Hannah POV
"You must do it!" Hayden keeps begging me while I keep pacing around our cell in every direction, trying to spot something, anything I can possibly use to find a way out of it.
"Hayden, shut up, please!" I finally snap and scream at him. "I won't hurt you; you're my friend; you are my family! I won't do it, do you fucking hear me!"
He grits his teeth hard; I see his anger but also his helplessness.
"How much time do we have?" I ask as I avert my eyes. I don't want to show him how scared I am.
"She gave me a lot, plus my legs are broken, so my wolf is pushing harder to heal me. I think maybe half an hour, but no more."
"Ok, Becca said that you could survive Red Venom if you didn't shift. I know it's difficult, but can you at least try? Your wolf isn't as strong as he was before, so maybe you can..."
"Hannah," he interrupts me, "I can try, but there is no point if Mikkeli won't find us quickly, there is no point. And your chances of killing me now are better.."
"No, they are not!" this time, I don't let him finish. "If I try to hurt you, your wolf will only push harder to shift to save you and himself. I've learned something about werewolves since I came here. You will go feral quicker, and we will lose our precious time!"
"What time? We don't have time. Mikkeli won't find us on time!"
"I can try to reach him..."
"He hasn't marked you. It's impossible for you, and I can't reach him through the pack link!"
I bite my lip, trying to stop tears from coming to my eyes. He's right, Mikkeli hasn't marked me, so I cannot communicate with him through mate bond and... but what if?
My eyes widened with a sudden realization. Becca said that mate bond is a funny thing, and she was right.
Since the forever mating bond is what binds werewolves, a force unable to resist, that can be both the greatest gift or the greatest tragedy in their life. Since I found out I've been Mikkeli's mate, I've tried to learn about it as much as possible. I've talked about it with mated werewolves, omegas, trackers, and warriors in our pack. I've probably read everything about it from what we have in the library in our packhouse and learn one thing: the bond is a mystery. To this day, its understanding is far from being understood. There are no rules about how it works or how it binds two souls. Each bond is unique, each bond has different strength and influence on the mated pair, and each bond has different rules.
I can perfectly point out the moment I started to feel Mikkeli stronger and sensing his presence more and more every day. Our second time together in his wooden cottage. I remember that moment when I bit him perfectly into the junction between his neck and shoulder, giving him a wound that hasn't healed to this day.
I remember, riding out my orgasm during our lovemaking, I felt strongly not only his presence but also Byron's. He was luring me, tempting me; I could feel my teeth itching with the sudden desire to claim them both as mine. What if, fuck, what if that was enough? Mikkeli and I still had at that time silver and wolfsbane in our blood, respectively, so Byron couldn't mark me, but I didn't have such boundaries.
What if Byron just accepted my mark on Mikkeli at that time? What if that was it? What if I laid my claim on them that time without realizing it? What if the marking is already done?
"Hannah?" Hayden's voice brings me back to reality.
"There is a chance that Mikkeli and I are already marked," I say. "He didn't mark me, but I could've marked him."
Hayden looks at me with pure shock on his face.
"But that's impossible," he mutters.
"Where is a mating bond involved? There are no such things as impossible," I say.
I take a deep breath; I have to calm myself to do it.
I steady my breath, I relax my body, I think about Mikkeli, concentrate only on him, I try to summon to my memory every detail, every emotion, every fragrance, every look, every touch... and suddenly I can feel and hear it. A heartbeat, which is so well known to me, strong and loving, even though now frightened, and finally I just know, I know that he senses me as much as I sense him.
"It is Becca's doing, Full Moon's territory, please hurry" I almost feel his arms physically around me as I suddenly lose my strength and allow darkness to consume me.
I don't know how much time has passed since I come to my senses.
I can hear low growling, and I look in that direction. Hayden is still in his human form, but he doesn't look well. He is sweating a lot, his skin seems dry and irritated, and he's breathing hard, almost painfully. His eyes keep shifting between his brown and his wolf's now red; the blood drips from the places he for sure has struggled in his chains. He seems to be in huge pain.
I slowly come closer and gently touch his face; he flinches but still recognizes me.
