Beckham

It was finally time. Time to see my mate again. Bree turned eighteen in two weeks, the Summit was taking place in four. I needed to take care of her before I could bring Nate home. Everything was set, down to getting Nate back here and away from that pack that took him from me. In the months that Nate had been gone, I had made good on my promise to play the perfect son and future alpha. My father had no choice but to bring me with him. I would see Nate again. I would be able to touch him, smell him…save him.

But first…I needed Bree out of the way. I knew she was playing spy, telling my father my every move. I also knew that my file was missing, which could prove to be troubling. Bree was supposed to meet me in the woods soon; and she had no idea what was about to happen…after all, why would her boyfriend want to harm her?

Bree entered the clearing in her wolf form, she was very beautiful but she isn’t who I want. She isn’t who I need. She shifted and approached me, with a skip in her step and a smile on her pretty face. She looked so much like Sam…perhaps if I hadn’t fallen for Nate I could’ve made this work, but I did and here we are.

“Becky!” 

I allowed her to wrap her arms around my neck, and nuzzle her face on the skin there, I plunged the syringe into her neck; her scream of pain brought a smirk to my lips, 

“Beck…why? What?”

Bree collapsed to the forest floor, I pocketed the now empty syringe and picked her up. I had paid off a few rogues to drive her halfway to Purple Moon. It would also be a halfway point to where the Summit would be held. I handed her off to the rogues on the back road that bordered our territory,

“Remember, do not touch her. Inject her with the serum I gave you every six hours until you get there. Chain her up and feed her.”

“Whatever you say boss.”

***

My father glanced at me from the driver’s seat. I knew he wanted to ask me something but couldn’t find the words. That was fine with me. I didn’t want to talk to the spineless coward anyway.

“Nate is mated to the Alpha of Pacifica. He probably won’t have time to hang out and catch up.”

I suppressed a growl, how dare he mention Nate? His mating to the alpha was a farce, I just couldn’t prove it. Nate belonged to me. He asked me to never leave him, and I told him I never would and no one would get in the way of that.

The drive to the Summit was about six hours; and the Summit was just a big party for all the Alphas and their commanding officers. Technically it was a meeting to discuss any potential threats and news for the werewolf community…but there was always a party afterwards. We’d already been in the car for four hours, I was getting restless…was Nate just as restless? Was he excited to see me?

After a few hours, Dad pulled into the hotel the host pack had rented out and he again turned to me, his eyes narrowed and his lips pursed,

“You will not cause any trouble, do you understand? You will forget this asinine idea that Nate is your mate. He is happy. He is loved. He is protected. Leave him alone. Am I understood?”

“Yes, sir.”

He only said during the Summit, right? So afterwards it was fair game. And boy do I have plans for the after party.

Bree

I woke up to total darkness. The floor beneath me was swaying back and forth; so I knew I was in some sort of vehicle. I wiggled around; my training came to me in spurts. Squash the fear, clear your senses, and focus on your surroundings. The last thing I remembered was giving Beckham a hug and then being stabbed. The vehicle came to an abrupt stop, and the trunk was thrown open, the sudden brightness blinding me, rough hands grabbed me and hauled me up onto my feet, and I stumbled forward with little choice, I was still drugged, I could feel it weighing me down; my limbs felt like lead.

I was thrown into a dark room; making adjusting my sight difficult. I had no idea where I was, the drug was screwing with all my senses. I could tell that there were two of them, whoever had captured me. 

“Boss wants her chained up and waiting.”

“Then do that. I brought her in here.”

“Hold her still.”

Rough hands once again hoisted me up, this time around the waist. The man squeezed tighter than he had to, while the other attached silver chains around my wrists, and then I heard the sounds of chains being pulled over metal. I was hanging from my wrists from the rafters; I didn’t know where I was, who had taken me, or what they wanted. I just knew I was in danger in more ways than one.

I didn’t know how long I had been hanging there; my best guess, based on how often they fed me…it had been a week…possibly two. Blood was a constant stream down my arms from the silver, and the silver poisoning was making it hard to keep myself airborne. Was anyone looking for me? Did anyone care?

“Hey Boss said not to touch her!”

