The Delta's Daughter Chapter 54

LAMIA

The relief I felt when it dawned on me that Mike was really there was indescribable. “…get these the fuckoff me” I said.

My body ached, my limbs lax, and my face was swollen from the beating they had come to give me that night. Kira had stood there and watched, laughing as they brutalized me within an inch of my life, left me there for dead thinking I could not heal and the silver poisoning of my body coupled with the wolfsbane and some other burning substance they injected me with would finish me off.

When the kicks and punches finally stopped after goddess knows how long, I stilled my breathing and slowed my heart rate down. Even though I could not hear my wolf, her presence was still there, weak but there. My lips were chapped from lack of fluids and my throat was dry. My skin itched from the filth and my scalp felt as though it was on fire when they had pulled and yanked it out.

I took a deep breath when the cuffs were snapped from my ankles and wrists, the feeling of a weight being lifted. It was when my collar was removed did I feel my wolf stir. I felt her shame and remorse.

‘I couldn’t save him, I’m sorry.’ She whimpered in my mind, causing me to whimper also, knowing that she meant our pup.

 I didn’t blame her, there was nothing she could do. She had been forced into retreat. It didn’t make it hurt any less, that feeling of loss. I would never get to see or hold my pup. As a werewolf, our bodies could withstand a lot, endure so much more, but my wolf couldn’t protect him, she couldn’t heal us, she had been rendered useless, only being able to watch what was happening from the inside.

The sorrow and guilt engulfing my own emotions, a darkness seeping into the hole left in my heart, filling the void of loss, a darkness calling for vengeance.

“Shit, they really did a number on you girl. I’m so sorry” I heard Tawny mumble as she placed a shirt over my head, carful of my wrists as she threaded my arms through the sleeves.

I didn’t respond, I couldn’t, I buried my head into Mike’s shoulder as he lifted me and began carrying me out of my dark prison. We reached the stairs when I smelled a familiar scent, Uncle Michael. I didn’t raise my head, I didn’t dare look at anyone, the shame of my state threatening to crumble the last thread of strength I had at that moment.

“Let’s get her cleaned up first”, I heard Tawny as we reached the top of the stone stairs and entered a long corridor.

As soon as the cuffs had come off and I heard Inanna, felt her more, she began to heal me as much as she could. The throbbing in my neck began to lessen, the ache from the silver spikes lessening as she pushed the poison from my body. If we could shift, I could heal faster, but she wasn’t strong enough yet. With each second that passed, I could feel her strength returning. When they ushered me into a bathroom of sorts, Mike sat me on the counter as Tawny ran some water and began cleaning my legs. I slipped off the side, onto my shaky legs and grabbed the wet cloth from her hands.

“I can do this” I said, looking straight into her orange eyes, full of concern and pity, and began wiping between my legs and down my thighs.

“Lamia…” Mike began choking out my name, but I didn’t let him finish. Instead, I steeled my eyes on his soft orbs, taking in his beautiful face that held so much love.

“I will walk out of here if it’s the last thing I do”, I promised.

From the corner of my eye I saw Tawny rummage through a bag she had been carrying, pulling out a bottle of water and handing it to me. She began zipping the bag back up, but not before I could notice my swords that laid in there with some clothing items. I opened the water and sipped some, loving the coolness but not loving the burn on my cracked and dried lips as my lips closed around the thin opening of the bottle.

I finished cleaning myself up as much as I could. At least the fluids had been wiped from me, the dirt and grime would have to wait. I threw the wet cloth in the old chipped and brown sink, my legs less shaky as I stood to my full height feeling the taught skin on my back pull and the fabric from the shirt I was wearing rub on the now semi open wounds.

“Where is my Mate?” I asked, a little more command in voice than I intended.

Neither said anything to me, just exchanged looks of apprehension “Where is Zane?” I asked again.

“Fighting” Mike replied. “Lamia, we need to get you out of here”, reaching to place a hand on my shoulder, he breathed out.

I opened my link, reaching out to Zane *Baby, can you hear me?* I waited with bated breath when I finally heard him reply.

*Doll, where are you? I’m coming to get you. Goddess I love you. I’m so happy to hear your voice*

I choked on a sob, a tear streaking down my face; it had been forever since I heard his icy tone, forever since I had laid eyes on him. I asked Mike where we were and where we were headed, then replied to Zane letting him know we were coming out the same way Tawny and Mike had entered the building.

