PROLOGUE

The common story is that finding a mate is supposed to make the wolf stronger. For
an alpha, finding his mate, blessed by the moon goddess, strengthens the pack. But
there can be such darkness hidden in that dynamic.

Even those of cruel hearts can seek the power of a mate. And the damage they cause might not ever be healed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

The rhythm of the water would have been soothing if it hadn't been so cruel.

Drip

And as it was, it was nothing more than a taunting form of torture.

Drip

Ears could hear the soft thudding of raindrops at the end of the hall as a door was pulled open in squeaking protests and then shut with a harsh metallic clang. How
the rain made its way into the depths of the cement room, it didn't matter. It was there.

Drip.

Step

Drip.

Step.

The footsteps were strong and full of purpose. Though just as unwanted as the drops of water that fell too far out of
reach. Unable to quench the dehydrated desperation chained to the wall.

Drip.

Step

Drip.

Step

Only one set of footsteps. There was no question of the destination or purpose that carried them down the hall.
Not that it was a surprise. It was always the same. First the pain, then the visit.

The cell door opened to darkness. There was no energy to move, not even enough to will eyelids to open. Not that it mattered.

The visit never changed.
What more could be said? What more could be done?
All that mattered was that stale, barely edible food was only given after he was
done. Only then, could there be any comfort from hell

*****
WARNING- This is a mature story and underage readers are advised not to read it.

Expect something hoooge.�

Episode 1

The rain had been a welcome
surprise.

Planning the incursion into the
Blood Moon pack had taken
weeks. Prior to that, it had taken months of investigation to verify the accusations of criminal activity.
For there to have been rain on the exact day that we needed cover... it was a blessing from the Moon Goddess herself.

The pounding of the heavy rain
helped to muffle the sounds
of our mOvements. The water,
washed away our tracks. Best
of all, the humid air clung to the
vegetation releasing new scents that masked our own.
The pack wouldn't know we were there until it was too late.

I watched as my alpha took point with military precision. Each wolf armed with a tactical vest made to fit the wolf form. Bullet proof, practical, best of all, holtering tranquilizer guns.

Damned idiots wouldn't know
what hit 'em.

"Outer patrols down."

"Training fields empty." The
reports came through our pack
link. We had anticipated limited
responses, it was part of why we waited until later into the night.

The stealth meant the females
and pups would likely be in bed.
Suddenly, a howl broke through
the cold, wet, night air. A warning to Blood Moon that they were under attack.

Now the real fun begins.

"Mich, take the right flank. Jason, take the left." Alex ordered.

It wasn't necessary, we had been over the plans enough to pull this off in my sleep.

Following orders, I led my unit to the right, our goal was to secure the pack prison and neutralize any opposition along
the way.
With Matt and Corey by my side,
we made our way between pack houses.

It wasn't long before we were met by a small group of wolves. Matt and Corey took defensive positions between me and the Blood Moon wolves while I shifted into my skin.

"By order of his Royal Highness, King Alexander, this pack has been quarantined, pending a full investigation....."

Well, that didn't last long. Two of the wolves submitted to the order and rolled onto their bellies.

The other two weren't ready to
open themselves up for a royal
investigation. Absolutely stupid.
I shifted fast enough to catch one wolf while my men took on the second and kept an eye out for the others who could change their mind.

It took only a few rolls and twists before I had the aggressor pinned under me with my teeth clamped over his throat. He knew that he had until the count of three
to submit or die. And I had no
problems with living up to that.

three... two... one.

Sucks to be him.

The blood and fur of the slowpoke
filled my mouth as I ended his
life quickly. We were in a full take over, I didn't have time to
give him more chances. He knew who we were. He heard the announcement. It was his choice.

Harsh? Perhaps.

Would I lose sleep over it? Hell
no.

If anything, I was irritated that wolves had the audacity to think they could get away with going against royal law. And all it did was slow me down from my goal.

The prison.

"Mich, I see it but the door is wide open." Corey tossed his chin to his left.

"That's because the alpha was
inside." Alexander smirked as we rounded the corner.

"Nice of you to join us."

"Show off." I griped.

Alexander was the anointed Werewolf King for a reason. He was strong, fast and one powerful mother fucker.

How he cleared the pack house
and tracked down the alpha to already have the bastard knocked unconscious... damn if I could figure that out.

And I'm his brother! You would think that I would have an inside edge or something.

Nope. Not even a sliver.
Who could live up to that?

"Careful little brother. Just do your job." Alexander warned with a low growl.

He was the alpha of all alphas. His wolf wasn't about to allow any sense of equality from anyone, even me.

So, with a subtle nod of my head in deference to his position, I took the lead to head into the pack prison.

Prisons could be dangerous
places during a raid. They could be completely empty, or
full of rogues hoping to get out
through the chaos. Prisons could be swarming with dozens of guards, or it could be a hiding place for the females and pups, surrounded by over-protective warriors.
The danger was that there was no way to tell until the recon unit was inside with dark
lighting and tight corridors lined with cells full of countless other possibilities, the prisons were the hardest area to clear.

Each step was methodical, watching for any hidden alcoves or movement in the shadows.
Every door checked before it's
passed, locked doors ignored.

Any open doors were maneuvered and the room searched before moving on. Then, once the open areas were secured, each locked door was checked to see who or what was inside.

Pack members who were there for punishment could often offer evidence in the case against the alpha and the pack as a whole. Sometimes, rogues were found, rogues who
had been on the Royal Guards
'most wanted' list.

Occasionally, people were found in the middle of torture for whatever reason.

Medical help would be needed. Though I was surprised by how quiet this pack prison was. Every cell open and empty. If the alpha was leaving the prison when the attack started, there had to be a reason he was there in the first place.

It had me on edge.

I pressed forward with Matt
pulling up the rear, Corey ducked into each room as we went.

The closer we got to the end of the prison corridors, the more I was able to make out the putrid stench of something or someone.

The quiet beating of a heart and a soft breath was more noticable the further from the echoing rain we went.

Someone was there.

"Alpha Access Only. Punishable
by Death." A sign read on the door at the very end of the hall.

What in the hell? Who could have earned such a severe confinement?

Shifting to skin, I looked for any
keys that the guards would have left behind. But nothing.

Matt nudged my leg. "It does
say alpha only. Maybe he has the keys?" I glared at him. I would have gotten around to following up on that direction.

I just wanted to be efficient and check first. I might enjoy a good fight, but I was known for my effective attention to detail. It was always better to check every option before making the next move.
.
"Your Majesty, the prison is secure. However, there is one prisoner. The keys are not here, we suspect the Blood Moon alpha has them."

"What is the condition of the
prisoner?" Alexander asked.

"Undetermined. There is no visual into the cell. I hear a heartbeat and breathing. That's all. Though the stench.. I would assume we'll need medical."

There was a pause.

"Alright, Jason is headed in with the keys. I'll have Ace meet you out front. Be careful Michael. You don't know what he's in there for."
As I waited, I pulled a pair of
shorts out of one of the pockets in the vest.

Whatever was happening in that room, I was sure that I was gonna stay in skin for a bit. The pack had been taken over. The next step was all bureaucratic red tape.

Seconds later, Jason could be heard making his way through the dark hallway.

"Dear goddess, what is
that smell?" He moved to cover
his nose.

I raised a brow. For a beta wolf,
second in command, to the great Werewolf King, that man had to be the biggest baby sometimes.

"Keys?" I held out my hand.

"Oh Captain, my Captain." He sang as he tossed the keys.

"I'm glad it's you and not me."

Gee thanks.

I turned to unlock the door with
both Matt and Corey still in wolf form, ready to pounce if needed.

But nothing changed in the room other than a slight increase of the person's heart rate.

No other Sound.

As I found a light switch, the air
left my lungs.

"Shit. Is Ace out there?" I called over my shoulder to Jason as I rushed into the room.

I had been prepared to find a
rogue who had been tortured
recently, perhaps someone left
with animal scraps that l decayed in the corner.

Anything other than the sight before me.

My fingers moved to find the
silver cuffs that had obviously
been left on wrists for far too
long. There had to be a key with the one to the door.

"Is that?" Jason stepped into the door.

"What in the f*ck man?"

"Yes, she's a girl whose been left to starve down here. Help me get her out of here."

I was in panic, as though her life would slip through our fingers in the mere seconds we were there.

She was so pale, her skin an unhealthy yellowish gray and
barely hanging on bones. Well,
at least the most healthy parts
of her skin were. There were
rashes, burn marks, scars, and
bruises littered all over her naked form.

Greasy, matted brown hair
covered her face in a color that I wasn't sure was natural from all of the dirt and germ hidden in the disgusting locks.

I had never seen anyone left to
such ruin. Ever.

As Captain of the King's personal guard, I've seen plenty of torture, incarceration, and battle. Yet never anything like the frail creature before me.

And to leave a woman to such a fate...
My wolf wanted to take over and kill the fucking alpha myself for this crime alone.

Forget any other reason to be there, this girl was enough to demand his heart.

Jason finally managed to find the right key for the shackles as I scooped the girl up and ran
for the door and to the medical
assistance she desperately
needed.

Ignoring my brother's questions
or the stunned stares of anyone else, I ran straight to Ace and laid the girl down in front of him.

His eyes were wide as he looked up.

"What happened....?" The question was cut off by the
roar of the Blood Moon alpha.

"Don't you fucking touch her!"

Alexander looked over at the alpha who was regaining consciousness in chains.

"I am the King, Alpha Dante. I will make that decision. So, please let's add to your list of charges. Explain to me why in the hell you had a female chained up in your prison, left to these conditions."

Dante gritted his teeth as hatred and rage pressed out in
waves. I wasn't sure if it was
toward the girl or toward the
royal imprisonment he faced.
However, the words he spoke
next nearly dropped me to the
ground.

"She's my mate."

EPISODE 2

Bright.

It's too bright.

I couldn't even try to open my eyes as I slowly woke.

I wanted to.
I could tell something was different. Besides the light. But the light was just so painful. Bright red and yellow glowed through my eyelids causing me to roll and try to cover them to stop the pain.

The moment I moved there was a sharp pain in my arm and something crashed into the floor.

"Woah, woah, it's okay. You're okay. I'll turn off the lights, just calm down." A voice spoke to me before darkness flooded my senses again.

It took several minutes before I was able to part my eyes to look around.

Where?

But when my eyes landed on the man in the room, I jumped.
He was big. Bigger than the average wolf. With rich olive skin and dark eyes. Everything about him was intimidating.

No. No. No. No. No.

Overwhelming fear rushed through my veins as my body raced into panic. The pounding of my heart was only matched by the shallow breaths.

I tried to move further away from the man, only to crash onto a hard, cold floor. Pain exploded from my hip, where my weight landed. My eyes flickered up. I was on a bed?

Where, how?

"Shhh. I'm not gonna hurt you. I'm a doctor." His words were kind and soft. But it didn't matter.

He was a male werewolf.
That was reason enough to fear him.

"Shh. Please calm down. You're hyperventilating and hurting yourself. Please."

"Ace! What in the hell are you doing?" A female voice called from the other side of the bed.
His dark eyes glanced back.

"She's panicking. Help me get her calm and back into bed."
A petite woman with red hair moved around the corner and smiled at me.

"Well there you are sugar."

My only reaction was to curl further in on myself, desperately trying to ignore the pain in my arm or my hip. Pain was something I was used to. I would survive it. People however, I wasn't so sure.

"Damn it Ace, move. She's absolutely terrified and your hulking frame isn't helping."

"I'm just trying to help her up and look at her injuries." He grumbled.

"Well let me try first."

"I'll be by the door, but I'm not leaving the room. She's my patient."

Their voices were too difficult to push out of my mind.
I just wanted to be left alone. Please. Why wouldn't they leave me alone?

I jumped again when I felt a warm hand touch my shoulder. When did the woman get so close.

