I groan in frustration as I look at the reports in front of me. My father sent a request to the Council in purchasing land around Pine Moon. He wants to expand the pack even though we have yet to accept new members and It has caused a headache to form. Actually, my whole body feels like a sore ache, like I have just faced a battle recently. Without warning, I fold in on myself, pain so intense I feel like I have been stabbed with a bladed dipped in wolfsbane and force myself not to scream. Tears fall from my eyes like streams and I find myself unable to breath for a moment.
“Hey Rune, I have the -” My door bursts open and Caspian walks in, his eyes meeting mine. I watch as panic sets in his eyes.
“H-help.” I whimper out, unable to say anything else as pain courses through me. Caspian slams the door shut, making sure that no one saw before rushing to my side. He carefully helps me from my chair to lay on the floor and I curl in on myself, unable to handle the next bout of pain that rips through me.
“I linked Jett. He should know what to do.” Siman states as he sits next to me and places a ruler in front of my face.
“Bite down on this so you don’t bite your tongue.” His voice is assertive and I can tell he really is trying to help me. Opening my mouth, I manage to bite onto the ruler before holding back another scream as the pain comes back with a vengeance. The door to my office opens and shuts again before Beta Jett rounds the corner of my desk. My neck burns as the Mate Beater mark begins to glow and Beta Jett lets out a curse after his eyes scan my prone body.
“Its Brynlee. She is finally letting the pain of rejection and banishment course through her.” Beta Jett explains, bending down and hefting me onto his shoulders. The ruler drops from my mouth as I curl around Beta Jett, his presence helping slightly.
“What do you mean?” I ask, trying to make sense of this pain.
“Of course your father never told you this information.” Beta Jett curses again.
“After rejecting your Mate there are certain pains you both will feel. With you, it is the residual pain of rejection that courses through Brynlee as well as when she makes love to another wolf.” He begins, staring into my eyes.
“Brynlee is lucky as after this pain runs its course, she will only feel when you make love to another she-wolf.” He sighs as a sickening feeling washes over me. I fucked Tanya a few days ago and she felt it. Brynlee felt it as excruciating pain.
“Will she always feel pain when I fuck another wolf?” I ask, gasping another bout of pain fills me, this one stronger than the last. Guilt wracks me with pain as I think about how just days ago I fucked Tanya with no regards. Had I known she would have felt the pain, I would not have touched that whore until our wedding night. My father really did keep information from me that would have been good to know. Hatred for that man grows steadily and I wonder if I am doing the right thing by being here. By agreeing to still marry Tanya when clearly it has caused so much pain and suffering for the pack, for me and especially, pain towards Brynlee.
“No. Once Brynlee or you mate and mark another, the connection fully dies and you will never cause nor feel pain when either of you get laid.” His eyes stare at me as if knowing what I had done. He doesn’t chide or curse at me and I am glad. I know deep down Beta Jett respected Brynlee and his words would sting more than if my father yelled at me. Another bout of pain takes over and this time my mouth opens in a silent scream. Beta Jett curses again and turns to Caspian.
“Caspian, we need to get Rune to his room. Can you make sure the halls are clear because if Valor sees this he will try to kill Rune. Any sign of weakness to that bastard is one that will be eradicated quickly.” Shocked by Beta Jett’s words, I try to push myself off him, but the pain stabs as me and I curl even more onto his shoulder, keeping myself from screaming.
“Why his room?” Caspian asks grabbing a blanket and covering my body.
“Because his room is soundproof. His mother knew the type of person Valor is and asked me to soundproof the room that eventually became Rune’s so that he could be himself away from Valor’s influence before she was killed.” Killed. My mother was killed. I want to ask more, but another stabbing pain captures my attention. Caspian is gone and time ticks by until I hear his voice.
[All clear.] A link between Beta Jett, Caspian and I is opened.
[Good. Let me know if Valor leaves his office.] Beta Jett replies as he carries me out of the office. I am glad Caspian covered my body. If anyone looked at the security footage from the cameras in the halls it will look like Jett is carrying a she-wolf to my room and not me. I stay silent while trembling with pain before the familiar scent of my room hits me. Beta Jett lays me onto my bed as Caspian comes inside, shutting and locking the door.