“I’m bored, and I want to have some fun!”

“Leave her alone, from what I heard…Boss has special plans for her.”

“Fine, then I’m going for a run.”

I let out a soft sigh of relief. Saved unwittingly by the Boss…whoever that was. Safe for now, uncomfortable…but safe.

Nate

I was nervous. Nervous to see Beckham again, nervous about being viewed as a leader, nervous about being seen as a gay leader. I was fiddling with the buttons on my dress shirt, wishing it was the frayed thread on my sweater. A hand reached out and took mine; I didn’t even need to look up to know it was Neo. I let out the breath I hadn’t realized I had been holding. My dad was in the front seat, he had volunteered to drive us to the Summit, since it was our first one. Malcolm was in the passenger seat, playing navigator.

“Are you okay?”

The easy answer would have been yes, but it would also be a lie. I wasn’t okay. How could anyone be okay with what I knew? I wasn’t even sure I fully believed it. Beckham couldn’t possibly be a murderer…or be in love with me. The plan we all came up with was for me to pretend I didn’t know what Beckham was really like. Which meant, meeting up with him by myself like I normally would’ve done before knowing,

“No. I’m not okay, but I will be.”

***

We reached the hotel where the Summit would take place a few hours ago. Malcolm had taken our bags to our respective rooms, and now we were walking around the ballroom. Neo hadn’t left my side since we entered the building, and I was grateful. I wasn’t sure what I would do when I saw Beckham again…or what he would do, but if what everyone was saying about Beckham was true; then I wasn’t sure I even wanted to see him again.

It didn’t take long for me to spot Alpha Jefferson, and in turn, Beckham. What I found odd however is that Bree wasn’t with them. They hadn’t spotted us yet, I tugged Neo away so I could tell him…but it was too late. Beckham had seen me and was making his way towards us. Stalking really; why did he look so angry? 

“Let go of him!” Beckham shouted, drawing the attention of every werewolf in the room.

“Why would I let go of my mate?” Neo growled, shoving me behind him.

“He’s not your--” Beckham looked at my neck, and then at Neo’s and let out a gut wrenching roar. “HOW DARE YOU! HOW COULD YOU?”

Alpha Jefferson arrived and with the help of his beta, they escorted Beckham out of the room. When Alpha Jefferson came back, he was alone. He nodded his head towards me and the Summit began. I didn’t see Beckham after that. 

Beckham

I paced the room my father locked me in, I had to get out of here. I had to put my plan in motion and my earlier tantrum didn’t help. I just didn’t foresee myself reacting like that. Nate had been sullied by that subpar alpha. Seeing Neo in person was more than enough to cement that idea. Neo was weak, he was unworthy of being my Nate’s mate. I had to get out of this room. I had to get to Bree, take care of that…or maybe I take Nate and then get to Bree. 

But first…I checked the door, and it was unlocked but Christopher was outside, leaning against the wall. He didn’t look up, but I knew he knew I was there,

“Have you calmed down?”

“Yeah.”

“What the hell was that about? Of course Nate marked his mate and of course his mate marked him in return. Did you think they’d just wait?”

“No…I don’t know.”

“I know it sucks, but it's why werewolves don’t usually have relationships or fall in love with someone that isn’t their mate.”

“How did you--?”

“Know? You aren’t exactly subtle.”

“What are the odds of you letting me out of here?”

“Zero.”

I shut the door, I would have to knock him out…or go out the window. I could probably make that jump in wolf form. From there I could steal a car and get to neutral grounds before anyone noticed I was gone. Calum was pacing in my head, he didn’t like this plan. He didn’t want to hurt Bree, he didn’t love Nate like I did…but I was in control. I would take over his form too, make him do what I wanted.

Shifting, I jumped from the balcony and landed in the pool below. Luckily, no one was out swimming. They were all preoccupied with the Summit. I swam to the edge and slunk towards the parking lot. I chose a car at random, shifted and hot wired the engine. Not the first time I had to do this, I’d stolen my dad’s car this way countless times before.