"Hey there sugar, the doc is on the other side of the room now. I know he's big, it's so he can lift and move all those wolves that need help. Really, he's a big teddy bear. He won't hurt you. Neither will I. We just want to help."

Silence.

I wanted to cry for the changes, the pain, the fear. But I had no tears. Those hadn't come in far too long to remember.

"My name is Lena. My mate is the beta here. Do you even know where you are?"

I hadn't meant to answer at all, but my head shook side to side slightly enough to give her a response.

"You're in Fenris Grove, the royal courts."

My breath froze. The royal courts? Does that mean the king would kill me?

"Lena, you have to get her to calm down. Her hyperventilating is going to make her pass out soon if she doesn't calm down. I could give her a sedative, but she really needs to have some time to be conscious and get her bearings." Ace's voice called over.

Though I doubt Lena missed the flinch from hearing it.
"Sugar, please help me. Breath with me. I don't want you to be afraid of anyone here. We're not going to hurt you. Alright? So, can you just breath with me? Just breath in... and out. In and out. In and out..."

I didn't trust her. I didn't trust anyone.
Trust was an illusion. I had learned that lesson long ago.
Yet despite my fear, my vision started to prickle in the edges. Tingling spread from my back and my limbs. I was losing the battle with my body's need for oxygen.

"In and out..." Repeated through the edges.

And slowly, my breath slowed as if following the woman's command. In a way, it reminded me of following an alpha command. The thought almost made me choke. But there she was, helping my body remember how to breath.
As the oxygen filtered its way back into my systems, the darkness that had been creeping into my consciousness, rolled back and left my body exhausted. I hadn't done so much in a long time.

"Can I get her back on the bed now?" Ace asked and I flinched again.

With a sad voice, Lens answered back that she wasn't sure I was calm enough for a male to be close by.

So she did understand?

Without me having to do more than react, she understood my fear. I wasn't sure if that was a good thing or just further proof of how pathetic I really was.
Part of me actually hoped the king would kill me. Perhaps he would at least be mercifully fast with it?

EPISODE THREE (3)

"I told you!" Alpha Dante spat at the interrogator.

"My mate is crazy. She's a danger to herself and others. That's why I locked her up."

I watched the questions continue from the other side of the two-way mirror. Dante's dark brown hair was wild and his golden eyes showed the feral rage he wanted to let loose. However, the silver cuffs around his wrists kept his wolf at bay.

There was a small amount of pleasure I got from seeing the cuffs burn his flesh. I would never be able to forget the tiny, mutilated wrists of the girl left in a cell. Wrists damaged by Dante's will. Whether he cuffed her or not, he was the alpha, he gave the order. I wondered just how long it would take for the alpha to crack? Would he hold up in a cell, chained with silver, left to starve and rot in the darkness with nowhere to go to do so much as relieve himself?

Hell, he wouldn't last the day in interrogation.

Bruno was one of the best interrogators in the royal courts. There was no need for torture, the man had the patience of stone. He simply waited and kept pressing. He would get answers eventually.

But there were so many questions that needed answering. Bruno had been smart enough to mix up the topics. Drilling on one thing, only to suddenly switch to something else most of the time the topics were meaningless to their goals. It was all to confuse the subject and keep his emotions of kilter, waiting for the pathetic alpha to slip up.

This was the long, slow part of a royal quarantine.
Every member had to be accounted for and separated into their homes. Higher ranked males and warriors were imprisoned in the pack prison. Families were allowed to stay in their own homes, under guard.

Each death that occurred during the raid had to be identified and documented.
Then the interrogators would arrive to start questioning members of the pack individually. Blah, blah, blah.

Fortunately, I didn't have to deal with most of that. My job was to escort the offending alpha of Blood Moon to Fenris Grove where he would wait to face his trial. The rest of the pack would remain in quarantine until the investigation and trial were over.
It made me wonder why wolves would be as stupid as to do anything that could result in such royal interference? It was a rare occasion, yet still it happened. What was ever worth the public disgrace that even a mere quarantine would cause, let alone the punishments for any crimes that brought such efforts onto their shoulders.

"What do you think about his excuses?" Jason asked me.

I shrugged.

"I don't know yet. I withhold opinion until all of the evidence comes in."

"Well, we know he's lying about her hurting herself. There was no way that frail girl could kick herself in the ribs with a size ten boot that wasn't in the room."

I flinched. I hadn't forgotten the look of those bruises either. "Well, we still don't know why things happened the way they did."

"Are you excusing it?" Jason snapped his head at me. Disgust clearly written across his face.

I shook my head. "No. I'm just saying he may or may not be lying. Perhaps something did happen before that led him to lock her up for those reasons. Perhaps not. Neither answer changes the fact that he was the alpha who had sole access to her cell. He was responsible for the condition she was in when we found her. Those are the facts of that piece. We need to find the rest."

"And this is why you're Captain of the Guard. You are deadly unemotional when it comes to strategy, protection, and investigation. You get the job done and you do it right."

Unemotional? No. To the point.

Yes.

I stayed focused because I cared. Even when it looked like I didn't. For all of his cockiness and power, I loved my brother, I loved my people. And I wanted to protect them all from psychotic assholes like Dante. However, rushing into emotional decisions without all of the facts could lead to mistakes. Mistakes that could spark the hatred of more people who would challenge those I chose to protect. Doing the job right wasn't just a matter of detail or even pride, it was an offensive strategy to mitigate future risks.

"How is the girl?" I finally asked the question that had been nagging at the back of my mind.

Jason shrugged. "Lena's been sending me updates, but they're slow. The girl seems to go into a panic attack every time a male walks in the door. Not that Lena has gotten any information from her, the girl won't speak at all. But at least, she's not hyperventilating around my mate."

"What did that bastard do to scare her that much?" I asked rhetorically. I knew the beta wouldn't have an answer.

"Were we able to confirm if she even is his mate?"

"Yeah. She bares his mark with his scent. Well, several of them. It's like he was making a point to his inner demons, marking her repeatedly."

I sucked in on my teeth. A small hissing sound passed through. Why in the hell would he do something like that? The first time the mark is created, it gives intense pleasure as the bond is seared into place. After that, it's just another bite to flesh.

Damaging and painful. And it holds no purpose.

"Another form of torture." My words hung in the air.

"Why won't you get it through your thick skull? Ivy is crazy. She doesn't talk. She was unfaithful and tried to kill me by trying to kill herself. So, yeah, I locked her up where she couldn't do any more damage." Dante growled.

Well, that was new information. I raised my brows.
So, that was the accusation he was going with? It did make sense, if that was all there was to it. However, the evidence of additional abuse, the lack of reasonable accommodations, the fact that the alpha had never sought royal assistance with the issue... that led me to think there was more to it than that.

But it was nice to finally have a name for the girl who was panicking in the hospital wing.

Ivy.

I shot off a message to Matt to track down any records of an Ivy in Blood Moon pack or any other pack close to it.
As expected, the interrogator didn't give anything away as he switched to another topic.

"Well if you had a mate, then why were you sending your men out to hunt down female rogues?"
Ahh, back to the original charges.

"It's my right to defend my territory from other packs or rogues who want to cause problems." Dante's demeanor changed. It was the first time the interrogator specified 'female' rogues. He was a smart enough man to see where the questions were leading.

He was trapped between two horrific crimes. Each made all the more appalling by the existence of the other.

"I'm headed to check on the girl. Why don't you come with me, see if we can get more answers?" Alexander called through the mind link, pulling me from watching the line of questioning.

Yeah, I needed a break.

"Fine. But I'm not sure she'll be happy to see you."

"It was Lena's idea." He replied.

"On my way." I only paused to make sure Jason would remain and keep us up to date on the information being pulled apart piece by piece.

EPISODE FOUR (4)

IVY'S POV

No!

I hated them. I hated them all!
Why would they give me something to keep me from moving?

I was awake but couldn't move my body enough to hide or fight. I know I'm not strong, but I didn't want the men to touch me. I didn't want them in the room. I screwed my eyes shut and tried to scream as I felt large hands lift me up and back into bed. Hands that roamed my body and prodded at all of my new injuries.

I could hear machines. I felt the stab of needles. My leg was twisted and controlled. Bandages checked. Yet I could do nothing to prevent any of it from happening.

Stop!

Please stop!

My shoulders were shaking from the silent sobs. No more tears. No more crying. No more screams. Never make a sound. Memories flickered through my head.

The warmth of fingers on my chin tilted my head to face him. That damn doctor.

"Please look at me." He paused and then sighed when I refused.

"I'm not trying to hurt you, but I couldn't let you stay huddled on the floor. You broke your hip when you fell. Your arm was bleeding from when you ripped out your I.V. I'm trying to give you fluids and medicine. I'm trying to keep you in the bed so that you can heal."
Fingers brushed hair out of my face.

"I'll make you a deal." He waited to see if he had any reaction.

"I'm the only doctor here right now and I can't change the fact that I'm male or that I'm big. I have to check on you and I have to focus on your health." The feel of his skin pulled away from mine.

"So, I need us to find a reasonable working relationship. I don't want to put you in restraints while your wrists are still healing from those silver cuffs." I flinched at the reminder.

"My suggestion is that I leave the restraints off and trust you to stay put when I'm not in the room. Lena will be the one in here to help with the smaller things. And on my part, I will try to not come in here more than twice a day to check on how things are progressing. However, if things take unforseen twists, I may have to come again at odd times. It's for your health and safety. I can't just ignore my duties because you're scared. I'm sorry if I'm making it worse for you."

Lena grumbled in the background. "Of course you're making it worse. You're manhandling her against her will."

"She's traumatized Lena. I'm not sure she will ever be over that. I can't wait until her hip heals incorrectly or she starts to get blood poisoning before I act."

"Just get out now."

I could hear the steps leave the room while I continued to silent sob. After a few minutes, I could hear Lena move closer.

"I'm sorry I couldn't stop him." Her hand lifted mine into her grasp.

"Honestly, he's correct about your health. I was worried about how pale you were getting there on the floor. Still, he should have handled it better. Stupid wolf boys always thinking they're right."

There was a long period of silence.
Slowly, my sobs slowed and I was left exhausted once again. This time, blessed darkness swallowed me whole.

**********

I woke to the sound of a phone ringing. Damn, I didn't feel like I had slept long at all. It wasn't enough.

"Shit. I'm sorry sugar. I didn't mean to leave my phone on. I'm sorry it woke you."

I cracked open my eyes once again. This time, I took in more of the room around me. The lights were off except for one light over a desk. It was enough for Lena to maneuver around and do whatever it was she was doing.
Her fingers were typing away something into her phone before she turned it off and slid it into her back pocket.
There were no men around that time. Not a single one. Thank the goddess.
Lena smiled at me. "Do you want some water? Ace has you on fluids for your severe dehydration, but he wants you to try to drink water as well."

I nodded carefully. Worried that it was a trick. That they would be like Dante, taunting me with the water and then denying it most of the time. Even the rain water joined in on the game.

Shaking, I moved my hands to hold the cup she offered.

"The muscle relaxer seems to be wearing off. You should have better control again soon." She smiled.

If she only knew. That was how my hands had been for far too long. I was weak and broken. I didn't even notice most of the aches and pains anymore. I hadn't been able to lift my hands more than two feet since I had been chained up in the cell.

But as the cool water passed my cracked lips and slipped down my dry throat, all other memories or thoughts vanished. The feel was almost too cold, but I wouldn't have refused it for anything in the world.

The cup was empty before I came back up for air.
Pretty green eyes were wide as Lena reached for the cup.

"Want more?"

I nodded.

Her face slipped into one of understanding, of pity. She realized that I had been dehydrated, not out of illness, but out of denial. It was clear on her face.

On one hand, I hated the pity. On the other, I liked that I didn't have to explain.

I couldn't explain.

With a soft sigh, she handed me another cup of water and then waited.
"Sugar, I want to help you. You know I do. I'm not going to press for answers yet. But when you're ready, I want you to know that I'm here for you. I'm not going to judge or hate you. But we have Dante locked away. We would like to hear what happened to you, help you find justice and safety from him. Help us make sure he'll never touch you again."

