MATED TO BLOODHOUND

“Jayden!” My scream tore through the night. I couldn't breathe, couldn't think. The pain was toe-curling, brain-shriveling. “Hold her tight!” Brad echoed, as my arms were fastened to giant chains by six Betas. I never believed my brother-in-law could be capable of such violence against me. But there he was — holding the wooden pot of hot liquid silver, and forcing it down my throat with a spoon, cursing and spitting on me; “That’s what whores deserve!” Misery slurred down my guts, and I found myself caving in as if cut off from the very source of life. It was the silver. Everyone knew that… but no one cared that I was being tortured with the very thing that could kill me. “Please, Jayden! Help me!” I wailed, calling out to my heartthrob. “I am innocent!” He stood there — my mate — rooted to the ground, and gazing blankly with fists tightening, turning white. “It is too late now, cry-baby. His hands are tied,” Brad chuckled, dashing my hopes. “No! Please…” I thrashed against the hold, ignoring Brad. “Jayden, you have the power to stop this.” “Not this time,” Brad intoned. “Jay — my love — please, I swear to you, I have been framed. You are being deceived.” “Don’t listen to her,” Sara interjected. “She carries a hybrid in her belly. We can all smell it from a thousand miles away!” “No! Jayden, listen to me. I have only been faithful to you ever since. I could never be with another wolf. This is your child, our child…” “Lies!” Stella rumbled. “The offspring reeks of black magic.” “Because, you injected me with wolfsbane—” “How could I possibly have access to such a high-profile commodity?” “Sara!” “What?” “Why are you doing this? What have I done to deserve this? You know I’m being honest here.” “You have lied to us before, when you said you didn’t know what exactly you were. How should we believe you now?” “Come on, Sara. You’re my sister—” “You are no sister of mine!” she spat vehemently. “I denounce you!” “Enough!” Alpha Gabriel thundered and peace descended. He gazed across the room, studying every face until it got to Jayden’s — my beautiful mate. I hoped and prayed. Please believe me, or at least spare my baby. “Son?” He called. “Yes, father.” Jayden finally spoke. “You seem lost.” “I am,” he replied, eyes smart with tears. “I see. Now I need you to pay attention to the scene before you.” Alpha Gabriel continued. “This is exactly what I have been trying to teach you about love, betrayal, and trust. You must never count on an outcast. This is a perfect example. You witnessed how I brought her into the pack, clothed her, and fed her. Even when your hearts aligned, I consented to letting you become her mate despite my reservations. Alas, this is how she repays me — with a hybrid of sorcerer blood, an anathema!” His words hung in the air, reverberating over the silence. He was wrong. So wrong… “This lone wolf must be destroyed for good, along with her offspring, so this cancer will not spread. It will end once and for all.” “But father, we may banish her, not kill her —” “No! The law is clear. We live and die by it. Think of what the elders will say when they hear that I pardoned her. The chaos it will cause.” “But father—” “These laws must guide the clans after I am gone, son. You must uphold them. For peace’s sake. He who is corrupted by sorcery must be cut down, lest the cancer spreads. The council of elders is watching…” “Jayden, please look at me,” I cried, sensing where the conversation was heading… His muscles squirmed at the sound of my voice and his voice became a plea. “Come on, dad—” “Silence!” The grand Alpha Gabriel thundered, and a mouthful of liquid silver was forced down my throat again. I felt myself dying, my beloved wolf shrieking inside, writhing in pain. I’m so sorry, I can’t save you. I wailed… “Rip her belly open. We must pull out the child and kill it! We cannot risk anything. You can never tell with these witches. They might find a way to preserve the baby…” “I am not a witch!” I wailed. “I am a Luna. Your Luna.” “f**k off, bitch.” These were the next words I heard from my hazy state. It was Brad’s. A whisper that cut deeper than any knife. I gave a last push to consciousness but my feet flailed. Only the chains were holding me up. “Dr. Burn, over to you,” Brad handed a silver dagger to a man in a white lab coat and a pair of glasses. I couldn’t move, could barely breathe. “Please, Jayden. You are the love of my life. I could never…” was all I could manage to voice before Sara spoke over me again. “…Without anesthetics, please,” she grabbed Jayden’s hand and smiled wickedly while rubbing her belly. Then it hit me. She was pregnant! With the last bit of my energy, I summoned my inner wolf instinct to smell the baby in her womb. It reeked of Brad’s blood. The irony. Crackles of bitter laughter escaped me. Everyone paused. Even Dr. Burn. “She is a crazed jackal,” one of the Betas cursed, but I didn’t care. “Sara is going to be the end of you, Jayden,” I warned. “Blasphemy!” Brad shouted. “The witch dares speak ill of the next Grand Alpha of the clans!” “Hear me! The moon goddess will not be kind to you if you do this. You would murder a Lunar?” I growled. “There will be consequences.” “The w***e prophesies!” Sara quipped, and a round of laughter ripped across the enclave. Then Alpha Gabriel waved his hand and the doctor ripped me open, the excruciating pain blurring my vision. I felt my baby ripped out of me, and stabbed… I stiffened. That was exactly when Jayden’s roar engulfed the space. “That’s my son!” he screamed. Perhaps he had finally smelt the blood. His blood. I heard loud thuds and clatters. Bodies flew. Clawing, roaring, and growling. Then peace. The chains flew off of me, my body falling into my mate’s warmth. “Zoe, stay with me…” his voice was filled with pain. Despite my state, I could feel his grief like a thousand knives piercing my spine. But by then, I was halfway into foreverland. “—I told you…” I moaned weakly, as my vision began to shut down fast. He carried me, swiveling sharply to face Gabriel, his father. “That was my child.” He growled. “You don’t know that, son. We smell the sorcery on that woman. She must have tricked your mind with her last breath. She is a witch for goodness’ sake.” “No, father! I know my blood.” “Son, listen. I understand your grief. But one day you are going to rule over this clan and will see things clearly.” He paused and pointed at Sara. “She is your new mate. The pain of this one will pass—” “It will not!” “Sara bears your child — the future of our pack. You will do your duty.” Alpha Gabriel resounded with finality and swaggered away. “Help!” Jayden’s heartfelt cry reached my core. I died a thousand times. Still, no one responded. Instead, the space grew empty, leaving just him and me, and another figure I couldn’t name. “It is over, Jayden. We must focus on the future now.” Those were the last words I heard before eternity beckoned. —