Clemency

Peter’s POV.
I wake up, the sun isn’t even up yet, so I reach over for a cuddle with my mate. Maybe if I wake her up nicely she will scream my name again. But her side of the bed is cold. Braon growls in frustration. So I get up to follow her scent, and maybe drag her back to bed for some fun.

I track her to the kitchen, expecting to see her drinking coffee, but the room is empty. The whole place is empty… Shit, I think, making my way back upstairs to get dressed.

Now dressed I continue to follow her trail, down the stairs and towards the communal kitchens. Maybe she got a craving, I think… Maybe she’s pregnant. The thought brings a massive smile to my face, I really hope that is the case. Although we haven’t talked about pups yet.

The kitchens are dark and empty; not even the breakfast cooks are in yet

*Emma* I link her. Nothing, that is odd. Anxiety begins to envelope me.

*Emma* I call again. The scent leads back and towards the cellars, my pace increases.

*DOES ANYONE HAVE EYES ON THE LUNA?* I yell down the pack-link, I don’t care if it isn't even 6am.

*She is with the prison in 9, there was an incident overnight* I get back from Scott. Well that explains the radio silence. The link doesn’t work through silver. I slow my pace again, continuing towards the cells. She is going to howl with laughter when she hears how worried I was getting.

*Who is with her?* I ask more calmly.

*N-no one,* he stutters, how is that even possible I think as I am rocked by a splitting headache. The cell door must have opened, and Emma is hurt. I start to sprint.

*GET THE FUCK TO CELL NINE THE LUNA IS INJURED* I scream at him. Braon wants to shift, but we are too big for the corridors, so Peter power it is.

I round the last bend to the cellblock and I can hear chaos ahead. The three guards are around cell 9 guarding it, snarling back into the deeper darkness.

‘Alpha the prisoner has escaped, and the Luna is unconscious,’ reports Jerf. ‘This is my failure; I should have stayed with her.’

He bares his neck to me, not just in submission, but ready to die for his mistake.

‘I will decide the punishment later,’ I growl at him. I am furious but killing him leaves one less to protect my love. ‘Daniel, Scott see if you can track the prisoner. Jerf you guard me while I see to the Luna, the morning shift is incoming to relieve you all and guard the rest of the prisoners.’

I can see blood on the wall and on the floor, but Emma is currently on the cot. I stride over to her. She has been placed on her side, supported by a pillow, head back to ensure clear passage of air to her lungs; clearly someone has put their first aid training to use, so I am assuming no broken bones, as she has obviously been moved.

Her skin is like porcelain, white and delicate against the crimson seeping from her hair line and the russet across her mouth. A growl leaks from me. That filthy familiar put his blood on my luna’s mouth.

At my growl her eyes flutter and open. ‘Hey’ she says. ‘I think Brian escaped’

I snort at the understatement. ‘You don’t say. And the asshole nearly killed you… again.’

‘If he truly wanted to kill me, I would be dead,’ she shivers.

I hear the morning shift arriving, so lift her into my arms, bridal style, and carry her out; Jerf is on full alert following to guard us, as my arms are full.

‘What do you mean kitten?’ I ask, striding purposefully through the corridors, my destination, the hospital to get her checked over. I know she is feeling bad, because she just snuggled into me rather than trying to get free and walk.

Her voice is slightly muffled as she tells me of her encounter with Brian. I feel my shirt get damp from her tears.

‘It’s all my fault, I should have let Jerf accompany me… but I thought it was safe… h-he was all chained up… an-d he was h-hurting… I felt sorry for him, it that wrong… he s-said that it was all my f-fault… his master G-george or something has the pups and is selling them… Oh Goddess he said when… it was a weird word przesl.. something I think... when he broke free he had time to... you know... finish me, but h-he didn't.’

‘Hush,’ I soothe her, stroking her hair with my chin.