My eyes dropped to the cup still clutched in my hand. I wasn't sure I wanted to talk about anything. But even if I did want to, I couldn't.

"Can we start with your name?"
The woman asked.

I shook my head.

"Do you remember your name?"

I nodded slowly.

"Are you scared to tell me?"

My head shook to the side.

"Then why not say it?"

That's when my shoulders dropped. I really couldn't explain anything.
After a few minutes of silence, Lena jumped. "My mate, Jason, he's the beta for the king."

I watched her, curious of where she was going with her explanation. "He is watching Dante's interrogation and he just told me your name is Ivy. Is that it?"

I nodded. I was surprised Dante said anything about me.

"He said you can't talk." Her eyes showed more concern.

"But you understand me. Could you write?" She looked up hopeful.

With my hands lifted, I simply looked down at the weak, unusable appendages. Gauze wrapped around my wrists, fingers still black and blue from where I gripped the chains tight, fighting off the rounds of pain. Shaking so badly from my weakened stated that it took two hands to hold a cup and I still feared that I would spill the precious liquid with my jerky movements.

"Right." Then an idea struck her as she stood up and fetched her phone.
"How about type? One letter at a time."

There was just so much to say, to explain, but I wasn't sure where to start or how much to give away. Lena seemed like a nice woman. So far, the men hadn't tried to hurt me, at least not directly.
But after so much time alone, was I ready to really deal with people? People asking questions, the judgements and degradation that I knew would come. Dante hadn't been the only person to have treated me like filth. His reactions were almost expected. Could I survive anything more?

Then it hit me.

I could share my story.
Slowly. Painfully.
But I could share my story and then, when I found more freedom, I could simply end it all. I wouldn't have to suffer any more. I doubted the overly concerned doctor would have left anything dangerous or useful in my room and if I tried, he would use the restraints he had mentioned. I would have to wait. But in the meantime, I could make sure Dante was kept far away from me.

It took too long to type. My fingers and hands so shaky, I kept hitting the wrong keys. But eventually, I managed to get out the two words that were the most important.

"Alpha order."

"Alpha order?" Lena tilted her head while I covered my mouth. Her eyes grew the size of saucers.
"He alpha ordered you to not talk?"

I nodded once again.

EPISODE FIVE (5)

Michael's POV

"So, why is Lena asking for your help with a girl who's scared of men?" I ask my brother as I see him headed for the same door, marked by the two guards placed outside where the girl couldn't see them.

"You're the most intimidating wolf around. I can't imagine she'll be happy to see you."

Alexander shrugged a shoulder.
"She thinks that the girl was alpha ordered to not talk."

"Seriously?" The word was breathed out of my mouth. I wasn't sure why it surprised me as much as it did. With the accusations being thrown around, it was completely within the scope of douchebaggery that he was supposedly capable of.

"We'll see." Alexander pointed at the door.
"If he has, I can lift it, but we don't know what else he might have alpha ordered the girl to do. Wait by the door and listen in."

I nodded quickly. "Yes your Majesty."

I rarely showed such etiquette when it was just my brother and I. But, this was official duty and close enough for other people to hear.

Alexander opened the door and walked into the room while I stepped in just enough to close the door and wait. Why was it so dark?

Lena stood up right away and moved to hold the girl in place as she tried to shuffle further away from the two men.
"Your Majesty. May I introduce you to Ivy? Ivy, this is his Majesty, King Alexander."

It was heartbreaking to see such a reaction. The girl was so scared that her face was buried behind the beta female, however, she was easily overpowered and held in place.

So weak. So frail.

"She needs so much help." Alexander's words drifted through my head. I could see how much her reaction was affecting him.

"Ivy."
His voice was as soft as I had ever heard from him before.

Ever.

Alexander was twenty years older than me. I was a complete surprise to our parents. I had never known him as a child. Hell, I don't even remember him before he took the throne. Since when could he be soft?

"Little wolf, I'm not going to hurt you. I've come to try to help. Lena said she thinks that you were alpha ordered to not speak. Is that true?"

The only sign that she was listening was a subtle nodding of her head. It was only then that I noticed that she had been cleaned up. No longer the muddy brown mess, someone had bathed her at some point and brushed out her hair.

Lena, it had to have been Lena. Whoever it was had uncovered a beautiful soft brown. It was still dull and in desperate need of a cut, but it was clean and showed more life already.

Alex had made his way to a stool beside the bed where he reached for her hand until she pulled it away.

"Ivy, I am stronger than Dante or any other alpha who gave you orders. I can break them with my own command. But in doing so, you would have to submit to me, to submit to my authority. Do you understand?"
Again her head nodded just slightly.

"Do you want to be free of those commands?"
Another nod, but she still pulled away.

"Your Majesty, I think she's still scared." Lena suggested.

"Scared of what?"

"If alpha commands were used to control her, there is no way for her to know what commands you would give her to control her."

Alex growled at the implication that he would abuse his power in such away. Again, the girl jumped and tried to hide, only to be held in place by Lena.

With a long sigh, the king regained control of his wolf and the instinctive need to assert his authority without question.

"Little wolf, what happened to you was wrong. So very wrong. I am working to learn everything that happened so that everyone connected to the crimes would meet the full weight of their punishments. I would never do as they did. My command would only be a command of submission and removal of all prior allegiances. I can't remove your mating bond, but you would join my pack and gain all of the protections that it comes with once we learn the truth."

It felt like eternity passed with each second. But I could see the tension of her posture eventually loosen, her hand crept its way toward her king, her alpha.

"Let me see your eyes." He requested as he slid her tiny hand into his massive paws, his thumb rubbing circles into her palm.

"Let my wolf meet yours so she can see that I'm not like the others, so she can submit."

The anticipation in the air was so thick that it was difficult to breathe. I felt like I was sinking in water, waiting for her to show herself.
The amount of courage and trust she had to have pulled together like frayed threads just to turn and face the Werewolf King was beyond anything I could imagine. I didn't know the full extent of her past, but I could see the depth of her terror. Every flinch, every tense muscle, the fear and desperation that hung in the air. All of it more evidence against that pathetic excuse of an alpha.

Every victim that I had met, every interview or interrogation that I witnessed leading to these events, none of them prepared me for the full depth of the horrors in this case.
But as her face finally revealed itself, the girl drew a deep breath of strength and opened her eyes to look at the strongest of us all.

Golden brown with flecks of green. I could never have imagined the haunted look in such beautiful eyes. Dark and full of memories she battled to remain looking at the king. A ring of gold flared around her irises as her wolf came forward, triggering a soft gasp from the girl. Then her eyes dropped in submission, showing her alpha respect.

"Ivy do you submit to me as your alpha, as your king?"
Her head nodded without letting her eyes leave Phalen's hand as he held hers.

"Then I command you to be free of all prior affiliations to any alpha. Let no other command press on your soul. Carry no other pack allegiances or obligations. From this day forward, your only submission is to the service and protection of my pack, of Fenris Grove."

By the end of his acceptance, her lower lip trembled and her eyes filled with tears. Her head nodded as she gave a fleeting lift of her lips, nearly a smile, but it didn't last as she collapsed into full, heart wrenching sobs.

Lena slid her hands over her back in soothing motions. But the most shocking of all was the way Alex moved forward and gathered her into his arms while he placed a soft, chaste kiss on her forehead.

"It's okay, let it all out." He soothed.
"I have a feeling you haven't done this in a long time."

"Alex" I asked through the mind link we shared as pack.

"I'll explain later."

EPISODE SIX (6)

Ivy's Pov

I couldn't stop it.

The tears, the sobs, the unrelenting flood of emotions that occurred when I felt Dante's orders lift from me.

Years.
It had to have been years since I was permitted to make any sound.

He didn't want to hear me cry. He was scared others would hear my screams. Or worse, someone would find me and learn the truth.

But most unexpected to me was the way my wolf rose. I couldn't remember the last time I felt her. I had thought she died, wasted away in the darkness we had both been trapped in. She was weak, I knew that, but she was there.

And she accepted the king as her alpha. She trusted his wolf and sought his strength and protection.

Whatever bond the two wolves made had been deep and intimate. I don't even know how to describe it. But it flowed into me.

I trusted him to protect me.
And it was that feeling of safety that wrapped around me, encasing me in warmth. Something I never thought to feel again.

"Well now, this is new." Ace's voice called from the doorway.

I growled a low warning. I still wasn't happy about that man.

King Alex chuckled. "Having issues with your doctor?" He pulled back and wiped the tears from my eyes as I nodded.

"Can you speak now?"

"Yes." My throat was raw and my voice scratchy after years of not being used.
But I did it.

I spoke!

New tears sprang to life.

"Shh. It will take some getting used to." Alex's voice was so soothing, so calming. He reminded me of my father.

My father.

I had been a little girl when my parents died. The memories still haunted me, only they were no longer the only terrors that demanded my attention. Long gone were the days of youthful innocence.

"Honestly, I'm happy to hear the growl. And to hear you talking." Ace interrupted my wandering thoughts, pulling another low growl.

My eyes watched his every move.
The king raised a brow. "Why are you so nervous about Ace?"

Lena jumped in. "I think it's men in general."

"And I didn't help the opinion much." The doctor admitted only to pull a growl from... the king? I was confused. Ace's hands went up in a sign of surrender.

"She fell out of the bed and broke her hip. And a few other things that needed to be tended to. I couldn't wait for her to learn to trust me."
Alex nodded slowly, though I could see a glare through the corner of my eye.

Was he being protective of me?

"Anyway, I pushed a little more than I normally would." The confession confused me and Lena gasped.

"The girl made no sound. Not a growl, not a whimper, not a word. Nothing. I was worried that her wolf had been lost. I intentionally pushed the comfort zone so that I could try to stir a reaction. That is my job, to test and diagnose." He finished off pointing at his alpha.

So, he knew what he was doing after all. It would have worked had I not been under an alpha order to never make a sound.

"But your monitors are all good and I see you have some good company, so I'll leave you for the night. Someone will be in shortly with some food. I don't expect you to eat all of it. With as malnourished as you are, I'd be surprised if you could handle more than a few mouthfuls. But please try to make it a bit of each item. Let's start with a balanced meal before we worry about quantity."

After that, he left. My eyes still on him until he approached the door where another man had been leaning against the wall.

Somehow, I always knew he was there but the fact that he didn't move or try to talk to me let me think of him like the furniture. He just watched. He was larger than Ace, though not as big as the king.

Then I saw the similarities. The other man and King Alex looked alike. The only significant difference was that Alex appeared older, more experienced in life. They both had intimidating hazel eyes under a dark mix of auburn, brown and black hair. But where Alex had approached her softly, the other man stood with his muscular arms crossed over his bulging chest. He was the picture of strength.

"Your son?" I gasped out as my heart raced in increasing panic.

The man huffed.

"My younger brother and Captain of the Guard. Michael, say hi to Ivy."
He started to take a step forward and I jumped back.

The look of concern written on his face as deeply as it was on his brother's.

"You really don't trust men?" Alex asked quietly.

I shook my head quickly. Why would I? Men had ruined my life. Not that women were much better, people had been cruel. But the men had been the worst. The king was the first man my wolf had trusted since we were young. I still didn't understand why.

The king sighed and regained my attention. "Alright, let's see if we can get some answers."

There was a pause.

"Are you Dante's true mate?"

There was no point in denying it. My head moved to let him know the truth. Yes, he had been my true mate. Though I could never understand why the Moon Goddess had paired us together.

"Were you from Blood Moon pack originally?"

No.

"What pack had you been born to?"

My lip trembled as I remembered my home. "Midnight Meadows."

"Dante defeated Midnight Meadows four years ago." Michael spoke up.

My jaw dropped and tears welled in my eyes.

Four years.

