9

Shortly after the luna layed into us; a squad of officers showed up demanding to be taken to Helang.

Naturally, they tried to get in, but they couldn't. Our warrior patrols wouldn't allow it; or shall I say "our security".

The only reason Helang didn't get hurt going through the first time is because I let them know I brought a guest.

My last encounter with officer McCarter, he didn't want to hand her over. He argued and fussed about the whole ordeal. He went as far as trying to get a squad to bring four wheelers so he could drive her to the house.

It took way too long trying to convince him to allow me to take her myself.

Now they're here again but this time prepared with the latest four wheelers a cop squad can have.

I mean they're hella badass and with regret, we had sabotaged all their wheels. While they had all their attention on me; one of the boys blew darts to deflate them.

Once we finished talking; they turned and all noticed the wheels.

Officer McCarter cursed under his breath rightfully pissed off.

"I told you this would happen. No form of vehicles are allowed to come into these woods without permission." I state with boredom.

He eyed me with fury in his honey colored eyes and turned to the others.

"It seems that we'll be walking there." He said with venom coating his words.

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At the time, I didn't realize that Helang was being abused, so when Steven told me; my blood ran cold. Me and her talked every night for two years and she never said anything to me. I feel like I should've tried to get her to open up more.

Helangs mother was the sweetest soul I knew when we were kids. She was so sweet and kindhearted anyone would swear up and down that she was a saint.

What on moon goddess happened to make her change so drastically?

"Are you sure this is the actual way to her?" Officer McCarter interrupts my thought process with another one of his questions full of suspicion.

"I assure you this is the way." I say getting irritated with the officer who brought Helang here to begin with.

He eyes me suspiciously as I lead them through the woods to our pack.

"You mentioned before how these woods are dangerous. What did you mean by that?" He asks trying to get me to talk.

"I'm sorry officer but I legally can't tell you anything." I say going quiet again.

He lets out a mhm that makes me clench my teeth together but I calm myself down.

***Don't let him get under your skin.***

Nathan mind links me.

***Easy for you to say.***

I grumble back to him.

Nathan speaks up and starts talking to them about the situation that's happened over the past couple days, but the conversation is cut short by one of the officers who's acting like he doesn't want to be here.

We continue walking in silence so I listen to all the nature around us and the twigs that snap under our feet.

Besides that, every now and again we'll hear stuff over the officers radio.

Nathan and two others; our top female warrior and our best male hunter, are with me since the luna declared I be watched over after bringing Helang here and the state that she's in.

"How much further?" One of the officers, short and stout with a pot belly complained out.

"It's just up ahead." The female warrior with blazing red hair and a tongue sharper than her dagger spoke up.

"You'd think that them being officers; they would exercise on the daily and stay in shape." She insults to Nathan who snorts.

"I know right. It's only half a mile to the camp from where they started out. Easy walk and an even easier run." He says starting to stretch his legs like he's warming up to sprint.

"Maybe later we can see just how easy that run can be." She challenged with a sharp toothed grin.

He smiles back with a wicked grin as if to say you're on and then they start chattering about random nonsense.

I look back and the pot Nelly officers face is red with embarrassment.

"Greta! Instead of babbling nonsense over something we know is childish; why not focus on what's important." The male warrior scolded.

"Like that fat head of yours?" She sarcastically retorts with a brow raised in challenge.

He bares his teeth with a growl and Nathan "cheerfully" jumps on him with a warning: "hey now! Shes just messing around. You know how she is so leave it alone for now." He defuses.

I roll my eyes at there idiocy and continue forward.

Not soon enough, we make it back to the pack.

"Where's Helang?" Officer McCarter badgers.

With an exasperated sigh I walk off in the direction of the Luna and Alpha.

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Officer McCarter sits in front of me while the doctor looks at my neck and wrist.

I sit there with my eyes cast down not focusing on anything or anyone.

"How's your breathing hon?" The female doctor asks with a voice like honey.

"It kinda hurts a bit and my throat feels swollen and scratchy." I say barely audible.

"I can understand sweetheart. I have some ointment for the bruising on your neck and....." I zone out to what she says. For me, stuff like this is normal; it's not the first time I've been strangled.

I sob out and hide my face flinching away from her and everyone else.

Mr McCarter gets up and walks out of the office with Steven and his parents.

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"I'm finding elsewhere for her to go."

Those words felt like wolfsbane was injected into me and an icy feeling washed over me.

No!

She can't go!

I just found her...

My parents started talking to the officer and furry burnt in his eyes when he realized they had no idea what was going on or who Helang even is.

"It's obviously dangerous here for her! Not even two days and she was half fucking strangled and then the boy who picked her up even hurt her." The officer ranted.

No,no,no!

Staying calm on the outside but a frantic mess on the inside; I think feverishly of a plan to put the officer at ease so my mate can stay.

Call me selfish but I know I can keep her protected.

"Steven!" My dad boomed out causing me to look up in haste.

"I've called you a dozen times." He says sternly.

I gulp.

"Sorry dad." I say sheepishly squirming around. 

"The nurse said Helang is asking for you. Will you go accompany her?" He says with a finality in his voice.

***But I want to know what's going to happen!*** I complain to him via mindlink.

***Steven. Now! I will not repeat myself***

My dad responded.

With a deep and heavy sigh I get up and walk back out to the nurses room.

I can't just drag her and run away; too many officers are around.

I look at Helang and I snap. It's now or never.

I walk up to her and she looks up at me with a small sad smile.

My heart hurts. I barely know her but she already has such an influence on me. But even if I believe she's my mate, no mate bond has snapped into place yet. I'm not 18; I'm only 17 and everyone thinks I'm the weakest. The alphas "son".

"Yes?" Helang hesitantly questions to me with weariness clouding her eyes.

"My dad said to take you to get a change of clothes." I lamely lied to her. She gives a quizzical look and gets up.

Thank goddess!

"I need to confirm that with McCarter." The short and stout officer says.

"It's fine Jerry. I actually feel disgusting right now. I won't be long, I promise." She says quietly and quick.

Jerry looks at her and nods his head.

"15 minutes and I'm coming to look for you." He says to her with a fatherly tone.

She nods her head and we walk off.

We quickly exit the pack doctor and she finally speaks.

"I'm confused. Why do I need to change when I already have these clothes."

Yes I know she's had a bath this morning and I have her clothes but she's comando under them.

Crap don't think of her naked.

"It was a lie to get you out of there." I bluntly state.

I turn around and see she stopped following me.

"Helang We have to get out of here. I need to hide you." I plead with her.

" I know you must be tired of getting taken away every time you get hurt. I want to be here for you and be your friend. Don't let them take you." I begged her.

A look of uncertainty passed her face and she stepped forward and nodded.

"Let's go!" She said with determination.

And with that I grabbed her hand and we took off running.