Chapter 4 Joelle's p.o.v


 I got back just in time. I masked my scent so the warriors couldn't smell me. I climbed the three flights of stairs to get to the attic. I crawled into bed and said good night to Willow. I close my eyes and dream of what could be. I wake with a start. "Oh no. Oh, what time is it? Oh, it's only four am. I had better get up and get things ready for the meeting today. I must have imagined having a wolf. It was all a dream." "Guess again, little one. I am here with you. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you all those years.

I had to stay hidden until your seventeenth birthday." "Why? You see, Joe, we are very special. You will know soon enough, my dear." I get ready for the day and head down to start breakfast and my chores. This place has to be spotless or I will for sure get it. "Willow? Why haven't you healed my bruises?" "Well, my dear, I can't just yet. As I said, you will soon understand." After cooking, I head upstairs but I'm grabbed and thrown into a room. I go to scream and a hand is put over my mouth. "Listen here loser, Dad may be trying to send you away, but that's not happening." Oh no, it's Alpha Lucas. I keep my head low, this angers Lucas. He grabs my chin and brings my face to his. "You see, Joe, I'm going to keep you around. Who else am I supposed to teach a lesson every day?" "Please Alpha, don't do this, I'm begging you." He throws me to the ground and begins to kick me as hard as he can. He comes to my level and whispers in my ear, "You aren't going anywhere, princess. You are stuck here forever. Wolf or no wolf, you are strong enough to take these beatings and still get up. It's fun for me. I will be making sure you stay no matter what." "No, Willow, he's going to try and keep me as a punching bag." "No little one. Don't worry about it. Things are going to change very soon." "Okay, Willow, I'm trusting you." As I was getting up, I simply asked if there would be anything else that earned me a backhand to the face. My head spins to the side and I hear a ringing in my ear. I fell to the ground yet again. "That's a good place for you on the floor," Alpha Lucas says. He leaves me on the ground. I am in so much pain but I have so much to do. I go to get up and fall back down like a sack of potatoes. I don't know how long I lay there but I heard footsteps coming up the stairs. "Joe, Joe, where are you?" It's Beta Charles. I whisper in here when I know he's close enough to hear me. He rushes in and kneels at my side. "Damnit. What happened, Joe?" "Alpha Lucas," I try to breathe out.

Yep, one or more of my ribs are broken. I am in so much pain. "Let me take over for a second, Joe Willow says. I'm going to heal the broken ribs, but you have to keep the bruises just for a little bit longer." "Okay, Willow. Let me look," says Alpha Charles. As he pulls up my shirt he sees just how badly I've gotten beat. "Alpha Lucas did this," he asks? I open my eyes and Charles backs up a little. "What is it?" "Joe, your eyes look like blue flames." "Can I tell him, Willow?" "Yes, go ahead." "Charles, I would like you to meet my wolf, Willow. She came to me this morning." "Where has she been while you talked about these beatings?" "Listen, Beta Charles," Willow has taken over. "I will tell you like I told Joe. I have my reasons. All will be revealed." "What is your name, little wolf? Willow Sir." Well, Willow, what's the damage?" "She is covered in bruises, she has four broken ribs which I will heal, but the bruises must stay for now." "Why, Charles ask?" "You will find out today. Things are about to change for you little one." Willow gives me back control. "Here let me help you up," Charles says. After I get to my room, I take my clothes off to get ready and see all the old and new bruises. "Why does he do this to me?" I quickly got dressed in my best clothes. "Joelle!" It's the alpha. I ran to open my door and headed down. I say yes, "Alpha Mace. How can I help you?" "I want you to stay quiet when in the room with us. Remember I am still your Alpha." "Yes, sir," I say. After he leaves I head down to make sure everything was clean and put together. The alphas begin to arrive and let me tell you they were all happy to take me it isn't until I'm smacked in the face with the most amazing smell of pine trees and leather. "Mate!" Willow says at the same time as him. "MATE! MATE!" Willow howls. It's Alpha Zander Joseph Hellborne. That's when I pass out. I hear yelling so I keep laying still hoping that it will stop. I open my eyes to see the warmest kindest eyes that I have ever seen. They were the prettiest blue I have ever seen. He picks me up and sits down in the chair and sits me on his lap. I try to get up but I am no match for him. "She needed to be disciplined because she was late to do her chores. She isn't leaving with you" Lucas says. I can't leave I stand suddenly. "She is a wolfless wolf you don't want her." Ben is Zanders's wolf he's not very happy that his mate is hurt. "Joelle princess what do I smell like to you?" "Pine trees and leather Alpha." "Not Alpha I'm just Zander or Z to you. She is leaving with me. Oh, and we won't be signing any treaty or ally contracts. You are on your own." "Come Zander says let's go get your things. and go." We walk up to the attic, he looks around and his eyes are black and I know he is losing control of Ben. "This is where you live?" "Yes, Alpha." "Let's get your things." I have everything I need. I had the blanket I was left with and that's it. We head down the stairs and start to leave when we hear Alpha Lucas screaming " But she's mine. He can't take her. And this bulls**t about not signing the papers." "Come little wolf let's go home."