“Wakey wakey Brent.” I heard as I tried to open my eyes.
“Can't I just sleep all day?" I said. My body still feels heavy and I'm still lethargic.
"Gary, I love you but I just want to sleep." I said awake but my eyes were still closed.
"I know you're still tired but the doctor said you need your daily outing since you were in that bunker chained and suspended to the ceiling for God knows how long." I know how long, down to the milliseconds. Every minute counted because I have a cub to protect.
"What's for lunch?" I asked as my stomach rumbled louder than thunder making Gary snicker.
"Well because you're still not at full health, we made soup and sandwiches." He said and I smiled to myself.
"Let me just take a shower and I'll join you guys." I said getting up despite my body screaming at me. Damn hunters are fucking ruthless.
"Do you need help getting to the bathroom or do you think you can manage?" He asked and I shook my head, not wanting any of my mates to see my body.
"I think I got it. The dizzy spells aren't as bad as they were." I said as I kissed him and smiled then disappeared into the bathroom.
As I got out of the shower, I remembered I needed to make an appointment to check on the cub. I wanted to make sure those assholes didn't fuck with him.
Speaking of appointments, I need to find time to track Ryker down.
"Lunch is ready, lo…" Joseph began but stopped mid-sentence when he saw them. The scars from the hunters, his eyes were glued to my chest so I quickly covered myself with my shirt.
"I'll be right behind you." I said as I pulled on the shirt I had started to put on when he walked in.
I know they're going to want the full rundown of my kidnapping and what happened for those four months I was gone.
"Where's Altan?" I asked as I got to the last step. It was just Gary and Joseph at the dinner table.
"He went to talk to Ethan about taking out the hunters that kidnapped you and our cub." Joseph said and glanced at my chest.
“Did anyone try to…you know what. Trying to stop a raging tiger God is not a good idea.” I said looking at the dinner table.
“There’s an extra plate. Are we having company?” I asked and my head started to hurt so I sat down.
“That is a surprise but for now let’s just relax and watch some TV or something until Altan and our guest arrives.” Gary smirked and I eyed him. What’s going on here?
As we made our way to the couch, I felt a kick and doubled over. Little guy may not be a God but he sure has strong genes.
“Is that our little cub or did something happen?” Gary asked as they both ran to my side.
“Just a kick, little guy has been using me as a punching bag for a bit now.” I chuckled and so did they.
Hours passed and I was being shaken awake but not by any of my mates. They each have their own way of waking me up but none of them shake me.
When I opened my eyes, I think I forgot how to breathe.
“R-ryker?!” I asked and blinked a few times making sure I was awake and even pinched myself.
“Good to see you too.” He smiled softly and I hugged him and I couldn’t help the tears that fell.
“How? What? Why? Or When?” I shot off questions.
“Gary found me one day, our schedules somehow managed to match and so we had the same lunch and yeah. He’s been trying to track me down since you’ve been talking about me according to him.” He smiled and I was still speechless.
Before I could ask anything I was being dragged to the table.
“There’s so much I want to ask. I have so much to say. This is unbelievable, you’re actually here.” I said and I was just a babbling mess.
“Well I’ll be here all day and tomorrow. I work the graveyard shift tomorrow.” He smiled.
“How have you been?” I smiled and looked at him.
“Not great, it still feels as if she just died yesterday and it hurts like hell.” He said and I could feel his pain.
“I get it. That day changed all our lives. I know it did for me.” I said coughing and sighed.
"Have you settled down with anyone?" I asked, trying to lighten up the mood.
“No, since that day I never wanted a wolf to randomly attack someone I loved so much. For a bit I considered the family was cursed.” He smiled a sad smile.
“I still don’t know anything about who, what or why she was killed. They just said she was killed by a rabbit wolf.” He said and I was pissed at the people I once considered my parents.
“My parents killed her Ryker, or had a hand in it. I had no idea they did it until I was shown the memories.” I said barely above a whisper and my mates looked at me with sorrow filled eyes.
“W-what do you mean Brent?” He asked and I could see the shock on his face.
“My parents paid ten rogues to kill her. According to them she was changing me and making me 'soft' so they killed her." I said, feeling my throat getting tighter with each word spoken.
“So they trained ten rabbit wolves to attack and kill my sister?” He asked.
