Chapter 14

MADDOX

My hammer was still pounding away at the brick wall in front of me. I was determined to break through and rescue my mate. We were all tired. My right hand was on my hammer and my left hand above my head, holding my shield. I felt the pressure of the arrows and bullets weighing down on top of it.

Clearly the women in our pack were excellent wielder's of weapons. Especially shields.

The hammer felt like an extension of my own arm at this point. We'd been at it for days. My frustration was weighing down on me like a tonne of bricks. I powered through thinking of my mates face.

That beautiful face that was taken away from me before I'd even got the chance to see her open her eyes. My memory retraced the outline of her soft lips, her cute little button nose. Everything about her was petite and precious. A rare gem that needed protecting. And I had failed to do so.

I continued to take my frustration out on the wall in-front of me when I heard a faint cry. "ALPHA BAIN! I NEED YOU." My whole body froze. I'd never heard that voice before in my life but I instantly knew who it belonged to.

'MATE' Tyr bellowed in my head.

I dropped my hammer and shield and shifted. Instantly running in the direction of the voice. The West Wall. I could see the arrows and bullets landing right by my paws. My own safety wasn't even a thought at this moment.

My mate was near and she needed me.

As I neared the corner of the western wall I saw a man with a naked woman on his shoulder, running towards my packs camp. About 20 or so other naked women running behind him.

I didn't even have time to register what a strange sight this was. I knew my pack was safe with my other warriors near the camp, so I continued around the corner. Willing my paws to move faster.

I felt a sudden sharp pain in my shoulder. The pain was there, but my adrenaline was coursing so heavily that I just kept moving.

I skidded around the corner and saw a group of 10 or so wolves, surrounding my mate. One had his paw on her neck and was snarling in her face. A deep growl escaped my lips, my paws set into motion. Moving at speeds I have never reached before.

The wolves saw me coming. The one who had his paw on Maeve's neck, picked up her body in his mouth and began to run north. The others stood firm in the hopes they could stop me getting to her.

I mind linked my Beta 'Luca, I've found her! The eastern side of the estate wall. I need you and ten of our best here ASAP. I don't have time to stop and fight these fuckers. I need to go after her.

He replied a quick 'on it Alpha' letting me know I was safe to move on with my plan. I was gaining speed, as I ran straight towards the wolves in front of me.

In one swift leap I leaped over their bodies and continued running the second I felt my paws firmly on the ground again. I could see the wolf in front of me. Running away with my mate.

In that moment, Maeve looked up and saw me running behind her. She couldn't do much in the hold of the wolf's mouth, but I could see in her eyes she knew she had to do something.

I watched as her facial expression changed from one of helplessness, to one of determination. She crunched the top half of her body upwards towards the wolf's face, and dug her fingers deep within his eye.

I heard a sharp snarl come from the warrior. The pain caused him to loosen his jaw for a second. She fell out of his mouth and rolled to the floor. I was nearly there, so close to my mate!

She got up instantly and started running towards me, as fast as her little legs could carry her. I can't begin to explain the emotions coursing through my veins. A mixture of hope, despair, relief, doubt.

Please goddess, please let me reach her first.

The warrior has turned on his paws and was running after her. The three of us all within very close proximity. As Maeve reached me she skidded underneath my legs to get herself safely behind me.

The warrior ran into me full force, with both of us clashing into one another. He sunk his teeth into the side of my neck as I dragged my claws deeply down his back.

I continued to rake my claws deeper into his shoulder blades, until I found what I was looking for. His spine. Ignoring the pain of his teeth making their way deeper into my neck, I shifted my paw back into a human hand and wrapped my finger around his spinal cord.

I felt his body twinge ever so slightly, before using all of my strength to rip it right out of his body. He instantly went limp and I felt the pressure ease from my neck. His lifeless body fell to the floor. I shifted my hand back into a paw, turning around to check if Maeve was still behind me.

I could see the horror written all over her face at what I had just done. I didn't have time to sooth her. I needed to keep her safe. Over her shoulder, I could make out some of the elderly from my pack running towards us, with their shields still above their heads.

They'd come to protect us from the arrows and bullets still flying all around us. I assumed I'd already taken one to the shoulder blade whilst running. The pain was slowly beginning to register.

Once they had reach us I shifted back and picked Maeve up in my arms. We moved in unison towards the safety of my packs camp. I knew it was over for now. There is no way Alpha Carson and his men were willing to come out of their fortress to fight us.

The ones we'd attacked were just there in the hopes they could reach my mate before I did.

We reached the pack camp and I moved in the direction of the Alpha tent. The whole time Maeve has not said a single word. Just stared at me, expressionless.

Once inside, I placed her on the pop up sofa and quickly moved to where my spare clothes were hung. I put on a pair of sweats and turned back around to face my mate.

She was still sat on the sofa unmoved. Was she ok? Was she hurt?

"This isn't exactly how I wanted to introduce myself to you. But I suppose we can't live our lives in perfect scenario moments. I am Alpha Bain, but you may call me Maddox. I have waited for what feels like an eternity to meet you Maeve." My introduction was met with silence.

She continued to stare at me unmoved. It was beginning to worry me.

"Maeve. I know you've probably been through a lot these last few days. Are you ok?" I soothed.

She finally snapped out of whatever the fuck she was doing. I watched as she placed her head into her hands and began to sob.

"I'm sorry Alpha Bain, I'm so so sorry." She sobbed. I watched her shoulders shake in unison with her sobs.

Tyr whined internally as we watched our mate break down in front of our eyes. I moved towards her as unthreateningly as I could, she'd clearly been through a lot and I didn't want to scare her any further.

I placed my hand on her upper back and rubbed it soothingly.

"Maeve, you have nothing to apologise for. None of this is your fault." I tried to make my tone as comforting as I was able.

She continued to sob into her hands.

"I kissed him" she said between her wails.

My whole body went rigid.