“How long will this last?” My friend asks as Beta Jett moves to light a fire in my fireplace.
“How ever long Brynlee goes through this.” His voice is grim as he gets the fire going, the room and my body warming quickly.
“I have been keeping an eye on Rune for this vary reason to make sure that when Brynlee finally confronts the pain, I can get him to safety. What Rune is going through is only a tenth of what Brynlee is going through. It’s the bond breaking and shattering and fighting to be put back together mixed with the pain of being banished from a pack she should have been Luna of.” I shudder at these words. Brynlee is in worse condition and I am the cause of this.
“Will she die from this?” I croak out, my eyes meeting Caspian and noticing that he was about to ask the same question.
“I don’t know. Brynlee is strong but the pain she is dealing with can kill her if she keeps fighting and holding it back.” Beta Jett growls out in frustration, running a hand through his hair.
“But judging from the pain you are in, she is accepting it and letting it run its course. Someone who has been through the pain must be coaching her. A male judging by the pain you are in.” I growl as Beta Jurt finishes his explanation. Brynlee is mine. How dare another male touch her.
“Growl all you want Rune but you rejected her. Just know that if that male wasn’t there coaching her, Brynlee would have been dead by now.” Beta Jett growls back, his harsh words silencing me. He is right though. Brynlee would have kept fighting this pain. Would not have accepted it until her end. Tears fall from my eyes and my resolve starts breaking further. I did what I did for the pack. Rejected Brynlee in order to marry Tanya and stop her father and his pack from destroying Pine Moon.
But I regret my actions. I want Brynlee. Want her to know how much I love her.
She is mine. My one true Mate. The Goddess paired her with me and I now know that rejecting her was the biggest mistake I have ever made. But I need to bide my time.
Beta Jett told me no to trust Tanya and my father and at first I didn’t believe his words. Now, knowing that he is helping me through this and protecting me from my father, I know that his words are true. Something is going on between my father and Tanya. What, I am not sure yet. I will have to find evidence of what they are planning.
Fire engulfs my heart distracting me from my thoughts and I scream, my body arching as if I am possessed. Caspian is there holding my hands above my head and I realise my nails have turned to claws.
“I need your help. Both of you.” I manage to gasp out as soon as the pain backs away. Caspian keeps a hold of my arms and I am happy for it. I can’t self mutilate myself at this crucial time.
“I need to find a way to break this engagement or leave Pine Moon to find her. To find my Brynlee.” I continue, my words being cut of as another shot of pain zips through my bones. I feel like they shattered but Jett reassures me that it’s the residual pain Brynlee is going through. Brynlee. I did this to her. I will have a lot to make it up to her.
“We will help you Rune. But just know that once you turn your back on your father’s orders, he will try to kill you.” Jett states, looking into my eyes as another lull of painlessness fills me. I take this time to run his words through my mind as I catch my breath. He is right. If I refuse to marry Tanya, my father will kill me and make it look like an accident to appease Jonnah Cross.
“I know. But I don’t care.” I state, resolved to do what is right for the first time since that incident years ago.
“I need someone to gather evidence against my father and Tanya as well. Something is going on between them, but I am not sure what.” I add, gasping as a ripple of pain shoots through me.
“And we need to get the wolves who are afraid to remain here out.” Caspian adds, wiping away sweat from my face. I nod in agreement, unable to speak but I can see by the way Jett looks at us that he agrees with this sentiment.
“I will get in contact with the Alpha of Crescent Phoenix and ask her to help me bring wolves from Pine Moon there.” Jett smiles, pride filling his eyes.
“Crescent Phoenix?” Caspian asks and Jett laughs, turning to my friend.
“You know it as Golden Fang. Today, the new Alpha and her Luan – male Luna – was initiated into the pack and they were asked to change the name. I would call your friend Lilac for more details in a few days time.” Jett winks at Caspian and I feel like I am missing something. Caspian never told me he met a she-wolf.
“Will they take Brynlee and I in if we can’t return to Pine Moon?” I ask, Caspian looking at Jett with a look of shock and understanding while I feel left out.
“I have a feeling they will.” Relieved by Jett’s words, I lay back and wait for the next wave of pain to wash over me.
For Brynlee, I will do anything to make things right.