Isabella Carson

No amount of words can describe the fear that is deeply enrooted inside of me. Even if I try to shake him and tell myself repeatedly that he can't touch me. He still had a hold over me.

It was like being stuck in a scary dream that I can't wake up from. The hope and love that you once felt are soaked in a dark, disturbing and scary blanket. The cotton candy trees and rainbows were now filled with your monsters. Deep inside of you, you know something is going to happen and it is going to happen at any moment. You're afraid that THAT someone will hurt you the moment you make one wrong move. A nightmare that you can't wake up from.

The raw, bleeding knees from crawling.

The pain of being roughly taken.

The tears of beaten up to the point where you hover over consciousness.

My gut told me to run. My heart tremored in quiet fear. I won't go back there. I'll kill myself before he gets his hands on me.

Suddenly, I'm being jerked out of my thoughts. Malcolm's face appeared in front of me. His eyes reflected his concerns for me. He lifted his hand and brushed my hair behind one ear.

"You're going to be okay. I promise you that." He repeated to me again. I blinked still feeling an out of body experience. He shook me again.

"Bella, listen to me." He said in a firmer tone.

"He's not going to let me go. He came for me. He won't let me go." I heard myself say but my body was numb with fear.

"He's here but he has no control over you. Do you understand? I'll be right beside you." He shook me again.

I blinked and looked up into his eyes.

They were warm and safe. His firm hands around me ensured me that this was Malcolm. He wouldn't let me go back to Pete. He will protect me.

I nodded and took in a long staggering breath. I needed to be strong but my hands shook the second I slipped them into Malcolm's. He squeezed them to again affirm what he promised.

Malcolm had already sent the soldier back to keep Pete outside of the courtyard. He was not to receive entrance into the castle. Malcolm also ordered more soldiers and declared that the territory was in defense mode.

Tonight, it will either end in a bloodbath or with me gone. We walked back to the castle in silence. Malcolm's back stiffened more and more with each step we took.

When we reached the front gate, the doors were closed. Pete was on the other side waiting. When the gates were opened several soldiers stood alongside us. Damien stood to Malcolm's right.

Pete's eyes met mine immediately and a slow smirk appeared on his face. His eyes glinted with a sickness that had my stomach churning. I knew that look and it was one out of pure need to dominate and inflict pain.

I didn't realize how hard I was squeezing Malcolm's hand and my body shaking until I felt his arm wrapped around my shoulder. I couldn't stop my reaction towards seeing Pete again. He struck fear into my soul even Gregory wasn't as bad as him. Pete didn't have feelings at all. He only thought about himself and nobody else.

Movement behind him had me glancing down. In his hand was a chain that was effectively wrapped around his wrist and palm. I dug my fingers into Malcolm's hands but he didn't react.

Slowly, a slender female lycan appeared. She was dirty and her hair was greasy. Her eyes sunken and devoid all any emotions. She looked like an empty shell. The only article of clothing on her was an old, dirty, and a torn t-shirt that reached above her knee. She crawled on her hands and knees.

My eyes met Pete again and his smirk turned into a full-blown grin. He knew what I was feeling. Guilt. The female before me took my place and I felt responsible. If I didn't leave, she wouldn't have to take my place.

"Isabella, darling." He purred. "When I heard you were here, I didn't waste another second. I needed to come to see for myself."

A fury growl came from Malcolm and Pete's eyes flickered to Malcolm for the first time. As if he completely forgotten whose territory he was on. A total disrespect and ignorance.

"Malcolm, when I called you I specifically asked for her. I am surprised you told me you haven't seen her."

Malcolm gave a short laugh, "Which makes me wonder how did you find out?"

Pete still wore that plastered grin on his face as if he had the upper hand to this matter.

"I had a spy in the small little town next to your territory. He stuck around and took enough information to bring back to me."

"What do you want?" Malcolm asked, but he already knew what Pete wanted.

Pete's eyes moved back to me and immediately Malcolm shook his head.

"No. She's staying."

"Come now, Malcolm. We do not need to fight over one female. Hand her over. I'm willing to give up any other female in my pack for her. You can take your pick. All I want is Isabella."

"Unfortunately for you, Pete, I don't want to deal. Isabella is staying in my pack." Malcolm said coldly.

I can see the slight clench of Pete's jaw. He was getting angry and when he gets angry, he becomes violent.

"Isabella, do you want me to continue punishing other females in your place? You know what I am capable of. I don't care how young or old they are." Pete threatened. His eyes directed at me, trying to control me.

My eyes moved back to the female on her hands and knees. She looked right back at me, waiting for my answer. I couldn't answer him because I knew I couldn't go back.

"He's a monster," Damien whispered. His eyes hardening while looking at the skinny female kneeling on the ground. His fist clenching at his side.

"You won't be going." Malcolm reminded me. "I won't let you."

I looked towards him. He squeezed my hand and pleaded with his eyes for me to stay. I couldn't leave him. The last time I did it, I nearly broke him.

"No," I said and turned back to Pete. "I'm not going back. If you want me, you will have to drag my dead body back. I will not leave with you willingly."

"You're a fool, Isabella." He sneered.

Malcolm's hand tightened around mine. His jaw clenched in silent rage. Uncle Alastair appeared next to us. He looked furious.

"I told you she was no good for you. Let her go. We do not need her." Uncle Alastair remarked with obvious distaste and hatred towards me.

"Will you go to war over this, Malcolm?" Pete questioned. "Over a small little female lycan?"

"I will die for her." Malcolm declared and Pete's eyes sparked with his own obsession.

