Chapter 8

Lily POV The light coming in from the window was lighting up the back of my eyelids, I turned away from the light. Rolling over, not quite ready to wake up yet. I felt movement behind me before an arm was thrown over me. Delightful tingles running over my stomach, where his hand lay on the inside of my thigh. He pulled me closer, his hand pushing against my sensitive parts. I moaned loudly at the feel and I felt him stiffen behind me. Startled at what I did, I threw his arm off. I quickly sat up rubbing my eyes trying to adjust to the bright light that was filling the room. I could feel my face heat up with embarrassment at my reaction to him touching me. When I opened my eyes, I looked around the room. I could feel Layla pressing against my skin, literally feeling my body vibrating as she stirred before waking completely. The Alpha threw his arm over me again, pulling me against him. His scent seemed stronger today, like overwhelmingly strong. I felt my heart rate quicken as sparks spread across my skin where his hand lay. Arousal flooding me. I looked down at the Alpha who was sleeping. I froze, paralysed by the realisation. He stirred slightly before rolling on his back and opening his eyes, staring up at the ceiling before rolling again and looking up at me. My heart skipping a beat when his eyes connected with mine and overwhelming sense to touch him taking over, Layla jumping around excitedly as she screamed in my mind, the one word I never wanted to hear. "Mate" She growled out; my voice sounded distorted as I tried to stop the words leaving my lips. I shook my head. "No" I gasped before jumping up and off the bed and running into the bathroom. I could hear the Alpha getting up, then next thing I know he is banging on the door. I ignored him. Why oh why did I run into the bathroom? The window was much too small for me to crawl out of. "I don t know why you re trying. Mate is strong and fast he will catch us" Layla purred. "You re not helping Layla so zip it" I growled back at her. "Lily open up the door" I heard the Alpha say. When I didn t reply, I heard him twist the door handle until it broke and fell to the ground. I prepared myself for what I had to do. I steeled myself for the pain, I knew I would feel rejecting him. When the door flew open, he looked at me. But I didn t waste any time. "I, Lily Blackwood Alpha of the Black Moon Pack reject" "No" Layla growled trying to fight for control, smashing me backwards in the shower screen, as she fought trying to take over. The shower screen, raining glass down over me as it shattered. I crawled to my feet. Pain shooting everywhere, the air being knocked right out of me. Alpha Damien was growling low and deep in the back of his throat, but still came over to help me up. I shook his hands away before trying to repeat what I was going to do. I took a breath. "I, Lily Blackwood" Suddenly a hand was over my mouth. "Don t you fucking dare" His voice was low dangerous. His eyes turned to that of his wolf. I glared back at him ignoring the sparks running over my body. He pulled me back into the bedroom. I fought against him but without Layla willing to help, he certainly overpowered me. He shoved me back on the bed, just as the door was thrown open. My father and Reid busting into the room in panic. Alpha Damien s eyes never leave me. "You fucking try to reject me again. I will mark you right now" He said, spitting the words out in anger. I glared back and opened my mouth, and he was suddenly over the top of me, his hand clamped over my lips. I could feel him trembling with anger. Why was my father just watching and not helping me? I mind linked him. "Help me dad Layla won t" I pleaded. Tears sprang in my eyes as he and Reid just turned and walked out the door, pulling it shut behind them, leaving me with the Alpha. The Alpha was so angry I could smell the anger burning hot, his whole body fighting his beast from marking me at the threat of me rejecting them. "You won t ever try that again," I shook my head disagreeing. "I told you our mate would love us" Layla said happily. "I don t care Layla you know why we can t have a mate" I growled, not realising I did it out loud. The Alpha seeing it as an act of defiance held me down tighter. "Understood?" He growled out not moving his hand from my lips, snapping my attention back to him. I nodded and he moved his hand. I sat up suddenly missing the feel of his body above mine. Stupid mate bond. I never understood how anyone could agree to a mate bond, it was so barbaric like arranged marriages, bloody stupid I didn t see it as blessing, it was a curse. "This is why you wanted to stay here isn t it, you knew I was your mate" Damien looked over at me and nodded his head confirming