My Mate Changed Me.

Chapter Eighteen: Blood

 I awoke in my moist cell again. I didn't even bother looking around or trying to get up and I heard an all too familiar cackle sound outside of the bars.

        "Not even going to try anymore, huh?" Clara's voice rang out and my head throbbed.

        "Where is he?" I asked and she sighed.

        "Who? Jem? Or Chase?" Clara asked in a sing song voice as her nails dragged against the bars sounding like metal on metal.        

        "Chase..." I muttered. No, I just imagined it. Chase wouldn't be with them. He wouldn't do this. "Chase." I said louder and she smirked as I looked up at her.

        "I'll be sure to let your mate know you chose another man over him." Clara informed me and I growled as much as I could, which honestly wasn't all that much.

        "Cut the crap, Clara. I want to speak with Chase." I snarled and she rolled her eyes before whistling. Shuffling foot steps came closer until Chase could be seen. "Chase." I whimpered and a flash of hurt lit up his eyes.

        "Celine." He whispered. "Celine, I'm so sorry." He said urgently and Clara gripped his arm, stopping him from saying anything else.

        "Why are you doing this?" I asked and he ran a hand down his face.

        "What was I supposed to do, Ce?" He asked in a hushed voice. "They threaten my family, they threatened to kill you...I...I didn't know what else to do." He said, as his shoulders slouched and a tear ran down his cheek.

        "What are you doing for them?" I asked, ignoring the ping of pity that was buried in my heart.

        "I'm the reason you can't connect-" Chase began explaining but Clara's nails broke skin on his arm and droplets of blood escaped.

        "How?" I asked, causing Clara to hiss.

        "Enough." She ordered but Chase licked his dry lips.

        "I'm not sure, I don't even know how they knew about it-" He groaned as Clara's nail dug deeper into his skin.

        "I said enough, dog." She said through clenched teeth and I growled.

        "Let him go." I said, using my Alpha tone and Clara raised an eyebrow at me.

        "Oh? You think you're in any position to order me around?" She asked and smirked as her nails draged down Chase's arm, leaving bloody trails. Chase's eyes were closed tightly.

        "Stop." I said, trying to get up, and failing. "Leave him alone." I added as I got to my hands and knees. I felt my spin snap first and let out a low cry.

        "Make her stop shifting." Clara ordered, hissing at Chase but his eyes stayed sealed shut.

        "You'll have to kill me first." He said and I growled at the thought. My leg's buckled under me as they folded inward. My canine's elongated and I felt my eyes darken. I jumped at the bars and as soon as I knocked into them I was in my wolf form. Clara yelled out and at lightning speed she had Chase in a head lock, with her hands at the perfect position to easily snap his neck. He shruggled against her.

        "Break those bars and I break his neck." Clara threatened and I stopped throwing my weight aginast the bars.

        "Just do it Celine." Chase groaned as Clara watched me closely. "It's going to be okay." He said and actually gave me a small smile, finally opening his eyes to show they were violet. I made my choice then and as I backed up I felt my heart begin to break. Chase gave me a reassuring smile as Clara's grasp got tighter.

        "I'll do it before you'll be able to stop me." She said and I knew she could, and yet I braced myself for impact. Her lip curled back, showing her fangs and I ran hard toward the bars. As I hit them they burst outward and Clara yelled out as a snap went off. The sound of breaking bone. I pushed past her and made my way through the dark hall. The sound of heels let me know she was following me. I burst through the back door and the smell of grass entered my sensitive nose. I froze as a cackle sounded. I turned to face the vampire. "How does it feel, Alpha?" She hissed. "Knowing you couldn't save him. Knowing his blood is on your hands." She questioned and I charged her.

        She met my hit head on and grabbed me by my fur and tossed me side ways. I landed on my feet and charged her again. Yet again she grabbed me and tossed me aside. She gave me a smirk of pride and I snarled. All the pain that I felt physicaly couldn't compare to the pain I felt emotionally at the loss of Chase. And that, is what was going to keep me going.

        I charged her again and this time as her hand shot out to grab me I snapped and bit into her skin. She yelped and pulled her hand back as I tackled her to the floor. She held me at arms length as I snapped, trying to go for her neck. She began struggling and looking worried as I got closer to the rotten flesh I so badly wanted ot tear apart.

        "Do it." She said with a struggle. "Stoop to my level." She added and I growled. No way was she going to try and make me feel like the bad guy. I know the diffference between me and her and even if I did walk away from this and she didn't, well I could live with that.

        Somehow she worked her leg under neath me and she kicked me off, sending me flying a couple yards away. I shook off the hit and ran toward her as she quickly got up and dusted herself off. She smirked before running toward me and as we collided she ended up on top of me. Her hands wrapped around my neck. I rolled sideways and she cackled before taking anvantage of it and getting behind me to wrap her arms around my neck, squeezing it until I couldn't breath.

        My lounges began to burn and I kicked around as my vision blurred. She hissed in my ear and I thrashed around, not wanting that to be the last thing I heard before I died. Her grasp slipped as I kicked off the ground and sent us both tumbling to the side. I grabbed her arm in between my jaws and clamped shut. She screamed as I shook my head violently, her arm still in my mouth. Her vile blood filled my mouth but I didn't let go.

        She used her other hand and clawed at my face, drawing blood. I let go of her arm as her nails dragged down my face. I holwed as the left side of my face split open. I wheeled back and she stood, breathing heavily as blood oozed from her arm. I blinked blood out of my eye and snarled angrily. This was just the beginning of our battle. And either way, oone of us wasn't walking away.

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Yay!! So here's the next chapter after years of nothing!! Hope you like it!! And a huge thanks to blue_Rose_J for the amazing cover!! Whoohoo!!