Page 50 of Escaping Wildfire
“If we help each other, we believe we have a better chance of stopping Wildfire and getting these young men their pack and family back.”
“I think…” Olivia paused, seeming to think about what she wanted to say. “I think you make a good point about needing to work together…I went to The Council a few years ago regarding the attacks and destruction of our territories, but they would not intervene because, as they put it, cat matters did not involve The Shifter Council.”
“It seems we’ve encountered similar roadblocks with The Council.”
“Jeremiah, why don’t you see if Oren can show you some of his toys now?”
“Yes! Let’s go.” The little boys pumped their fists up in excitement, leaving their plates of uneaten food to rush off and play.
“I’m sorry, but I’d rather my son not hear this next part…” We all nodded in acknowledgment and waited for her to continue. “Three years ago, my mate was visiting some of our more secluded shifters in the west. We make sure everyone is accounted for at least once a year. Wildfire decided to attack a nearby wolf territory. When they were finished, they set fire to everything. The fire traveled through the neighboring forest and into cat territory. My mate and the two shifters he was with were surrounded by the flames, but they didn’t make it out.” She paused as her voice hitched. “I was back home with our son, but I felt the pain of every flame that engulfed my mate. We lost a total of six cats that day. My mate and the mated couple with him, and three other men, two of whom were a father and his adult son. The three other women who lost their mates that day and I tried to appeal to The Council for help, but they wouldn’t even give us an audience as we had no representative on The Council…we lost several others to a similar attack last year. To top it all off, they have contacted me twice this year attempting to bring a cat shifter onto The Council…” Her eyes lit up with fury. “As far as I’m concerned, The Council can go fuck themselves.”
We all stayed quiet at her revelation, uncertain of how to respond.
Jordan cleared his throat. “I lost both of my parents to Wildfire’s last attack. While I can’t imagine the pain you endured losing your mate, I know it must have been incredibly difficult for you. The Council has also failed me, but Alpha Kedrick has taken me and my pack brothers under his wing so that we can fight against Wildfire and get our home back. Alpha Marek has taken our siblings captive, and Harvest Moon is doing everything they can to help us get them back, but we believe we’ll be able to do more with your help.”
“He’s taken your siblings captive?” She asked.
“My two sisters, they’re 13 and 16.”
“And my twin brothers, they’re ten.” I prodded Cristian to continue.
“My sister, she just turned 18. We missed her first shift…and now Alpha Marek wants to marry her off to his son against her will.”
Olivia’s face didn’t reveal her emotions, but she calmly looked at us before speaking. “I’m assuming you have a plan already? How can we help?”
22 Larkin
LARKIN
My father sent me off territory for the rest of the week for business meetings, and I was finally heading back to Wildfire. He liked for me to be off territory as much as possible so that I couldn’t question his actions. The first time I questioned his behavior was when I was 12, and I found out why my mother was always sick. The bastard couldn’t keep it in his pants even if his life depended on it. He made sure to keep me quiet by shipping me off to the furthest boarding school he could find back East. That was his first mistake.
If he wanted me to be a good little puppet for him, he should have kept me close. Instead, he sent me to a place where I learned just how depraved he had always been. I hated leaving Rory behind, but my father promised to leave her alone as long as I complied with going to boarding school. I had stayed back East through college and had only returned a year ago after graduation.
When I turned 18, I asked my father if he would be sending me to alpha training. He laughed in my face and told me I was too weak to take over the pack, so I called up my contacts while at college and visited packs in the East. I met some good alphas, who were nothing like my father, and learned a lot from them. Luckily, they were far enough away from Wildfire that they were willing to host me. I returned to Wildfire stronger than I had ever been, but I always kept my aura down while I was around my father so he would still think me weak.
When Nora turned 18, and our bond snapped into place, I was so happy to have my mate, but I knew we needed to keep it a secret. My father is smarter than I gave him credit for and smelled her on me one morning. I wouldn’t say anything about it, so he called Nora in and commanded the truth out of her. That’s when his search for my new mate started.
I wanted Nora more than anything, but my father threatened to let Griffin have his way with her if I didn’t comply. He said he wouldn’t hurt her or let Griffin hurt her as long as I did as he ordered, so I continued to reign in my aura, and I have played my part ever since.
I have followed orders and taken his beatings when I step out of line, but I have also kept a close eye on Nora from a distance. At least for the most part because I miss her, and I couldn’t stay away when I saw her at that farce of an engagement party. I saw the hurt in her eyes as Gema and I stood up at the front together, and I knew I had to go to her. I’ve always loved her soft hazel eyes. They always show more kindness than possible for someone who has experienced as much loss as Nora has. That kindness is what will make her an amazing Luna, though.
I nearly lost hope in finally being able to be with Nora when my father brought Gema. I knew Gema didn’t want me either, but I knew my father had ways to keep her in line just like he did with me. Her having snuck in her phone just might have been the best thing that could have happened to us. She promised to get Nora out if I helped her, and for the first time in my life, that was a promise I actually believed would be kept, which was saying a lot as I had stopped believing people kept promises after my father sent me away that first time.
We pulled up to the border, and the guards waved us in, recognizing our vehicle. It had been too long since I had seen or spoken with Nora, and my wolf, Flint, was feeling on edge. As soon as the driver parked, I rushed out and headed to the back of the pack house. Nora spent most of her time in the kitchen, so I was hoping I would run into her on my way upstairs.
As I turned the corner, the wind was knocked out of me, and I doubled over in pain. I felt a light prick in my neck, and then I was shoved to the ground as someone kicked me in the back.
“Were you looking for your little mate, your fated one that is?” Beta Griffin leaned down next to my face and whispered menacingly. “You won’t find her in the kitchen today. She’s been sent upstairs to tidy my bedroom…she’s not my usual type, but she’s cute, and I’ll certainly enjoy breaking her in.” Flint growled at Griffin’s words, but he sounded distant, muffled even. I attempted to stand, but my head felt fuzzy, and everything started spinning. Did he drug me? I tripped back onto the floor in my attempt to stand, and Griffin kicked me again, he continued his assault as he taunted me further.
“Did you really think your little alpha command could keep me from hurting anyone? I might not be able to touch your little bitch right now, but I can certainly hurt you, and she’ll feel every…last…kick…and punch I inflict on you. Too bad she’s not marked so she could feel your pain even more.” He punctuated each word with a kick to my stomach, each kick more forceful than the last. “I bet she’s up there in my room right now wondering what’s wrong, crying her little eyes out.” He yanked my head up by my hair and laughed in my face. “I’ll find a way to get your command reversed, and when I do, I’m going to enjoy burying myself so deep inside of her that your lungs burn and your heart shatters from the pain of her betrayal.” He smashed my face into the ground, and I wanted to feel rage, but my head was pounding so hard that it was hard to think. He continued to kick me, and I heard something snap before I felt a hard kick to my head, and then everything went black.
GEMA
Rory continued to spend time with me around the pack house. We were both glad for the company, and I was certain she had never really had any friends while growing up.
It made me sad as I had always had Jasmine and couldn’t imagine not having her, but then again, I didn’t really have her now. She had stopped leaving her room in the last few days, and I wished I could do more for her. If we were back home, I would have already staged an intervention for Jasmine and begged her to meet with a psychiatrist or counselor for treatment.
As things were right now, I was at least glad to not be kept locked up anymore. My phone had died again after Larkin left for his business trip, so I hadn’t been able to call again. Rory said he would be back today, so I prayed he’d help me call again.