I had been Dante's for four years.
Alex's calloused fingers lifted my chin.

"Is that when he found you?"

I couldn't nod while he held my head in place.

"Yes."
The sound of Lena gasping and Alex growling at the news echoed around the room.

"How long were you with him before he imprisoned you?"

I shook my head, the king's fingers fell away. "Same."

"You've been in that cell for four years?" Alex roared as he jumped to his feet. I jumped again, ignoring the pain in my hip. My wolf might have trusted him, but he was intimidating and big, and what if he hurt me by accident? Or what if it was all a trick.

"Ivy, sugar, you need to calm down. He won't hurt you. You know that." Lena was trying so hard to stop my panic attack from taking over. But it was no use.

The memories, the emotions, the fear and rage. It was all so overwhelming.

There was a slight stab into my arm and then the world narrowed into darkness.
My last grasp of reality was to hear Lena apologize for having to use the sedative

EPISODE SEVEN (7)

Michael's Pov

"Hey boss." Matt's voice echoed through the phone.

He had stayed behind to help facilitate the questions and answers between the interrogations happening there and the one happening with the alpha in Fenris Grove.

"So, I found info on some girl named Ivy. I think."

"What do you mean?" I hated the vagueness and uncertainty. But I sat up from where I had been lifting weights, hoping we'd get some answers. I had desperately needed to burn off energy after Ivy was left to sleep.
No case had gotten under my skin as much as this one. My anger and rage at Dante was enough that I didn't even trust myself to spar with another wolf. They didn't deserve the beat down I would give. So, after running laps, I hit the weight room.

"Well, there's nothing in the records in Blood Moon. However, I found all of the records from a pack called Midnight Meadows. The alpha attacked them a few years ago and moved all of their pack records over when he consolidated the people." Now that sounded like he was on the right track.

"And?"
I sat there glaring at another set of equipment as I focused on the conversation.

"And it doesn't make sense. Ivy Ray was the daughter of the alpha's brother, Philip and his mate Stella. Philip was the packs beta, but because Alpha Jack Ray didn't have an heir, Ivy was named as heir to the pack until a male heir could be born."

I froze. That fragile girl had alpha blood? I never would have guessed that.

"But that's where things get hinky." Liam continued.

"Around sixteen years ago, Philip and Stella were both killed. After that, Ivy was listed as an omega. No explanation, no record of a trial or charges, nothing."

"Did Jack have another heir?"

"None that I can find record of. And after the Blood Moon takeover, there is no other mention of a girl named Ivy in anything. Nor is there any record of Alpha Dante having a mate. None of the general pack families have ever heard of the alpha having a mate. It was their understanding that he traveled for a few days once a every few months so that he could search for his mate. Always returning empty handed."

"What about his leadership, anything from them?"
I wasn't surprised to hear that the alpha hid knowledge of his mate. Not with everything else I had been learning, it fit the rest of the narrative. Still, it boggled my mind that any wolf would do such a thing. Mates were meant to be a gift from the Moon Goddess. Chosen for strength and compatibility. The other half of our soul. How could he deny her existence, let alone add the years of torture that she must have suffered?

"The interrogators haven't finished. I passed along your info, but they haven't been given enough information to paint a clear picture yet."

"Let me know the second they do."

"Will do. But... Mich, there's something you should know."

"What?"

There was a long pause. "Are you sure that the girl is really his mate?"

"Why?" Another pause.

"Spit it out."

"Some of the unmated females have admitted to being Dante's bed mate. It sounds like he rarely goes to bed alone."

The snarl that ripped from my lips startled a group of wolves who had also been in the training room. Quietly, they made their way out of the room to give the obviously angry wolf some space.

"Document everything and see if you can corroborate the information. It might not be anything more than desperate women grasping for power, claiming relations that didn't happen. But we need to know for sure."

I stood up and headed straight for the interrogation room. I didn't bother to change or shower. I didn't give a shit about how unprofessional I looked.

"I'm taking a shot at Dante."

My brother replied immediately. "Why?"

I replayed the information from Liam.
"You're not going in." Alex replied. "It's not the right time. We started this over different charges, if you side track the work Bruno is doing, we might not get him back inline for the original investigation."

Still determined to crash into the interrogation, I cleared the corner to the hall. Only to come to a complete stop as I glared at Alex and Jason. Seriously?

"We were already here, discussing the case. Don't glare at me like that." The king growled at the disrespect being thrown his way.

"Do you even understand how things are shaping up?" I snapped.

Alex was quick to stand straight and get in my face.
"I do. And you make an excellent Captain of the Guard because you control your emotions. Now is not the time to lose that."

How could he be so calm about it? That bastard marked her. The bond was sealed. To betray that, to sleep with other women, would cause her severe pain each and every time it happened.

"Michael, I'm as disgusted as you. But we still don't have all of the information. My gut is telling me that Dante's original list of crimes are tied in with Ivy. But if you go in there and give him a narrative that he thinks you want to hear, then he won't budge and give us the rest. As much as I hate to admit it, the laws are more vague on how a wolf treats his mate. And the Elder's Council can be rather old fashioned in their interpretation of the laws. If you give him that line to stick to, we may not have enough evidence to convince them of his guilt. We have to do this slowly, carefully, and cautiously. If not for his other victims, then for Ivy's sake."

It was a challenge, getting control over my anger. My wolf was pacing in my head, ready to shred the monster in the other room for his disrespect of his mate. However, the reality was any pain dealt to the damned alpha, Ivy would feel. If we killed Dante for his crimes, Ivy would die as well.

Never before had we been faced with such an ethical dilemma. It was rare for a wolf to bring down the weight of the full royal court. Less so for that wolf to face execution. Any other case in history had either been unbonded wolves, wolves who lost their mates, or wolves whose mates had been complicit in the crimes, earning the same fate. But Ivy appeared to be a victim.
Even my most hated case prior to this didn't have the same weight, the same consequences.

Could they turn a blind eye to the innocent casualty who would suffer if her mate was found guilty and sentenced? Could they let the alpha off the hook in protection of the innocent mate?
The whole thing carried so much unprecedented weight.
The kinds of crimes Dante had been accused of were unheard of.
It seemed that Dante had taken up a hobby.
Every few months, he and a small group of his men would hunt into the unclaimed territories, searching for female rogues. The stories that trickled through via indirect sources, painted a picture that the alpha had yet to find his mate and hadn't met her in any of the known packs. So, he went in search of female rogues as a possible mate. It was a story being confirmed by the royal interrogators, the story was what the Blood Moon pack thought of their alpha.

The problem was, several months ago, the son of a prominent alpha, with the Snowy Mountain pack, did find his mate in a rogue female. Their courtship was nothing less than combustible. She was quite the defensive firecracker. However, in time, he earned her trust and she confided that she had been raped. And she accused Dante.

The Snowy Mountain alpha had called in the king to ask his advice. Because the offense was to a rogue who held no pack status, the crime wasn't an act of aggression toward another pack. The alpha didn't have the right to declare war on the aggressor for past offences, prior to the member joining their pack.
However, before Alex could wrap up with the Snowy Mountain pack, another report was sent in. Blue Creek pack had caught a group of rogues on their land. The female in the group was pregnant, her brother ready to kill any alpha who dared to touch her again, but he was desperate for the medical care she needed.
And that was when the full force of the royal services were sent to investigate the accusation. An accusation against an alpha. Another accusation against Dante. That time, with genetic proof of their coupling.

And in the months since, investigators had pulled together a more gruesome picture as they noticed the trend. Female rogues being discovered all around the unclaimed territories, murdered and ripped apart.
The reports hadn't gained any prior attention as life for a rogue is harsh and violent. Packs killing anyone who crosses into their territory. Other rogues fighting for resources or power. There was no evidence of it being done by the same individual. Until one bright mind noticed that the estimated time of death for each female was always within a few days of Alpha Dante's trips to search for a mate.

There wasn't a body for each trip, yet each body connected to the travel plans.
The evidence was mounting, Alpha Dante was a suspected serial rapist and killer. Poor, fragile, innocent Ivy had been left in his hands for four years.

Wow.

Nice work OP.

Ayemileto:
Wow.

Nice work OP.

Thank you.

EPISODE EIGHT (

Ivy's Pov

"Mommy!"

"Over here Ivy." I stopped when I found her. My mom was always so beautiful. Her golden hair pulled back in braids, showing the freckles across her face and her pretty hazel eyes.
But sitting there, relaxing on a wicker chair in the middle of her rose garden with my dad happily massaging her swollen feet...
That was the fairytale I wanted.
Forget about Disney princesses. I just wanted to find a mate who loved me like my parents loved each other.
My dad looked over to me.

"What are you waiting for little wolf?" He flashed a knowing grin. His brown hair and eyes sparkled with the mischief he was known for. Always ready with a joke or a prank. He kept the whole pack laughing. Mom said it was what she fell in love with first.

I slowly approached and tried not to let my nerves show that I was up to anything at all. "I got a present for my baby brother."

"Really? You are so sweet Ivy, you'll make a good big sister once he's born." She beamed at me. Her hand caressing her swollen belly. Baby Lucien was supposed to come along any day. In a way, I was excited to meet my little brother. In a way, I was worried that I wouldn't be daddy's little girl anymore.

Was that wrong?

"Well, what did you get Lucien?" Dad prompted. I could tell he already knew the answer. How he figured it out, I would never know.

Shaking my head to focus, I pulled a small cloth bundle from behind my back and set it on my mom's stomach, watching her unwrap the gift.

"Oh!" She gasped. "Of all the... sweet goddess..." She was flustered as the toad croaked and then hopped off her belly and headed into the garden.
Daddy and I both rolled in laughter.

"You!" She snapped. "This is all your fault." Her finger pointing at my dad. However, her anger and frustration couldn't last as she slowly started shaking in an effort to stop laughing with us.

"Ivy dear, Lucien won't be able to play with the frogs and toads until he's older. So no more of that nonsense."
That was it. She couldn't hold back any more, and she laughed.

We were all laughing so hard we cried, until my mother gasped.

"What?" Daddy was right by her side.

She offered a pained smile. "I think Lucien liked the joke too. He wants to come out and join in with the fun." I could see her dress become wet in her lap.

The moisture spread as though she spilled her lemonade, but I didn't see anything fall.

"Now?" His eyes grew wide.
I didn't understand as he quickly scooped my mom up and carried her back into the house. "Jack! Call for the doctor!"

The doctor? What happened? I was so confused. Did my joke hurt my mom? Did the toad poison her? Why was she in pain? And I had no one to ask. I was left in the garden alone and told not to follow.

*****

The dream shifted. I knew it was a dream. A memory that would never let go. I could never stop it from haunting me in my sleep. Dragging me back into the fear and pain.
Alpha Jack was furious with me.

"Why in the hell would you play a practical joke on a pregnant woman? Do you understand what you did? How dangerous that was? Your mother went into labor early because of you."
He paced around the living room while I heard my mom's screams from my parents bedroom on the second floor.
I didn't mean to. I didn't know it would do anything to her. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I hiccupped from the shame that I carried.

"We're under attack!" One of the warriors shouted from outside.

"Damn it." Jack ran to the door.

"Go upstairs and protect your mother." He barked at me before he disappeared.
I did as I was told, but when I opened the door, I nearly crumbled in fear. Blood. There was so much blood. My mom growled so deep and full of determination that I had never heard a sound like it before.

Then silence fell, nothing but heavy breathing could be heard for what seemed an eternity, until the shrill cry of a baby vibrated around the room.
Mom and dad gasped in relief, smiles across their faces eased some of my fear and guilt. Dad looked up to see me there and smiled. "Come on little wolf, come meet your brother."
I started to move and then remembered why I was there. I shook my head. "The pack is under attack."

His features fell like wax dripping down a candle. The fear and panic in his eyes returned my own swirling emotions.

"Stay with your mother Ivy." And he quickly left the room, though he hadn't made it far. I could hear the threatening growl of his wolf on the other side of the door.

