“Okay, I’m ready to learn.” Scarlet’s enthusiastic voice brings my attention to the short-haired energetic wolf, who rushes into the room and plops onto my bed, firing up her own laptop. I’m glad to have already logged into my email, finding the old files from last year with the training I started Blood Moon on and quickly emailing them.
The two of us go through each training as Scarlet scribbles down notes in a journal while asking questions. Part of me wished I could bring her with us to Blood Moon, wanting to have her gain more experience before being thrown into the job, but I was already taking Zack and Axel and their families with me. Scarlet was a diligent student; I found it easy to teach her as she has an attitude that if you’re willing to teach, she is willing to learn. My respect grows for her with each second that ticks by.
"You’re leaving today, aren’t you?” It’s more of a statement than a question. I look at the sad expression on Scarlet’s face and nod.
“Yeah. Our job here is done, and I miss my home. You have my email and phone number, so if you need help or have any questions you can always reach out to me.” I see the young she-wolf nod with tears in her eyes, as she scoots over and gives me a hug.
“I’m going to miss you,” Scarlet admits.
“I’ll miss you too,” I whisper back. My stomach decides to grumble, breaking the sad atmosphere and causing both of us to laugh. We decide that this is enough training for now, and make our way downstairs to grab lunch. Scarlet brought along her laptop, wanting to find a quiet corner to review the files I sent her while she eats, and bids me goodbye then and there. I sigh, watching the she-wolf join her friends, when I feel strong arms around me. Dominic’s scent fills my nose.
“I’m ready to go home,” I whisper, leaning into him and nuzzling his neck.
"That’s good, so am I. It’s a good thing the roads were cleared last night, so we can leave now that training is done and the Soulless threat is gone." He whispers back, kissing my forehead. My mate takes my hand, leading me towards the buffet, where I once again load up a plate and grab a large glass of orange juice. We then find an empty table in the corner, where Miles, Christian, Lease, and Concra join us soon after. Dominic and I make sure that they, along with everyone else in the pack, are ready to leave. Lease informs me that Zack and Axel are ready and packed, and just waiting for Blood Moon to say when.
We start discussing what we’ll do when we get home, Concra mentioning she’s already planning her vacation with Miles. Apparently, she had a hard time fighting the Soulless yesterday because Miles kept protecting her, almost losing his life when a wolf tried to sneak attack him. If it weren’t for the pregnant Concra using her gun and aiming a well-placed bullet to the Soulless’ head, Miles would be dead before meeting his unborn pup.
“What are you going to do when you get home, Amberle?" Concra asks. I smile, knowing the two things that will need to be done right away.
“Having Dominic move in with me and getting him to help me build a nursery for our pup,” I state, putting a hand over my flat stomach as I sip on my orange juice. The table falls silent, with each and every one of my friends gawking at me with this news bomb I just dropped. I turn to look at Dominic, who has surprise—and shock—on his face, causing me to giggle.
"Um... I... How, well, I know how... But..." Dominic stutters incoherently, his eyes going from my face to my stomach and back to my face. I giggle again, placing the now empty glass on the table and lean forward to kiss his cheek.
"I just know," I say, turning back to continue eating, only to notice my plate was empty. I frown, and Dominic volunteers to grab me more food and another glass of orange juice. I’m left with my friends who have yet to move or say a word.
“Shit, when I said create Alpha pups for the pack, I didn’t mean right away!” Lease shouts, breaking the silence at the table. Bill starts laughing and shakes his head at his mate just as Dominic returns with my food.
“In my defence, I was most likely in heat when this happened. I should have gotten my period a few days ago, and clearly, it’s a no-show.” I raise my hands in surrender before the temptation of food becomes my focus, and I go back to eating. After my third plate, the twins stare at me, and I glare at them, feeling annoyed.
"You’re definitely pregnant by the way you’re eating. That’s one extra than normal." Lease states, impressed by my scarfing down much more food than usual. Concra slaps the back of her head and gives me an apologetic look before her and Miles excuse themselves to load their car. I roll my eyes at Lease, telling her to get her things together.
[Zack, tell Axel to get ready, we’re leaving soon.] I link my brother as Dominic and I head up the stairs. I can feel the excitement emanating from my mate as we talk about names for our unborn pup. He wanted to at least include his mother’s name in there somewhere, something I happily agreed to as long as my mother’s name is used as well. We are so close to leaving, excitement in being home and curled in my own bed tonight being the one thing on my mind.
“Fire, put that down. I don’t want you carrying any suitcases.” I roll my eyes at Dominic, already knowing his instincts were kicking in with the need to protect me in my pregnant state. Instead of arguing, I humour him and allow Dominic to call an Omega from Forest Paw to help carry the luggage to my Mustang. Deciding to double-check the room for any of our belongings, I go through all the drawers in the dressers and check the bathroom, satisfied in knowing that Dominic was thorough when packing this morning.