A doctor ushers into a room and comes to check my love over. A bruised hand and a scalp wound are the extent of it, and there is no sign of concussion, which I am very grateful to hear. Clearly they didn’t want her dead, but why.

I receive a report from Scott as she is being examined. The familiar is gone, they can find no trace of him.

A growl escapes me, the doctor and Jerf fall to the floor; encased in my anger. My eyes narrow, and I stalk across the room to Jerf; standing over him my claws out. She is safe now, I can punish him, I think.

I see the resignation in his eyes, no plea for clemency or life, just acknowledgement of his failure, acceptance of his death.

‘Stop,’ she whispers. ‘What the actual fuck do you think you are doing?’

‘You were injured, my love; it is his fault.’

She wriggles off the bed and places herself between me and Jerf, I growl.

‘There is no way, no fucking way, you are going to kill him because I got a knock on the head.’

He looks up at her, worship in his eyes. Jerf can’t understand why the Luna wouldn’t want his head presented to her for the pain she has suffered. He doesn’t understand my mate yet.

‘Luna, it is okay, I have made my peace, better death than banishment.’

‘What is it with you guys for overreacting?’ she asks herself. Then she looks at me asking ‘If I am the one wronged shouldn’t I choose the punishment, as I did with Saffron?’

‘B-but the prisoner escaped as well,’ I whine. I can’t believe I am being petulant because she won’t let me kill someone.

‘Well should I be allowed to choose the punishment?’ she asks again.

I can’t wriggle out of it, yes, by pack law she can choose; it is just I am angry and want blood for her blood. ‘Yes’, I replied grudgingly.

‘Okay,’ she smiles, lightening my heart slightly. ‘Acceptable options please. I don’t want to upset the apple cart by going against pack customs.’

‘Death, banishment, 200 strokes, life imprisonment, amputation of a limb…’

‘For fuck’s sake what is wrong with you people,’ she mutters. ‘So, blood thirsty, so harsh…’

‘If I may,’ the doctor interjects, to be honest I had forgotten he was in the room.

She turns to him hopefully, and I nod my permission for him to speak.

‘Your blood has been spilt Luna, so his must flow too, but you could go for a combination punishment like you did with Saffron… maybe 50 strokes and a blood bond?’ he is looking at me as he makes his suggestion.

My eyes narrow as I consider it. Yes, that would be an acceptable punishment, although I have a feeling my love is not going to go for 50 lashes.

‘What’s a blood bond?’ she asks, looking at us both.

‘Magic is used to tie his blood to yours, making him a guardian, a protector of you, willing to take a bullet for you as you would put it. It also will give him a sense of how and where you are which is impossible to block, even with silver.’

‘Forcing him to be my bodyguard for life, like a slave,’ the words are distasteful to her.

‘I will willing serve you always Luna,’ Jerf speaks up. ‘Your compassion and fair mindedness have enslaved me already, for you I will walk into hell just to bring you back a ba’al rose if that is your heart’s desire.’

She looks at me quizzically *Ba’al rose?* She links.

*A rare bloom, said to bring good fortune and immortality to the owner, but it only grows on the slopes of Hellus, which ironically is in Hell, and is guarded by demons.*

She sighs and looks at me ’20 lashes and the blood thingy with a five-year limit?’ she offers.

I shake my head, countering ‘Too lenient, 40 and life’

We haggle back and forth for a bit

’30 and the length of time you searched for me 20 years, and that is my final offer’

‘Acceptable,’ I smile, she looks so proud of herself.

‘Is that okay with you Jerf?’ she asks him.

My lovely Luna, so caring.

‘Y-yes, Luna,’ the shell-shocked guard responds.

‘Jerf, go to the cells until your punishment can be administered.’ I tell him. ‘I will contact Sofia to administer the Blood Bond as soon as is practicable.’

Jerf leaves the room, and I sweep Emma up. The doctor is satisfied she is healthy, so I carry her back to bed.