“It’s more complicated than that. The thing is, Gary is a wolf, a werewolf to be more precise and most of the people who live around here are as well. Altan is a tiger God along with his father, Caleb. Joseph and I are human. A rogue is a wolf who got kicked out of a pack which is what we are a part of. When they get kicked out for whatever crime they committed or treason, betrayal to the pack or whatever else, they are no longer pack. They slowly lose their minds and go crazy basically if they don't find another pack to take them in and most won't once they integrate the wolf and do a background check and call their previous Alpha to find out if the wolf was truthful. When a wolf no longer has a pack they are lost and can become evil. They attack and kill for no reason. My parents were hunters, myself included. I did it growing up because it's what they wanted me to do but once Riley was killed because of rogues, it became my life and I let it consume me and I did things I will regret until the day I die. Thanks to Adriel, he helped me and I'm ok now, I don't want to be that person anymore and most of the pack are ok with me, some still aren't and one I don't think ever will be. I'll tell you more about that at another time. I did find those rogues though and killed them, it took weeks because I made it last that long but they are dead. I wanted to tell you sooner but I was so lost and felt so guilty she died because of me, I'm the reason she died. I hope you can forgive me one day for this because Ryker, it kills me every day to know she is gone, because of me. You must know I loved her so much and the night she died, I asked her to marry me. She never did get to answer." I was crying by the time I was done talking and so was Ryker. I wanted to hug him but I didn't know if he would let me or punch me.
"This is just crazy, I don't know what the hell to think of all this but I don't blame you for something your parents did. I know you loved Riley, I know you both were happy and I can take some comfort in knowing she died knowing you wanted to be with her forever because I know she would have said yes. She loved you Brent, so much. She would tell me so many times about her dreams of a future with you, to have children with you, to grow old together." He was sobbing now so I took him in my arms and he wrapped his around me and sobbed into my neck and I was no better.
"I'm so sorry Ryker, I'm so sorry." I kept saying over and over again because I was, I was so sorry for her death, for his pain, for what my parents did to her and him, myself.
I looked at my mates and they all had tears in their eyes and I closed mine and held Ryker as we cried. I didn't have time to actually mourn Riley like I should have, I didn't want to feel it before, not when I had one mission in mind.
“Where are your parents? I want to see them. They deserve to suffer the same way Riley did.” He said in a voice that was honestly scary. I’ve only seen him so mad a handful of times.
“Sorry bud, we beat you to it.” Altan said and I could tell Amar was on the surface.
A few minutes later there's a pounding on the door. Altan being closest to the door opens the door and the twins are there and walk in and look directly at Ryker. Well this just got interesting.
“Gavin, Hayden, what are you guys doing here?” Altan asked, pretending to be oblivious.
“We’re here for him, our mate.” They said eyeing Ryker. Poor guy just learned about everything. I think we’re going to need drinks.
After this I know I have to tell my mates what happened so I know I'm going to cry again, my heart is gonna be so broken once they know it all. I’ll tell them after Ryker leaves.
“I think you all want to know what I went through in those four months.” I told my mates after Gavin and Hayden left with Riker. Well, going to the guest house he’s staying in after he got drunk off his ass. He still can’t hold his alcohol, never could.
“You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to. We get it, you still wake up with night terrors.” Altan said holding my hand as the tears started to fall.
“This isn’t just about me. They hurt us all, they tried to get to our cub. God knows if they did anything while I was passed out or sleeping. Four months of pure hell, more than I ever did to any creature that was in my possession. I was forced to watch them do horrible things to the supernatural creatures. They forced me to try things but when I refused, I was forced to take their place. I was beaten, raped, starved. Without rest. I was locked in a bunker suspended from the ceiling like a piece of meat on a hook. I was forced to participate in their version of a fight club and I did things I can’t unsee. It was the worst four months of my life. I was broken by the end. Thankfully I escaped and was able to get medical attention. All I could think of was Ryker and you three. That’s what kept me going.” I said trying to make sense as I kept crying and they were all a mess.
“They found wolfsbane and silver in your blood. They knew you were pregnant.” Altan growled out and I bit my lip.
“They could have killed our cub.” Gary said and I felt horrible. I should have fought harder for our cub.
“How did they even get you?” Joseph asked.
“I know that Gary, I lived through it, I was the one who was taken and I wished it was all a damn nightmare but it wasn’t. The bossman let them in thinking they were customers but they were hunters in disguise. They knocked him out and they overpowered me.” I said and sighed as the events replayed in my mind.
“How did that even happen when the repair shop is built on pack lands of all places.” Altan growled out. He was so pissed. I should have done something.
“I get it, I’ve lost my touch in combat. I could have easily taken them all on if I still had the training but I’ve been so focused on trying to better my life and not fighting. There were only six of them. At one point that was no problem for me. I’ve become weak and spineless.” I said and broke down.
“You’re not weak and spineless. You didn’t ask to be kidnapped. You’re trying to change your life for the better.” Joseph said, rubbing my back.
“Joseph is right, you’re trying to change your life and they took advantage of that. You survived four months of hell.” Gary said kissing my temple.
“This is fucking war. I will not stop until all hunters are dead beneath me.” Amar said, pulling me into his arms and holding me tightly against him.
I don’t know whether to be happy or frightened. Is it possible to be both? His word’s always final.
“I love you all.” I smiled wiping my tears.
“We love you too.” They said and Gary and Joseph joined our hug.
I have so much to get past but I know with my mate's by my side, I'll be ok eventually.