my words. I sighed before going to say something else when he cut me off. "We are leaving today. I am taking you home" "Home? I am home I am not going anywhere with you" I said suddenly angry. Alpha Damien ignored me, before tossing some of my clothes on the bed. I looked at the clothes. I didn t bring these with me so how does he have them? "We leave in half an hour, get dressed" He said before walking out of the room. My head was spinning what the fuck just happened. My father just walked out on me and now Alpha Damien is telling me I am leaving. I quickly throw on my jeans and shirt. I grab my flats, placing them on my feet before walking to the door. When I walk into the foyer, I see the front door open and walk towards it. My blood runs cold when I see my father putting some suitcases from his car into Alpha Damien's black mustang. I go to ask what the fuck he thinks he is doing when Ariel and Lana come running out of the house wrapping their little arms around my waist. I stumbled forward from the impact of their bodies hitting mine. I look down and see them both looking up at me with teary eyes. "Mumma says you're leaving" Ariel says in a sad voice. I shake my head before noticing Ryker sitting on the steps watching Alpha Damien s car being loaded with my belongings. "Ryker?" I say making him look at me. Tears are running down his face and his eyes are all puffy from crying. Reid walks over to him running his fingers through his son's hair, making him look up at his father. Reid then whispers something to him, Ryker then gets up and runs to me, wrapping his arms around my waist above his sisters and squeezing. He then let s go and runs inside. His father calls out to him before chasing after him. This can t be happening; they can t just make me leave. I won t go, they can t make me. "Ariel Lana inside please" I hear my sister's voice coming up from behind me. I turn to look at her. "Girls say goodbye and go inside please" Aria tells them. I watch in horror as they squeeze tighter and whisper "bye aunty" before taking off inside. I fold my arms across my chest defiantly. "What the fuck do you think you re doing Aria? I am not leaving my pack" I tell her. She doesn t say anything just levels her gaze at me and raises an eyebrow. I watch Alpha Damien come out and he grabs my arm pulling me down the steps and towards the car. I shake his arm off, stepping out of his reach. "Don t touch me" I tell him angrily. "Say goodbye and get in the car Lily" He says his eyes flicking between him and his beast. I shake my head. "Goodbye then, nice knowing you" I tell him before turning and walking off. Aria is in front of me in seconds blocking me. I go to move around her, she sides steps blocking me again. "Aria move" I say, not even trying to hide the anger as I emphasise the last word. "Get in the car Lily" My father s voice says, making me turn to face him. "What?" I ask. He can t be serious. I ball my hands into fists and feel tears starting to brim but not because I am sad but because I am angry. "I said get in the car and go with your mate, don t fight me on this. It s hard enough, without you being difficult" I could hear the pleading in voice which only angered me more. I barely know him. I don t care if he is my mate, I am not leaving my pack. This is my home. "No, what has gotten into you. I don t even know him. I sure as hell am not leaving with him" I hear the Alpha growl making me look in his direction. "It isn t a choice Lily, now get in his car" My father said using his Alpha voice. Which made me laugh. I won t submit no matter how much he tries to force me, no matter the pain I feel trying to make me submit. I am Alpha too. I may not be as strong as him because I stood down but that doesn t mean, I am a pushover. "Is this because I refused to take over the PACK?" I screamed. He looked toward Aria making me turn to her, she stepped forward and I suddenly started to feel caged in. "I will do whatever you want, I don t want to leave Aria" She looked sad but shook her head. "We are doing this for you Lily, this is the best option right now to help you" Her voice was soft yet thick with emotion. I could tell she didn t want this and genuinely felt this was the best option, only it wasn t and never would be. I took a step back and shook my head. "Don t make us do this Lily, just get in the car" She said pleadingly. "No" I went to walk between the cars when my father spoke up again, making me stop dead in my tracks, my blood running cold and my lungs restricting slightly. "I, Alpha David" I turn and look at him and see a tear run down his cheek, his voice thick with emotion as he looks back at me, his eyes begging me to forgive what he is about to do. "I, Alpha David of the