I left the link open as I told Mike to lead the way and followed them out the door, more than ready to wrap my arms around my mate. Oh, how I had missed him.

The closer we got to making it out of this goddess-forsaken building the louder I heard the growls and clashing of teeth as the battle raged on outside.

We stepped out into the bright morning sun and for a brief moment I closed my eyes, letting my skin relish in its warmth. It had been so long since I felt the temperate air of the outside world. I felt like I could breathe again, like I was recharging.

We had made it out to the side of the building where the walls had crumbled and bore tell-tale marks from a long ago fire. I didn’t get a chance to take in our surroundings as I caught a scent on the breeze and snapped my head up in its direction. There he stood; fighting through wolves to get to me. His body was bare, blood splashed across his heaving chest and speckled on his face, his pale blue eyes found mine and locked onto them. My breath hitched as I took in the barbaric and handsome sight of my mate, making my heart race and falling in love all over again.

With a will of their own, my legs carried me towards him, my lips cracking as the corners turned upwards, a small smile creeping across them. Throwing wolves to the side and ripping their heads off as he made his way to me, not once looking away. It seemed like a lifetime before I felt his strong arms wrap around me, pulling me in close.

“Zane…” I whispered against him. “I didn’t know if I would ever see you again”, I began to sob. Feeling the sparks travel up my arms and through my body as he held me. I was home, I was safe, and all I would ever need was him. I let my love for him seep through our bond, pouring out to him. All I could hope was that he would still want me after being tainted.

“MINE” he declared with a growl. As we stood there paying no mind to the fight surrounding us.

He pulled back and cupped his hands around my face, brushing my greasy and nasty hair from my face.

“I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry” he began mournfully repeating as he kissed my forehead and began littering my face with more soft kisses. He pulled back, staring into my eyes, searching them for something. His own pale blues glazed with unshed tears.

“I’m so sorry I wasn’t there. Forgive me Lamia, please forgive me. I love you so much. I am so sorry my beautiful queen, I let you down.” He rambled, the guilt filling him and I could hear it on his tongue, in his words. He blamed himself.

I began shaking my head, “No, no, this wasn’t your fault baby” I said, wrapping my arms around his waist. How could he feel guilty? He didn’t do this; he didn’t know we would be ambushed. I could feel his guilt through the bond; feel how badly he had been affected by this.

His hurt, his fear, his respite, his longing and, above all, his love for me. “I love you” I breathed out, then sniffling.

At this moment, it was just me and him. The battle that commenced around us faded, blurred, my whole world was in front of me and when his lips gently brushed mine in a tender kiss, I melted into his strong embrace, uncaring of the happenings around us. He scooped me up in his arms, carrying me bridal style and began to make his way quickly away from the carnage.

“Zane… I …” I wanted to tell him about our pup, I couldn’t keep it a secret, I didn’t want to lie to him, I knew our wolves would communicate and it was just a matter of time before his wolf found out, he would be able to feel it through the bond, the guilt, the sadness, the remorse, the loss.

“Shh, I know doll, and all I need is you. I’m getting you out of here.” He whispered as he began walking the opposite way from the battle. “You are my everything, my world, we will get past this. I love you so much Lamia, my Luna, my mate, my reason for breathing. I couldn’t live without you; I don’t want to live without you. It’s me and you forever… uggghhh”

I watched his eyes widen, his pupils dilate.

“Zane!” I cried out as he dropped to his knees.

I grabbed my chest as an excruciating sharp pain pierced through my heart. “Zane!” I cried out again when his arms let go of me and I tumbled to the floor. I scrambled over to him, clutching his arm, when I saw the dark red liquid spill from his mouth, running over his pink lips.

He coughed, spluttering more blood from his mouth, mixing with his saliva and dripping heavily onto the ground.

Falling forward into my arms, it was then that I saw the arrow that had pierced through his back straight into his heart. The silver tip poking through ever so slightly from the front of his chest as the blood pooled around the wound. I ripped the arrow from his chest.

“No, no, no , no. Zane!” I yelled, crying. This could not be happening “Zane baby, hang in there, you're OK, Zane baby, stay awake” I was sobbing, kissing his face, waiting for his wolf to heal him. Telling him he was OK, but I knew the moment his heart stopped.

