The White Wolf and The Legendaries

Chapter 2

Davina woke up the next morning realizing it was her eighteenth birthday. She’d be able to find her mate, although she didn’t want one. Tonight was also the ascension ceremony. The new silver moon council will be taking over from their parents. James as Alpha, Isaac as beta – from the temporary who had been installed after their father’s death, and Lane as gamma. Davina had been longing for this night. She planned an escape while everyone would be too busy to notice her missing. She changed quickly and went upstairs to begin her work. Everything had to be spotless so she scrubbed the entire banquet hall as the omegas set up the decorations, silver and white flowers placed everywhere, filling the room with their sweet perfume. It was nearly nightfall by the time she finished. Alpha John walked in to inspect the room.

“It’s acceptable, go get changed.” Alpha John spat at her.

“I’m sorry?” Davina asked, confused.

“For the banquet, everyone must attend. Even you. Go shower, I’ll have a gown waiting for you.”

Davina headed to the shower room where Mason, a patrol guard, stood waiting for her. Mason was one of the larger fighters in the pack and is due to ascend to warrior status tonight at the ascension ceremony. He huffed, pushing her inside to shower, clearly unhappy about having to babysit. She dried her long blonde hair quickly and pulled it into a low bun. She stared at herself in the mirror, her face was gaunt and her usually silver eyes were dark grey, no shine to them. She was skin and bones and covered in scars. He handed her an old gown with a shawl to cover the scars on her shoulders. She started to leave when Mason suddenly grabbed her wrist, pulling her towards him. “You know…you’re not so bad when you clean up.” He muttered. Davina’s mind went blank and tried to tug her wrist free. A devilish grin spread on his face, as he dragged her to an empty guest room nearby. Davina pulled again trying to free herself, hitting and scratching at his arms, too weak to do any damage. Mason threw her on the empty bed, locking the door before turning to her.

“P…p…please don’t.” Davina whispered, hugging herself in the corner. Mason ignored her pleas, reaching across the bed to grab her leg, yanking her back to him. He gripped her waist, flipping her on her stomach. Davina tried to escape once more, but was unable to move as Mason crushed her under his weight. He reached down, grabbing the hem of her dress, pushing it up to her waist. He reached around the band of her panties and began to pull at them. Davina gripped the sheets, her eyes shut tight, tears streaming down her face. Out of all the abuse she'd endured, this was going to be the worst. She tried to prepare herself when Mason suddenly growled and his weight left her. Davina chanced a quick peek, opening her eyes and she saw Mason standing with his eyes glazed over. She held her breath, not daring to make a sound, as he mind-linked with someone. He growled again and a moment later Davina heard the door slam. Davina released her breath, sliding to the floor. She pulled her knees to her chest and sobbed. She was in disbelief of the torment she’d just escaped. She stood a few minutes later with shaky legs, as she fixed her dress and made sure her hair wasn’t out of place. On her way out she bumped into someone and felt tingles electricity her skin. She looked up to meet a pair of golden orbs staring at her. The same golden eyes that once belonged to a little boy who told her he would always protect her since he was old enough to talk. The same little boy who used to carry her around on his shoulders so she could play pretend. “No!” Davina gasped in horror, realizing she was mated to the next Alpha.

James stared at her for a few moments, memorizing her face. She was still beautiful, even with how sickly she looked. His eyebrows scrunched together, seeing her red, puffy eyes. His wolf was fighting to come out, unhappy with her condition. He resisted caressing her face, wanting to comfort her. Wanting to know why she was crying. James knew he couldn’t though, because he couldn’t accept her as his mate. He sighed, “I, James Black, reject you, Davina Smith, as my mate.” They both hunched over in pain as the mate bond ripped, severing the bond between them. James walked away before Davina could even accept the rejection.

“How could you be so cruel, goddess?” she whispered, “mating me with James.” She began to cry again, hiding herself in a lonely corner until she heard the councils from other packs beginning to arrive. Davina made her way to the banquet room, drying her tears as she went. She sat at the table with the omegas in the back. The banquet room was stuffed with flowers of all kinds, lining the walls and centered on the tables. The bright moon shimmered brightly through the ceiling to floor windows.

“What are you doing here?” Lisa, an omega, sneered.

“Alpha John told me everyone had to be here.” Davina responded blankly. Her thoughts were consumed by the rejection she just had to endure. Tears threatened to spill over again at any minute as she struggled to keep them at bay. She couldn’t bear to look at James as Victoria hung from his arm. He didn’t appear to be affected by the rejection at all. There was chatter all around her as other alphas joined the banquet. Davina sat back and cleared her thoughts to focus on the task at hand, waiting patiently for the opportune moment to sneak out.