Black Moon Pack banish you Lily Blackwood from the Black Moon Pack and hereby declare you as a rogue" "No" I gasp as I feel my teether snap, making me stumble back. Alpha Damien grabs my arm to steady me as I turn my glare on my father. How could he do this to me? I am his daughter. "I am supposed to be Alpha and now you fucking banish me" I scream enraged. My entire body starts shaking at what he just did. "You turned it down and I haven t given control yet to Reid. I have every right to banish you as Alpha of my Pack" He says before looking away. I turn before shoving Alpha Damien out of my way and he lands on the bonnet of his car before stepping forward and grabbing me. I start kicking and struggling to get out of his grip as he holds my arms trying to pull me around to the door of his car. He opens the door and I kick it closed. "Stop fighting Lily," Aria commands in her Alpha voice as it rolls over me. I scream in pain as I try to fight it. My muscles tensing under her command, as sweat starts running down my neck as the pressure to submit becomes too much and brings me to my knees. Alpha Damien lets go of me and I brace my hands on the ground, trying to fight the command. I can feel Layla also struggling against her not wanting to give her the satisfaction of seeing us submit to her. Aria kneels in front me, as I grit my teeth. She pulls my chin up to look at her. Tears are running down her cheeks and I can tell she hates hurting me. "I, Aria Rose Peyton Luna Queen of Alpha s banish you Lily Blackwood from The Blood Moon and Black Moon packs until you are marked and mated to the Crescent Moon Alpha" The sadness in her eyes upon speaking the words that just destroyed me, makes my throat clog with emotion before something snaps and I lunge at her. Tackling her to the ground before strong arms rip me to my feet, pulling me against them. "I fucking hate you, I fucking hate you Aria" I scream as I feel every link, I have to both Packs sever leaving me bare and with nothing. No title and no identity. I struggle against the arms wrapped securely around me before throwing my head back. I hear Layla growl in my head. The arms let go before I spin around to make a break for it. Alpha Damien grabs my arms. "Stop or I will mark you where you stand Lily" He growls out. "I would rather be a rogue than be your mate" I spit out, tossing him off me only to be grabbed by my own father. Alpha Damien walks to the trunk of his car and grabs something. I watch in horror as I see him grab chains from his car and chains my feet, which are violently kicking at him before his vice-like grip holds them and he secures them in place, before doing the same with my hands. He then stands up and grabs my face with both his hands. "I will undo them when you calm down" He said, his thumb brushing over my cheek. I start struggling to get out of them, I plead with my wolf to let us shift and she refuses retreating to the back of my mind where I can t reach her. When Alpha Damien see s I won t come quietly he picks me up, dumping me in the passenger seat and doing my seat belt. He then walks over to the driver s side and I see my father, giving him a nod which pulls at my heart. He then starts the car and starts to drive away. I feel tears run down my face at the realisation they just banished me like a lowly Rogue. ************ We had been on the road for twenty minutes, I just stared out the window. Everything was changing, and I was losing all control of my life. "This is a good thing, I told you everything makes sense" Layla excitedly said in my head. "This is what you meant, finding our mate? How does that make any sense Layla, this isn t a good thing? He is taking us away from our family. It s a disaster" She didn t agree; I pushed her out, blocking her from my mind; I knew she was excited, but I didn t share that excitement with her. I never wanted a mate; it would only end badly with the wolf I have. Why couldn t Damien see that? Why couldn t Layla see that? When we were nearly to the city limits, my phone started ringing in my pocket. I tried to reach my chained hands back to retrieve it before giving up. "Lean forward" Damien said. Making me jump, it was the first time he said anything since we started driving. I leant forward, and he snuck his hand into the back pocket of my pants, pulling out my phone. He glanced at the screen. "It s your grandmother" He said before answering the call and putting it on loudspeaker. "Lily, you there dear" I nearly broke hearing her voice. I was going to miss her. "Yes grandma, I m here" I said, my voice breaking with emotion. "Oh honey, have you left the City yet?" She asked. "We are about to." I said, not even trying to hide my disappointment. Alpha Damien suddenly