"Ivy, come here." Mom called. I ran to her side, where she clutched baby Lucien close to her chest. He was so small and unprepared for the dangers of their world. The doctor and the nurse moved to stand between us and the door. But it was no use. The door shattered, the pieces of wood exploded into the room and knocked them both out.

With heavy, menacing footsteps, a terrifying wolf padded his way into the room. Where was my dad? Tears welled in my eyes. Please, he had to come back. He had to save us.

Two more wolves followed the first, giving him enough protection to shift into his skin. Tall, blonde, and full of evil, he stood there with no clothes on and smirked at my mom and I. 'Protect your mother.' Echoed through my head.
So, I tried. I ran at the scary man and I did the first thing my father had taught me to do against a man. I punched him right where he legs met his body.
He doubled over in pain as I kicked his shin and tried to scratch at his face.
Pain raced through me as I was knocked backwards by one of the other wolves. Their claws had sliced through my side in the movement.

"Stop!" Mom gasped. "She's just a child! She's only seven! Please." She tried to move, only to find the other wolf pounced on her and pinned her to the bed. His lips pulled back and a threatening snarl that left drool dripping on to her.

I tried to get up and push the wolf off of her, only to be lifted by the one in his skin. "Hold on there wildcat. We came for our prize and we will enjoy taking it."

Prize? What prize?

The wolf over my mother shifted into his skin. Long messy black hair made him look all the more nasty and cruel. An image only intensified as he reached down for the little baby who's screams they had all ignored until that moment.

"Jack killed my son. So, I will kill his heir." The beast growled as he pulled Lucien from my mother's arms.

Her screams and attempts to fight him off left me breathless as I hung in the other man's grasp. Unable to kick or hit anything behind me.

"Leave my brother alone! I'll kill you if you hurt him or my mom."
Angry eyes filled with black and gold snapped up to me.

"You think you are adult enough to honestly fight a wolf?" He pulled his eyes away to look down at my mom while she continued to fight against him, sobbing over the threat to her son.

"It seems your daughter disagrees with you. She thinks she's a big girl. And do you know what we use big girls for?"

"No! No!" She thrashed all that much harder. "Leave my babies alone!"

The man who held around the waist shifted. His other hand moved to hold me by the neck, hard enough to leave bruises and leave me gasping for breath. My head tilted until I could only see the ceiling. Then the hand that held my waist slid until it was under my shirt and dipped down into my shorts.

"It's only fair, you touched me there, I get to touch you here."

"Stop!" I heard my mother scream one more time as his fingers explored a part of my body no one had ever touched. The pressure of his hand pushing me against his body so that I could feel that tender anatomy I had punched as it rubbed against my backside.
I fought with everything I could. Kicking, scratching, elbows flying. But nothing was ever enough. I couldn't save my mother. I couldn't save my brother. I couldn't save myself. It wasn't until much later, I realized that I hadn't heard my mother again after she screamed to protect me. Somewhere in the moments as I fought, unable to gain a full breath or see below the ceiling above, somewhere in that, silence fell. No screams other than my own. Lucien was no where I could find. I couldn't even hear his fast little heart beat.

But when I was thrown to the floor and pinned down to be assaulted by all three men, the black haired man took great pleasure in holding my head against the wood, staring directly at my mother. Her clothing ripped away. Throat slit, with rivers of blood pouring over the edge of the bed, with it, I knew my father's life went with her. Her eyes were left open, staring at me. Feeding my guilt, my shame.

EPISODE NINE (9)

It had been a week. A f*cking week.
Dante still hadn't fully cracked.

Evidence was coming in, yet we still hadn't found the smoking gun. We had evidence of the crimes. We just couldn't understand why. There was no logical motive for anything. And of course he insisted anything with any rogues was consensual.

I paced in my office as I looked at the evidence board. Our investigators had all of the originals, as per policy. However, I kept my own copy to see what I could piece together. I saw lines and stories floating between the set pieces of the puzzle, but none of it was solid.

Dante had been raised a rogue. His mother, shunned for her choice of a rogue as a mate. He had a hard life, there was no doubt. But was it enough to explain locking up his mate? For adding to that torment by hunting down and assaulting other women?

I often wondered if his choice of hurting the rogue females was some inner rage he felt toward his mother. However, the man never broke in interrogation. He refused to speak of his mother, his father, his childhood, or any part of his life before becoming the alpha of Blood Moon pack.

My eyes drifted over blue sheets of paper that I used to mark gaps in the timeline. We knew he was a rogue. Though nothing else was really known. All records of Dante stopped after his birth in Aspen Hills pack. We have the records of his mother's exile. Then nothing of him shows up again until Don.

Alpha Don was the one who defeated the alpha of Blood Moon. It was a turbulent time for the pack as they didn't want to submit to a rogue. However, several of the leaders and warriors challenged the vicious wolf and died at his hand. With him, several rogues joined the pack to help establish order. Years later, it was Dante who was named as heir. A position he had to defend when Don died. Surprisingly, Dante had appeared to be a better alpha than Don. At least on paper.

His pack respected him, though he was known to lead with a firm hand. They expanded after Midnight Meadows started a war with them. It had never been sanctioned, so there was no record of royal involvement. The king had let it go since it was Alpha Jack who started the fight and he had already met his punishment when Dante ripped out his throat.
The pack had grown stronger in the years since Dante took over, though I suspected that was due to Ivy.

Ivy.

She was his mate. His source of enhanced strength.
But it was Ivy who left yet another sheet of blue paper on the board. There were so many questions surrounding her.

Why was she locked up? How did she fit into any of his other crimes? Why had she been demoted and then left unclaimed as the rightful Luna to Blood Moon?

Unfortunately, she had slipped into darkness after the first day of semi-lucid help.

My heart went out to the poor girl. The guard member side of me, my own past, kept reminding me that I didn't have enough information. She could be guilty of pieces in the whole picture as well. Yet, my wolf couldn't see any reason for how she had been left in that cell.

Until she could climb her way out of the darkness and talk to us, countless secrets remained locked away in her shattered mind.
Blue sheets of paper remained puzzle pieces yet to take form.

However, we were out of time.
Dante's trial was set to start. We couldn't keep a pack in quarantine for too long. The Elders Council didn't see grounds to postpone anything. The original charges and evidence would have to be enough.

It was enough.

I was sure of that. However, I hated to leave loose ends. I hated to risk anyone's safety based on information hidden behind a blue piece of paper.

Taking a deep breath, I stood up to face the Council.

*****
I found Alex standing at Rose's door once again. He had been there every day. Most days, it was multiple attempts to reach her.

"It's time." I said.

He didn't look at me. "You still have time to sort out what to do about Ivy."

"The trial is starting." He whispered.

"But it won't be over today."

Alex finally turned to look at me. "I still don't know what I'll do. If the Council finds him guilty, any punishment will hurt her. I can't let him go without consequences, the charges are far too severe. But if they find him not-guilty... he has the right to demand his mate to be returned to him. I can't leave her with him."

"I know." It was all I could say.

We had both gone in circles about the ethics and laws, trying to find any solution that would work in her favor.

I still didn't understand what happened when Alex welcomed her into the pack. There was a change in both of them when their wolves met and her's submitted. Alex had said that he couldn't explain it, he didn't understand it either.

However, I could see it in my brother. He cared for her. More than most people, even in his own pack. He was protective of her. And it nearly killed him when he returned the next day to see her fear of him return.

Not that I could question him too much, I had grown protective of the girl as well. She was just so damaged, that my wolf wanted to wrap around her, just to hold her together. And I had a feeling several others felt the same way. Lena was probably the most protective. Though even she had struggled through the week.

After the girl's panic attack, Lena had to use a sedative to get Ivy to relax. Alex felt horrible for being the cause of the panic and wouldn't leave her side until she woke the next morning. It didn't go much better.

Rose had woken screaming and sobbing until she exhausted herself and passed out. The next time she woke, she jumped at the sight of every man, even Alex. The only words to leave her lips were to scream 'stop, please stop.' Until she calmly looked at her king with tears in her eyes and begged him to kill her.

That was something he just couldn't do.
Through the week, Ace managed to get more lights on in the room, and timed out his inspection of the monitors and blood work at times around when she was already asleep. Food had been a challenge as she barely ate anything and usually vomited what she did eat. But mentally, she just shut down.
Not another word was spoken after her request to die. Not another recognition of anyone in the room. Nothing. And her wolf refused to talk to her alpha, the mind link still not formed into the pack mind. No way for Phalen to reach her.

She was like a zombie.

"Did you hear the Council is demanding that Ivy be available for the trial?" My brother asked.

What the hell?

"Why?" I couldn't stop the growl in my voice.

"It's tradition for any known mates to sit with the accused. I was able to argue against that point, I won't leave her anywhere near Dante." He paused and looked at me.

"However, supposedly, she is part of his defense. I'll give that bastard credit. If he's going the way I think he is, this will be a difficult prosecution to sell to the Council."

"I don't care what his fucking defense is, look at her! There is no way we can get her into the Council chambers with all of those wolves."

He drew a deep breath. "I'm working on it."

EPISODE TEN (10)

Ivy's Pov

The memories wouldn't stop.

An endless cycle of pain.
I had thought the isolation of Dante's prison had been overwhelming in letting my mind run free.
Yet, in the freedom from his alpha orders, the freedom to cry, to scream, to truly let my emotions out... it shattered the thin filters that held so much back.

I had never realized how badly I needed to scream, to grieve, to process everything.

Worse, was realizing that my wolf had been imprisoned behind the veils. Donovan's alpha order to never make a sound had trapped my wolf into a dark corner, obeying the command and knowing that if she surfaced, she would disobey her mate. It was only in the freedom that she fully realized the hell I had faced on my own.

It was her grief and sorrow which dragged me back into the darkness with her.

Memories on replay as she searched for answers. She couldn't understand the betrayals, the pain, the rejections from our mate. All I could do was be there for her, huddled in the darkness, comforting each other.
I felt the king's presence often, his strength and concern soothing me and pulling me back out of my darker memories. But after he refused to let me go, I just didn't know how to face him and I couldn't abandon my wolf after so long apart.

"Hey there sugar." Lena stated as she walked into the room once again. She must of returned from wherever she had gone. I hadn't noticed she left.

"I know you're not really talking again, but I'm trying to get through. It's not really healthy to stay in your head."
I could feel her grab my hand, trying to drag me out of the depths.

"I really wish you were with me. There's so much happening. So much that I can't protect you from. Not even King Alex can stop it. It will be hard for you, but I want you to listen to me Ivy. You will be safe. I promise you that. I won't leave your side. Alex, Michael, even Jason will all be there and they will protect you. You hear me?"

What was she talking about?

"Ace is happy with how your hip is healing, your wolf is gaining strength and helping you heal enough to sit in a wheelchair. And then we're going to get you out of this room for a little while. I just wish it was for other reasons."

It was when the doctor entered the room that I slammed my eyes closed, trying so hard not to scream or break into tears once again. My wolf growled and paced at the sight of a male wolf, her anger toward males increased as she witnessed the memories. Not that she had ever had a good opinion of men. She had seen my past in my memories after I first shifted. Always protective of me, but she promised me our mate would heal us and protect us once we found him.

Nothing could have been further from the truth. And she was angry about his failures.
Rather than let my fear take over while the doctor was there, I let myself hide back in the darkness.
And there, in the darkness, I stayed until I felt the king's power. It was warm and comforting, pulling memories of my father once again. My wolf submitted to his power, but after seeing how Dante had abused his power, she was cautious of the king.

"What's going on?" Lena asked someone.

"Dante's blaming her for the failure of their mating, driving him to seek out a possible choice mate. Everything else is the word of shunned lovers and circumstantial evidence." Someone whispered, but I heard it.

