03 | Internal Battles

*Axel’s POV*

~A few months before~

As soon as I found out about Analisa, I knew I had to do something to help. I’m glad that Quinton had no problem with me canceling all our training for me to lead the search party for someone that isn’t even our pack member. But he knew our story and he would do anything to bring peace to his mate.

“Beta Axel, we’ve found something.” One of my warriors mind linked me, forcing me to stop sniffing the ground. 

“I’ll be right there!” I growled before turning to find him within the woods. 

Even though Analisa’s father was helping search for her, he was covering the area near his border while we covered the area outside of ours.

I had assigned my warriors different sections, in hopes of finding something sooner rather than later. Hope was the last thing I wanted to lose, but the more hours that passed, the more my gut told me what Quinton and I feared. With that thought in mind, I pushed my paws faster against the dirt. 

To my surprise, Dash wasn’t giving me any trouble. At least he comprehended the seriousness of the issue and was putting in all his effort to help me find her. 

As soon as I spotted Cole’s wolf, I rushed forward to meet him. His ears raised higher when he sensed my fast approach. I immediately mind linked him, announcing my arrival before he could turn to attack me. 

I shifted in a hurry as he turned to face me, following suit a few seconds later. “Beta,” He dipped his chin before motioning me to follow him. 

My heart beat frantically against my ribcage as I followed a few feet behind while I looked around the woods. We were a few miles out from the main road that she had to pass to get to her pack. 

I ran my dirty fingers through my moist hair as I started hearing the rush of water. I looked at the back of Cole’s head nervously as he turned to the other warriors standing around, waiting for us.

“What is it?” I finally asked as Cole stopped at the edge of some trees where the view of the city could be seen several miles out. 

“You may want to see for yourself,” He replied as he motioned over the cliff.

I licked my lips slowly as I approached the cliff. The closer I walked, the louder the rush of water got. While we weren’t directly above the waterfall, I knew there was one from the times I had visited these neutral grounds. 

I took a deep breath as I reached the edge before looking towards the pool of water on the left of the cliff. My eyes lowered hesitantly, finding the powerful rush of water that fell about a few hundred feet. As soon as my eyes reached the bottom of the waterfall, my breath hitched at the sight.

Her car. 

Goddess, was she dead? How the hell did her car get here? Was it wrong to hope that she was dead because if she wasn’t…

“Did anyone go down there and check?” I asked with a surprisingly leveled voice as I turned to them.

“We were waiting for further instructions. The trackers confirmed that it had been hours since what ever happened did, considering the tire marks, scents, and all.” Cole responded to me as he got closer. 

“Let’s go down before we call Alpha Watson.” I told him as he nodded in response. 

My men started moving, needing no further instructions to get the answers we needed. We all stepped backwards before shifting midair and launching our wolves down the cliff. It was the quickest way to get to the car.

A few seconds later, there were multiple thud sounds echoing between the trees as our paws connected with the ground. I howled into the air before running towards the plunge pool, several paws pounding against the dirt as they followed closely behind. 

My internal struggle was between wishing the quickest death for her. Drowning didn’t sound as bad as being kidnapped by a group of psychos and being tortured to death or worse. But the closer I got, the clearer my mind became. I knew my answer before we shifted to get her car out.

***

By the time I made it back to the pack house, it was the early hours of the morning. Our warriors were beat, but they didn’t complain once. I instantly mind linked Quinton asking him to meet me in his office and closed the mind link before he could ask anything further.

When our warriors and I got out of our jeeps, we were greeted with boxes of wet towels and clothes. Each one of us tried wiping the dirt out of our faces, hands and arms the best we could before grabbing shorts and t-shirts. We all dressed before splitting up to go our own ways. 

Some of my warriors had early training, some had the day off and went to relax with their families, some had border patrol, while I had very difficult news to deliver.

The news had been difficult to process and, quite frankly, I’m not even sure if it has officially sank in yet, but I knew I had to talk to Quinton. When I pushed Quinton’s office door open, my eyes immediately found his tired ones before being met with bloodshot gray eyes that reminded me a lot of Analisa’s.

“Axel!” She croaked, jumping to her feet to meet me by the door. “Please tell me you found her and that she’s alright!” 