I just left the bathroom after sending a text to Avery letting her know we were leaving soon, when strong arms grab me from either side, slamming me into the dresser where the edge digs into my stomach. A sharp pain follows immediately after impact, and fear fills me for the safety of my unborn child, having me fighting to free myself from the grip. The stench of moonshine is strong on these wolves. Footsteps from behind me alert me to a third attacker.
“Amberle, Amberle, Amberle. Who said you can leave?” Leo’s voice echoes around the room, his hand playing with my red hair. I can tell something is different with him, the scent of moonshine even stronger. A bottle is placed in front of my face on the dresser before me, Leo leaning over to look at me, his breath reeking of the liquor. Moonshine, a liquor originally made by werewolves, is the only thing that can properly intoxicate us. It also acts as an enhancer like steroids, giving the drinker a boost in strength, leading to the predicament I’m in now.
“I think it’s time I properly mate you. My pack needs a strong Luna, and you’re my mate.” His hands roam from my hair down my back where they stop at my butt, groping the skin and sending shivers of disgust through me. My guard against these wolves rises as I kick out behind me, happy when my foot connects between Leo’s legs, and he staggers backwards.
[Help me!] I call out through the pack link, missing what Christian is about to say as a punch to the back of my head forcefully disconnects me from everyone. My mind becomes hazy as I see stars.
“Fucking bitch, you need to learn your place,” Leo growls, grabbing a fist full of my hair as he slowly presses against me, the bulge I feel on my thigh indicating what’s to come if help doesn’t reach me soon. My head hurts, and nausea threatens to bring up all the food I had eaten just an hour ago. I had to stall for time, so deciding to try and free myself, I kick out my legs again but missing the mark. I try another tactic, turning my head to try and bite at the two holding me down. Leo yanks on my hair, forcing my head back as his accomplices laugh at my pain, all three of them ignorant to the mate mark on my neck.
“Now, be good, Amberle. I promise you’ll be fine.” Leo growls, his free hand groping my butt once again. I keep my face neutral, tucking away the fear that wanted to pour out of my pores in waves. His hands release their hold, only to move around and grope my breasts. Out of everything this coward has done to me growing up, this is the first time he’s laid his hands on me like this.
“Get your hands off my mate!” A feral growl comes after Dominic’s demand, then came the sounds of wolves running into the room. Leo is soon yanked off of me, as Bill and Miles tackle the goons that hold me down. Christian catches me just in time before I could hit my head off of the corner of the dresser. The sound of fists hitting flesh alerts me to the beating the three wolves are receiving. Axel and Zack rush in, their focus not on the three Forest Paw wolves, but on me. Zack reaches out to touch my head, causing me to wince away as my vision blurs. Rage is seeping off of my brother, and his hand reaches for a device that he brings to his lips.
“Everyone over the age of sixteen, outside now!” His voice fills the pack house as Christian lifts me into his arms, and Axel and Zack help my pack bring the three wolves attempting to rape me down the stairs and out to the front of the pack house where a crowd begins to gather.
Blue and the Elders are in front, sending a questioning look my way as Christian and I exit first, then Axel and Zack, who help Bill and Miles drag the two goons of Leo’s out, followed by Dominic, whose hand grasps Leo by the hair, the latter begging for mercy before being thrown to the cold, snow-covered ground.
“As you all know by now, Amberle was once fated to be the mate of Leo. But he rejected her over two and a half years ago.” Dominic begins, his eyes scanning the crowd and waiting for their whispers to settle down.
“A few days before the blizzard, that mate bond finally broke, and we realized we are fated to be each other’s second-chance mate. Today, while my pack, the pack Leo requested help from, is getting ready to leave, Leo and these pathetic Hunters enter the room we share. the Hunters held my mate down while your so-called Alpha tried to rape her, even though she’s pregnant with my pup and vulnerable!” Gasps follow after Dominic finishes. the pack doctor and Blue rush to my side, and they fuss over me. I answer their questions as best as I can while the doctor shines a light into my eyes, quickly confirming that I have a concussion and will have to be monitored over the next few days. Thankfully, the doctor confirms my pregnancy, stating the baby will be fine
“Due to the law, Leo, Alpha of Forest Paw, and his two accomplices will be punished as seen fit.” Dominic finished, his rage rolling over the crowd, causing everyone to step back. The law for sexually harassing and raping another wolf’s mate was a beating by said wolf's mate, with an arm of the criminal being cut off. If it’s an Alpha's mate you touched, the crime is punishable by death. If the wolf who is the victim of said assault or rape is pregnant, then the criminal will get neutered if they aren't killed.