It was then, that my wolf noticed the scent of our mate in the room. The accusations of blame seeped in, through the fog. A deep, low growl rumbled through me as she made her opinion known. The anger building like a match set to lighter fluid. Her simmering rage pulled us both out of the darkness to truly see the latest change in our tumultuous life.

Eyes. So many eyes. So many people all looking at me.
Heart racing and breathing ragged, I realized that I was surrounded by men.

Oh goddess, please.

I jumped and tried to push further into my seat.

How could I have not noticed this before now?

How did I even leave my hospital room?

Why was I there?

"Shhh, I won't let anyone touch you, Ivy." I turned to see the king's brother beside me.

"Are we done with this interruption?" An older man sneered from where he sat behind a long table. A long table filled with four other elders and the king sat at the far end.

My heart dropped.

The Elders Council.

I had interrupted the Elders Council.

I've heard of them, but why was I there? Then my eyes landed on Dante who stared at me with no expression on his face, his eyes burned with barely controlled rage, glowing gold with his wolf. His wolf and emotions hiding all signs of the intimidating blue normally found in his eyes. The blue was terrifying enough, the gold was down right threatening to stop my heart.

Oh goddess.

I growled.

I disobeyed his order. He knew the alpha command was removed. My panic skyrocketed. He'll break me to force his command on me again.

Not again, please, not again.

My fear of Dante superseding my fear of other men. I reached for the king's brother. Fingers wrapped around his wrist, pulling him closer, hoping he would really protect me from the monster boring holes of hatred into my skull.

With only a few small steps, he moved in front of me, blocking the view of my former alpha.
Only after I could no longer feel his intense stare could I find breath again.

Lena's hand slid over my back as she repeated her mantra. "Breathe in and then out. In and out."

"I'm assuming you are the mate at the center of this?" Another Elder asked.

I was confused. Why would I be in the middle of anything?

"Yes, she is." The king's brother answered for me. "Her name is Ivy." His voice was deep and controlled, showing no emotion.

"I do believe that I asked her the question."

Another female Elder leaned forward. "I seem to remember Alpha Dante saying that the girl couldn't speak. And she's obviously emotional at the moment. I don't see a problem with Prince Michael answering the obvious for her while she calms down."

Taking a breath as I tried to find strength to face the Council, I looked up again and did something that I never thought I would be able to do.

"I, I- I can s-speak." The words were scratchy and raw, hurting as I used the now abused vocal chords.

My screams when I first gained voice hadn't been painless. Still, my voice seemed so foreign to me.

A small smile tugged at the lips of King Alex as he watched me from next to the Elders, looking very official in his dark suit and crown. And silently, I saw movement out of the corner of my eye.

Michael's hand.

That's right, his name was Michael, I had to remind myself. His large hand slid behind his back and set there, palm facing me. Was he offering me his hand? If he was, he was giving me the choice.

Something that shocked my wolf as much as it did me. Lena still rubbed circles over my back and had held onto my other hand. They each offered support and protection. It was more than I had seen since my parents died.

"Hmm. Well, since you are here and calming down, then perhaps we can get to the bottom of these accusations." A male voice called from the front of the room.

Without asking my permission, my wolf took over enough to seek out Michael's hand. She was scared by the situation around us. Despite her hesitations with the king, she recognized the protection and support offered. She was grasping for the physical connections around us. Something she had shied away from once the memories flooded our mind. Now, she was desperate for it when surrounded by strangers.

"Ivy, there are some serious charges being leveled at your mate." The female Elder started.

"Without rehashing what had been discussed so far, it is important for us to focus on your supposed role in your mates choices."
I nodded slowly, uncertain what she meant.

"It had been claimed by Alpha Dante, that immediately after completing your mating bond, you tried to kill him. And after your failure, you tried to kill yourself, knowing that it would kill your bonded mate. Is that account accurate?" Another Elder questioned in a calm and deliberate voice. He seemed older than all the others. Hair was white and his eyes held wrinkles of experience.

I knew the laws. I knew how they would react. The old laws forbid a mate from intentionally hurting the other beyond reason. They also acknowledged the male's right to reprimand their mate however they saw fit. Two laws that affected me in this case.

Two laws that contradict each other when dealing with a mate like Dante. As for my quilt, I didn't know the charges Dante faced or how my role fit into place with any of it. But I simply couldn't lie.

"It's true."

Wow, Wow, Wow.

Nice work OP!!!.

What a nice piece from the OP

EPISODE ELEVEN (11)

Michael's Pov

My fingers tightened at Ivy's confession.

The moment she accepted my touch, I relaxed. She was doing far better than I had expected given the circumstances. And then she fell right into Dante's narrative.

Her two words could shift the entire direction of the Elders Council ruling.

I had to close my eyes to make sure my emotions remained controlled. She had no way to know the set up that was happening prior to her arrival. And given her mental state lately, none of the investigators, nor Alex or I had a chance to ask her ourselves, to prepare.

Royal enforcement really only had one hope left and they didn't even know what it was exactly. Matt had sent a message to me just as I was walking into the trial. He found something big, but he couldn't explain more. He was rushing to Fenris Grove with whatever he found. And Jason needed to stall.

It was the beta's job to lead the legal branch of the administration and represent the royal courts in front of the Elders Council, as the king himself had a seat on the Council for all matters except trials that he brought before them. And man did Jason have his job cut out for him with this case.

All of the evidence was there. The interviews, the DNA testing on Dante's new daughter, forensic tests on the murdered rogues, the dates, the interrogation interviews of the Blood Moon pack members, including the pack beta who finally confessed to helping his alpha find female rogues and leaving them alone together. The asshole had suspected things were not as they seemed, yet never bothered to follow up. All of it pointing to a long history of hunting down women, raping them and many times killing them.

They hadn't even gotten to the horrific treatment of Ivy.
But Dante was one step ahead. He opened the topic of his mate. He painted a picture of a devoted alpha who was betrayed by his mate. His argument was that he was left with no choice but to lock her away for both of their protection and seek a choice mate. Everything else was merely a plot to drag him down.

"Well, this confession does seem to support Alpha Dante's claims."

Elder Riley allowed his open contempt of the girl show. He had always been of the male supremacy school. In his eyes, females were little more than property, as the laws had been hundred of years ago. He didn't care if the laws had changed, he interpreted them all with the same filter.

"I think this is enough to allow the girl to return to her room and the medical care she needs." Elder William added. He wasn't so extreme, though his views were more traditional.

Elder Lorena frowned at the two men. "I think there are still many holes in this story. Ivy would be helpful in filling at least some of them."
Riley scoffed.

"The girl admitted to trying to kill her mate. A charge that we have yet to address and will not address until a later date. However, that does state an obvious bias against the male she should be sitting next to in support."

"Not if there are further reasons for her actions. She's obviously terrified." Lorena always had been a fierce supporter of women's rights and the progress of equality in werewolf law. Something that commonly put her in direct challenge with Elder Riley.

Honestly, most times, I would be bored out of my mind with their squabbles and debates. However, this time was different. Ivy's future was at stake, the case was at stake, and more than anything, they needed time to get Matt in the damn door.

"She's terrified because she knows she commited a crime and admitted to it in open court." William backed up Riley.

A destict cough cut them all off. Elder Lyle was the oldest and longest standing member of the Council. He was known for being more level headed and weighing out what was right and what was law. I was banking on his support for our case.

"The reasons for the girl's decision to try to kill her mate will be brought to her trial. Her actions happened when they met four years ago, before any of the crimes set before us today. And since that time, she has been in virtual isolation. So, I do not see how her word would affect this case."

Well, shit.

"I'm sorry Council Members, I must respectfully ask that you reconsider that opinion." Jason jumped in as soon as it was clear the Council was leaning against the royal stance with three of the five already in favor of ignoring Ivg's possible testimony.

"As a point of issue that has been skirted around, though not overtly addressed, Alpha Dante has confessed to having sex with the women who have accused him."

"He was searching for a choice mate." Riley snapped.

"While betraying his true mate." Jason didn't back down. Riley could be quick to ignore any laws that didn't support his views, but it seemed that Jason wouldn't allow him to get away with it.

"It is another one of the charges brought against the alpha. Reasonable reprimands and safety aside, he knowingly caused harm to his mate by betraying the bond."
Riley quickly snapped his jaw closed. It was almost comical if it wasn't such a serious issue. To argue against the issue would only make him look like more of a fool.

Jason jumped to continue. "As such, she didn't need to be present or have heard a single word of her mates plans, but she can testify to her knowledge of the pain his betrayal inflicted."

"It pertains to the charge and has application to the other evidence provided." Shockingly it was Elder Margerie who spoke. She was a wild card. Always quiet, highly analytical, and voted for reasons only she could understand. She barely gave the other Elders time to nod agreement, however begrudgingly, before she looked at Ivy. Hard brown eyes watched the girl behind me as though she was a chess piece and nothing more.

"Did you feel the pain of your mate's betrayal?"

"Yes." I could hear her rough voice behind me, though I dared not turn around. Ivy's hand still in mine as the Elders debated her merit in the trial.

"How often did you feel such pain?"

"Every night."

Gasps echoed for mere moments before Dante jolted up and screamed out.
"Silence!"

"You are not my alpha anymore. You cannot command my silence again." Ivy snapped back with gasping breaths.

"You little LovePeddler, you will obey me." He raged, shoulder length blonde hair hung loose, adding to his feral appearance. My growl was enough to trigger my men to move closer to the irate alpha.

Elder Lyle stood up. "Alpha Dante, you will sit down silently and allow this girl to speak, or you will be detained and the trial continue without your further input."

Dante glared at me before turning the Council. "My apologies, my wolf wasn't happy to hear the lies."

"And yet, we can all smell that you are not telling the truth." Jason nailed him immediately.

Finally! A chink in the armor.

"Ivy smells of honest confession. While you suddenly do not. Why is that?"

"Take your time to breathe Alpha Dante, your next words must be made carefully." Margerie cautioned the man.

"As for you Ivy, how often would you see your mate?"
The suspense in the room was like ice creeping through the air, biting and chilling. My thumb made circles on Ivy's hand, still held in mine.

"Every night, after each betrayal, except when he left for his trips."

"A claim supported by this stack of transcripts from several interviews of Blood Moon pack members who accounted their multiple times in the alpha's bed, and others who witnessed the coming and going of the females from his private quarters." Jason added.

"Why would he?" Lorena followed up. "I mean, why would he seek you out after such a betrayal?"

"He said he hated me. He hated me for being an omega when he found me. He hated me for crying and trying to get away from him when his wolf recognized me as his mate, he even alpha ordered me into silence when I tried to reject him. He hated me for not being a virgin when he forcibly raped and marked me to sealed our bond after my attempted rejection." Her words were soft and hesitant as she swallowed between every few words to get her vocal chords to work with her.

"Enough! You worthless little..." Dante was cut off as one of my guards jumped into subdue the raging wolf who had tried to charge for the girl.

With a sigh, Elder Lyle reminded the alpha of his earlier command and requested the guard to cuff the alpha and return him to the holding room until their questioning of Rose could be completed.

I could only tremble as I was swept by the explanation she had given before the outburst. He had forced the mating on her?

She was his mate! Why would anyone care what rank she was? Why was she expected to be a virgin when he was obviously not faithful?
Why would Donovan do any of it? If he was so against her as a mate, why would he want to seal the bond? Let alone seal it forcibly?

Then it hit me.

The power.

He wanted the boost of power that came from a united true mate. That was why he imprisoned her and ordered her silence. He wouldn't let her reject him, he wouldn't let others find her or know about her, he would risk anything that could result in her breaking the bond and taking that power.
I quickly sent my revelations to Alex and Jason through the mind link. We didn't have the direct evidence, but it did give direction to Jason's questions.

Once the room quieted down, Lyle took the lead. "My child, I'm sorry for that upheaval. Can we return to the question at hand? Why would your mate go to you after his betrayals?"