I swallowed lowly before my eyes shifted towards Quinton, who just nodded in understanding as he approached us. 

“Priscilla,” I whispered, making her gasp just by the tone of my voice as her eyes filled with more tears. 

“She’s dead, isn’t she?” She sobbed as Quinton wrapped his arms around her. I let her have a few seconds before she stopped and wiped her tears. “No, she isn’t. I didn’t feel our bond break.” She commented as I nodded in agreement. 

“She isn’t dead—That we know of.” I confirmed, making her sigh in relief. “But we did find her car that was pushed off a cliff.”

“What?” She asked, clutching her chest desperately. 

“I’m almost sure that she’s been taken.” I whispered softly as her eyes widened in panic before rolling to the back of her head as she passed out in Quinton’s arms. 

“Shīt.” He muttered, sweeping her off her feet and placing her on the couch. “Go shower and rest. I’ll take care of things.” He told me as his eyes glazed over while he probably mind linked a doctor.

I turned on my heel and walked out of his office. He was right. I need a warm shower like my life depends on it. But sleep? I’m not sure I’ll be getting any sleep for goddess knows how long. 

*Melody’s POV*

~Present Day~ 

It felt amazing to finally feel the warm water massaging my back. I will never take showers for granted!

I dried my body slowly, dreading having to go back out there. While I enjoyed the shower, I knew what being clean meant for them now. I shivered at the thought of all the possibilities of what would happen to me.

Before I was done drying, the door opened, making me ground my teeth in irritation as I covered my naked body with the towel. I sighed when my eyes met with the girl from earlier. 

“Here,” She muttered, pushing forward the red transparent bodysuit. 

“I’m not wearing this.” I growled as a matter of fact, my eyes meeting hers. 

“You have no choice in the matter.” She replied stiffly before turning on her heels and closing the door after her. 

What’s the worst that could happen if I don’t wear this?

The thought of the huge asšhole from earlier touching me inappropriately came to mind, convincing me to put the flimsy cloth on faster than I’d thought imaginable in my weak state.

Once I had the bodysuit on, I picked up my towel again and wrapped it around my body. Taking a deep breath for courage, I pushed the door open and exited the bathroom. 

I was immediately met with the girl and the boss man, or who I assumed was the boss man, the one from earlier.

“Take the towel off.” He ordered through gritted teeth as I walked past him, ignoring him. I can’t help it. I’m not used to following orders.

I was about to take a seat in the empty chair when I felt him yank me back by my hair as his angry face got close to mine. “What did I tell you earlier?” He snarled, lifting the hand that wasn’t pulling at my hair and backhanding my face so hard my vision blurred momentarily. 

I blinked a few times to regain my vision before glaring at him. Why doesn’t he just kill me already? 

I looked towards the guard that had taken me to shower earlier, hoping he’d feel pity for me, but he just looked away. Coward!

“Can you be specific? I remember you talking a lot of shīt!” I spat with as much sas as I could muster, earning another smack that landed me on the ground, accidentally releasing the towel in the process. 

“Didn’t you give her the first dosage?” He growled at the girl, making my ears ring. 

“I did, Sir, but we won’t see it taking effect so soon.” She replied with a shaky voice. 

My vision was still hazy when I felt a tight grip on my arm, forcing me to stand before I was slammed against a desk.

“Hold her there, John. She wants to act like an animal, we will treat her like an animal.” He declared as calloused hands wrapped around my wrists, holding them tightly behind my back while my front was pushed completely on the desk. 

“What the hell are you doing?!” I growled, kicking and squirming as I fought the deadly grip. It was the stupid guard from earlier. Again, fūcking coward!

“Teaching you who you’re messing with.” The asšhole declared as he wrapped his fingers in my hair before pulling my head off the desk, forcing me to angle my head up to stare at him while he lowered his zipper. 

“No. No, please!” I begged, shaking my head frantically as I realized his intentions. “I promise that I’ll be good.” 

“Too little too late.” He chuckled, tightening his grip on my hair, and making me wince from the pain.

Why did I have to open my mouth?

I closed my eyes and begged the moon goddess to save me from this pig’s wrath.