Triggers present. Mentions of torture and rape. Please skip the italics if they are triggers for you.

Chains rattled. Her wrists pulled hard against the silver restraints. The skin was worn away, blood dripped down her arms. Her cell was dark, completely black, her remaining senses were in overdrive. The room stank of filth. Her filth and blood, the foul white substance running down her legs.

Her back felt as if it was on fire. Her skin left hanging, ripped apart and shredded. The memory of the whip making contact had her bent over, dry heaving, her stomach already completely barren. Every move, every breath, sent new shocks of pain. Her teeth were clenched so tight, she was amazed they weren't completely filled down to the gums. Her shattered ribs grated against one another. Yet another reminder her healing wasn't working.

She briefly remembered the needle entering her skin, jammed in her neck. Wolfsbane. The bastards used wolfsbane, making Rey completely unreachable. They were afraid of her and Rey together, as they should be.

Amelia jerked her head up. The sound of metal hinges squeaked loudly in the darkness. Heavy footsteps echoed off the stone walls, leather boots tapping on the cement. She pulled harder on the chains, her movements exacting a fresh swell of agony, tearing open the scabs on her back.

She could smell his arousal at her panic, her fear. Hear the small chuckle at the back of his throat, amusing himself with new ways he could torture her. He was imaginative. Almost making her wish for death.

The sound of a zipper being pulled down over the bulge in his pants made her whimper, pulling at the chains even harder. He snickered at her feeble attempts. She felt her hair being jerked back, her scalp burning, her eyes tearing. It didn't matter if she closed her eyes or kept them open. She couldn't see the man, all she could do was smell him, a thick odor of petrol and cigarettes.

"One day you will enjoy this." The man growled, his voice heavy with need and hunger.

"Never, you sick fuck!" she spat over her shoulder, knowing she hit him in his face from the wet splat she heard.

The man snarled, his wolf coming forth. Tears slipped down her cheeks, her screams were swallowed in her dark, private hell.

Amelia bolted upright out of bed. Sweat dripped down her face, along her neck. Her hair was plastered to her skin, her shirt soaked through. She absently rubbed at her wrists, the wounds long healed, the scars soft and visible, but the memory still fresh.

"I'm alive. I'm okay. I'm safe," she whispered to herself, over and over, until her heart rate slowed to a more even beat.

Looking around the room, she found everything as it should. The lamp beside her was still on, illuminating the space. Outside her open window, the sky was still black, stars filled the vast emptiness. She thought back to a simpler time, but she wasn't sure such a time even existed.

Sighing deeply, she ran her fingers through her long, silver blonde hair. The color was turning lighter every year. She leaned back against her headboard before suddenly sitting up again. Her ears poised to the window, her body stiff, her breathing slow and quiet.

A wolf howled to the sky.

Amelia threw her covers off, jumping out of bed. The sentries were calling the alarm. More wolves cried to the moon, alerting the pack to intruders.

They were here.

She quickly stripped out of her night gown, throwing the garment to the floor. Ripping open her dresser drawers, she pulled on a pair of jeans and a shirt, jumping in the air as she tugged on her sneakers. She banged on the adjoining door before flinging it open.

Amelia flicked on the lights, bringing the room to life.

"Emery, get up!" she yelled.

A sleeping teenage girl sat up, wearily rubbing at her eyes. "What's going on, mom?"

"Get dressed. Time to go." Without a glance back, Amelia went into the walk in closet, pulling down a backpack off the top shelf.

Emery leaped out of bed, her feet hitting the cold wood floor. She followed her mother's lead, quickly changing into similar attire.

Amelia held out the bookbag to her, watching her as she put it on her back.

The bedroom door opened, a familiar face sticking his head in.

"Ms. Smoke, the intruders are here. A few have slipped through the perimeter. They're coming straight here."

Amelia nodded. "We're leaving. Tell your Alpha I said thank you and I'm sorry."

The man pushed the door open further. The London pack's Beta bowed in submission, startling her. "It has been an honor, Ms. Smoke. We will hold them off as best as we can."

Amelia reached out, resting her hand on his shoulder, bringing his eyes up to her. "Thank you, Thomas. We will never forget your kindness."

Thomas quickly nodded before leaving them alone in the room. The sound of more wolves howling could be heard through the thick stone walls of the pack house. They were almost there.

"Let's go." Amelia said over her shoulder. Not needing to bother with checking to see if Emery was following. She knew she was.

They pushed their way into the library, closing the heavy, hand carved doors shut behind them. Amelia turned the key in the door, locking them in. Snarls could be heard within the walls. They were already in the castle.

"Emery, run." Amelia stood, standing guard in front of the door, her claws already lengthening.

"Mom." The girl pleaded, begging her to go with.

"This is what we've been preparing for. You know what you need to do."