"Hush, Hayden, don't talk. You won't hurt me; you care about me; I'm your family; I'm your Luna," I say slowly, trying to reach also his wolf. He may be now in a bloodthirst state, but he is still a pack wolf, a warrior, a father of my brothers, Alpha's sibling, and a guardian of his Luna.
I put his face in the crook of my neck. I feel him inhale my scent deeply. I may not have omegas pheromones, but as Gideon explained to me, members of the family have the power to heal and calm the werewolves with their scent. I might not be a werewolf, but Hayden and I are one family; both he and his wolf see me as such.
"You can do it, Hayden; please fight. For me, for Mikkeli, for Jason, and for James. We need you. Our family needs you," I keep whispering. "Hang on, Hayden; Mikkeli is coming; I know he is."
I lose track of time, I don't know if we stay like that for a couple of minutes or much longer, but I'm sure it's already been at least an hour, and he still hasn't turned. I can hear his weak heartbeat and his heavy breathing; he seems unconscious, but I know he's fighting, and a small pang of hope beams in my heart.
Maybe we can do it; maybe we can survive this, maybe...
The door to our cell gets violently opened, and Becca enters with Connie and some men I've never seen before.
''Why the hell, he hasn't shifted yet?" Becca screams, surprised.
One of the men comes closer and yanks me up, away from Hayden, who doesn't react.
"He must be very strong mentally to suppress the poison, but it's good he hasn't killed her yet. With her, we still have a chance to survive this" he grips my wrist hard.
"That's not what we agreed for," Becca snarls.
"Wake up, bitch! I don't know how but Blackwood saw through you. He didn't attack the Full Moon pack; his wolves are coming right here. He knows we are here! You promised my people a pack to stay, but we have a small chance of direct confrontation. I don't intend to die here," he growls.
Becca and Connie bare their teeth, and the group of rogues, as I presume, bare theirs.
"I can still do it; I can challenge Mikkeli; we just have to kill her during our fight!" Becca screams, looking at me.
For a moment, there is only silence, and I start shaking. I'm scared; I don't want to die. I am pushed against Becca, who immediately holds me in her arms. I hiss in pain; she grabs me very hard.
"Alright, but I don't intend to die here," he screams, and all of them leave the room. Only Connie stays looking at Becca, definitely frightened.
"We can just leave," she says. "They are right; we lost; let's just leave. If we leave them here, we can get time to escape."
"No! I just can't lose, I can't," Becca's voice is desperate; I can feel her claws in my arm and try not to whimper.
"But we could be together; you will not have Blackwood pack, but we can be together, please, Becca, let's just go away together. We can be happy without Blackwood pack, just trust me" Connie has tears in her eyes, and her voice is breaking.
For a brief moment, I can see the hesitation on Becca's face before it's replaced one more with anger and determination.
"No, Connie, you must trust me," she says " I can kill Mikkeli."
She pushes me towards Connie, who grabs me as hard as her mate. For a moment, there is silence; I think they are talking through their mating bond. Then they drag me outside, and I can only see a big clearing in the woods. The moon shines bright as the three of us look into the darkness of the forest.
I know that Mikkeli is close. I can sense him more and more, and soon I hear the sounds of running wolves and howls. Connie squeezes her fingers on my throat as Mikkeli and others emerge from the trees. I can see Tony, Jake, and at least 20 more warriors, and Mikkeli, whose eyes are on me and only on me, shift to his human form.
"LET HER GO NOW!" he growls dangerously.
"I challenge you, Mikkeli," Becca steps forward. "I, Becca Danton, Head Warrior of Blackwood Pack, challenge you for the Alpha's title."
"LET HER GO!" Mikkeli keeps growling.
"Don't worry; I won't hurt her. But I can't let her go; she's my guarantee that you warriors won't interfere during our fight. I promise not to hurt her if I win, but if I not, you will let Connie go. Do we have the deal?"
Mikkeli looks at her for a moment.
"Where is Hayden?"
"Chained downstairs but alive."
"I, Mikkeli Blackwood, Alpha of Blackwood Pack, accept your challenge."
They shift immediately, and they launch immediately.
