Finding My Mate

Chapter 16

Ashley's POV: 

"We need to decide now!" Someone yelled. "Shut your damn mouth. You know how carefully this must be planned." Indeed we did know how carefully it must be planned. We all must've shared this thought because no one yelled back. 

In the past month our society has been planning an attack on the largest pack in America. Hopefully Calla wouldn't be there, it would be a shame for her to get hurt. Not. I had made up my mind that if anyone was to kill the alphas, it would be James and I. I would kill anyone who stood in my way. "Our Way." James thought towards me. I loved it when he spoke into my mind. He was the only one that could anymore. That was how it worked for all of us. Only the mate could speak to your thoughts. 

I smiled at James, who gave a sick grin back. What would've made me want to throw up two weeks ago had my heart beating with blood lust now. Take two days ago for example. A girl named Felicity tried to beg her way back into her old pack. For betraying society ways of freedom we executed her. As Cody, the strongest fighter of us, stalked towards her, I almost stopped him. But only so I could finish the bitch myself. 

"Now." Cody said. "We need to begin tightening surveillance on their territory. It's crucial to find out when they're at their most vulnerable. That's when we will strike. Darren, Sam, and Jack have been camping near the territory for a few days and will report back with intelligence tonight. Should we find anything new, we must be ready to attack at all times. So be prepared. That will be all." He told us. My mind reeled. What if Calla had joined their pack? What if I could kill her tonight?! And James could finally get Ben back for rejecting him. 

The day he told me that was emotional for him. The night he found me, he had been examining the territory for a future attack, which happened to be this one. He explained to me that he crossed one to many lines after attacking a pack-mate who took his girlfriend away from him. After being banished, a rouge named Chris found him and handed him over, weak and mad as a bull, to Cody and the other higher ups. They took him in with care. Unlike the cruel alpha. 

I walked over to James then, and asked if he wanted to go for a run. He shifted without giving me an answer and bolted for the door. I followed him, still in human form. I liked to look at his wolf, A beautiful dark gray wolf with black eyes. He bit my hand then. "OW!" I screamed. Blood started to pool in my palm. "Are you coming or what?" He snapped at me. I growled back but shifted and bolted ahead of him. 

Running was one of my favorite things to do, especially in the woods. Never have I ever felt this free. I loved it. And running with James by my side was even better. 

We ran for until twilight when a howl called us back to the house. They were back. James and I looked at each other and sprinted back. We shifted, out of breath, and walked towards the compound. 

Cody was speaking in hushed tones with the guys while the other wolves gathered. You could tell everyone was anxious to hear the news. If they had been in wolf form, their tails would be up with curiosity and ears flicking. Cody began, 'It seems our friends have a new alpha female." I nearly jumped up and down in place. "A pretty little prize hmm?" He smiled. The rest of us laughed. "I decided to speak up. "I know her. The alpha. Her name is Calla. I left the night she and Ben mated." Everyone stopped and stared. You could've heard a pin drop. "And you kept this information from us?" A boy named Carson snarled. James glared at him. "No- I, I didn't know for sure if they had mated or if she was going to join the pack." I stuttered. "But you still held information. We couldv'e attacked weeks ago!" Other wolves snapped and glared in agreement. "Punish her!" Someone shouted. "NO!" James lept in front of me. People started to grab at me and push me despite his best efforts. I was afraid that they really would kill me. "ENOUGH!" Cody screeched. "Leave the girl! There is other blood to be spilled. We will attack tomorrow, nightfall. As for the girl, I will deal with her. The rest of you should be preparing to fight!" I trembled. Cody was not a gentle soul. James growled at him and put me behind him. "Dismissed." Cody said. The others began to shuffle away, leaving James, Cody, and I with a whole lot of tension. 

"Cody-" James began. But Cody just pounced, throwing him off me in one swift move. James, who was flung across the room, tried to get up. Cody was faster though. He had James in a headlock strong enough to kill a human in a second. James clawed at his arm in desperation but couldn't shake him. I starred at the scene, horrified. I couldn't speak or move. I just watched as Cody killed my life. I found my voice when James began to lose consciousness. "Stop! You're killing him!" Cody didn't even glance at me. "Cody! I'll go with you! Leave him!" I flung myself at him this time. He threw James aside when I bit him. "You bitch!" He slapped me. James couldn't react, he was to busy sputtering and coughing. I turned my head back to see Cody coming at me again. I didn't receive a slap or punch, he just grabbed my arm and dragged me to the basement. 

I was shaking. With adrenaline or fear- I don't know. He was going to kill me. He was already dragging me to the execution room. I was done. I didn't fight back, or scream, no. I would die with dignity. 

He threw me to the blood stained concrete floor. Then he lunged, shifting in mid air. "At least it would be quick." I told myself. But he didn't go for the throat, or vital organs. He went for my face with razors for claws. They dug into my forehead, creating a gash that opened to my chin. Scarred. That's what I would be. A walking example of what discipline looks like. 

He clawed the same path again, making it deeper. I groaned. He licked the blood pouring from my face to clean it. He didn't want infection, just the scar. He then trotted to the door and shifted before exiting. He turned back and said, "As punishment for your treachery, you will kill your friend yourself. And I will have the pleasure of killing the male." He spit on the ground and left me there. 

I smiled to myself when I knew he had gone upstairs. He thought that was punishment? 

No. This was exactly what I wanted.