Talons

Chapter 16: The Missing

Rhea's POV

I don't know how long it has been, but my body feels bruised and battered. I have been throwing up blood, no doubt a side effect of a premature shift. I am lucky to still be alive, but I wish I were dead. I can’t feel my wolf at all, and no matter how much I call out to her, she hasn’t responded.

If I am going to die, I am okay with that, but I don’t want to die alone. I don’t want my body to be picked at by scavenging animals, because I don’t want my mother to see me that way. I know my family will eventually find me if I die in this cave, but it may take them time.

I have all sorts of plants growing around the area that mask my scent well. I planted them before I lost my sense of smell, and now I regret it. I didn’t think I would need help one day; I didn’t think I would be hurt on my father’s territory. I had grown too comfortable and now, I was dying alone, cold and afraid.

I willed myself to crawl to the opening of the cave and looked down at the ten-foot drop. I’ve decided it’s the best chance I have to end the pain permanently. I tried to fall on my head, but as life would have it, I fell on my stomach. My face smashed into the ground, which hurt, but I’m sure nothing is even broken.

I just laid there, unsure of what to do; maybe it would rain, and I would drown in a puddle. I did not want to live without Sylvia. She was like my rock; she made everything better when no one else cared or when my mother was too busy with her luna duties to notice. It tortures me to think that Colton killed my wolf. He murdered her by being sick and perverted.

A sense of determination creeps into me and I force myself to move. If nothing else, I will avenge Sylvia. Even if I have to start a war, I will.

Lark’s POV

Luke is a hard worker, so I am not surprised to see him reviewing pack files at the breakfast table mere hours after meeting his fated mate. With Emma, it took a week to convince her to accept my mark and after that, I spent another week making love to her in all the ways I knew she enjoyed.

I assume that Luke being out of bed means that Robin has not given into him, but then I sniff the air and notice his scent has changed. Luke is a fully marked and mated male. I have to commend him for his self-control, because I know for a fact that his bed has been empty for an entire year.

“Where is Robin?” I ask.

“She’s a little tied up right now.” I instantly regret asking, and I cover my ears while shutting my eyes tightly. My parents join us, and my father thanks Luke for a quiet night. I shudder because I know he is talking about not being able to hear my sister. Our rooms are noise suppressing, but not sound proofed.

I see Luke’s posture change, and I follow his gaze to Robin, who just strolled into the kitchen with the reddest face I have ever seen. It's cute seeing my sister behave like a girl, but I can do without knowing why.

“You're out of bed,” Luke states, and my sister's response almost makes me vomit.

“I have a strong mate, so I borrowed some of his strength. I hope he doesn’t mind.” Robin kisses Luke’s cheek and I shield my eyes while shouting for my father.

“Dad, is it too late to change my beta? I don’t think I can do this.” I gesture to Robin and my father chuckles. I wonder how he is handling things so well. “How are you okay with this?” I point; Robin is practically sitting on Luke's lap.

“Honestly, your mother made me see it in a different light. Luke was raised in this pack with our values. We don’t have to worry about him mistreating your sister, and if he ever messes up…” My father pauses, and Luke replies without even looking away from Robin.

“I won't.”

“Good to know,” my father replies before finishing his original statement. “If he ever messes up; as his alpha, his best friend, and his mate’s brother, you will be there to correct him.” Luke smiles at my father’s thinly veiled threat.

“You won't have to worry about me; Robin is the rule breaker in this relationship.” Robin gasps, and Luke winks at her. My normally stoic beta actually winked at my sister and I know there is some sort of hidden meaning in his words. “Hey, where is Baby B? I still need to thank her.”

Robin’s POV

I wake up after having one of the best nights, and mornings, of my life, and realize that I am still tied to the bed. Luke is really so much more than I could have ever asked for. He is such a dominant lover, but he doesn’t make me feel weak for submitting to him. Oddly enough, it makes me feel strong to know that with one pained sound, he will stop everything to make sure I am okay.

When Luke first asked if he could tie me up, my heart was hammering in my chest with fear, but now I don’t even know why I hesitated. Even right now, I'm not worried, I’m just thinking that I shouldn’t have passed out this morning, which was the rule if I wanted to be untied.

I tug on my bindings and feel a surge of energy that I know comes from the mate bond. The ropes break and I beeline to the restroom where I scrub myself free of the traces from the night before.

I'm so lucky that I haven't had my first heat yet because we really might have made a little Luka last night. Not that I mind, I just want to finish with my associates degree first. My mate has already told me that he expects no less from me, so even if I wanted to drop out, he would not allow it.

I make my way to the alpha kitchen. We always have breakfast together because my father says that it's important for our family to start the day with a plan. I am not surprised to see my mate and Lark sitting at the table, being served by one of the pack helpers.

Luke immediately notices me, and although he doesn't show it, I can tell he is surprised that I am in the kitchen. He says one thing out loud, and after I reply about having a strong mate, he mind links me that he will have to get tougher ropes.

I kiss his cheek, linking to him that he doesn't need to tie me up to have his way with me. Frankly speaking, if Luke tells me to put my hands up and keep them up, I will. My wolf is extremely submissive to him; she told me that part of it is our bond, but she also doesn't believe that Luke is really a beta.

I sit as close to Luke as I can without actually sitting in his lap, and he mind links me about how blessed he feels to have me as his mate. I smile at him, ignoring my father and brother, but my mate responds to them, making me gasp when he adds the bit about rule breaking.

It's true that I have always been known to push the limits, but Luke isn’t talking about that. He is talking about the bedroom games we have started playing.

Luke suddenly asks about Brain, and for a second, I am confused, then I remembered she tripped me.

“I think she went with Raven,” my mother says as she fixes my father a second plate.

I stiffen and my mate notices. He links me, and I lie, but his eyes never leave my form. He links me again, telling me that he can feel my anxiety, while reminding me that we are a newly mated couple. I know he is trying to tell me that we shouldn’t start our relationship off with lies, but I don’t know what to tell him.

I know Raven is not with Brain, she linked me where she would be before she left, and I doubt she dragged our little sister to go be a witness to her losing her virginity.

Luke growls in my mind and I make him swear not to say anything to anyone. I link him the truth about Raven, and panic crosses his face. He has always had a soft spot for Brain; It was actually his idea for me to start training her. I used to think it was weird, but last night, he told me that she was one of the few people who has never judged him, and I completely understood.

“Luna Mavis, did B tell you she was with Raven?” My mother shakes her head.

“No, but she didn’t come back last night. You know how sweet that girl is, she has too much empathy; find a sad person and that is where she will be.” Luke jumps up from the table and Lark follows him. I know they are linking one another. “What is going on?” I know my mate will not lie to his luna, but I will.

“Mommy, I spoke to Raven, she is at the gym on campus, she did not take brain with her, she has been running all night. My mother’s face goes completely white, and my father shifts in the middle of the kitchen, running after Luke and Lark, who have already bolted out of the door.