Salvation in the mind (Emily) COMPLETED

Duke didn't bother looking back on their travels to make sure the female was following. He knew she had no choice in the matter. If she didn't then she would really know his fangs sinking into her flesh. Duke refuse to let this one go. His ears perked forward, a familiar sting of his torn ear interrupted his thoughts. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw dark movement following them. Duke growls lowly, knowing actually what it was. His body started to tense up, in reaction to the shadows haunting his every move. His mood started to turn sour. He attempted to focus on the sound of trickling water growing louder as they grew closer to the campsite. It almost worked if the shadows didn't constantly taunt him. Picking up his pace, he barked over his shoulder. "Move it." The alpha wanted to get out of the forest as soon as possible. The pine wood soon was replaced by large redwood trees looming over the two wolves.

Finally they broke out in a small clearing, a thin river running through it. The river was half frozen in ice like it does every winter. He remember in his pup days Duke use to play on the ice with the others. Slipping and sliding until someone fell through the ice. That pup was never seen again. Shaking his head, Duke's fur shine a dark brown in the sunlight. The pack den was just beyond the campsite made up of an uprooted redwood. This area was great from protection against the wind and the trees brought warmth.

Duke padded to a spot in the snow, his nose sniffing out what he was searching for. Smirking, Duke dug out the rabbit carcass he kept there for emergency. With the carcass in his jaws, he looked over to the weak little bird eyes cold. The alpha toss it to her structure. "Eat." He ordered with a low growl in warning. Disobey and their would be punishment.

Weary. Weak. Terrified. Depressed. Shaken.

A few words to describe her state as she was taken with her new alpha to an unknown location. She tried to keep up, but was slow and unsteady on her own paws. The loner, well now beta, heard him growl as if in warning to her, and she stepped up the pace just a tad. Then he barked for her to move even faster, and she tried but ultimately failed. She was too weak; she hadn't eaten in weeks.

As he escaped the trees and entered the clearing, she trembled. How far away was his den? Was that where he was taking her? Was this his form of punishment for her? Cruel thoughts swam in the darkest corners of her mind, just daring her to take off. How far could she get? She knew it wouldn't be long before he caught her.

She was brought back from her thoughts as a dead rabbit was dropped at her feet. "Eat" he had commanded.

Her stomach churned at the thought. She ducked her head and sniffed the meat, and her throat constricted and her insides twisted and cringed. She took a step back, shaking her head. "I'm not hungry, sir," she said, but her voice came out in a strangled murmur.

Realization smacked her as if somebody had crashed into her. He said to not call him sir. And then she bolted.

His sharp gaze watch the little bird sniff at the carcass. He knew she got to be hungry. When she didn't eat it imminently, Duke frown growing suspicious. What was she up to? The alpha step forward, closer to the pathetic wolf. Then she spoke in quietly, just enough to reach his ears. Her words only pissed him off further. And yet again she called him that ridiculous title, sir. The fur on the nap of his neck stood on end from his rage. How dare she refuse his generosity. Fine, if the little bird wanted to play so be it. He'll give her a game to play. He would enjoy the taste of her blood after this.

Almost like she sense her furlong punishment, she bolted heading back into the depths of the forest. A slow sinister grin grace his features. What she didn't knew was that Duke loved a good chase. Though, he doubted to get a good one from her. Not hesitating, Duke push his limbs into a sprint. Being stronger and healthier then the female, Duke had no problem in catching up with her. Instead of what other would expect, Duke ran past her only stopping just head of the she wolf. An almost calm expression on his muzzle, standing to his full height. His eyes were a different story. They darken with the strong emotion called, anger and a little bit of hate. It promise unimaginable hurt for his little bird.

His golden orbs coldly regarded the she wolf running at him. "Where did you expect to go, little bird?" He barked. Lowering his elegant skull, the alpha smirked showing his pristine canines. "Certainly you weren't planning on leaving me." He purrs. His muscles tense underneath his fur, eager to lash out if she so moved an inch away from him.

She could hear him, but the trees blocked him from her view. Her limbs were tiring quickly, and as her stormy hues frantically searched the shadows, she finally found him feet away from her. She came to a sliding stop, his nose inches from her. Every fiber in her being screamed to turn and run the other way, but the chilling sound of his voice paralyzed her. He lowered his head toward her, and she had to pull her own skull to avoid coming contact with him. She once again didn't dare speak, like back at the border, but when he demanded to know if she was planning to escape, she wanted to nod and scream at him, but she forced herself to shake her head no instead.

