****
Daniel

"Alpha's, we have a situation" calls Andrew, my Beta.
"What's wrong?" I question tersely, massaging my temples. It's been a long day. Approving house plans, running training sessions, welcoming newly turned wolves. A pack this size needs a lot of organisation. I was grateful to have such reliable and dedicated leaders and my parents as mentors. I was also lucky to have my brother. We ran this pack together. As a team.
"Human female detained on the southern border, injured and distressed. She's resisting assistance" Andrew replies, his genuine concern for the girl evident in his usually business like tone. Aden raises his eyebrows in surprise, I shrug in response and move to get up, leaving my brother to finish the paperwork.
"I'll be there in a minute" I respond heavily. How had she traveled this far? In the woods alone. More importantly - Why?

****
Mia's Perspective

I was caught. How could I have gotten caught? In my stupid panic. I should have been more careful. She would be so scared by herself. I couldn't leave her alone.

"It's going to be ok honey, we just want to help" one of the men tried again. Why were all these men in the woods? They had found me and surrounded me when I didn't answer their questions, trying to flee instead. They hadn't made any moves to come closer though. What did they want from me? I shuddered at the possibilities. Clutching myself tighter. No. Not again.

They all straightened slightly. Someone was coming. I could hear twigs breaking...

****
Daniel's Perspective

She was huddled in on herself, almost as if she wanted to disappear.
'Erica, we have a situation on the southern border - I need you. Can you please bring me a blanket and you'll need your case' I mind link my sister, who was the pack doctor.
'On my way' she replied.
I turned back to the quivering girl in front of me. She peeked up and caught me staring at her. She paled and her pupils dilated in fear. She began to hyperventilate. Shit.

Mate.

I could feel the pull instantaneously. It had drawn her here too. Even if she didn't know it. This fragile little thing was mine.

Barely dressed in a chiffon slip that was tattered. No wonder she was shaking. Where was my sister with that blanket? At that moment my advanced hearing heard Erica approaching. About time!

"Hey sweetheart it's ok, everything's alright. We won't hurt you" I cooed to her gently. Using my words as a distraction I moved closer, hands up cautiously. I didn't want her to flee in fear. Not that she would get very far. She was sickly thin and very pale. She looked severely malnourished and dehydrated. I noticed the bruises and scratches scattered along her arms and rage coursed through my veins. Later. I promised myself. I can't be angry now. My mate needs me.

I caught the blanket Erica tossed me. Her eyes were trained on my mate. I could see her mentally assessing her injuries and forming treatments. My mate had marked my movement and Erica's presence. She tensed and whimpered.
"I just want to give you this blanket sweetie, you look very cold" I murmur, her eyes found mine and flickered to the blanket I held as an offering. She seemed to be weighing up her desire for warmth and the obvious terror she was experiencing.
"I'll put it right here" I added, my gaze locked on hers as I slowly placed the blanket about half a meter away from her. She recoiled but noticing my distance didn't make any other moves. I backed away slowly so as not to startle her. She tracked my movements and then seeming determined reached and grabbed the blanket. Wrapping it around herself she snuggled into it. Still sending fleeting glances our way.

'Let's give her some space everyone', I instructed, 'thank you for your help' I dismissed them.
'Andrew, Erica - you two stay please' I added.

My mate tensed as the night patrol headed back to their homes. Once she realised they were leaving she relaxed slightly.
'Erica, do you want to try and talk her down? Andrew and I will stay back in case she makes a break for it' I mind link.
Erica nodded slightly. She caught my mates eye and smiled reassuringly.
"Hi, my name is Erica - what's your name?" My sister asked softly. At this my mate stiffened, hiding herself in the blanket.
"That's ok, you don't need to tell us anything you don't want to - we just want to help. This is Andrew and Daniel, they're my friends. Are you in pain?" My mate remains catatonic.
'Erica, suggestions?' I sigh.
'I'm concerned about her labored breathing, it sounds more intense than a panic attack, she may have cracked ribs. Her head is bleeding: it needs stitches and judging by the her dazed and confused expression she is probably concussed...' My sister trails off, noticing my expression of agony she makes the connection.
'She's your mate' she states, Daniel stares at me awestruck. I nod slightly. My eyes still trained on the girl. How will we help her?
"Sweetheart you need help, let us help you please" I try moving forward slightly. My mates reaction is immediate and caustic. She struggles up and makes to flee but her weakened state causes her to collapse, her injuries making her shriek in pain. I'm by her side in a flash and she's in my arms in an instant. I wrap the blanket around her, stilling her struggles and whimpers of pain.
"It's ok sweetheart, you'll be ok. We won't hurt you" I murmur, walking towards the pack house.

