of her back "What the hell happened." I heard myself say.

Andrew jerked his head towards me and said, "Her brother was beating her to death." He said with rage in his voice.

I looked around the room and saw the nine-tail whip laying on the floor and then my eyes fell on the hammer. Rage slowly crept up in my wolf as he saw what I saw. Hearing the girl speak again I looked back at her and saw that her eyes were open, Looking into her emerald green eyes I felt my heart start to break, and then my wolf screamed something at me that I never thought I would hear.

"MATE!"