Wolf Marked by Alexis Calder

8

Everything hurt but I wasn’t ready to die and I knew the cave was a death sentence. I turned on my side, telling myself that I was fine. I didn’t have a broken wrist or a torn up back or bite marks on my arms. I was just imagining it, right? Okay, fine, I still felt like I was nearing death’s door, but I had to try.

Kyle and Julian were pushing on a huge boulder that sealed off the entry. Now that I knew it was the cave, it was hard to miss the obviously placed stone that acted as a door.

Turning my attention from Kyle and Julian, I looked over at Tyler. He was watching his friends, oblivious to me. If I was going to attempt to run, this was it. Holding my breath, I braced for the pain.

Wincing, I pushed myself to standing as quietly as I could. Already panting from the strain, I stood on shaky legs. With a quick glance at the distracted shifters, I took off.

The searing pain escalated with each pump of my arms, but I forced it down. I had to get away from these psycho wolves. Under the light of the full moon, I watched for rocks and kept my gaze on the tree line. It was unlikely I’d actually get away from them, but my plan was different this time. Instead of hoping to avoid other shifters, I was hoping I could run into some witnesses. As far as I knew, it was still against pack law to attempt to kill me. Tyler and his thugs had never pushed things quite this far.

And as much as I hated to use the mate card, I knew it was definitely against pack rules to try to kill your mate. You were to protect that bond. Mated pairs resulted in stronger wolves, not only for the bonded pair, but also for their offspring. Even if I couldn’t have children who could shift, opening the door to allow a mate to treat their partner the way Tyler treated me was dangerous. Even someone like Ace would have to see that, right?

My foot caught on a root and I went down. Instinct had me cradling my broken wrist so I landed on my right shoulder. More pain surged through me and all the adrenaline that had been keeping the other injuries manageable seemed to wear off at once.

With a whimper, I tried to push myself up. Everything hurt and my body didn’t want to cooperate. I lay there in the dirt, breathing heavy, listing to the pounding of my heart. This was it. I guess I didn’t need to be trapped in a cave to die. My body was giving up on me. “Fuck me.”

“No, I don’t think I will,” Tyler’s voice came from somewhere in the darkness. “If I did that, it would solidify the mating bond, and then where would we be? Instead of breaking the bond, I’d spend my whole life missing you. Who wants that?”

“Just let me go, Tyler,” I said. “I’ll sever the bond when I’m away from here.”

“I can’t trust that you’d take care of it on your end,” he said.

“Like I want to be bonded to a piece of shit like you,” I hissed.

“Pick her up, take her back,” Tyler commanded.

Shadowy figures shrouded in darkness moved in the distance. As they drew closer, my heart jackhammered in my chest. I thought of myself as a fighter. Even if I didn’t always fight back, I knew when to fight and when to cut my losses to live another day.

I’d played a dangerous game of balance my whole life. I knew when to pull back and I knew when retaliation was worth the risk. Now, I was staring certain death in the face and all the fight was gone. I didn’t see a way out of this. My injuries weren’t going to allow me the sliver of a chance and Tyler already wanted me dead. Nobody was going to hold back if I fought.

The cave, while a death sentence was my only chance at pulling through. The thought flitted in and out of my mind in a heartbeat. I knew it was futile. I would never survive. I’d starve before I found a way out; and that was if my injuries didn’t kill me first.

Julian’s face hovered above mine. “Time for you to die, little whore.”

“Fuck you.” I spat at him. Hey, just because I’ve accepted that I’m going to die, doesn’t mean I have to be happy about it.

Julian wiped the spit off his face, then rose to his full height. He kicked me in the same shoulder that hit the ground, and then kicked me in the back and stomach.

Sometime around the fourth of fifth kick, I must have blacked out. As my eyes fluttered open and I woke, I realized I was moving. Each step jostled me and I winced as fresh pain bloomed with each movement. I was slung over someone’s shoulder, being carried like a sack of potatoes.

“I can walk,” I said, my voice coming out dry and gravely.

“No, you can’t,” Kyle said. “You might as well conserve your energy.”

“Why? So it takes longer for me to die in the cave?” I asked. “Do you feel good about this? You do realize you’re a murderer now.”

“I’m not a murderer,” he said.

“You’re leaving me to die. Just because you’re not stabbing the knife in my heart yourself doesn’t change anything,” I said.

“Shut up or you’ll make it worse,” he hissed.

“You say that as if I’m not dead already,” I replied. “Do you really think I can get out of this?”

My head was spinning and everything felt even more unsteady than it should despite my current predicament.

“I’m sorry, Lola, I don’t have a choice, I have to follow my alpha.” Kyle sounded a little sad.