Her stormy eyes ripped away from his. She stared at the forest floor a little to the left, ducking her head. Just you wait, a voice taunted her. Why was that voice familiar? Why was that phrase familiar? She swear she had heard that before; many times before, in fact. Then it hit her. Jace.

He used to always tell her that, then coo at her and call her Little Jay, before he'd violate her again. He wasn't ever gentle when he raped her: the old beta's son left her in enough pain to even make walking burn her muscles. Her limbs always protested as she left him once he was finished, but then he'd call her back in and make her fall asleep at his side, in which once she'd wake up, he'd repeat it all over again. After about three to four days, he'd trade her off to River, or to Kane, his father, but then he'd take her back. Emily was nothing but an object to them.

She was nothing but an object to the male glaring at her.

She took a few steps backwards, gulping and staring at the terrifying alpha. Her limbs were screaming, and her lungs were aching for her to start breathing heavily to receive oxygen, but she refused to make even her breaths anything but silent. His bared fangs made her tremble. "Why don't you just do it already?" she finally whispered.

The alpha watched as she trembled before him, seeing to fight within herself. Something gnawed at the back of his head. The sight of her made him want to comfort the female and hold her close, to apologize for his actions. His ears twitched back and a small whine build up in his throat, so close to following those instincts. Duke quickly caught himself, though. How disgusting. How dare she almost made him into a weak pup. He wasn't like that no more. That was his past self. He could see she already given up on everything, letting him abuse her. Practically asking for him to kill her. How could a wolf not have any fight left in her? He'll have to change that.

Tired of her pitiful state, Duke launch himself at her, knocking her to the cold, hard ground before giving her shoulder a harsh nip. The tiniest bit of her blood now on the tip of his tongue. "You disgust me. A broken wolf. You're not a wolf at all." He snarled, tail lashing back and forth in irritation. "Tell me little bird, why do you not speak? Why do you not fight?"

Duke wanted her to confess everything. The alpha wanted to taste her flesh so badly. He was tired of all this. The shadows urge his assault on, coaxing it out of him. Not holding back, he bit down on her ear harshly. The sting of his own ear a simple reminder of his mistakes. Duke wanted her to feel his pain. His suffering.

In his own strange way, this was a way to make her stronger. So she wouldn't end up like him.
He would never admit this out loud.

He rammed into her and bit her shoulder, drawing blood. She yelped, trying to move away from him on the ground. He snarled at her, his tail waving like an angry banner. Tears welled up in her stormy eyes and one slipped down her slim face. "Why do you not speak? Why do you not fight?"

What a stupid question. Had he not guessed it already? He thought by 'it' in her question, he thought she had meant killing her? No, she meant punishing her! Violating her! Why did he draw out her suffering, was what she had asked. She knew he had to do it sooner or later, all males wanted that. Did they...?

"Because when I speak, I get hurt. When I fight back, I get hurt. I always get hurt!" she cried. "I don't want to die! I don't want my life to end! I want freedom. I want to escape from my past, and I nearly did. I'm nothing. I'm an object tossed around until it shatters. You wanna know why I don't fight back?" she said, her eyes shining.

"I used to get raped. Over and over again. I was traded back and forth, being used by males who wanted me to please them in the confinements and shadows of their dens. My own father took me, then his beta took me, that beta's son took me. I had no choice but to run; it was either that or stick around and wait for the day I ended up bearing one of their pups. And you wanna know the worst part?

"I used to be strong. I was the only daughter of an alpha, I became his apprentice and he trained me for over a year. Then he gave me a new task. "Not to become stronger, but to become weaker. To become not dominant like your genes tell you, but submissive like your mother. The lowly omega is who you're destined to be". He used to tell me that you know.

"That's why I'm the way I am. It obviously shows how broken I am, and I'm sorry that you appointed a toy as your beta. So come on, why don't you be the child. Use me up until I break even more. Discard me, punish me, do what you want. I have no will to fight back anymore."

He got the truth. If he wasn't satisfied with it, that was his problem. She gave him what he wanted. He wanted her story, and she gave it to him.

Apparently he didn't like that. He bit down on her ear, and she let out a long, vibrating scream. Blood poured down the side of her head from the wound. Was he trying to make her ear like his? He couldn't! No! She was broken enough! Why was he doing this?!

He stood over her as she screamed after telling her heart filled story. He remember the old days when happiness was upon this land. He strictly remembered the females being treated with respect and if they were not, they would show whoever dare try to make them submit the reason why they should be treated. He couldn't understand her pains, for he never seen it within his pack. Yes he was hurting her as of now, but this was punishment, an alpha to his subordinate. Not because of her gender. She must think him like the others. He almost laughed. No, Duke was very different then the other 'males'.