"As I said... he hated me. But his wolf wanted me. And he hated that most of all. He wanted to hurt me, to beat me as much as he could handle the backlash through the bond. He left me to starve, laying naked in filth, hoping to break me, hoping that one day his wolf would stop wanting me while he was with other women." She took a shuddering breath. "At least that was what he told me."

"Do you know about the reasons for his trips to find a choice mate?" I lost track of who asked, it didn't matter, all of my attention was on the girl who sat behind my back.
Even with Dante gone, I couldn't move from where I stood, protecting her from the rest of the room. But her trembling hand, her exhausted voice, her very presence pressed into my back almost like a physical force. I was impressed with her strength. She seemed so fragile when I looked at her. And she was still fragile mentally if her week of silence was any indication. But her heart was strong. Her desire to seek justice and tell the truth, even stronger.

"I didn't know the stories he would tell or what he did exactly. I only know he left when I was in heat." She answered.

She was cut off by the shocked hiss of William. That certainly hit a nerve for the man. "He left you untreated and uncared for during your heat?"

Everyone knew the pain that a female wolf would suffer during those few days. "Did he at least send for the pack doctor to give you medications to help?"

"No one was allowed to see me. Ever. I never met the pack doctor, not even the beta or a maid. He said that I didn't deserve any relief as long as I was unworthy of an alpha for a mate, and he couldn't stand to be around me while my pheromones tempted him too much. So, he left. And I was left with no food or water through my heat. He was the only one to give me meals."

"It was his right as the alpha." Riley ground out.

"Not to this level Elder Riley. This is beyond reprimand of a crime she committed four years ago. Imprisonment to protect his life was one thing. Long term, deliberate harm against his mate is entirely different." Lorena tried to reason, though her voice was soft and almost broken.

It was about time the Council started to see beyond the mask Dante painted. It pissed me off that it took so long.
And just as I was losing hope of Matt showing up in time, his scrawny ass slipped in the side door. Noticing the tension in the room, he stopped and messaged Jason and me through the pack link. And he was right, it was the smoking gun they all needed.

"Get it down here now." Jason snapped before he addressed the Council. "The reality is that Alpha Dante has danced around his authority and waved his mating bond in just the right ways that he has created a theatrical performance to hide behind. As you have heard from his own mate, the alpha has no respect for female choice, life, or safety."

"Something he claims he was pushed toward with the stress and pain of his own mates rejection." Riley volleyed back.

"And if we are done with the girls testimony, then the alpha should be here for any further discussions."

"Oh, please, I would love for him to be present for the final bundle of evidence." Jason grinned.

Way to go Jasoon!
Now, we're getting somewhere. My only hope was that Ivy was ready for what's next.

"What are you boys up to?" Alex asked from where he sat quietly.

"You'll see."

Amazing Job, Wiiikyreads.

This is very interesting.

EPISODE TWELVE (12)

Respected Council Members, please indulge me as I jump back to the beginning of all of this. I acknowledge that this trial is for Alpha Dante and you have an interest in delving into his mate's choices at another time. However, as we are learning, the issue is far deeper than we once thought." Jason echoed around the room.

"What is your point?" Elder Lyle asked.

"My point is that Alpha Dante has shown you a carefully constructed image. Given you just enough information to feed into tradition and old laws, chosen those nuggets of truth that make him look like a law abiding wolf who was pushed to somewhat extreme and less than conventional choices by the fear and stress of his mate's rejection, worried for his own life. All without telling a lie that would give anything away."

"That is your opinion." Elder Riley snarked.

Jason only grinned wider. "But it is? I'm curious Alpha Dante, why did you complete your mating with Ivy?"

The accused wolf had to of known he was inching closer to losing his case after his outburst and Ivg's testimony. When he returned, he remained in the burning silver cuffs. His teeth ground together before he spoke. "She was my mate."

"Was that the only reason?"
His eyes snapped to Jason golden and defiant with his wolf.

"No."

The royal representative raised a brow. "What other reason was there?"

Dante remained silent and refused to answer.
After several minutes, the Council members became increasingly curious.

Jason handed them his thoughts. "I wonder if it was because of the power you gained from bonding to your true mate?"

Again, the alpha refused to speak, though his wolf flared in his eyes.
"So, if we were to let Ivy officially reject you, you would be happy? A chance to break the bond and allow you to search for your choice mate without breaking any laws?"
The angry growl emanating from the Blood Moon leader grew louder as Jason questioned him until he lost it.

"She's mine!" His wolf took over enough to scream out.

"I won't let go of my mate! Why wouldn't she accept us?"
Well then... it was his wolf who chose to keep her. That was unexpected.

Jason, however, didn't pause. "So, you never would have let her go, would you?"

"Never!"

"Then why search for a choice mate?" He continued to question the wolf in control.

He growled again. "That was my stupid human. He didn't like that she was an omega or scared of him. But he only accepted her as mate for the power of the bond. Still he wanted more power, he wanted to break her with his abuse until she was nothing but a bitch to control completely."

Elder Lorena gasped at the crudeness of it.

"But I knew. I knew she was stronger than him. Her body weakened, her mind was beaten, but her blood and heart were strong with alpha blood." He shook his head several times, the man and the wolf in battle for control. Yet he continued.

"He never wanted a choice mate. He attacked those other females to vent his aggression. He used them the way he wanted to use and hurt my mate. The way he never could because he would feel all of the pain that he wanted to inflict."
A deafening roar was heard in the room as he fought with himself until Donovan slumped over the table in front of him and growled.

But it was too late, the damage was done.

Silence hung in the air like a fine mist. Pure and delicate, something that no one wanted to disturb.

Yet, it was once again Jason who took the reigns and plowed on. Not letting the confession go to waste or giving Dante time to spin it once again.

"And there we have it. One of the hidden truths. Alpha Dante never had any real intention of rejecting his true mate. His wolf wouldn't let him. His motives for hunting down other women were aggressive, predatory, probably hormone driven during his mate's heat, but targeted with intent to hurt them and hurt his mate."

"I still don't see a confession of rape or murder as you claim he committed. Alpha Dante, you said you never hurt anyone and you did not smell of a lie, so was that true or false?" Riley asked cautiously.

Lorena jumped in. "No, he never said he didn't hurt anyone. His words were that he never hurt a potential choice mate. We now know that he was never looking for a choice mate. No one was ever a potential mate." Her face full of disgust and anger as her own wolf flashed in her eyes.

Still Dante did not answer.

What could he say? If he lied outright, they would smell the bitter untruth in the air. So he reverted to the only armor he had left, just as he had done with the interrogators. He answered what he could control and then remained silent with only a few nuggets of information lost in moments of crumbling control.

"I am curious now." Margerie broke the tension. "The alpha has claimed all of his behaviors are because of his mates rejection and attempted suicide. Why would you do that Ivy?"

All eyes shifted to the weakened and sickly looking girl in the wheelchair. Her eyes full of fear and her lip trembled as she pulled away from the people who had offered her strength and support through the trial. She was at risk of hiding in the darkness once again.

But it was Jaxsonwho jumped to her rescue. "Actually, I think that I can answer that."

"I asked the girl, I don't want your spin." Margerie was sharp.

A packet of evidence was held in the air. "It's not my opinion. This is my last batch of evidence in this case. It took a while to find this, a package from Alpha Jack of Midnight Meadows, pulled together right before the war with Blood Moon. It was addressed to his beta, delta, and gamma. None of whom survived the war. So, the package had never been opened and it was tossed into a box of the alpha's personal things and forgotten about."

Elder William frowned. "How does this relate to the issue at hand?"

"If you will allow me, I think that Alpha Jack's words explain far more effectively than my summary." He held a letter up that sat on the top of the package.

"To whoever it is that finds this,
It is with a heavy heart that I compile this package. It was something that I should have done long ago. This is evidence of my greatest shame and my deepest guilt, for I have failed to live up to the honor and strength of an alpha, of a brother, of an uncle, of a man.
If you are reading this, then I assume that I have failed yet again and have fallen in the battle with Blood Moon. But please, I beg of you, take this information and seek out the king. I will always worry for the members of my pack, but I worry for one member most of all. I beg that the king take her in, protect her, and help her find the peace that I could never give.
I had never met my true mate, and perhaps that was the punishment of the Moon Goddess for my failures. But many years ago, I welcomed a beautiful little girl into my heart and named her my heir as alpha. I can still picture her racing with the other pups, never letting any boy beat her in a race, brilliantly winning every debate, and just like my brother, her father, always playing practical jokes. The pack loved her. My brother and his mate loved her. I loved her.
Then, when her mother learned she was pregnant with a male, we all knew that the boy would take over as heir to the pack. Something that a seven year old girl couldn't understand. Yet, she accepted it with bright eyes and a brighter smile. It was adorable to watch her count down the days until she could meet her baby brother.
That was when tragedy struck. The pack had been attacked by a large group of rogues. Rogues who held a vendetta and specifically targeted my brother's family. They hit while my sister-in-law was in labor, unable to move or fight. My brother was distracted and couldn't stop what happened. By the time I finished the larger battle used as a distraction, it was too late. Everyone was dead, except for that sweet little seven year old girl who barely hung on to life and probably wished she had died that day.
So lost in my own grief, I lashed out. I blamed my own niece for not saving her family. I blamed her for playing a joke on her mother that may have triggered her labor, leaving her defenseless. I blamed her for not saving her baby brother who died only minutes after birth. I blamed her for the mutilation of her mother which resulted in her father's death along with his bonded mate. I blamed her for not even saving herself as she was horribly and brutally raped by three attackers. I blamed a seven year old girl who wasn't old enough to shift, who hadn't started warrior training, who had done absolutely nothing wrong. Yet, I blamed her out of my own fear and self hatred.
I couldn't even look at her. And in an act of pathetic weakness, I demoted her to the rank of an omega simply so she wouldn't live in the pack house where I would see her.
I abandoned my own blood kin, a child, to suffer through her trauma alone and rejected, for nothing more than my own weakness.
This is a shame that will forever haunt me, even in death.
It took me months before it sunk into my stubborn head that it had never been her fault. None of it had been her choice, her doing, or her guilt to bare.
By the time I pushed through my own grief, guilt and shame to find her again, there was nothing left of the child I had loved. Her eyes were dull in fear and sorrow. She flinched any time a male would walk into a room. Her eyes would break into tears at every joke or cry of a baby. She was so shattered and broken.
After my public rejections of her, with her fragile demeanor and intentional attempts to avoid all male wolves, training, or the pack house... I couldn't name her my heir again. The pack had lost the trust in her strength. A strength that I helped to break.
All I could do was try to help her find peace. However, her fear of me was too great for me to even approach her.
Recently, I learned that my pack doctor and my lead warrior had gone out of their way to properly collect the evidence from the attack. At the time, I had only been focused on catching the rogues who killed my family. Something I had never succeeded in doing.
Then a few months ago, I caught the scent of at least one of the rogues who had been involved in the attack. And I was shocked to realize he was no longer a rogue. But now Alpha Don of Blood Moon pack. No wonder I couldn't find him in the unclaimed territories. Just as I learned who he was, he died of poisoning. I didn't care who did it, I was glad he was gone. Yet, that was when I looked back through the old records of the attack.
Ivy. My precious little Ivy. My beautiful and delicate niece. She had given detailed descriptions of the men who killed her family. DNA evidence was collected. Photos were taken of the scene. The pack doctor and lead warrior had gone overboard after watching human cop shows. But they had done what I had been incapable of doing.
The evidence is here, in this packet. Everything to explain and justify my war. Everything to prove not only Don's involvement in my family's murder and assault, but that of the new alpha of Blood Moon. Alpha Dante. The sketch of his face drawn from a child's memory, his DNA, are all proof of his rape of a seven year old girl and participation in the murder of her brother and both parents. A third man was present, though he never shifted from wolf form, making his participation in her assault all the more appalling. Ivy's description of the wolf is too vague to be of much use, so I have yet to identify him. I am sure Dante could lead others to his identity.
Ivy is now nineteen and my true heir. She has the right to my pack. Though I fear she is not prepared to defend such a title. Instead, I ask for her protection. Please, grant her assylum. Protect her. Help her in the ways that I never could. Help her find peace. And help her find a mate who will show her the love and devotion she deserved from her family, from her alpha. Never allow her lack of purity to be held against her as it was never her choice and never her fault.
For all of my sins, this is the greatest. And I pray the king or another pack take pity on the source of my failures and give her a better life. Please, just get her away from Dante and Blood Moon pack."

