HEAT

Part seven

“I...The blackhound pack,” I whispered softly.

Her head breakneck-ly snapped in my direction, zeroing her eyes on my face. I tried to remain cool and collective, however, she might have already sensed it.

“I heard the Alpha is a ruthless beast. I don’t have proof to justify the rumors I apprehended, but rumors were never made without their bases.” She replied as her jaw ticked.

I gulped the water in the glass when I felt my throat become drier at every passing second.

“Yes, he is. The night...the night your mate found me, I was running away from him. My parents were with me, protecting me, did their best to keep me safe.” I whispered, not sure if she heard me, but as the wolf that she was, I knew she did.

I briskly stood up from my seat. “That was why I needed to find my parents, Collete. I’ve got to find them. I know...I know they’re still out there,” I wobbly said, clutching the edge of the table, seeking support as I felt my body begin to wilt.

I deeply inhaled a lungful of air, trying to ease the turmoil in my stomach.

“What happened there, Tasha?” she queried cautiously and I bit my lower lip when I felt it tremble. She took a step forward. So gently, she tucked away my hair to my shoulder. “Look at me,” and I did.

“Tell me,” my body involuntarily shuddered from fear as memories of the night resurfaced.

I held her eyes, which turned yellow with golden flecks. It was immersive. My eyes scanned her face, finding comfort in the leniency of her expressions. She smiled with encouragement.

COLLETE

I saw how Tasha’s eyes widened with fear and trepidation, which then turned to lightness and stoicism. I could see how she was trying to get a hold of herself in order not to get hysterical, how her eyes clouded with restrained tears, shutting and unlocking.

“Are you hearing all this, Vilkas?” I opened my Mindlink communication with him. At the very beginning, I sensed Tasha was going to dispense with the circumstances the night of her terrifying escape.

Terrifying? Yes, because the crawling fear I felt in her skin was zealous.

“Yes,” his terse voice answered.

If I weren’t used to how fast his emotions changed or who this man was, I would have been intimidated by the radiating anger I felt through our bond as a member of his pack.

Tasha’s frightened voice stretched out in my ears and rather enraged me to the bone.

“He abruptly barged into my room in the middle of the night, sounded maniacal...he kept saying that...the Alpha will never find me, that... that before he gets me, I will have to satisfy him first and he said he would make sure I was too broken for the Alpha’s treat...” Her voice choked; her clasped hands flew to her chest, seemingly lost, and I knew she was looking for someone or something to hold to her chest.

I just realized Thumper was not in her hands for her to hold onto.

On the other side of the Link, I could feel Vilkas getting up in arms over where this admission could lead to.

"He started shredding off his t-shirt as he got closer to the bed. I could not move, Collete... I was compelled to be immotile. I couldn’t scream. My telepathic channel was veiled. I couldn’t reach anyone in my pack or my parents.” She snuffled, tears were still threatening to fall out. There was confusion in her eyes like she wasn't sure about something.

I did not touch her because I didn’t want her to break down. She had to find strengths within her.

"He yanked me to the edge of my bed. Disgusted by his touch, I wanted to run. However, I couldn’t react. I was void of counteraction.” My blood boiled. "He...he touched me, Collete. He ran his filthy hands on me! He touched me everywhere. I hate him. I loathe him. I was so scared. I couldn’t scream,” she finally let go of her tears, sobbing silently.

"Did he?” I asked. I felt Vilkas’s blood running cold. Tasha’s eyes rose to mine with pure innocence, petrified. Confused.

Brushing off her tears with the back of her hands, she continued.

“He was about to...defile me when, with all suddenness, something snapped in me. A loud scream was ripped from my throat, bolting my parents to my room.”

I faintly sighed in relief. I could feel the respite flooding out of Vilkas. Tasha carried on.

"That caught him off guard, giving my parents the chance to lunge at him subconsciously. He was off the cuff, so my parents were able to do good damage. My parents told me to run, which I did. My parents promised to follow suit. I ran for my life. I didn’t know what happened afterward, but I could feel my parents trailing behind me, but I lost them in the woods, then,... they... Vardano came and the rest trailed behind.” I smiled at her soothingly.

Vilkas cut the connection. I opened my arms for her, urging her for comfort.

"Come here,” she hiccuped, welcoming my embrace. She was indeed very innocent. She aroused my protective instinct as well as Vardano's. I knew she would be safe.

My subconscious grinned like a Cheshire cat at the thought of what would become clear at the fullness of time, hereafter.

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TASHA

“Where are we heading for Collete?” I queried for the second time since she hauled me out of her house the day after.

"The Alpha called for your attention. I’m bringing you up there.” I stopped dead in my tracks. The dormer window of the house came into view. It was a big house. But the thought of seeing him made my heart skip a bit.

"Why are we going there? Don’t you think a rouge should avoid the Alpha as much as possible?″ I said loudly. She just shrugged and continued her steps.

"Please, tell me, I’m not seeing him again today, Collete. Are you even listening?” I complained, chasing her annoying long strides. She damned walked fast.

"We’re here,” she remarked cheerfully on the doorstep. I looked at her. Confused. "Okay, let me tell you this. He has his own house. He doesn’t live in the packhouse, but it is still in the Pack’s area, as you can see. The packhouse is just where the businesses are conducted.” She said coolly.

“That does not even answer my question, Collete. Why am I here?” She strode past me in the same direction we had just walked from, leaving me standing dumbfounded in front of the door.

"He wants you to just get inside, so be good, okay? You’ll be fine, trust me,” she said, waving her hand, and walked away.

And before I could open my mouth to respond hotly, a surprised gasp left my mouth, startled when the door creaked open, producing the Alpha himself.

My stomach churned, butterflies danced to the unknown music in my stomach.

"Hi?” I whispered.