10 Years

Thane

10 years. Not months likes the others. YEARS. 10 freaking years she was kept by disgusting monsters. 10 years she was locked away in a cage while shifters abused her. “Protect. Kill them all” Ronan loudly growls into my mind; pushing against the barrier, trying to force a shift. I hate leaving this room, but if I can’t get a handle on him, he’s going to force a shift in front of her and that could set her back on the slight progress we just made. “We will get payback for her, for them all, were close Ronan.” Ayla, the name alone beautiful, but it fails in comparison to her true beauty. Seeing her cleaned up was an absolute shock to my system. She is absolutely stunning when she’s not battered and bleeding everywhere. Her gorgeous teal eyes and engraved into my mind. The urge to start running my fingers through her stark white hair was instantaneous. Where are these feelings coming from? Yes, she is attractive, which is an understatement, but the intensity of my attraction to her is startling. She’s not my mate, and at 28, I still have time to find my mate instead of taking a chosen one. I want a true mate bond like my parents. The love and respect for each other that consumes you and if she happens to be an omega even better.

I am full of rage as I head back to the pack house. How could anyone survive that long under those circumstances. The amount of strength Ayla has to still be breathing is unfathomable and I doubt she even realizes it. I am walking up the front steps when I run straight into Della. I’m too angry to start with her now, but I do my best to be polite and offer her a brief smile and a short greeting, hopeful to move this along. It’s not that I don’t like Della. We’ve been on dates and she’s easy to have fun with, you could call us friends with benefits, but she knows that I won’t do a relationship and keeps pushing it anyway. I should completely cut her off, but I have needs, she’s attractive and she still seduces me any chance she can get knowing that I am waiting for my mate. It would not be fair to either or us to start a relationship and have to end it with our emotions involved if one or both find our true mates. I feel we have time to wait, she does not.

“Hey Thane where have you been? I went by your office and you weren’t there. I wanted to see if you were up for a lunch date? I called and messaged you, but you didn’t answer.” “Oh, sorry. I haven’t checked my phone yet. I was down at the clinic with Eric getting caught up on the status of the girl we rescued.” “You had to go down there for that? Why didn’t you just ask him how she was?” “Well, I wanted to go and I am glad I did. I was able to get her to wake up and we learned her name. I also learned she was kidnapped 10 years ago. The poor little omega didn’t even know how old she was. It was heartbreaking to hear. Well, I guess to read. She’s mute.” “She’s an omega? I didn’t know that.” “She is, but that not really the part of our conversation I thought you would be shocked about.” “Yes, yeah, you’re right. Of course, you are. I’m just shocked. 10 years is a long time and not speaking is just crazy.” “I don’t know if she can’t speak, or just choosing not to. Eric thinks the probability of it being a choice is high due to her trauma. I plan on going back later to talk with her, I just need to get some frustration out first, my wolf is quite upset.” “Do you want me to help you with that? We could grab some food to go. You can talk, I can give you a back rub and we can see what happens?” “No, I need to hit something. I’m going to check in with Cyrus and see if he wants to spar or hit up the training grounds. I will see you later.” With that, I quickly hurry into the building. I find myself being dumbfounded that the only thing she took away from the information I gave her was that Ayla was an omega. What would she even care for?”

“Cyrus, you up for the gym or training grounds? I need to stop Ronan from going on a murder spree” I mind-link. I typically reserve the mind-link for when we are in our wolf form, but it is quicker to use for my inner circle. “Well, I was just getting cleaned up from my visit with our guest. I made quite the mess. He of course isn’t talking yet; swears he doesn’t have a name. I suppose I can meet you at the training grounds your royal eminence. I would love to kick your ass so I can shower again. What has your pretty panties in a bunch?” “I’m not in the mood for your shit today, Cyrus. I’ll explain why while I am kicking your ass. Be there in 15.”

I shift into my wolf. Ronan stands about six feet tall and is midnight black with gold eyes. Cyrus has already shifted into his wolf Artemis. His wolf is black with gray highlights throughout his fur. Red eyes matching his need for blood. He smaller than Ronan, but not by a lot. We begin to circle each other, feeling each other out for weaknesses, awaiting the first strike. Our little song and dance we do before we lunge and absolutely pummel each other, neither really victorious. It’s more to get our wolves aggression out, but we both know I can take him. I am heavy on combat skills; he is heavy on insanity. He lunges first and attempts to claw my flank, but Ronan is too quick for him and spins gnashing his fangs at Arts face.

“So, you going to tell me what has you so worked up? You never day time train. We might traumatize these little pups watching when I spray your blood all over the ground.” “Ayla has me worked up. Rather what she just told me.” If I was honest, I’d tell him it was both. “And who is Ayla?” “Ayla Frost is the girl we rescued. She woke up today. Eric states her blood was full of wolfsbane. She also can’t or won’t speak, but she wrote down that she was kidnapped 10 DAMN YEARS AGO.” I quickly duck under him and out between his legs when he lunges for me and I lunge forward quick enough to claw his backside. He’s holding back, which is fine as long as Ronan gets his aggression out. “10 years? Man, that is effed up. I mean damn. Why keep her so long? “Does she know any names?” “We only made it as far as her name and how long she was gone for before Ronan wanted to go on a killing spree. He is adamant we have to protect her. He is riding me hard about it. I almost shifted in front of her.” “Wow. He’s riding you hard or he wants her to ride you hard?” Sounds like the latter if he’s getting so worked up about her.” “Shut up. This is serious. I don’t know why he’s getting so riled up unless it’s because she is an omega and his instincts are to protect his pack and more so omegas. I mean, I don’t even know where she is from or who her family is. I’m sure they’re looking for her and will want her to return to their home. Getting close to her in anyway would be a bad idea. 10 years is so long, she may not even be able to move past this.” and that thought enrages Ronan, causing him to tackle Artemis to the ground and start meeting him fang for fang. “You are right on all accounts. Do you think he is so protective because she’s an omega or do you think he’s so protective because she’s an omega and was abducted like your...” “Finish that sentence and I will rip your freaking balls off. Yes, I’ve considered it and I’m sure it’s a mixture of both.” “Okay, please remove your paw from Arts balls. She has to go home anyway. If she stays and you end up catching feelings, Della will have her freaking neck.” “I’m not going to catch feelings because she’s not my mate. Also, Della wouldn’t do anything to her if we did hook up in some compacity, which we won’t. She knows we are just friends. He lunges and grips my scruff, causing Ronan to turn and bite onto his back. “Right, keep telling yourself that. Della is freaking nuts Thane. I would know. Crazy knows crazy and she’s crazy. She probably has a bag of your toenail clippings saved under her pillow because she’s so obsessed with you.” “She is not obsessed and she’s not crazy. She’s just persistent. Wait…toenails?” We go back and forth attacking and yacking for an hour when I receive a mind-link from Eric. “Thane, get back to the clinic…I can’t find Ayla.”