EPISODE THIRTEEN (13)

Michael's Pov

I sat in a room across the hall from Ivy's hospital room. Alex and I brainstorming on what he would do.

The trial had been far more draining than either of us were prepared for. Though nothing compared to the break down Ivy had at hearing her uncles words.

And for the first time, I saw vulnerability in Dante. He hadn't known. He hadn't recognized his mate as the little girl he had attacked years before. He truly didn't know why she had rejected him when they met or why she hated him so much.

For a few moments, I could see as reality crashed into him.
She hadn't been pure when he mated her because he had been responsible for her rape as a child.

Quickly, his wolf took over once again, howling out his pain at his understanding. Swearing that he didn't know. Begging for forgiveness.

The scene was heart wrenching.

However, given the confessions and the evidence of his prior acts of rape and murder, the Council finally voted, guilty.

It was unanimous.

Even Elder Riley couldn't argue male right in raping a seven year old child, or expecting her to accept a mating bond with her rapist. After that, there was nothing else to argue.

Dante had forced the mating bond on her. Riley's views of male control were always held from the view of a consensual mating.
The fact that Dante's actions supported his tendencies toward violence against women, plus his wolf's confessions just added to the claims of the two women. And even then, all Riley had left to argue over was his imprisonment of Ivy.

By that point, he didn't even try. He was alone. The tide had shifted and the picture Dante had painted was little more than chalk and dust.
But after all of it, Lena was left to sedate Ivy once again. It was the only way to get her to calm down and get her out of the Council chambers.

Though understanding everything she had been through strengthened our protective instincts. Lena remained at Ivy's side curled up in her mate's lap as Jason and Lena reconnected after the trial.
Ace checked over her healing injuries and got her set on monitors and I.V. fluids once again. Several of the Elders had come to her room to check on her, though no one was allowed to be close to the girl.

Alex and I made sure of it.

But as time wore on and it was more likely for Rose to wake, all of the males quietly left the room. However, we didn't go far. We couldn't bring ourselves to leave her just yet.
So, we sat across the hall.

Jason walked in with cups of coffee for everyone. "I'll be honest, I'm surprised you both held your composure today. You've been so protective of the girl and angry at the fucking asshole who hurt her, I wasn't sure shit wasn't gonna hit the fan."

"We didn't have a choice. Lack of professionalism wouldn't have helped the case." Alex grumbled.

"Damn it was hard to keep my wolf in control." He knocked back a gulp of the bitter black liquid in his cup.

"What are you going to do tomorrow? As king, you have to recommend a sentence for the guilty party."

"I have an idea, but I would rather discuss it with Ivy first. If she wakes up in time." Alex answered. He'd never been so reluctant before. There had never been a reason to be.

I felt sorry for my brother, the pressure and the guilt of trying to make sure justice was served while trying to not cause harm to an innocent girl. It weighed on us all, but it would be his word that gave the final order. The Council had the right to speak against the recommendation once voiced, but it was always the kings order.

*****

Entering the Council Chambers the next day, there was a solemn atmosphere. No one relished dishing out the kinds of punishments Dante's crimes carried. And everyone recognized the risks to the already broken girl.

Once again, the five members of the Elders Council sat at their table in the front of the room. Dante sat at a table to the left, looking broken and defeated in his silver shackles. Whatever the man thought, it was obvious the wolf was in agony.

The most significant difference was the king. Alex stood with Jason behind the table to the right. And Ivy was blessedly not present.

I wasn't sure I could maintain my emotionless composure while she cried again. It was challenging enough the day before. Every tear and pain filled cry hurt a little more. And I knew Alex felt the same.
Jack should have contacted the royal court when he was compromised as an alpha, the day his family died. If nothing else, he should have contacted Fenris Grove when his grief cleared and he realized the situation he had left Ivy in. Yet, he hadn't. And when he finally made the right decision, he was still a coward and left it in a packet that no one had looked at until four years later.

Jack should have made the call himself, not left it to be swept away.
Ivy should have been under the king's protection for years. But every alpha she had known had failed her. And now Alex was left to do anything he could to not be another alpha to let her down.

"We are here to discuss the sentencing of Alpha Dante for the guilty judgement given by this Council on charges of four acts of confirmed rape, of which two were against his own true mate, and one of those while she was significantly under age; three acts of confirm murder, the act of willfully forcing a mating bond on a true mate, the act of willfully harming a true mate by multiple acts of betrayal, and multiple counts of the intentional pursuit of rogue females on the grounds of no crimes, but rather in an effort to abuse his strength." Elder Lyle looked down at Dante like a father scolding a pup.
"That is not even getting into the numerous alleged murders and counts of abuse toward your mate that have yet to be fully investigated or tied to you at this time. Though given the mounting evidence as each hour passes..." The Elder shook his head.

"Your Majesty, King Alexander, we the Elders Council request your recommendations for sentencing." He wrapped up in the overly official format.

Alex stood and moved before the Council and clasped his hands behind his back. His posture, his power, his over all aura was regal. "As I'm sure you are aware, this is a delicate case. Never before have we been faced with charging a fully mated wolf whose mate was a victim, rather than complicit in the crimes. For the charges brought, I cannot in good conscience allow the guilty party to be released with his life. Many wolves are killed for far less of an offense. And failure to react justly would send the wrong message." Several heads nodded slowly.

"However, I cannot bring myself to condemn an innocent wolf to lose her life for her unwanted mate's crimes."
Lyle raised a brow.

"We understand your hesitations and as we have voted to find Ms. Ray not to be held accountable for her actions against her mate, there are no grounds to expect such a punishment to be handed to her. Do you have a solution?"

"I believe I do." Alex didn't allow his emotions to waver from his task, I was in awe of his control. There was a reason he was the king.

"My proposal is to imprison Donovan for a years time. He will be immediately stripped of all rank, lands, or authority. Then, Ivy will be given that time to make her own choices. We would allow her to choose if she wishes to follow her mate into death, or if she would like to officially reject her mate and find another choice mate to fully remove the bond between her and the guilty wolf. I propose that we give her what no one else has done before. Freedom and respect to make her own choices in life. And in one year's time, Dante will die for his crimes with or without a mate."

My chest filled with a mix of pride and trepidation. It was a solution that offered everything that was needed from a legal standpoint. But could Ivy ever open up to find another mate?

Wow.

Nice work, OP. This is amazing.

EPISODE FOURTEEN (14)

Ivy's Pov

One of these days, you're going to beat me little wolf." Alex grinned as he moved a chess piece.
"Unfortunately for you, that day is not today. Checkmate." His tie loosened, white shirt sleeves rolled up, and a grey suit jacket flung over the back of his leather wingback chair.

My face twisted into a pout. I really thought I was getting somewhere.

Contd.
******
"Don't take it too hard, you are showing improvements. Honestly, had I not seen your strategy, you would have had me in three moves."

Chess had become our thing, something we did every night before we each headed for bed. Well, rather, I headed for bed and the king tried to head for bed. Far too many times, duty called him away once again.
I felt bad for him. He carried a lot of responsibility and got very little sleep.

Contd.

"Can I ask you something personal, Your Majesty?" I let the words linger.

"Sure. And for the millionth time, please just call me Alex when we are in private quarters."

My fingers pulled at the hem of my dress. It was rude to be so curious, I knew that. However, I didn't want to ask questions behind his back either.

"Why don't you have a mate?"

Contd.

Hazel eyes snapped up to me as he leaned back and let out the air from his chest.

"I did have a mate. Maria. She was beautiful and kind." He said with a small smile on his lips.
"I had never marked her. Not because I didn't want to. My wolf practically begged me to every chance he had. But she recognized the danger of it. If we sealed our bond so intimately, she could be targeted and killed as a way to kill me. And she would never allow for her life to threaten mine."

"What happened?" The sound was barely above a whisper.

He looked down and started to collect the chess pieces.

"She died. Despite the accelerated healing of wolves, our kind can still get cancer. Cancer is the rapid growth of abnormal cells in the body, however, they are still seen as natural to the body, something our healing abilities do not fight against. In fact, it helps those rogue cells all the more. Early detection is the only possible way to remove it. If not, the cancer is far too damaging. I lost her in two weeks."

"I'm sorry."

"It wasn't your fault." He said dismissively.

I shook my head. "No, but I reminded you of your pain. I'm sorry for that."

He stopped. "So many people say sorry, so few understand why. It's nothing more than an instinctive toss of phrase. But I think you're the first person to truly mean it." His knuckles grazed my cheek. "It's getting late. Why don't you head to bed?"

Without question, I got up from the chair and slowly made my way to my room.

It had been two months since I was found, a little over a month since I moved into the royal suites. I had argued against it, but the king had insisted. He said that less people had access to his personal suites where he and Michael lived. It would be more comfortable for me to have my own room where I had more control over my interactions with others.

And he was right.

I was always free to leave if I wanted to. But I didn't have to force myself to deal with so many strangers. I was beyond appreciative as I didn't really want to face people.
It also kept all of my essential locations close by while I slowly regained strength in my legs. Even with the accelerated healing of a werewolf, Ace said it would take time. After not standing or walking during my four years of captivity, I had to start a whole process of building my nutritional foundations and then building muscle and relearning how to walk, which couldn't even start until my hip healed. That had taken several weeks on it's own.

But then I moved in here. I was grateful to have a room of my own with it's own bathroom, while the library and dining room were right across from me. What more could a recovering woman need?
With my leg braces and crutches, I worked my way from the fireplace where we sat and played our game, through the library and across the corridor to my room. I even tried to not flinch at the guards placed in the suite's hallways.
Michael had leadership over the personal guards of the palace, so he rearranged them according to my comfort levels, two inside the suite complex and two outside the door of the isolated corner of the palace grounds, their rotations more limited so that I only had to get used to a set number of new males who were under orders to never initiate any kind of contact with me unless it was a matter of health or safety.

Then, once Alex and Michael realized that I was nervous around the maids as well, the number of maids was dropped down to only a small group. No one else was permitted in except Lena and her mate, Jason who I had met just before leaving the hospital.
It had taken me a long time before I spoke more than a few words again, my wolf and I drowning in our grief and processing what my uncle had written.

All of those years, I thought he hated me. I carried the blame for everything on my shoulders. Well, even since hearing the letter, I carried blame. It wouldn't lift overnight. I was used to carrying that burden. However learning the truth helped to push me forward, to accept the king's suggestion of taking a year to heal and try to find a mate.
I wasn't sure it would be possible.

I feared men.

I feared mates.

I even feared most women.

After all, it was their insults I had lived with as an omega. I avoided the warriors and the high ranking wolves of Midnight Meadows for years. However, I couldn't escape everyone. And after Jack had thrown me out for being a weak LovePeddler who welcomed rogues between my thighs... the accusations never left the minds of the pack. That was all they saw me as from that day forward. Not that Jack ever knew of their torments and abuse. I didn't think he cared enough for me to even think of telling him. After all, it were his words that started it all.

Sigh.

It was all a mess.

Over time though, my wolf had strengthened her trust in our new alpha, in King Alex. His brother as well. They had shown themselves to be wolves of honor. Alex granted us freedom from Dante and his horrible alpha orders. He gave us a choice in our own life. And he protected us from our own fears. Michael was always there to make sure no one touched me and remind me that Dante was locked away.

My wolf and I found comfort in knowing they were just down the hall in another room when I woke screaming in the night. Alex or Michael would run in and rock me to sleep.