Finding Her Mate

Chapter 45

Maddie looks coldly at Ash and then with a final jerk she snaps his neck. Rhydian says, "you did the right thing, a monster like that... the only thing you could do is put him down." Suddenly they both hear footsteps approaching as they move quickly in hiding Ash's body. The doorknobs creaks as the door options to Daniel and Zion as Maddie and Rhydian bow their heads like submissive servants. Daniel asks Zion, "would you like to explain what it was you were thinking about?." Zion replies, "when?." Daniel says, "when you attacked Rhydian's so-called pack without my permission." Zion says, "come on, I was just having some fun." Rhydian and Maddie slowly try to back out from the room however Daniel notices this and locks eyes on both of them. He asks, "and where the hell do you both think you are going?." Rhydian replies, "back to work, master." Daniel stares at Maddie saying, "come here." Maddie panics thinking, 'does he recognize me? I should run away..,' she tries to run however barely makes it as Daniel's Alpha command freezes her in place. He says, "that wasn't a very smart move, was it? you are lucky I am in a good mood, now come here." Maddie walks over as Daniel asks, "do you know why I keep servants, Zion? Servants like this one?." Zion replies, "to do the...chores?." Daniel says, "and to remind everyone that this is the furthest they can fall, to keep them in line." Maddie looks at Zion as Daniel says, "there's a difference between bending Wolfbloods to your will and utterly destroying them." He then shoves Maddie down on her knees to prove his point as Maddie keeps her eyes down. She thinks, 'he doesn't recognize me, thank god.' Zion asks, "what is your point?." Daniel replies, "my point is we only kill enough of Rhydian's pack to break my daughter's spirit and pull her in... stop toying with Maddie, just bend her to your will like I have done with this girl here." Zion says, "understood." Daniel says, "good, now what are you waiting for?." Zion says, "what do you mean?." 

Daniel says, "bend Maddie to your will, she's standing right there." Maddie feels her heart beating fast as she turns slowly to find Daniel's deadly gaze locked on hers; Rhydian is stunned too saying, "no....." Daniel smirks asking, "you didn't really think it would be that easy to slip past me, did you Maddie?." Daniel turns to Rhydian with his red eyes glowing menacingly saying, "thank you for delivering my daughter back to me". He pounces on Rhydian who says, "nngh!". Daniel says, "I am sure your parents would be very proud". Maddie says, "Rhydian!". Two guards arrive as Daniel commands them to take Rhydian away. Maddie tries to go after Rhydian however Zion holds her arms behind her back. Daniel says, "ah, where were we, Maddie?". He comes closer and caresses her cheek saying, "oh yes, your homecoming congratulations". He slaps her as Zion lets go of her; Daniel says, "this time, you are here to stay, understand?". Maddie angrily spits on his face and knees him in the groin as Daniel says, "Agh!". Maddie says, "you will never keep me here!". Zion says, "you bitch!". Maddie says, "plenty more where that came from, asshole! Look at that a crack in the armor, now we can see how weak you really are". Daniel says, "you... you have been quite the naughty little girl, I think some well-earned discipline is in order". Daniel looks at Zion saying, "you know where to take her, Zion". Zion nods as he pulls Maddie away from the dining room, up the stairs and finally shoves her into a bedroom. Maddie looks around as she begins to familiarize herself thinking, 'my...my old bedroom'. She barely has a moment to take in it all as Zion snapped a metal collar around her neck and also spray something which brings back her natural hair saying, "this should hold you nice and snug until you are ready to marry me". Maddie steps back saying, "don't you dare touch me, you sick fuck!". 

Zion says, "you will learn to behave for me, one way or another". He leaves as Daniel comes in saying, "you can't run away from who you are, Maddie". Maddie says, "watch me!". He takes a deep breath saying, "I missed you terribly, you know". Maddie angrily snarls at him saying, "you tried to have me killed! What kind of father does that to their daughter?!". Daniel replies, "not out of choice, out of necessity, you were such a weak child, so very much like your mother in that way, I am glad to have found a use for you, beyond simply taking your life my dear". Maddie pleadingly says, "Daniel I will do whatever you want but you have to free Rhydian, I will stay here... just please let him go". Daniel says, "this will all be easier if you come to terms with the fact that you have lost, child... you will be marrying Zion at dawn, all the preparations are in place". Maddie's eye fill with anger saying, "I will never say I do!". Daniel says, "oh but you will, and to solidify your new bond with Zion... we will kill Rhydian at the altar!". Maddie gasps saying, "you can't do that!". Daniel says, "oh, but I can, and I want to, you will come to thank me, in the end". He comes closer saying, "come tomorrow, we will be rid of your little distraction... now get some rest, you will need to look fresh for your big day tomorrow". He leaves as Maddie thinks, 'no... this can't be happening, Rhydian can't- this is all my fault! I never thought it would end like this'. Maddie drops to the ground sadly in her thoughts as the door opens to a familiar voice saying, "back to gloat?". Maddie looks up stunned to see a familiar figure enter as she says, "James? What are you doing here?". James replies, "what does it look like?". Maddie gets up saying, "it looks like you are working with Daniel". 

James says, "well done, you got it in one!". He comes closer to her with a smile on his lips as he reaches for her neck as she says, "wait, stop!". Then with a sudden click, the metal collar falls from her neck. Maddie was surprised by James's action asking, "what?... but.. but why?". James answers, "I never did get your last words out of my head". Maddie says confused, "my last words?". James says, "after everything I'd done, after trying to kill you, after trying to overthrow Rhydian... you still showed me kindness and still allowed me to leave with dignity". Maddie smiles saying, "James, thank you for this...". James says, "it's the least I could do, Maddie... Rhydian is in the dungeon down the stairs to your right, the way through should be clear just... hurry and do your best not to get caught". Maddie nods and is about to leave when James hands her a key. She immediately heads out stealthily avoiding the guards and servants before finally reaching the dungeon as Maddie see the cell and Rhydian chained to the wall; Maddie is shocked at his state seeing him in the shackles, battered and bleeding from several large torture wounds. Maddie has tears in her eyes wondering, 'what have they done to him?'. She opens the cell and goes over to Rhydian saying, "oh my god, Rhydian... I'm here now, it's ok". Rhydian stirs calling, "Maddie...is this a dream?". Maddie answers, "no, it's not a dream, I am here, and I am going to get you out". Maddie uses the key to free Rhydian from the shackles as he stands up weakly; Maddie holds him asking, "Rhydian! Are you alright?". Rhydian replies, "yeah, I'm fine... it's all going to be alright". Maddie has tears in her eyes asking, "how can you say that after what they have done to you? with what they are going to do to you?". Rhydian replies, "as long as you are safe, I will be ok". Maddie says, "they are going to kill you, Rhydian". He nods saying, "I know but you can still survive this". Maddie says, "no... I am not leaving without you". Rhydian says, "you have to, it's the only way". Maddie firmly says, "NO, I won't do it! I would rather die with you than-". Rhydian says, "damn it, listen to me! you have to survive, no matter what!".