Unexpected Savior

He who is said to be from the north, and is one of the most powerful and ruthless of them all. Even Duncan shuddered at the thought of ever meeting this man. I had high doubts Caitlyn was aware of Pularis's infamous reputation- as she rarely had any interest in politics aside from what goes on in our pack. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be introducing the Alpha to me in that friendly manner.

“I-I see,” I answered with a slight stutter. “Thank you for helping me.”

Pularis waved off my thanks. “Please, there’s no need for that. I only did what any other would have done.”

His casual response caught me off guard for a bit, not expecting those words to leave his mouth.

“You fucking bitch!” I jumped when I suddenly heard a shout in my head, alerting Caitlyn and Pularis.

“Suzie? What’s wrong?” Caitlyn asked.

“Did you think me funny?!” Duncan’s voice shouted in my head, preventing me from speaking to my friend. “I know I told you to get that cake ready for Ashley! Why are you not here?!”

Sending them an apologetic glance, I returned the mind link. “You never said if the cake was ordered or if you wanted me to make it. I assumed the former, and on my way to a bakery, I-”

“Are you pushing the blame to me?!” Duncan interrupted, refusing to listen to reason.

“I’m not shifting the blame. I’m just saying you didn’t say much about the cake. And when I went to a bakery, I saw the maid who framed me and-”

“Do you take me for a fool?” he interrupted once more. “You really think you can bribe anyone into ‘clearing your name’? That you can get away from the crime you have committed! It seems I had been lenient, letting you be alone. As today is Ashley’s birthday, I will spare you of your punishment for sneaking out. However, you better return quickly with the cake. Or a certain little pup will know what it’s like to be disabled.”

My eyes widened in fright at the threat. “Don’t you dare!” I shouted. “Look, I’ll return to the mansion. Just leave Justin alone!”

“Then you better be quick with that cake.”

Without another word from him, I felt the mind link end. Though not without feeling the frustration for how unreasonable that dreadful Alpha has become.

“Suzie? What’s wrong?” Caitlyn asked, snapping me out of my thoughts, as well as making me realize that I was not the only person in the room, when I made that outburst.

“I have to go,” I told her, forcing myself off the bed.

Caitlyn stopped me, as she placed her hands on my shoulders and kept me in place. “You can’t go back to him. You haven’t even fully recovered from the accident. Look, just let the doctor call him and explain the situation. You? You need to file for a divorce and-”

“And what?” I cut off. “Even if I file for a divorce, not only will Duncan not take it, but Justin… Who knows what he will do to him?! I can’t just waste time being here!”

Caitlyn clamped her mouth shut at my outburst, unsure what to say. As I came to realize how I blew up on her, I took a moment to calm myself as best as I could.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to shout like that,” I apologized. “But you have to understand. even if Justin isn’t mine, he is all I have left. I clearly can’t trust that monster to do nothing to him even if I do follow his orders… But I have to. He’s still my son.”

It was silent in the room as I pleaded to Caitlyn to let me go. With my focus on my best friend, I didn’t notice the expression Pularis had as he watched us.

Eventually enough, Caitlyn sighed. “Fine. I’ll take care of any paperwork for your discharge,” she said, to my relief. “However, if anything happens… Anything at all. Do not ever hesitate to let me know.”

I could only thank her in gratitude and pushed myself up to my feet, wincing at how sore my body felt. I took a few steps forward, and nearly fell, had Pularis not caught me.

“Are you sure you can walk at least?” he asked me.

“I’m fine,” I answered, shrugging off his grip. “My son is more important. And that deranged Alpha will never care of the reason for my lateness. Much less my own wellbeing.” Without another word, I pushed myself to walk out of the room.

***

How I quickly came to regret returning to the mansion. Not because my injuries haven’t recovered, nor was it because I returned to see my own son being very comfy with Ashley.

“I gave you one job. ONE job! And you have failed that terribly!” Duncan shouted in rage, kicking me by my sore side, as I laid on the floor of the living room in agony, bleeding from my reopened wounds.

I knew he would be upset at me when I come back, even with a cake in hand. However, I did not think he would be so petty as to be so upset that I got the wrong cake from the wrong bakery. Rather, I should have expected this.

“It’s not my fault… You didn’t tell me which bakery…” I weakly reasoned.

Duncan glared at me and gave me another harsh kick, causing me to hiss painfully. “You think you can keep giving me excuses?! You are nothing more than a criminal scum!” he shouted. “I had everything perfect, and wanted to end this perfect day with that perfect strawberry shortcake from Sweet Sanctum. And now that ending is ruined because of you! Ashley has become saddened she couldn’t have that cake… because of you!”

Frustration welled up in me from his excuse. How he blamed me for the night being ruined, when he could’ve either get the cake himself on the way back, or told me what cake and bakery he made the order, or even order me to bake it from home. But no… All because he couldn’t even give me these important details, he blames me for his plans getting ruined. The only thing I can be happy about with this situation was that neither Ashley nor Dylan were here to watch me get beaten so horribly. Instead, they were in the dining room, having a birthday meal just for that she wolf.

Duncan knelt down and grabbed me by the neck, lifting my limp body up. “I won’t kill you, as much as I want to. Death will be nothing but an escape for you,” he growled. “Your boy, on the other hand…”

I did not like how he trailed off there, especially with the smirk on his face. I fought against all the exhaustion that was in my body, refusing to fall here, and let this wolf do as he please to Justin. Sadly, my body refused to listen to my wish; I could barely lift a finger, only glare at this man.

Duncan grew disgusted by my glare, as he tossed me back down. “And so the filthy criminal thinks she is gutsy enough to glare at me. That whatever control she had in prison extends to out here?” He spat on my face, to my own disgust. “How disgustingly egotistical you are.”

My irritation grew with this mistreatment. The threat he is to my missing Justin. Yet, because of the pain I was in, how powerless I was to this Alpha, I couldn’t do anything. That feeling made me more frustrated.

Just then, pounding was heard at the front door, grabbing Duncan’s attention. “Now who could that be?” he wondered out loud. He kicked me away, hiding me as best as possible behind the sofa, and walked to the door. “Yes, I’m coming!”

Once those words left his mouth, to both our surprise, the door was suddenly knocked right off the hinge, and fell to the floor.

“What the hell?!” he gasped.

Using whatever strength I still had, I managed to claw myself out of my hiding spot, to get a better look at what was happening at the front door. My eyes widened in stupor at the sight of a familiar face standing out there. Amongst a group of many other werewolves.

“Alpha Duncan, correct?” Pularis spoke.