“It’s time for my son to take over.” Alpha John stood and announced, “please, everyone.” He motioned for everyone to stand.Legs scraping the wood floor filled the ballroom.

It’s time, Davina thought as she stood. She slowly backed away to the doors as the ceremony began and only let out a breath once she was back in her basement. She slid off the shawl when she heard a voice. “What are you doing?” a man said. He had seen her sneak out of the hall and decided to follow her, not understanding why a pack member wouldn’t want to be there for their new alpha's ceremony. Davina jumped and turned around to face him. He was the largest man she’d ever laid eyes on. He had dark hair that was peppered with gray. His kind brown eyes were surrounded by wrinkles, suggesting he smiled often. ”Please don’t be scared. I’m Alastair, Alpha of the lunar pack. Did they do that to you?” He gestured to the scars on her back. She visibly flinched, instantly knowing who he was after hearing his name. He was Alpha to the largest and most vicious pack in the country. There was no need for him to have mentioned which pack he was from. Alpha Alastair raised an eyebrow, urging her to answer. Davina nodded her head, finally. “Oh,” he whispered deep in thought, “Are you trying to leave?” She nodded her head again. “Come with me. We help all in need. I promise you’ll be safe.” He looked around the makeshift room, understanding she was treated poorly by her pack.

“No, I can’t,” she whispered as a tear slid down her cheek. Even though his eyes were kind, she still feared the man's reputation. Thinking about going with him sent shivers of terror down her spine.

“I promise my wife and I will protect you and any rumors you may have heard about us may not be all that they seem.”

“I... I don’t know.”

“If you don’t like it when we get there, you can leave. We won't hold you hostage,” he said.

Davina was silent for a few moments, thinking. “Okay.” Davina whispered, barely nodding her head. She wasn't sure going with him was the right option, but it had to be better than staying here or going rogue, even with the reputation that surrounded him. “I need to do something first.” She grabbed a piece of scrap paper and scrawled a quick note to her brother, Goodbye, unsure if he would even look for her or find the note.

Davina nodded, signaling she was ready to leave and followed Alastair out of the packhouse. He helped her into a large black SUV with a surprisingly gentle touch.

“I need to go collect my wife and then we will be on our way.” Alastair headed back to the banquet room to his wife. Everyone was sitting now that the ceremony was over and were chatting merrily. He whispered in her ear and she quickly stood. Her eyes got watery as she took Alastair's hand to leave. “Alpha John,” Alastair boomed, “I don’t know what kind of pack you were running here, but abusing one of your own is unacceptable.” All eyes snapped in his direction, “we are leaving. The peace treaty will remain intact but do not contact us unless it is dire.”

“How dare you talk to me in such a way!” John boomed with rage.

“You are not worth talking to in any other way,” Alastair hissed, before he turned to leave with his wife. They walked quickly to the car with no interruptions.

“Hello,” Alastair’s wife turned around in the front seat with a small smile, “I’m Cleo, Al’s wife.”

“Hi,” Davina whispered, “I’m Davina.”

“You’re going to be safe with us, I promise.” Cleo stated with watery eyes, “We will take care of you.” Davina nodded her head before Alastair drove off into the night, into unknown lands.

Back at the ceremony, everyone was left speechless, unsure of what had happened to make the Alpha of the strongest pack in America act in such a way. “Father,” James whispered, “Davina is gone.”

John looked around and that’s when it clicked. “He must’ve seen her. Send someone to find her.”

James turned to Davina’s brother Isaac and whispered, “ Go look for your sister.”

Isaac excused himself and made his way to the basement. A sense of panic clawed at his chest when he didn’t find her on the small cot. He walked closer and saw the shred of paper left on the dresser. A tear slid down his cheek as he read the hastily written note. “What have I done,” he whispered to himself, staring at the note. He sat on the cot, lost in thought at how cruel he had been to his baby sister. Blaming her for their parents' death, even though what he'd seen didn't make sense. He'd replayed it in his head over a hundred times, but couldn't unsee her ripping into their parents' bodies and couldn't allow himself to show her mercy. He did nothing to protect her from the endless abuse she had endured for the past twelve years. He would never forgive himself for how he allowed her to be treated. Hours had gone by before James found him sitting there, running his hands through his hair in frustration.

“What are you doing?” He asked, entering the small corner of the basement, looking around for Davina, “Where is she?”

Isaac handed him the note, “what is this? She left?” was all he managed to get out. A sense of dread filled his entire being.

“Yes... were we really so cruel?” Isaac whispered, “I drove my own sister away. And on her birthday of all days.”

“Her birthday?” James whispered, “I bumped into her earlier.” Isaac looked at him in confusion. James met his stare, “she’s my mate and I rejected her.”

A look of horror etched itself on Isaac’s face as he whispered, “ Yes, we really are that cruel."