The six of us were heading down to the cells where we kept prisoners like Melanie until they hold trial. Opaline wanted to go for personal reasons I couldn't fight with, so I told her to just stay close. She nodded and linked her arm with mine. Klyn was in front of us while Alpha Aryn, Beta Vuk and Rosetta followed behind.
When we got inside, I wasn't surprised to feel Opaline's body tense slightly and shift closer to mine. I held one hand and wrapped the other around her waist protectively, assuring her that I was still there. Klyn led the way to the very bottom of the cells where the worst prisoners were kept and stood in front of silver bars coated in wolfsbane for extra security. Inside, Melanie was chained by her wrists above her head and her ankles to the wall. Her head was hanging but I knew she was awake.
Aryn growled low at the woman, and so did Rosetta. Opaline just stood there, staring at her with an unreadable expression. Klyn disappeared into a closet nearby and came out holding a large pair of gloves for anyone to take. I noticed how no one noticed, but all were focused on Melanie looking worst for wear. Vuk spoke first. "I can't say I'm disappointed seeing you like this, Melanie. After so many years of trying to find you, it is satisfying to see you finally strung up and helpless like all those men."
The woman lifted her head slight to glare at him through her lashes. When she saw Opaline though, something changed. "You let them do this?" she croaked.
Opaline didn't answer, but continued staring as if she didn't hear the question, but I knew she did because her hand tightened on mine. Aryn stepped forward this time. "Haven't you caused enough trouble for all of us?"
Her laugh was bitter, filled with hatred. "Since when have I caused trouble for you, Alpha Aryn? I was never on your territory. I never even met you in person until now."
Aryn growled but Opaline finally said, "I told them to put you in here, Melanie."
Melanie looked at my mate with shock and a little hurt. "Why?"
"You know why."
"So, you believe the lies they told you?"
"I believe loss and unleashed anger in someone's eyes when they tell me what happened to their mate."
Melanie seemed confused for a moment. "Whose mate did I kill besides the one I killed last night?"
"Mine, you bitch!" Rosetta hissed.
Melanie looked at her and her eyes widened. "You're still alive? I guess I shouldn't be surprised, I mean, you were one female I couldn't kill that was on my list before I had a child. I would've hoped though that you'd have died a horrible death."
"Feeling's mutual, believe me."
Melanie smirked and turned back to Opaline. "So, I might have made some mistakes when I was younger, but don't we all? I mean, it is certainly hard when your mate rejects you for another female."
"Who was your mate?" Opaline asked.
The woman smiled and looked at Vuk. "Would you like to share our little secret, or shall I?"
Aryn turned to his Beta. "You're mates with that thing?"
"Not anymore. My mate is dead, never to be seen again." Vuk took the gloves from Klyn. "I have no mate. I have no one to call mine, and I certainly won't take this filthy thing called a woman!" he spat as he opened the door and went over to her.
"You know there's a bond, Vuk. You know you can't hurt me," Melanie crooned, but she was wrong. Vuk slammed his fist into her stomach so hard, blood splattered from her mouth.
"I can't say if there's a bond anymore or not, but I can and will hurt you." He punched her again, in the jaw this time, making a resounding crack. Melanie groaned, but nothing else as her jaw was broken. "I will never take you as a mate!" he shouted then punched her again in the stomach.
I tilted my head curiously as I watched them, seeing Vuk so pissed was amusing especially when it was on a prisoner. I had never seen him this way and to say I was entertained was an understatement. Rosetta asked Klyn for another set of gloves, then joined Vuk inside the cell. While I itched to go in there myself, I knew they needed revenge and this was their chance. Opaline watched with hardly a blink, seeming to be deep in thought for a while.
It has been five minutes when Vuk storms out of the cell and back to the outside, Aryn following. Rosetta continues a few more punches before she too leaves. It is just Opaline, Klyn, and I standing there staring at Melanie who has bruises and blood pouring out her mouth in a steady drip. Her clothes hung off her and her hair was ragged. Both eyes were going to be swollen shut by the end of the night while I didn't think she had a rib saved with how hard Vuk was hitting her.
I sighed and shrugged, content to leave her there for now until I had sleep, but Opaline grabbed some gloves and went inside the cell to stand in front of Melanie. Her eyes streamed with tears as her hands balled into fists. Melanie looked up at her but my mate punched her face, making her head snap to the side. She groaned, and Opal kicked her in the lower abdomen near the pelvic bone. Klyn flinched out the corner of my eye, and I knew he felt her pain as much as I did.
Opaline mainly focused on the face, but occasionally made sure to repeat a kick to Melanie's lower region. She didn't tire as fast as the other two, but continued until Melanie was unconscious and she was sobbing. I quickly grabbed gloves and went in, pulling her into my arms. "Hey, shh. It's okay. She can't hurt you."
