Autumn limped after Mango, her body screaming with every step. The healer's hut was warm, smelling of herbs and something bitter…like crushed wolfbane. Mango tossed her a rough spun towel and a faded tunic.
"Clean yourself up."
Autumn didn't argue. She peeled off the ruined dress, her skin prickling under the cold air. The water in the basin turned pink as she scrubbed the blood from her face.
Mango watched her, arms crossed. "Vera's got a nasty streak. Always has."
Autumn snorted. " Ugly bitch! "
"She used to be Kieran's favorite in bed. Like the longest since…his ex," Mango added, stirring a pot of something thick and green. "Before he cut her off like all the others."
Autumn's hands stilled. "I don't care about his leftovers."
Mango smirked. "Sure you don't."
A sharp knock at the door made Autumn flinch.
Dax, Kieran's Beta stood in the doorway, his dark green eyes scanning her battered form. "You have been missing for a while now.The bell rang an hour ago. Pack duties wait for no one. Did nobody tell you that, Autumn?"
Autumn scowled. "I am not pack."
Dax's jaw tightened. "You are on pack duty though. Alpha Kieran's orders."
Autumn went with Dax, dejected, hoping she would be taken to the training grounds perhaps and get to beat some shit out of those filthy Blackmoons but no.
Dax took her inside through the back doors. She eyed him suspiciously as they walked through a pitch black corridor. The guy never looked back at her but she didn't trust anyone. She was ready to claw him if needed, least he tried some wrong moves on her.
The entire Blackmoon was sick… psychopaths.
But lo and behold.
Dax pulled open a huge cupboard and handed her a broom , gloves and a cleaning bucket!
" What the… "
" Get to work, Autumn! You are already late! " And then he left. Literally vanished before Autumn could protest.
The second Autumn stepped out from behind the training shed, it felt like a trap snapping shut.
Garrick was there, leaning against the wall with his arms folded and that same disgusting smirk on his lips. Beside him, two more wolves,some low ranking Omegas, lingered like vultures, shifting from foot to foot with anticipation.
"Morning, sweetheart.We meet again. " Garrick drawled, stepping into her path.
Autumn froze.
"Look at that…she cleaned up nice,and now ready to clean the ground for us…" one of the others said, leering.
Her stomach twisted.
"Move," she said, voice hoarse but steady.
Garrick leaned in, his breath warm and revolting. "We were just hoping for a little... conversation. Maybe a demonstration of those rogue talents in bed that impressed the Alpha."
Before she could move, a hand slammed her back into the wall. One of the Omegas grabbed her wrist and twisted it behind her. Pain shot up her arm.
"GET OFF ME!" she snarled, struggling wildly, but the second one grabbed her legs, forcing her down to the dirt.
Then she heard the slow, cruel clap.
Vera stepped into view.She crouched down, so close Autumn could see the flecks of blood still dried in her nostrils. "Do you know what it is like to be trained for years as a warrior, a Gamma, and watch some pathetic little rogue waltz into his head?You must be delighted he took your side! "
Autumn thrashed harder, her scream muffled by Garrick's hand.
"You are pack property now," Vera sneered, yanking Autumn's collar. "And we are going to make sure you understand exactly what that means."
Autumn kicked the Omega with all her might, scurried on all fours and hurried away from there as fast as was possible.
Luckily, they did not follow.
***
But then night fell like a shroud.
Autumn should have gone straight back to Mango's hut after she was done with cleaning the entire ground. Or she should have stayed hidden.Her instincts yelled at her that Vera was not done with her. But pride made her stupid.
She was halfway across the training grounds ,trying to get back to her place, when they struck.
A hand clamped over her mouth, yanking her into the shadows.
"Miss us, rogue?" Garrick's breath stung! It was hot and rancid against her ear. He had definitely been drinking.
Autumn thrashed, but another set of hands grabbed her arms, wrenching them behind her back. Vera stepped into view, her smirk too satisfactory and too sharp.
"Kieran's busy," she purred. "Won't be interrupting this time.He's gone out of the pack.Some traitor problem.Will take him awhile.I have seen to that. "
Autumn's blood turned to ice.
Vera grabbed her hair, forcing her to her knees. "You think you are high? That he wants you?" She leaned down, her lips brushing Autumn's ear. "Let me show you what he really likes."
Garrick tore her tunic open, his hands groping her breasts, pinching hard enough to bruise. Autumn screamed against the hand still smothering her, but the sound was swallowed by the night.
Vera laughed, unbuckling her belt. "Hold her still. I want her to feel this."
Autumn's vision blurred with tears. She kicked, twisted, bit…but there were too many of them.And they were drunk on something.Their grip felt much stronger. Their hands were everywhere.
Laughter.
" Let those little wolves lose, boys! I would like you to feast on this one while I watch. She wants dick! Will give her dick! Let's see how much she can handle! "
The stench of sweat and arousal.
Autumn spat as one tried to kiss her. Kicked one in the groin.
" Ahhh! This one's feisty, Vera! No wonder the Alpha likes it… "
" Shut up and do your job you idiot… " Vera slapped her belt like a whip and the Omega almost toppled over Autumn. She tried to kick him with all she had, backing up, desperately.
But Garrick was quick to push her on the ground, unzip himself and sit on her chest.
And then…
A snarl ripped through the darkness.
Garrick's head snapped to the side, his neck breaking with a sickening crack. His body slumped, lifeless, to the ground.
Vera froze. "Dax?"
The Beta stepped into the moonlight, his eyes wolf gold and murderous. "Run."
The others scattered like rats.
Vera backed away, her face pale. "Dax, you don't understand…"
Dax moved faster than she thought, his fist slamming into her stomach hard enough to make her vomit. He grabbed her throat, lifting her off the ground. "I said run."
He threw her like a rag doll.
But Vera hit the dirt with a loud thud, scrambling up and fleeing into the trees.
Dax turned to Autumn, his expression unreadable. He shrugged off his jacket, draping it over her shoulders. "Can you walk?"
Autumn's legs shook, but she nodded.
Dax's jaw tightened. "Then move. Get back to your quarters before Kieran finds out what they tried to do."