I wasn’t about to let him feel like he was the victim here. “First of all, Tyler is not the pack alpha. Second, he doesn’t have the fucking mark or he’d have shown it to everyone.”

“Nobody else has the mark so he’ll be alpha by birth,” Kyle said. “Look, I know you don’t deserve this, but just stop fighting.”

“You’re a prick, you know that? You act like you’re trying to help me but you’re just as bad as them,” I said through gritted teeth.

“You know that’s not the case,” he said. “I’m nothing like them.”

“Oh yeah? Then why didn’t you stand up for me when I was ten and Tyler gave me two black eyes? Where were you when Julian pushed me down the stairs or broke my ribs? Or the time you stood by and watched while Tyler held me under the water in the lake until I passed out?”

“I’m the one who dragged you to shore,” he said.

“Doesn’t make you a good person,” I said. “It makes you a weak follower. You stood by and did nothing. One time of saving me doesn’t undo all the hurt you were silent for.”

Kyle stopped. “We’re here.”

“No comment?” I asked.

“I’m putting you down. Don’t bother running. Julian is in wolf form.” Kyle shifted me so I was brought down from his shoulder.

As soon as my legs hit the ground, they gave way. Kyle caught me, and stabilized me.

“Don’t ever touch me again.” I pushed his hands away from me. I’d rather fall than be helped by him.

“Stubborn to the last,” Tyler said.

“And an utter coward to the last,” I spat.

Tyler’s nostrils flared and he let out a low growl. “Don’t test me.”

“Fuck you.” It wasn’t my best comeback, but who can argue with a classic?

Tyler moved closer to me and I held my ground. Not because I was trying to be overly brave, but because between the throbbing pain and blurred vision, I wasn’t sure I would stay standing if I tried to move.

“I’m going to be overjoyed when I feel our bond break. You were living on borrowed time already. I’m just finishing the job my father should have done.”

I glared at him. There was no way I was going to let Tyler know how much he’d hurt me. In a final act of defiance, I did the only thing I could think of that might cause him any kind of pain. I grabbed his head and pulled him into a kiss.

I couldn’t feel the mating bond, but I knew the physical contact would make it stronger. When I died, he’d feel the pain of losing a mate and he’d hate himself for it.

To my surprise, his hands gripped my hips, pulling my body closer to his. His lips moved with mine, deepening the kiss. Heat rose in my chest, and tingles spread down to my core.

His hand traveled up my back as his tongue slipped into my mouth. Fingers tangled in my hair, he pulled me even closer. The kiss was hungry and angry and it felt like I was releasing all of the pent up aggression I had for him into one far too steamy kiss.

My lips felt bruised as heat grew into the kiss. Tyler’s stubble was rough on my cheeks. I hated him with every ounce of my being and I put all my emotions into the movement of my lips.

I was the first to pull away, breaking the connection. Eyes wide, I stared up at him, expecting to see the fire of hatred I’d gotten used to seeing in his gaze. Instead, I saw lust.

And that scared me a whole lot more.

“You think I’ll spare you?” he whispered, his voice heavy with passion.

“No, I think now you’ll be forced to mourn me, even while you still hate me,” I said.

He pushed me, knocking me to the ground. “Get her in there. Make sure she can’t leave. Seal it well.”

Julian grabbed my arm and pulled. I screamed as my shoulder left the socket. He didn’t stop dragging me.

I was somewhere between consciousness as I was dropped in the cave but I forced myself to my knees. Mustering every last bit of strength I had, I glared at the three wolves. “You do realize I’m coming for all of you when I get out of here.”

Tyler and Julian laughed. I noticed Kyle didn’t join them. He knew this was wrong, but he wasn’t any better. He was the only one with enough of a conscience to speak up but he remained silent.

“Lock her in,” Tyler said. “Enjoy death, little wolf.”

I tried to stand, but my body wouldn’t let me. I was running on pure adrenaline. “You’re no alpha and everyone knows it.”

“Goodbye, Lola.” Tyler was smiling as the rock rolled into place.

I was alone, in the dark. I took a few deep breaths, letting my pulse come back down. As I recovered, the full spectrum of pain surged through me and I collapsed on the ground, letting the tears come.

I was broken, bleeding, and alone. I had two choices, wait for death, or try to find a way out of here.

After giving myself a minute to wallow, I returned to my knees and shuffled forward. There had to be some light somewhere. Even a tiny crack that let in the moonlight. If I had any chance of getting out of here, I needed to see what my injuries were.

Slowly, I made my way through the dirt and rocks, fighting the growing sense of despair. That’s when the ground gave way and I was falling. I’d managed to crawl right over a hole in the cave floor.

When I hit the ground, I no longer felt any pain. Then everything went black.