Capture

Chapter 24: Bites

The Beta ushered me into the house far in the center of the territory. I went through the motions rigidly. Walking, even breathing, required a greater amount of focus to maintain than ever before.  I would had sat down and thrown a fit if I knew that the Natural wouldn't hurt me. But I knew he would, if my observations weren't wrong, without remorse, at least not in front of me. The action would be reasoned with within his mind as some stupid love wolf bullshit. 

Once inside, he locked the door and turned to stare at me. The door was unlike Bram's leading me to believe that the entire house had yet to made escape proof. The idea sprung a flame of hope, a nearly impossible and time based plan was clicking together in my head. He began to advance towards me, I shrank back into myself.

Large hands pulled at my shirt. I attempted to block the fabric from rising, but my arms were forced up. My shoulder released a bolt of pain. The Beta stepped back, again with the staring. I brought my arms up to cover my bra, internally horrified. I felt unjustly insecure. His eyes drank me in, lingering on my proportions. 

Hands, too hot, came to linger on my skin. It was everything within myself to hold back a shiver of disgust. Nails snagged on my arms' bandages, peeling them away. At the sight of my marred, scabbing skin, the dark lustful look dropped from his eyes. Sharp canines poked from under his lips, fingers light as they traced the path left of Bram's claws. His brow furrowed.

"Mate?" Came from his mouth, a voice of duel natures.  

His eyes came to rest on my face, horrified after overlooking the rest of my bruising. They hovered over my split lip, which he had ignored when he had kissed me. Gliding to the other cuts residing upon my cheeks. 

"Tell us, we didn't...how...we were so gentle." The Beta released a cry and pulled me into his chest.

I became aware that he thought he had hurt me. This was sick. Was I expected forgive him or tell him as to what had been down to me? He rubbed my bare lower back, in a caring motion, that was quickly perverted when hands rested on my backend. The lust was back briefly before the Natural beat it back down to concerned. 

"Mate is hurt, Mate must heal before..." The Natural muttered, skimming fingertips back to under my shoulder blades. 

He released a frustrated huff and removed himself to only holding my hand. It was an improvement in my book. If only if he could give me back my shirt. I didn't like feeling so exposed, ever aware how easily it would be of him to make an advance that I would be powerless against.

The Beta guided me to a bathroom off the far hall. It was a full bath with a shower. I was attentive enough to notice there was no windows. The only way out was the through the door I entered. He begrudgingly left me and returned with showering items and a change of clothing. But he didn't leave the room again. Instead, he leaned against the sink, eyeing me expectantly.

"Could I have some privacy," I whispered. I rethought it. "Please?" 

His eyes perked at my voice before returning to anguished. "I'm your mate." He stated with a tone that left little wiggle room.

I thought for a moment, then pulled the supplies into the shower stall with me. With the glass door shut, I stripped. The Beta didn't speak for the entire time. I ended with only the towel I had thrown over the door as coverage. I was hesitant to step out.

I peeked my head out and was semi-amused. The Natural had his eyes closed. In fact, his entire face was pinched shut. With quick movements, I grabbed the clean clothing and jumped back into the stall to change. My shoulder and other injuries stung under the hot spray, but I felt very clean. I wrapped my hair in the towel and exited.

He released a sigh and opened his eyes. A predatory growl escaped when his sight reached mine. Sharp breathes where taken in through his nose. The sinks creaked under the pressure exerted to control himself. Pieces cracked beneath the sheer Natural strength. The display wasn't meant for me, rather a way of calming himself, but it intimidated me none the less. 

He released a cough that freed me from staring at the damaged sink. "I would expect that you are hungry?"

I gave a shy nod.

"Mate needs to talk," a voice deeper than the Beta's humanoid form grunted. That was probably more terrifying than two talking at once. 

"Yes," I rushed out, fearing the fur. "I am hungry." For further emphasis, I wrapped my arms about my stomach and gave a pained look.

I was a terrible actress, Emilee and my cousins had told me so, but the Beta all but picked me up and rushed into the kitchen. Ingredients where thrown about. Odd unfinished elements were placed upon a plate and thrust under my nose. Uncooked carrots, applesauce, pickles, and a cold pizza had never come to my mind as a meal together. I ate regardless, tight lipped to the Natural breathing inches above where his teeth entered my flesh. He stood directly behind my chair, trapping me against the table.

"Mate?" The Natural asked, his nose had skimmed to the other side of my shoulder.

I gave a hum in response as I munched on a carrot trying to keep calm. I wasn't doing anything at all attractive that would bring back about his lust. 

"Mate, what is this?" The Beta's tone was less friendly.

A sharp finger poked against a sensitive spot on my neck. I held back a small surprised noise that had wanted to erupt. I instinctively tried to hide it from sight but his hands defend me off. He pulled my neck closer for inspection, knocking off my towel and releasing my damp hair.   

"What the hell is this?" He roared into my ear.

My thoughts flew, tiring to figure out what it was he was referring to. It hit me when harsh fingers probed the area. Manu, binding. All the things about the coven that I would never share. I felt suddenly so cold while suffocating against the heat of the Beta. The Natural gnashed his teeth near my face.

"They fucking bit you! How could you let that happen?" He thundered. 

He was making it sound like it was my fault! He released me and began pacing the length of the kitchen titles. Seconds passed, every time he caught sight of my neck, the calming process had to restart. My instinct was to flee. I barely pushed away from the table before he was upon me. 

A flash of teeth and stomach sickening pain. I screamed and cried, but it didn't do a damn. He threw his head back repeatedly before mutilating my skin over and over again. I fought back, pushing against him. One hand met stroke with his mouth, cutting the pads of my fingers but not disrupting the Natural. 

"Stop!"

Suddenly, he pushed me away. Without his support, I crumpled into the wall and sagged to the ground. The paint was splattered red. I raised a coated hand to my face and felt a acute nausea. I hadn't been this light headed since I had my wisdom teeth removed.

Woosey, my eyes adverted to the shaking surroundings. No, there weren't shaking, it was the Beta. Covered red about his shoulders and neck, it appeared he was having trouble staying in his human shape. A darker color was spreading down his shirt, it was dark in color, almost brown. There skewered against the fabric and ribs, was one lone screw. 

I didn't even remember removing it from my sock.

The Natural ripped it from himself without so much as a flinch. His eyes were in torment at me, crumpled and possibly bleeding out. He reached for me and I cried out.

"No, no, no! Stay away from me!" I gasped. 

The Natural backed but, with a head shake, dark eyes determined not to follow my order. Beast.