pulled off the road to the side. He then turned the car around, making me look at him. "Do you want to see her before we leave?" He asked, glancing over at me. I nodded my head. "Grandma, the Alpha is going to let me see you before I leave," I tell her. "That s great news dear, I will see you soon" She said before hanging up. I could hear the excitement in her voice. Becoming excited myself, I would be able to say goodbye to her, but not only that, maybe I could use this as my chance to escape. I gave Damien the address, I didn t know how he knew where he was going. But when we were nearly there. He pulled over. I watched as he pulled a key from his pocket and reached forward, undoing the padlock on my hands and feet. "Don t make me regret this Lily, you won t like the consequences if you try anything" His voice held a warning. I quickly nodded before rubbing my wrists. Damien pulled back onto the road. After five minutes more of driving, we pulled up out the front of Joe s diner. My grandmother was standing out the front, a huge grin lighting up her face when we pulled up. I jumped out of the car and ran to her, throwing myself in her arms. She hugged me just as tight before kissing my head. Alpha Damien hopped out of the car. Grandma lifted her head and smiled at him. "You must be Damien, Aria told me about you being Lily s mate" She spoke softly. "Nice to meet you, Ma'am," He said. "Hush call me grandma; we are all family now" She said before escorting us inside. I didn t like the way she said we were all family. I barely knew Alpha Damien, and he was currently trying to kidnap me. Why doesn t anyone see anything wrong with the entire situation? Walking inside, I walked straight to one of the booths. "Is Abel here?" I asked hopefully. Grandma Zoe shook her head. "He still isn t back, I am sorry Lily I know you miss him" She whispered, seeing the disappointment in my eyes. Abel may not be my father, but ever since the attack he has been travelling the globe, trying to find a way to help me and my wolf. Trying to find anyone else with the same problem or anyone who could possibly help our tethered bond. I think he felt responsible for what happened. He would come home every few months and check on everyone before leaving again. But after twelve years I knew he wouldn't find anything; I don t know why he continues to look. Everyone else has given up, but not him. I walked behind the counter and retrieved some mugs and the coffee before pouring everyone a mug. I was familiar with everything here, having spent most of my childhood here, and my teenage years. I used to come every afternoon after school when I was in my early teens to help grandma. I loved this place, it always felt like home. Grandma and Damien seemed to hit off right away. They were happily chatting when I handed them their cups. "Are you excited Lily that you found your mate?" Grandma asked. I looked at Damien and I could tell he was interested to hear what I had to say. I have made it very clear I don t want a mate, so he wasn t surprised at my words. "Layla is" I told her. "You will come around dear; Mates are a blessing from the moon goddess. You ll see" I raised an eyebrow. I found nothing great about Mate bonds. Hated the idea of being forced to be with someone just because of a bond. I sat in my seat when I felt my phone Bing in my pocket. I reached for it and saw that Brent sent me a text message. When I suddenly got an idea. I message him back. Meet me out in the back alleyway of Joe s diner. I sent him. He replies instantly. He knows I don t want a mate. Brent agreed. I just now had to find a way to sneak away from the Alpha. We chatted quietly for a while, when a customer came in and Grandma Zoe had to get up and quickly serve them. "Who messaged you?" Damien Asked. I looked away from his penetrating gaze. "It was Amber," I lied. He nodded, but he kept watching my face to see if I was lying. I didn t know if he could tell, but he didn t say anything more on the subject. After a few minutes of tense silence, I got up. "Where do you think you re going?" Damien asked, reaching forward and grabbing my hand. I ignored the sparks running up my arm, pulling my hand from his. "I need to pee if you must know," I told him. He let go and sat back in the booth watching me. He didn t try to stop me. Grandma came back over and sat down. "You will need the key dear, I haven t unlocked the doors yet being this early, " She said. Obviously hearing mine and Damien's conversation. I nodded before walking behind the counter and reaching under the counter for the key. "Leave it unlocked for me Lily" I nodded, and I could feel the Alpha s eyes on me as he watched me leave the room toward the back of the diner. As soon as I was