Monday, August 26th Pt. 2

I slam myself against the door. I can hear the wood splintering from each hit and it’s with the third that I finally make it inside the cabin. I pause just inside the door letting my eyes acclimate to the sudden change in brightness. Her screams have gone silent and it isn’t until my eyes adjust that I see the worst thing any sensible man could see. The petite little girl lays unconscious on the bed, her face is bloody from the multiple hits it has taken. She’s completely nude as is the man on top of her. He is twice her size and despite the sounds of the door breaking from its hinges, he’s yet to stop his depraved inhumane treatment of his own daughter.
“Get off of her.”
I growl in a voice I’ve never heard before. He continues with little notice of me standing there, grunting and moaning as he suddenly starts moving even faster.
“Get off of her.”
I growl even louder as something within me stirs. While it’s weak, I can barely hear the growls of a wolf inside my head. It feels as if my body has physically become bigger even though I know it’s not a possibility. Something about this strange thing happening to me affects him more than my commands to get off the young girl.
“You’re an alpha but you don’t belong here.” He grunts breathlessly as he’s yet to stop his actions. “Alpha Draven is going to have a blast with you. He always finds a reason to use his whip on an unsuspecting, innocent rogue who’s happened to pass through.”
His laugh is maniacal as I cock my head not understanding what was just said. I lose track of him in my thoughts of what he’s talking about long enough for him to leave his daughter, throw on a pair of shorts and tackle me hard enough that we end up on the ground outside. I have no idea about how the ranks work, how many levels there are beneath me.
I know I’m an alpha, the top rank, but I’ve only run into the beta at the Shadowlands pack. Rank didn’t seem to matter much and the few I interacted with really didn’t advertise what theirs were. While the shock of him knowing my rank and his obvious lack of care that I witnessed him raping his own child gave him a good start, I quickly have gained the upper hand. Or so I thought as my previous injuries start hindering me the longer this battle continues.
I have no idea how long we have been battling when a sudden surge of energy pushes me to inhuman limits. It’s only with a growl that I pick him up over my head and throw him across the clearing. He stands with fear in his eyes as he looks at me. It only takes a moment before he takes off into the woods. My best guess is towards the pack house.
It’s with that realization that I curse myself. How could I have been so stupid? I shake my head as the thoughts of how much I don’t matter invade me.
‘The girl.’ I hear a voice that’s vaguely familiar. I look around me, trying to figure out who said it.
‘Must help girl.’ It tries again. Its speech is broken making it sound like a very young child.
“Who are you?” I speak out loud, confused by the new sensation.
‘What you mean? I you.’
“How can you be me?” I feel like I’m going insane talking to something I can’t see.
‘You call me Buddy when you visit. How do you forget?’ He sounds hurt at the possibility.
“What are you, Buddy.” I ask slowly.
‘I am your wolf.’
“Where are you?” I’m still slowly looking around in a circle, waiting for someone to jump out at me.
‘I part of you.’ He speaks slowly. ‘Why you not know about me?’ I can feel his sadness like a brick just hit me in the chest.
“I was in a battle. I nearly lost my life. When I woke up the doctor said I have dissociative amnesia. I have no memory of my past. I remember how to do basic things that have become natural. Walking, talking, feeding, bathing and some light cooking. I have a lot of instincts that seem to take over when I don’t understand a situation. Like right now. I don’t know you and I’m very confused by your sudden presence but instinctively, I feel very close to you. It’s like you’re a long lost friend that I get to meet again.”
‘That feels a little better.’ His voice has a touch more optimism than a few minutes ago.
“What was the first thing you said?”
‘We need to help the girl.’
“Yes we do. I can’t believe I just witnessed that. What’s even worse is the feeling that it’s not the first time I’ve interrupted such a disgusting thing. We need to get her to Maverick’s house. I know you just woke up but can you scent our way there?”
‘Only you know the scent.’
He sounds disappointed as I make my way back to the shack. I enter cautiously, not knowing if the young girl is awake yet. I stop at the bed and look over her nude body, cuts and bruises are swelling up on her arms, wrists, and thighs. Her face is bloody and her eyes appear swollen shut. I have no way of knowing if she’s awake. I step quietly around the shack looking for her clothing. I spot them on the floor at the foot of the bed. I lean over and gather them in my hand, the other I place on the bed to help push me back to standing. I look over as I do, freezing upon seeing the damage her father did between her still spread legs. I leave the clothes on the bed as I run out the door. Stopping at the tree line, I lose the entirety of my lunch and more, falling to my hands and knees before my stomach finishes turning itself inside out. I stay on the ground several minutes trying to catch my breath.
Standing slowly, I return to the shack. This precious little girl deserves to receive proper medical care after something so callous was done to her.
“Elizabeth, are you awake sweet pea?” I call as I enter again. “My name is Cole. I’m not going to hurt you. I just want to get you to Dr. Ashlock. You’ve been hurt. Can you answer me?”
I can hear her groan before she starts whimpering.
“I understand you’re not going to want it but my instincts are telling me to clean you up before we travel. I’ve found several towels that I can use. I’m going to wet one and wipe down your private area. I promise I’m gentle and nothing will go inside. Have you ever seen a baby get changed?”
“Yes sir.” There’s a quiver to her voice.
“I know you’re scared. I’m a stranger and your dad just did one of the most inhumane things one can do to a child but I promise I am telling you exactly what I am going to do?”
“What happens after you clean me?”
I’m shocked she hasn’t moved an inch as I approach the bed. I would think that a complete stranger telling her that he’s going to clean the area her father brutally forced himself into would create a much deeper fight response. I take a deep breath as I sit on the foot of the bed.
“Why haven’t you tried to close your legs?” I whisper ashamed of what I’m asking a twelve year old.
“Daddy lets his friends have at me when I don’t cooperate.”
“You don’t believe that I’m not going to hurt you but you refuse to fight me.”
“He has a pattern. When he gives me two black eyes he will go until he is tired then he gets his friends. Three hours turns into all day and night.”
“I am so sorry Elizabeth. No little likes this to be done but it must be done.”
I whisper as I position myself between her legs. I use the damp washcloth I found and slowly clean the blood from her body. I pause as she attempts to keep me from the area, whimpering in fear and pain.
“It’s okay Liz. The worst is done.”
I reassure her as I fold a dish towel and place it where she’s actively bleeding.
“Don’t kick. I’m going to put your underwear on over the padding. It will help reduce the pain of sitting up to get your dress on.”
I explain as I pick each foot up and slowly dress her. By the time I finish creating a more comfortable situation for carrying her, I help her sit on the edge of the bed.
“Are you familiar with Maverick Ashlock?” I ask as I pull her dress over her head.
“Yes sir. He’s tried many times to get the abuse in the pack to stop but Alpha Draven won’t listen.”
“I’m going to carry you to his house. Can you allow me to do that?”
“Yes sir.” She whispers as I guide her to a stand.
“I’m going to scoop you up by your bottom, that’s why I put padding there.”
I give her a half truth. Something within me has guided me through this process. It’s as if I’ve encountered it so many times that I don’t need to think about what the child needs. I’m instinctively aware that by cleaning her genitals I’m destroying evidence but I feel an even stronger need to keep her blood from getting on me; it doesn’t matter if it comes from her head or her tail. I scoop her up with only a few small whimpers and carefully pick my way through the small shack. Diana please, let me get this child to Maverick before Alpha Draven comes after me.