His eyes glanced at the wound he conflicted. The ear was the most sensitive next to the belly of a wolf. Duke ran his tongue along his blooded teeth. He was quiet for a while, fighting with the evil in his head for the next words he was going to say. "Is that all? So you just going to quit?" He hums in a matter of fact tone, regarding her with his chilling gaze. Duke shook his head, disappointed. No wonder they took advantage of her, for her weakness. Her past meant nothing to him, just shows the alpha how much work he had on his shoulders.

Without thinking, his pink tongue darted out lapping just once on her bloody ear. The blood fresh on his tongue. It seem to satisfied his shadows for they didn't bothered him. "Get up, and go eat." Was all he said before stepping back, giving her room to stand. His eyes promised a much harsher punishment for her if she disobey him once more. This time he rip her ear off.

He let go of her ear and she continued to whine and cry on the cold ground. She didn't answer his questions. When he licked her ear, she yelped and shied away. She scrambled to her paws upon his order and she stepped away from him. He didn't understand her pain. He wasn't going to punish her, or at least, not her definition of punishment.

She started walking back to the clearing, the howling wind stinging the bloodied wound on top of her head. The side of her face was chilled, as the blood mixed with the snow and sunk toward her skin. As she entered the clearing, she continued toward the snow covered carcass. She sat down before it, leaning down and taking a bite. She forced herself to swallow it, her stomach doing summersaults in protest. The male would regret it, as she knew it wouldn't be kept down.

But she ate about half of it, eating the stringy meat as her insides clenched and turned. She finally couldn't take the pain anymore and backed away from the half-finished meal. She shook her head. "I'm done. I can't eat anymore," she whispered, her voice tight from the pain that still flowered in her ear, giving her a headache.

He watched the tan she wolf do as he said, skittish as ever. Pleased, Duke followed her to the clearing relaxed finally. The alpha took a seat just a foot from her, his ear bothering him. Lifting the back of his leg, Duke lazily scratched his good ear. The itching making him purr in delight. At least something finally didn't bother him no longer.

His golden eyes softens from their earlier rage, darting around the clearing noticing the wind picking up once more. If couldn't wait for winter to be over once more. With that thought process in mind, he flickers his attention back on the she wolf who spoke up for once. Noting the carcass half finished he'll let her be. He had a feeling her empty stomach would hold much more, which he figured. Better to have something then nothing at all.

Nodding his head, Duke stood up stretching out his muscled built. His bones cracked from the effort. Shaking his brown coat, Duke made his way back to her form. "Now lay down." He huffs, the wind whirling around them causing snow to stick in his fur. It would be best to sleep the storm away, he learned from his past experience. He waited patiently for his little bird to do as ones told.

She flinched as he neared her and gave her the new command. She hesitantly stretched her forelegs out from her body, lowering her figure to the snow covered ground. She dropped her haunches, finally lying down. Her limbs and muscles all relaxed instantly. She curled up, hiding her face in her tail as she always did when sleeping in a storm.

Winter was her least favorite time of year. It was the time when she was always confused, because instinct told her to search for a mate, and when it had been forced upon her, she was never sure how to feel. It was also when males were the most violent with her.

The snow wasn't helpful either. All it did was chill her and make her stand out. Her tan pelt didn't remotely blend in with the white powder. She glanced up from her position, watching her alpha. Her eyes were heavy, and she let them shut, despite the violent headache pounding on the inside of her skull. She began to drift off, and finally, she found peace.

Duke let her fall asleep, eyes watching over her. He glance around almost as if to make sure no one was watching. He then made his move. Circling around her, his cold wet nose nuzzle her back, sniffing her scent. It's been years since he touched another from his kind. Ears flat against his skull uncertain how to act. He was thankful she was asleep. This was utterly embarrassing for the male. Finally, the alpha settled down behind her. His body curling around her's for warmth. His slowly relaxed against her, enjoying the warmth she brought. For so long he only known the cold, even in the summer. Maybe things were looking up.

He observe her for a moment, not wanted to disturb little bird. He noticed her lighter tone fur contrasting against his darker tone. His gaze fell on her still bleeding ear. Lowering his head, he dab his tongue on the wound. He didn't want her getting infected, was all. He cleaned it with his rough tongue for once being gentle. He made sure all snow and dirt were out of the scab before it clot. It was a good thing it was cold. The cold helps numb the pain he learned.

Inspecting his work, proud of himself Duke curled his tail around her flank. He huffs laying his head on the ground next to her's. The wind blew at his back, protecting her from the harsh winds. He quickly shut his eyes catching a faint shadow in the storm. Duke refuse to let them scare him any longer.