out of sight, I walked toward the staff toilets out the back. As soon as I was outside, I unlocked the toilets before turning around and running down the alley, towards the side street. I could see Brent waiting at the end, a panicked expression on his face when he saw me running toward him. "What s going on Lily?" he asked, glancing around nervously. "We need to go, before the Alpha finds out I am running" Brent looked toward the diner before hopping in the car. I jumped in the passenger side. "Running? Why are you running, what did you do?" "I will explain later just start driving Brent" I told him. He put the keys in ignition when suddenly the driver s door was ripped open. Alpha Damien ripped Brent out of the car by the scruff of his shirt. "Shit" I gasped before jumping out myself. Alpha Damien was on top of Brent pummeling him with his fists, Brent trying to block his hits, but it was of no use. Brent was only a warrior, no match for an Alpha. I ran over to them. Brent was bleeding, his nose was broken and his face all swollen and bloody. I shoved the Alpha off him, and he growled at me. "He didn t do anything wrong" I screamed. Dropping beside Brent and pulling him towards me. "Oh, dear" I heard Grandma Zoe say before running over to us. She pulled off her apron, handing it to me. She glanced at the Alpha before turning her attention back to Brent. Brent was completely unconscious. "Help me get him inside" "Leave him" The Alpha s voice laced with his anger. I looked at him and his eyes were pitch black; his breathing hard as he tried to reign in control of his beast. "I am not leaving him here" I said. Looking down the alleyway. The Alpha growled at me; I had to fight the urge to put my head down and submit. He was furious, and I could tell he wanted to kill Brent. I started pulling him to his feet. He was dead weight and bloody heavy. Grandma also helped when suddenly his weight was gone. Alpha Damien grabbed him, throwing him over his shoulder before placing him back in his car. He pulled his phone out and sent a text. His phone binged a second later. "Aria is coming to get him" He said before walking over and grabbing my elbow. "We are leaving" I shook my head, trying to pull my arm from his grip, which only tightened. "I am not going anywhere with you; I am not leaving my friend" I tell him. "Either you come with me now Lily or I fucking kill him" I didn t answer. He wouldn t, would he? When I didn t answer he walked back toward the car, opening the door. I scrambled after him, putting myself in front of him and Brent, blocking him from hurting him more. "Okay, okay just don t hurt him" I said, my hands on his chest trying to hold him back. I could feel his entire body shaking with rage. I looked toward Brent, who was slumped over the steering wheel. A tear escaping at seeing him so injured and broken. It was my fault, I should have known better than to involve him. "You will cry over him but have no feeling toward me" The Alpha growled loudly, making Layla force her way forward. I could feel her peering out, trying to figure out what had upset her beloved mate. "What did you do Lily?" She asked, panicked. "Nothing," I said, rolling my eyes at her. The Alpha was staring down at me still, his arms folded across his chest. He suddenly grabbed me, pulling me back through the diner and towards the car. "Say goodbye we are leaving" Zoe was standing behind him having followed us. She quickly came over and hugged me, squeezing me tightly. "Please, Lily, give it a chance. Stop running from it, what have you got to lose?" She whispered softly. I felt tears brim before I felt Damien s hand on my waist. She let go and stepped back. I see Aria's car pull up behind ours. Reid hopped out with her. She ignored me, going to tend to Brent. I could see how angry she was at me. Reid stopped and kissed my head softly. "Behave Lily, you re only making things worse for yourself" He said before shaking the Alpha s hand and going to help Aria, I watched as he kissed grandma s cheek softly on his way past, before walking inside. Alpha Damien opened the door. "Get in the car" I glared at him. "Now lily, it wasn't a choice" He glared back at me, making me shiver. I hopped in the car. Alpha Damien jumped in the driver s seat and started the car. "You ever pull a stunt like that again Lily" He didn t finish that sentence. He was angry, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the steering wheel so hard, I thought it would snap under the pressure. He pulled away from the curb before speeding off towards the highway. ? "Don t ever run from me again," I turned and looked out the window. "Understood Lily?" He growled out when I didn t answer, ripping the car off the road and stopping again.