I could feel her body still tense and shaking as she said, "She betrayed me! I trusted her! I defended her! I kept her safe! And she—she…"
"I know, baby."
"I hate her!" Opaline growled. "I hate her so much!"
Leaning down, I lifted her into my arms and let Klyn take our gloves before getting out of there. Opaline didn't stop crying. She occasionally screamed, but it was muffled by my shirt. I carried her to the pack house and up to our room where I locked the door and went into the bathroom to turn the shower on. Setting her on the countertop, I helped her undress before doing so myself, then carried her into the shower.
She didn't even say anything or blush at the intimacy, but continued to cry as I washed her body. When she was rinsed off, I made her look at me. "Opaline, no one is happy with her. No one is going to accept her. She is going to die and she is going to get what she deserves. I won't let someone do that to you anymore. She will not do that to you anymore."
"She betrayed me!" she hissed, her breath catching.
"I know, and for that I am truly sorry. For that, I wish there was something I could do to take away the pain, but for now, I want you to just let me care for you. I want you to stop thinking about her, and I want you to empty your mind. She will not hurt you in any way again."
Opaline nodded, shaking again but her cries went silent. Tears became slower and she seemed more aware of where we were, then stepped closer to me and wrapped her arms around my middle, resting her head on my chest. "I don't want to see her ever again," she whispered.
I kissed her head and smoothed her hair. "You don't have to. I won't make you." Turning her around, I washed her hair thoroughly before washing my own body and hair. Afterwards, I stepped out and grabbed a towel, wrapping it around her, grabbed one to tie around my waist, then led her to the bed. She sat down and stared into the void while I grabbed her some clothes to wear, but she shook her head, shying away from them. "Opaline?"
"I can't wear those!" she hissed desperately. "I feel like I might choke."
I looked down at the tank top and sweats, then handed her just the panties and bra. "Put those on at least."
She did and I put the unused things back before climbing in bed and pulling her down beside me. She turned and hid her face in my chest while I stroked her hair and kissed her head. Everything was quiet and Opaline was finally calmed down. Her breathing slowed, signaling she was fast asleep. I sighed, closing my eyes and making sure she stayed close before falling asleep myself.
I woke in the middle of the night to Opaline thrashing about, screaming. I sat up and pinned her arms to her sides, then straddled her, her screams killing my ears. "Opaline!" I growled. She continued to scream like she didn't hear me. "Wake up! Opaline, wake up!"
"NO!"
I curse, clapping my hands to my ears as her shrill cry shook the house. I was caught off guard and she was able to push me off and onto the floor, resuming her thrashing around. I groaned as a barely heard knock came from the door. I ignored it and jumped back onto the bed, putting a hand on her mouth and holding her hands down again. I leaned down and kissed the mark I gave her, making her shudder considerably. I kiss it again and hiss in her ear, "Wake up!"
Pulling away, I see her eyes pop open wide, frantically searching the room. She struggled to get free, but I kissed her mark again and got a moan in response. Her heart beat frantically and she arched her back as I licked it slowly. She whined when I pulled back, but she was no longer struggling. Her eyes fixed on me and they turned dark and hungry. I smirked and took my hand off her mouth. "Lykaon!" she gasped.
"Opaline," I say and turn serious. "What the hell did you dream about?"
She took a deep breath and her eyes returned to normal. "I don't remember. I-I don't want to remember."
"I need you to tell me. It had to have been horrible because you sounded like you were being tortured."
Tears sprang to her eyes. "Melanie…"
I closed my own eyes and sighed. Leaning down, I kiss her. "It's okay. She can't hurt you."
Her arms wrapped around my neck as I let them go and she sobbed quietly. I didn't try to distract her now, but let her cry herself out. In my mind I hear Klyn. "Is she alright?"
"Nightmare of Melanie."
"More like night terror. She woke the whole house with her screaming. Maybe you should see Truent?"
"What could he do? She's basically making up scenes about Melanie doing something. I don't see how Truent can help."
"Sleeping pills? They give them to children who have a hard time sleeping. Maybe she should try it."
"We'll see," I say and kiss my mate's head again. "First, I need sleep. I'm not searching for him in the middle of the night and leaving her here alone. I'll figure something out in the morning."
Klyn didn't say anything and I didn't care. I whispered in Opaline's ear soothing words and comfort before feeling her fall asleep again after another hour. This time though, I could not sleep, and just laid there holding her, staring at a wall and feeling the night pass quietly. Somehow, I did fall asleep near dawn and made sure she was clutched tight to me in the safety of my arms.