Page 55 of Rejected Bullied Mate

"Then let's move."

We shifted quickly, running as soon as our bones had snapped into place. Waylon's form was close behind me, russet fur blending in almost perfectly with the forest around us. As the wind rushed past us, I desperately searched for any hint of my mate, but there was nothing. We were running nearly blind, pulled along only by the mate bond. My singular lifeline.

But it was working. With each step, each mile we ran, I could feel the distance closing between us. Our connection solidified, and I knew exactly where I needed to go.A straight shot, veering east...keep running. Keep running.

In wolf form, I didn't realize where we were until we crossed the territory line, and then it was like being struck over the head. We exited Saltfang territory and ran straight into Scott Nevada’s pack territory, which meant that somewhere on his land, my mate was being held, injured, and afraid. I snarled, running faster. I'd kill whoever had hurt her. Scott's entire fucking town if I had to.

There was a warehouse off the highway that used to be a factory for one of the old steel companies. Now, it stood abandoned and empty, a looming reminder of the way this town used to be. We had driven by it before, but I hadn't paid any attention to it. Hadn't thought about it in years.

Until now.

As soon as we got close enough, I could smell her. The scent was thick with blood. It almost choked me, but it wasn't enough to mask her own scent underneath. My wolf wanted to tear the entire building down and rip Scott to shreds. He'd pay for hurting her.

"Get Kiera," Waylon said, his voice rough as we shifted back into human form. "I'll deal with the others."

"Be careful," I warned.

He flashed me a quick smile. "Always am."

We split up, and I crept inside the warehouse. It was almost pitch black, but my eyes adjusted quickly. Then, up ahead, I heard a muffled groan, followed by a quiet curse. I rushed forward, following the sound.

A tall, lean man stood over an unconscious woman, his back to me. I moved closer, my rage and desperation threatening to overwhelm me. My Kiera was tied to a chair, lank strands of dark hair falling on her face. She was awake, but when she turned her head, I could see the blood matting her hair in the back.

I'd eat Scott alive. He'd fucking die for this.

I was done waiting. No one could keep me from her. I rushed forward, and the man whirled around. I'd expected a goon and some bit of bullet fodder while the real villain was hidden somewhere else.

But no. The man who had taken my mate was too young, brash, dominant, and untested to do that. He wanted to see Kiera suffer with his own eyes. He wanted her to know that he'd won.

His arrogance would get him killed.

I slammed into Mason—not Scott—full force. His back hit a concrete pillar hard, but he didn't stay down for long. The blow staggered him, but he pushed me off and leaped to his feet, circling me.

"You idiot," I spat, "Touching her is a death sentence. Why in the hell would you do this?"

"Because she deserves it. And so do you."

He launched himself at me again, and we tumbled to the floor in a tangle of limbs. We wrestled, each one trying to get the upper hand, and he threw a punch at me. I blocked it easily, and his fist connected with the ground instead. I used the momentum to push him away from me and jump to my feet.

In the depths of the warehouse, screams could be heard, followed by a familiar howl. Waylon, on the hunt for whoever Mason had hired as backup. It was time to end this.

Mason was slower to get to his feet this time, his lip bloody and a cut over his left eyebrow. "Give up," I said, taking a step toward him. "And I'll make it quick,"

"Fuck you." He spat blood on the ground. "I'd rather die than surrender to you."

He threw himself at me again, but this time, I was ready. I ducked under his wild punch and swept my leg around, knocking him to the floor. He grunted, but before he could stand again, I put a knee against his back. I wrapped an arm around his neck, but a small piece of me considered letting him live. My father's rule had made him this way, a monster in human skin. If I killed him, would it really change anything?

Then I heard Kiera groan and remembered what he'd done to her.

"She screamed for you," Mason wheezed, "When I tied her up, she screamed for you."

All rationality fled. With a single, brutal jerk, I snapped his neck.

There was silence in the warehouse, and then Kiera whimpered. I untied her as fast as I possibly could, gingerly removing the tape from her mouth and pulling her into my arms as she sobbed.

"I've got you," I murmured. "You're safe now. I'm here."

I was vaguely aware of Waylon's approach, but I didn't take my eyes off my mate. She was clinging to me, shaking, but whole. Alive.

---