"She's mine, Malcolm."

"She's your daughter. A daughter that you defiled. A daughter that you were supposed to love and cherish. Instead, you raped her." I intervened.

Pete's eyes moved back to me. He smirked cockily.

"You liked it, Isabella." He said huskily.

Malcolm's hand was tightening so hard around mine, I was wincing in pain. He pushed me behind him in a protective stance.

"You're disgusting." Damien snarled.

"You won't hand her over?" Pete asked.

"No, and you have three seconds to turn your back and head back to the filthy lowlands before I kill you." Malcolm threatened.

"Then I challenge you for her. Alpha lycan to Alpha lycan. A fair challenge with many witnesses. Whoever wins, takes her home."

Malcolm nodded and released me over to Damien. Pete untangled the chain from his wrist and handed it to his soldier.

Slowly, the two Alpha lycans circled each other in the middle of a hundred lycans. I knew my old pack well. They didn't care about Pete. Pete was a cruel leader and never just. No one will shed a tear over the lycan leader but everyone lived in fear of him.

A thundering roar pierced the deafening air as the two lycan's clashed. In their human forms, they fought with a supernatural speed. Pete was strong. He didn't become a cruel leader for anything. He landed a hard blow to Malcolm's stomach before wrapping his arms around Malcolm's waist and tossing him over his shoulder. Malcolm landed on his back with a grunt before flipping onto his hands and knees. He launched himself at Pete and threw a hard punch at Pete's cheekbone. The sound of it cracking and Pete's grunt can be heard.

Malcolm took the opportunity to grab onto the arm that held the chain to the female lycan earlier and twisted behind his back, popping it out of its socket. Pete roared in pain and clutched at his arm. He glowered at Malcolm with a newfound hatred and fury. He threw a punch at Malcolm. Malcolm fell the ground at the force and I saw blood spill onto the ground.

Pete was quick. He took the opportunity to kick Malcolm repeatedly in the back, fighting to sever his spine. Malcolm twisted his body and wrapped his arms around Pete's kicking feet and twisted it. Breaking his ankle. Pete cried out and limped on one leg. One hand firmly on his popped shoulder.

Malcolm's lip was cut deeply and blood seeped from his lips. He walked with a threatening purpose towards Pete. His lycan's eyes fully glowing with his own power. Pete made one last attempt to hit Malcolm with his fist but Malcolm grabbed onto it and squeezed his fist hard.

"You get off from hurting females?" Malcolm sneered into Pete's face. "How would you like it if I tore your body limb from limb? Or even take my time in torturing you. Giving you a taste of your own medicine."

"I'm not afraid of you," Pete said weakly but his eyes glazed over with fear of his own death.

Malcolm smiled but it was a pure malicious one. "Don't lie to yourself, Pete. You're weak. That's why you pry on weaker lycans. You should be very afraid of me, Pete. I am going to bring you your death."

Malcolm placed one hand on Pete's neck and the other wrapped around Pete's wrist. He was going to rip Pete apart.

Malcolm was oblivious to his surroundings because to him the threat was controlled. His eyes were still glowing with his lycan and wrath. Malcolm snapped Pete's arm, breaking the radius and ulna bone. Everyone can hear Pete's scream of pain. Malcolm moved to the humerus bone next. His intention was clear. He was going to break every one of Pete's bone.

It was painful to watch. Gruesome and torturing. Pete didn't stop screaming and Malcolm didn't stop breaking every one of his bone. Damien attempted to turn me back away from the brutal scene but I couldn't. I took pleasure in watching him suffer.

When Malcolm was done, Pete was nothing but shredded limbs. Malcolm's body covered in Pete's blood. The wet grassy field now drenched in Pete's blood. He stood up and faced Pete's pack.

"You can turn back and go back the way you came from. Find yourself a new lycan leader or if you are displeased with what I have done, you are more than welcome to fight me." Malcolm announced.

Everyone bowed their head submissively and soldiers began turning away happy to lose their lycan leader.

All except one person.

She stood by the front gate with her arms wrapped around her body protectively. Her eyes met mine. The chain dangled from her neck and you can see the bruises that it had caused.

Damien took a step toward her but she took a step back in fear. I placed a hand on Damien's arm before moving closer to her. She watched me with wary eyes but did not move.

When I stood an arm's length away from her I spoke up. I knew what she was feeling. Her pack didn't feel like her pack. She no longer felt safe there even with Pete gone. I slowly offered my hand out to her.

"You are safe here," I whispered. "I promise you. We will protect you. The male lycans here are not like Pete."

Tears welled up in her eyes and her lips quivered.

"He tortured me for years. I didn't know what I did wrong. I ask myself why did he choose me and now I know why." A tear slipped down her cheek.

"I'm sorry," I whispered and swallowed the lump in my throat.

"You escaped. You made it but I wasn't strong like you. You shouldn't feel guilty. It wasn't your fault. If I was you, I would have done the same." She muttered and wiped her tears with the back of her hand before placing it in mine.

"What is your name?" I asked.

"Alexine." She whispered, her pale complexion making her look ghostly.

I pulled her into my arms and held her close. Together we walked back to the castle. Malcolm and Damien following closely behind us.

It will take her a long time to recover. She needed to learn how to be safe again. She needed to learn how to wake up from her nightmare.

A/N:

So, I'm almost done with my project. It's been a while since I uploaded. I know. I haven't had the time to swing by Wattpad. I'll try to reply to comments today! I imagine just a few more chapters for this book.

Leila