I drove off, not caring if anyone noticed; or who’s car I had stolen. It wasn’t until I had gotten on the highway that I smelt a familiar scent. It was Nate, his scent saturated the back seat, along with Neo’s. Only one scent was unfamiliar to me, but I now knew that I had stolen property from the Pacifica Pack, which would cause everyone to start looking for me faster. I needed to dump this car and find another. I couldn’t have anyone finding out where I was going, or what I was planning.

Bree

What day is it? How long have I been here now? I can't remember. My vision is blurry but it looks like it's dark outside. My wrists have popped out and dried blood, sweat and dirt has caked my arms. I feel numb inside. I haven’t felt the pack bond or my wolf in days. The only companionship I have had is the occasional mouse or spider besides the men who have taken me here. They haven’t touched me besides to feed me or give me water. I have been grateful for at least maintaining some dignity. 

The door opened, the sudden brightness causing me to flinch. Beckham walked through the threshold; a cold sneer on his otherwise handsome face. Why was he doing this? Why was he here? Was he here to rescue me?

“You’re probably wondering why you’re here.” Beckham whispered, fingers trailing down my forearms, down my neck.

“W-water.”

A ladle with less than sanitary water, but I was desperate. I gulped down the offered liquid; and some clarity returned…but not enough, 

“Why…me?” I managed to ask.

“Because you aren’t him.”

What did that even mean? I wasn’t him? Him who? Nate? Sam? I struggled against the chains around my wrists, causing the skin to tear and blood and pus to pour down my arms. I could hear him laughing, he was enjoying my pain.

“You know, Bree, when I felt the bond with you, at first I was excited because finally I had found my mate…but then I realized that the bond wasn’t with who I wanted. Who I needed. I promised Nate I would never leave him, and if I was to mate with you and not him, I’d be leaving him.”

I knew Beckham was delusional, but I hadn’t thought it was this bad…I was Beckham’s mate? Why not just reject me? Why kidnap and torture me like this?

“I wonder if you know what happened to your brother. Why he died and not Nate.”

“Samson was killed by a rogue.”

“That’s what my father wanted you to believe, what he wanted the entire pack to believe. Truthfully, it was me. I killed Sam that day.”

No…Beckham was Sam’s best friend, why would he kill him? Why was he still walking around free? 

“NO!” I wailed, I knew this is what he wanted, to see me break but I couldn’t help it. Sam was my best friend, my older brother.

“You see, I caught him with Nate; they were so close. Almost kissing. In a way…it’s Nate’s fault that Sam is dead.”

Beckham was behind me now, and I could feel the burning sensation of a silver knife being held against my skin, his hot breath on my neck as he inhaled my scent; 

“I can smell your fear. I didn’t think it would be so…intoxicating.”

“Why don’t you just reject me?”

“Where’s the fun in that?”

He sliced through my lower back without warning, the silver causing fire to course through my body; but I resisted the urge to scream. He could do whatever he wanted to me, but he wouldn’t get the sick satisfaction of hearing me scream out in pain.

“Got nothing to say now? Too busy trying not to scream? This knife is coated with liquid wolfsbane…so no healing and the silver will slowly poison you until it reaches your heart. I could give you the antidote; but I won’t. I’ll let you suffer and then come your birthday when you finally can feel the bond; I’ll kill you in front of Nate…and then I’ll make Nate my mate.”

“Nate…already…has…a…mate. Nate…never…loved you…like…he loves…Neo!”

Beckham slapped me across the face, his face red with rage, his eyes glazed over. He was terrifying and Moon Goddess I hoped Nate never fell for his nice guy act again. Please, Moon Goddess if you’re up there, protect Nate.

“Never say that name again! He’s not Nathan’s mate! Nate is MINE.”

Beckham left the room, slamming the door behind him, plunging me into darkness once more. Now that I was alone, I let out the sob I had been holding in. The pain was excruciating…like nothing I had ever felt before. The silver, being so far away from my heart would take weeks to turn fatal, and in that time my muscles would atrophy, my blood would clot within my arteries, my skin would turn black…and it would be the most excruciating pain I would ever feel until I was just numb. The numbness would mean death was imminent. Beckham wanted the bond to cut through the numbness so I had no choice but to feel the pleasurable sparks that would erupt when he touched me to end it.