They clash with each other, and they move so fast that I have problems distinguishing one from another. Becca, for sure, is smaller than Mikkeli, but at the same time, she's very fast. She's good at avoiding him, but fortunately, that's what she seems to do all the time. I think she wants to wait for the opportunity to attack him, but I've seen Mikkeli fighting many times till now, and I know that he rarely gets himself open for any attack. They keep biting, clawing, and pushing each other around as the rest of the pack stays still. Time is what works to Becca's disadvantage; she will get tired sooner than Mikkeli.
I swallow my saliva and force myself to speak despite feeling so frightened.
"She can't win with him," I whisper to Connie and feel her fingers tighten around my neck.
"You can kill me, but it will kill Becca too. I've seen this before. The first will be rage, not pain. Mikkeli's wolf will be in a rage and is going to kill Becca first before he will submit to the pain of losing his mate."
"Keep quiet," she growls lowly, but I know she believes me.
"Just let me go; let's just end this. You and Becca will leave; she is his sister; he won't hurt her unless you make him."
Just as a confirmation of my words, Becca howls painfully as Mikkeli manages to crush her hindfoot and is about to reach her throat.
"Wait!" Connie screams, "I let her go, and you will let us go!"
She pushes me towards Byron, who slowly steps away from his opponent. And that is when Connie whistles, and they emerge from among the trees very fast. Other wolves, must be rogues who I thought left earlier. Of course, Becca has no chance of winning against Mikkeli in a duel, but now when all the wolves will clash, and I am pretty much exposed to every attack, everything can happen.
I can feel Mikkeli begging me not to move, not to panic when the bloodbath starts.
He doesn't run in my direction as I expected and probably as everybody else has expected. Instead, he immediately attacks rogues who come closer. But I'm not left unguarded; as other Mikkeli's warriors engage in battle, three of them surround me and keep protecting me; one of them I recognize; it's Tony.
I huddle in the grass, trying not to shake, trying to stay focused.
I hear snarls, growls, whimpers, and the sound of torn flesh and bites. Some of the rogues come closer, but I'm kept protected. Madness, madness, and blood surround me. More wolves emerge from among the trees, more warriors of the Blackwood pack. Mikkeli, on purpose, must've left half of his forces behind to convince those who would probably wait to ambush him that he brought less manpower.
I huddle in the grass, hoping that soon it will be other; wolves keep pushing and kicking each other, dodging each other or clashing with each other, jaws locked around throats, broken paws and legs, and madness and blood surround me.
But I refuse to close my eyes; no matter how much I'm scared, I need to stay focused and ready to protect myself best of my abilities.
And that's when I spot her.
Connie is leaning against the building wall, she hasn't shifted and doesn't take part in the battle, but I know that she knows that now when the backup has come, they have no chance of winning. I see the pure panic in her eyes as she raises her hand with the gun in it. She points it in the direction of Mikkeli, who is fighting very close to her; entangled in the fight, he has no chance to notice the danger.
"Mikkeli!" I scream as loud as I can, but he doesn't hear me.
But Tony does; he looks in the same direction I look, and he sprints. He is so fast. In half o second, the loud sound of a fired bullet resonates, and Tony jumps.
My blood runs cold, and a body lands on the grass with a strong thump; Byron breaks the neck of the wolf he was fighting a moment ago and looks around; the realization strikes him.
First comes rage, and later the pain of loss...
Byron launches... Connie screams in agony...
I run in Tony's direction; I kneel in front of him as he shifts. He breathes so heavily and is so pale; the blood comes from his wounded chest. I press into his wound even though I know it is futile, but I can't; I can't let him go just like that.
"Look after Mikkeli for me," he manages to say.
"Don't do that. I will do something. I will.." I stutter.
"Tell my family... I love them very... much," he whispers and slowly closes his eyes.
There is blood on my hands. There is so much blood around us, Tony is not breathing anymore, but I cannot stop pressing into his wounds. I look up and see Byron coming closer. He gently nuzzles Tony's face and whimpers, he tries to lick the blood, but I know there is no point.
I feel tears on my face.
No matter what we do, we will never get back what we lost.
The fighting on the clearing slowly dies; we have won. But I don't feel anything; I'm numb as Byron keeps howling in the most heartbreaking voice, full of suffering and sorrow.
We've lost a friend...