'Erica can you treat her in my room?' I ask, catching her nod of confirmation, I bypass the medical section and head towards my private quarters.
"Where are you taking me?" My mate whispers, so quietly I think she only meant it for her ears. She has a beautiful voice; smooth and delicate. I don't like the hesitation encasing it though and the underlying fear.
"Somewhere you can be safe and recover honey. You don't need to be scared anymore. You can get warm, get some rest, maybe have something to eat?" I encourage as I open the door to my, now our, room.
She gives a start of fright and my teeth clench at the subsequent hiss of pain. Erica's right she may have broken ribs.

"I can't stay. I need to go. They'll find her. She's all alone. Please let me go!" My mate begs, struggling in my arms.
"Who sweetheart? What do you need? Tell me and I'll do it. You need help. I can help. Let me help you" I coax.
She looks at me. Terrified. Untrusting. But so fragile. I can see her resolve wavering.
"I only want to help" I promise.
"My sister" she whispers, her eyes clouding with tears.

As I enter my room I see Aden joining us, my mate notices his presence and immediately stiffens.

"You don't have to be afraid honey, this is my brother Aden and he is here to help too, right Aden?" I murmur, watching my brothers evaluation of her obvious terror and currently damaged state.

'She's your mate' he mindlinks, I nod, 'congratulations bro, we can talk about what happened to her later' he resolves as he notes the blood and her dazed expression.

"I'm definitely here to help sweetheart, no harm will come to you here" he murmurs, smiling gently. I carefully place her on the bed and she scoots as far away from us all as possible, her head crashing against the headboard. I wince at her pain and terror. What happened to her? Her eyes travel to Erica, who is setting up her medical materials. If possible my mates face drains of color completely and she makes to run. I move to block her exit and view of my sister. She stops and watches me wearily.

"Where is your sister?" I murmur, hoping to distract her. Her gaze travels away from the exit and my sister, she meets my eyes fleetingly before casting her head down.

"Sweetheart, we can bring her here too, so that she's safe" my brother adds. She looks between us confused and panicked.

"We just want to help" I soothe, hoping to convince her. She shakes her head.

'Guys I have a sedative, I think we need to use it or she's going to hurt herself' my sister chimes in, noting how my mate is swaying on her feet. I nod.

'We can track her sister through her smell no?' I ask Aden,

'I'll definitely try to, but right now you need to help your mate bro', he responds as she grows visibly distressed.

I move towards her slowly, I try to catch her eye but her hair is covering her face.

"Honey, let's get you back on this bed ok?" I murmur gently, hoping for the best but definitely expecting her to run. Which she does. She makes a break for it, trying to slide past me and Erica towards to door. I easily catch her in my arms, trying to keep her contained without hurting her further. She screams in utter terror.

"Please let me go, please, please, please. I need to find her. Please I'm sorry. Don't hurt me. I'm sorry. No hurting. I'm sorry. Please no hurting" she sobs, her breathing accelerating till she is hyperventilating and unable to form words.

I hold her softly, "you are safe, we won't hurt you sweetheart" I whisper as she flails against the cage of my arms. I see Erica next to me with the sedative and I nod at her unspoken question, I pull my mate closer to myself, trying to block her vision of Erica and the needle she is holding, "you're going to have a short nap now, so that you can heal and calm down" I state as Erica injects her.

My mate goes still as she feels the prick and then she tries to thrash harder, "no, no, no, no sleeping! I need to go back to her please!" she slowly stops as the medicine takes effect. I hold her weight, sweeping her into my arms as her knees buckle, placing her back on the bed.

"She can't be alone. They'll find her," she whimpers.

"We will find her" Aden vows, kneeling down next to the bed so that his eyes are level with hers.

"You can rest darling, it will be ok" I add, as I watch the drugs begin to win and her eyes drift shut, her breathing evening out.

We all stare at her for a beat. Noticing her fragile aura and how now asleep, she seems to be at peace.

Erica breaks the moment, beginning to work on the cut on her head.

My brother turns to me, "Now what?" he asks expectantly.

"Now we find her sister", I state looking down at my broken mate, "then we find who hurt them and we destroy" I declare grimly.