The bond snapping as the most wrenching and agonizing burn filled me, more pain than I had ever endured, even at the hands of my captors.

I screamed at the top of my lungs, lifting my head to the sky, then coming down and kissing him, “Baby please don’t leave me, not like this”, I begged.

I grabbed my chest as the grueling and searing agony rolled through my body, like a million nerves all being snapped at once, a wave of pain like hot needles rippling through my heart howling out my torment. The feeling of my heart being ripped from my chest and tearing my soul in half as I felt his life force fade from him. His eyes were still wide and pale with shock as the blood ran down the corner of his mouth. I threw my body over him, begging him to heal, begging him to wake up, begging the moon goddess to spare him, if not, then to let me die right here, right now.

I couldn’t take this pain, the whole in my heart growing bigger.

I didn’t know how long I lay across his body, I don’t know how long I cried for him to get up, I don’t know who it is that took my shoulders in their hands. I feel nothing, I care for nothing. My whole world has crumbled; my reason for existing has been torn away from me. I have lost our pup, now, I have lost him.

This cannot be happening! I agonize with myself.

I limply pound his chest, the tears falling freely on to his strong muscular chest, one I would never feel beneath me again; I will never fall asleep listening to the powerful rhythm of his heartbeat.

I have only had a short time with Zane but I loved him with all my heart. I collapsed further into Zane; my body is shaking from the snap of the mate bond.

“You said forever.” I mumbled through my sobs “This isn’t forever.”

 My wolf howled in my head, as images of Zane and I flickered in my mind like a short film, the most recent memory, the day I was taken. I was about to tell him I was pregnant. He had just told me how much he loved me, that he wanted a family. I was so excited about telling him.

I never got to tell him.

“We were going to have a pup” I whisper cry.

I see the night we danced on my birthday, recalling the icy stare he gave me, trying to hide his lust and want for me. His smile that was kept just for me and the feeling of him; I would never have that raw intimate connection again. I would never be lost in him again, feel the sparks or his soft lips against mine, and never be able to run my hands through his jet black hair and down his strong and manly jaw again.

 Inanna felt it too, the loss of our mate, the soul-shattering death. Through the pain, I felt that same darkness creeping in, seeping into that now bigger void I was left with.

“We will meet again, my love”, When I have avenged your death and killed those responsible. I vow the last part to myself.

Someone tried lifting me away from Zane and my wolf, Inanna, was not having it, letting out a deep rumbling and feral growl, her claws extending as she swiped at whoever was trying to take her away from her mate. From our peripheral vision we saw Tawny, who dropped her bag, as she came to our side.

The hilt of the sword with their wolf’s head pommel sticking out. 

Like a twig, something snapped from within. I laid a kiss on my mate one last time, and then wiped my tear-streaked face; I stood up clenching my fists, letting my nails dig into my palms, drawing blood.

My chest rose and fell heavily as I stood there for a second and let my eyes track every movement, every shifter on the battlefield. Mentally taking note of who is where. Kellen is to my right, fighting with Hunji in human form, readying for the advancing bear shifters now emerging from the forest line close to us. I see my father in front of us with the King holding off a group of rogues alongside warriors. Then my eyes landed on Alpha Greg and his Beta Sam. They were also locked in a bloody battle fighting for me. All my family are on the front line, they are fighting for me.

It was when I saw Cyrus, the gamma of the Golden Circle pack, our pack, Zane’s Gamma, my Gamma, shift and fall to his knees, the loss of his Alpha deeply impacting him, a sudden sadness rolling over him, the warriors from our pack would also feel it. They will be sitting ducks, the snapping of the bond from their Alpha will weaken them, they will feel his death, just not on as grand a scale as I am.

 I reached for the bag, drawing out both swords, coating the handles with the blood that still flowed from my palms. I wasn’t thinking now, just reacting.

I refuse to let my family, my pack, be slaughtered. Someone is going to pay, someone is going to die.

They have awoken something dark within me, within my wolf as she rears up to the forefront, pushing all her power through me. A surge of heat, different than before, more powerful, stronger and dominant, began flooding me, overriding the pain and heart ache, but not washing it out. Energy so dominant, I feel like my body begins to zing.

‘He did this, and will avenge my mate. I will keep my promise and it begins now!’ I mentally spoke to my wolf.

‘Avenge his death, Avenge our pup, they will all die’ She responded.