THE WEAK MATE

I tried to run faster, but my legs wouldn't cooperate. I was never the fastest or the strongest wolf in our pack, but I had to try. I saw the group of warriors about to toss Bruno off the cliff, and I knew I had to do something. He was my mate, and I couldn't let them hurt him.

I stumbled, almost falling, but I managed to reach them. I tried to shift into my wolf form, but I couldn't. I was too weak, and my wolf was too weak. I tried to fight them with my human form, but it was useless. They were too many, and they were too strong.

One of the warriors held me back with a dagger to my neck. I could feel the cold metal against my skin, and I knew I was done for. I watched in horror as one of the warriors violently dropped Bruno on the floor and kicked his stomach. He groaned in pain, and I could feel his agony.

As Bruno coughed out blood, I could feel my heart breaking. I wanted to save him, protect him from the warriors who had turned against us. But it was too late. The warrior who had kicked Bruno stepped forward, a cruel smile on his face, and pushed him off the cliff with his foot. My scream echoed through the forest as I watched my mate fall to his death.

The warriors laughed, their voices grating in my ears. I trembled with fury and grief as the one holding a knife to my neck let go of me. I fell to the forest floor, my body shaking with sobs. They had killed our Alpha, my mate, and left me there to suffer.

"Why?" I choked out between sobs. "Why did you do this?"

The warriors didn't answer me. They mounted their horses and rode away, leaving me alone with my pain. As I wept, I realized that I was now mateless and I didn’t know what to do with my life, I had no reason to live.

As I continued crying on the forest floor, I suddenly heard grunting sounds coming from the cliff. My heart raced with fear, and I feared the worst. I ran to the edge of the dark cliff and saw Bruno’s hand on the edge. I saw his head covered in blood, and he was struggling to hold onto the edge.

I felt my heart racing with terror. "Bruno!" I screamed, and ran towards him. "Hold on, Bruno! I'm coming!"

I reached him and grabbed his hand, holding on tight. I struggled to pull him out of the cliff, my muscles straining with the effort. Bruno's weight was too much for me, but I couldn't let go. I had to save him.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I managed to pull him out. But he passed out on top of me, and I fell to the ground, exhausted and gasping for breath.

I looked around us, and saw that we were surrounded by the dark forest. The only sounds were the rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of crickets. But all I could focus on was Bruno's safety.

"Come on, Bruno, wake up," I whispered, my voice choked with emotion. "You're going to be okay. I won't let anything happen to you."

I hugged him close, tears streaming down my face. "Please, Bruno," I begged. "Please wake up."

Unsure of what to do and having nowhere to go, I stared at Bruno's motionless body lying on the ground. I couldn't just leave him there to die. I knew I had to go look for help, but I didn't know where to start. My mind was racing with thoughts of how I could save him.

I tried to lift him and carry him on my back, but he was too heavy for me. I knew I couldn't carry him for long, so I dragged him on the floor towards a nearby tree. I tried my best to cover him with leaves so that no one could see him. I felt guilty for leaving him there, but I knew it was the only way I could save him.

"Please hold on, Bruno. I promise to come back for you," I whispered to him as I wiped away my tears.

I knew I had to go and find help for him, so I ran as fast as I could into the dark forest. The forest was unfamiliar, and I had no idea where I was going, but I followed the direction of the moon. The forest was eerily quiet, and the only sound was my pounding heart.

***

I stumbled out of the dense forest, my eyes squinting against the bright morning sun. It had been years since I had seen the light of day, and I was momentarily blinded by the brightness. I had no money and no one to turn to. The only place I could think of was Bruno's packhouse. I knew that Bruno's wife, Dawn, wanted him dead, but I had to take my chances. I needed to find Hugo, Bruno's beta. He was a good person, and I hoped he would help me.

I made my way to the packhouse gate. The warriors guarding the entrance didn't see me as I crept past them and snuck in through the back door. The packhouse was bustling with activity, but I tried to remain inconspicuous as I searched for Hugo.

I took a deep breath and stepped into the packhouse. The familiar scent of wolves hit my nostrils, bringing back memories of my time as a prisoner. I cautiously roamed around the packhouse, trying to stay hidden. As I turned a corner, I saw Hugo sitting at the dining table with Dawn and another man I didn't recognize. The aroma of the food they were eating made my stomach rumble, reminding me of the meager meals I had in the forest dungeon.

As I was about to call out to Hugo through the mind link, a warrior rushed into the dining room from another angle. He lowered his head in respect for Dawn and then dropped a bombshell: Bruno was dead. Dawn touched her chest.

“I know…I felt it,” she said. “He is my mate after all.” My heart sank as I began to understand that no one in Bruno's life liked him or wanted him alive. They all wanted money and power.