USELESS?

3

Three years later

Another birthday. I'm 21 today. I've been mated to Dale for nearly three miserable years. I'm surprised I survived two weeks.

Once we moved into our suite, the beatings started. I spend my days locked in our suite, bruised from the neck down. The only times I'm allowed out of the suite, I have to wear long sleeves and pants, no matter the weather. He beats me every day, then ties me to the bed and uses me till dawn.

Thankfully, I've managed to keep up with my birth control injections, so I haven't gotten pregnant. I'm not sure how much longer I'll be able to keep up with them. Dale is getting more and more controlling. I'm not allowed to go many places by myself anymore. I wish I could get away from here.

I think I'd even welcome an attack.

As if the thought summoned it, I hear the siren that heralds our territory is under attack. I wonder if anyone will remember I'm here in the rush to the safe room. Probably not. I'm usually "forgotten" in the monthly drills, because Dale doesn't want me around any males of the pack, Omegas or not. He says our room is safe enough, as he has the only key.

As the alarm continues, I watch the sun set and the full moon rise through the window, until a fire rips through my body. I fall to the floor, unable to breathe, wondering where the pain is coming from. The fire rages through my system, disorienting me. Suddenly, my bones snap and reposition themselves. 'Am I shifting!?' I think to myself. This can't be possible, can it? A first shift is supposed to be at 13, and I'm 21. I guess it is possible, because I soon find myself on 4 legs, covered in silver fur with dark marks on my sides.

As I relax, and catch my breath, I feel the pain subside to a mild tingling, and I watch in disbelief as my mating mark completely disappears, leaving the spot clear and unblemished. I wonder what happened to it, but I don't really care. If I'm no longer mated to Dale, I'm free.

'Hello, Hunter. I am Angel.' I hear a voice say, seeming to come from everywhere and nowhere at the same time. It is a deep, unfamiliar voice, ringing with authority.

"Who's there?" I cry.

'I'm your wolf. My name is Angel. You are my human half, Hunter.' The voice answers, and I realize it is inside my head.

"My name is Hunter?" I ask, stupidly, I thought.

'Yes, it is. I will explain everything as soon as I get us out of this room. Our Mate is out there. I can feel him.' Angel tells me

"Our mate? Dale? My mark just just disappeared before you came to me."

'That wasn't our mate. We can only be marked by our Goddess-given mate, which is why that other mark disappeared.' Angel asserts 'Our mate is coming. I told his wolf where we are, and where the key to this room is. Our freedom will be complete in 30 seconds'

As he speaks, I hear feet running in the hall towards the suite. They suddenly stop outside the door, and I hear the key being turned in the lock. I realize I'm still in wolf form, but I don't care. Suddenly, a scent reaches me, the most amazing thing I've ever smelled; like oranges, ginger, and cloves. The smell grows stronger as the door opens, and I see the most beautiful man standing in the doorway, staring back at me-or my wolf.

The man is easily 6 feet 5 inches tall, with jet black hair, eyes a startling crystalline green, stubble along his jaw, and beautifully tanned skin. He seems as entranced by me as I am by him. I feel so safe with him near, I decide to shift back to human. I wonder what he sees. I've never been near a mirror, so I don't know what I look like.

I hope, since I've shifted, that my bruises have healed. Before, I healed at a human rate, which always seemed to amuse Dale. No wolf, no werewolf abilities. I'm afraid to look down and see. Although standing naked before this beautiful man doesn't bother me, the idea of him seeing me covered in bruises does.

"Mate," he says. His voice is amazing. Deep, smooth, and melodic. Just hearing it makes me smile.

"Hello," I say. "My wolf says my name is Hunter." He looks at me quizzically at that. "Can we get out of here, please? I hate this place."

"Of course we can, love. My name is Anthony." He says as he searches through drawers and hands me clothing "One of my pack elders received a vision from the Goddess that a very rare and unique wolf had been kept hostage here. I'm guessing that is you."

Rare? Unique? Me?? "Why would you think that?" I ask as I get dressed. Once I'm dressed, Anthony takes my hand, leading me from the suite and out of the pack house for the first time. "I didn't even have a wolf until today."

"Your wolf, Hunter. I've only heard legends of it." He answers "A silver wolf with an angel's wing marking. Also, that mark on your back."

"Really?" I ask. Anthony nods, squeezing the hand he is holding. I pause, his words sinking in. "Wait...what mark?"

Anthony laughs, "You have wings, as well, my love. They match your wolf's. They're quite beautiful. Has no one ever told you?"