Mate's Gamble

Chapter 2:The rogue stares at me for a long second before surging forward. I squeal in fear as I narrowly dodge his clawing hands. The man growls in annoyance as I move around the kitchen table, doing my best to keep the large wooden furniture between us. Beckham moves to make his way to me but the other man jumps in front of him, blocking not only his way but my view.-Rogue attack!- I shoot through the mind link to anyone who will listen and hope someone comes to aid us.I am useless as the guy wanting to kill me tosses the table to the side and makes his way to me. I sprint toward the asshole who has his hand on my baby brother’s neck as he pummels Beckham in the face. In fury, I drop my shoulder and throw my whole body into the man’s spine, relishing the yelp of pain it elicits. My victory is short-lived when the guy I had been running from yanks me back by my ponytail. He then takes hold of my throat and lifts me into the air, holding me up high. I gasp for air, clawing at his

I have no idea what an ungodly hour it is when Anna wakes me up and throws clothes at my face. Not that it matters when you are struggling to see again every time of day looks and feels the same. Shit, I’m just perpetually tired of being in this never ending darkness.“What time is it?” I ask, feeling around the bra in my hands to make sure I put it on right. “Time for training.” She says. “Oh, good, so it’s early as shit and no one will even notice if I sleep through the speech. I am certain we will get in the beginning.”Anna sighs heavily, intentionally trying to make it so I can hear her disapproval of that plan of mine. Her lithe feet pad across the room and I feel her hands tangling in my hair as she throws up my unruly mess into a bun. “I can do my hair.” I grumble and she snorts. “You could hardly do it when you had your eyesight.” “Rude.” I mumble, refusing to admit she is completely right. “Speaking of rude…” her tone changes and I know I am about to get her alpha tone

“Listen,” I instruct Tilly as we stand just within the confines of the woods. “Can you tell where we are?”“We are near the woods?” She responds. I look around and feel a sliver of defeat. Near the woods? Trees and wild woodland creatures engulf us. The best she can give me is a guess?“Near or in the woods?” I push, needing her to really try. “In the woods, I suppose. I mean, I can hear animals all around me,” she responds with a shrug. Tilly’s nose crinkles in thought and a smile finds my lips as I try to focus on the task at hand and fail. Her face is a map of tiny little imperfections. Each freckle, every wrinkle when she moves her lips seems to make me like her more, each one a reason I should take another risk for the first time in my life.“So, what now? I just stand and listen to animals for the next eight hours?” She asks with a frustrated huff. I chuckle, stepping close to her and lean down, my nose brushing her earlobe.“Now we train.” I whisper huskily before moving away,

“What the hell!” I squeal out as my knee glances off a rock on the way down. My cheek bounces off the dust covered ground and I groan in frustration and pain. I can sense someone is there, watching me, but no one speaks or offers me aid, so I push myself up. A foot presses in the center of my back, pushing me down to the ground again, this time pinning me. I can feel the vibrations of feet coming toward me, multiple sets just before the kicks land. One after another raining down on my body as I try like hell to fight against the foot holding me flat. My instincts are screaming at me to protect my vital organs. Curl into a damn ball, anything to lessen the places they can hurt me. My arms fly over my head as the tears fall, wetting the ground beneath my cheek as I accept that there is nothing I can do.I steel my resolve, promising not to cry out loud or make a peep. There is no way in hell I will allow them that satisfaction. My body jolts with every blow, each hit taking me further

*Tilly POV*The moment I open the door, Anna yanks me into her arms, squeezing with more strength than she realizes. I feign a choking sound and she chuckles into my hair, but she doesn’t release me.“Anna…” I complain as I try to wiggle out of her embrace before I notice the small shake in her hold. My brows furrow in confusion as I try to understand why she is shaking. Is it fear or anger? Maybe she is saying goodbye because she thinks she is going to get kicked out.“They won’t kick you out.” I assure her, and she sniffles before finally letting me go. Air rushes back into my lungs in a sharp inhale.“You think I care about that?”“Then why are you crying?”“What? I am not.” She says, though she sniffles again. I place my hands on my hips and tilt my head like I am a mother seeing right through her teenage daughter’s lies.“What is wrong?” I ask as I reach out and she places her hand in mine.“You. How they treat you. How they are letting everyone treat you. Til,”I put my hand up