Connor's POV

I stare out the window, watching as the sun's radiant gaze creeps furtively into the room. Rubbing my eyes, I get out of bed, I hadn't received many hours of sleep last night or since the night she entered the pack's cells.

I spent most of them thinking of Flicker, I still couldn't believe that she had enough strength to continue playing games with us.

When the guard unexpectedly burst into our office yesterday, alerting us that Flicker had given in, we were both ecstatic. We had waited so long for this day and finally it had arrived, she had submitted.

We ran out of the office, nearly shifting into our wolves just because we would arrived there quicker.

Derrick, our third in command even asked if we were okay, apparently we looked happy.

But we didn't even reach half way before Zach stopped me, apparently her wolf wasn't responding, a clear sign of her defiance. I felt completely heart broken.

Sighing, I try to forget yesterday as I look for some clothes to wear. I realised now that it was all a game to her, it would always be in her nature to defy us.

Connor growls fiercely at my thoughts, as my heart beginning to harden. At this moment, I was beginning not to care if she loved us or not, we would still mark her as our mate and she would still provide us with the extra Alpha power. Right now that was all that I was concerned with.

Jake also had the same view as me, however deep inside I still held onto that glimpse of hope that she would eventually learn to love us.

As I find my clothes, my gaze falls on her things which arrived yesterday, pain tugs at my heart but I ignore it. Taking a deep breath I knew that her wolf would eventually submit, they wouldn't be able to survive much longer.

........

Jake is already at the breakfast bar when I arrive downstairs, his cheeks are flushed and sweat coats his body. He'd gone for a run this morning, to try take his mind off Flicker but by the distant look on his face it obviously hadn't worked.

"We'll get her back soon" I say, but we both hear the lie.

He glances up at me his eyes filled with sadness, but before I can say anything Jake shakes his head, clearing his thoughts, the sadness in his eyes immediately transforming into something cold and distant.

"Good morning Boys" our mother says as she enters into the kitchen, grabbing a plate from the cupboard.

"I haven't see your mate, the young guard said that she was released yesterday"

Jake growls and I have difficultly suppressing mine. Mum didn't appreciate it when we growled at her, but we had made that guard promise not to disclose any information. I lock eyes with my brother, he will be punished later, he nods in agreement.

"She was going to be released" Jakes tone is cold and clipped, "But her wolf wasn't responding"

Zach begins to growl in my head, he was still furious that Emma wasn't talking to him, but his growl is halted at my mother's sudden intake of breath.

"What" she gasps stunned "Your precious mate who has been locked up for the past six weeks has finally promised that she will obey you and you're not releasing her"

"Her wolf's not responding" I repeat, my tone is threatening, daring her to say anything else.

Her eyes narrow as she glares at me, she was once a powerful Luna that had the power and authority to control us but she gave up the position and power years ago.

My mother moves to the edge of the bench. I can tell that she is furious with Jake and I but I'm not daunted by it,

"Did you know that I was like your mate when I first met your father" she says maintaining eye contact.

A collective gasp from Jake and I travels through the room, we always assumed our mother was subservient.

"In the beginning, I refused to submit to him, I was from the Night Moon pack where people respected and obeyed me" she pauses a ghost of smile playing on her lips.

"Here in this pack, I was immediately deemed inferior to him and he still wanted my respect and love"

She laughs remembering her youth, but then she stops her face turning serious, her lips moving into a grim line, "But he didn't deserve it"

"What" Jake shouts he's jumped off the bench stool so he is now towering over her, luckily she's standing on the opposite side of the bench, his eyes are flickering between black and blue. My wolf has also perked up, demanding that my Mother be reminded of her place.

She turns facing Jake, looking him in the eye she states,

"I know you're angry Ryder, you believe she is inferior to you. That she should obey your every whim"

"Yes" he growls unwavering,

"And you will understand in time, that a mate who challenges you is good. It means that she is fierce and strong, that she will stand for what she believes in" she takes a deep breath and then continues "If an enemy pack attacks, you want a mate who will fight to the death for this pack and its members. Not a weak pup who will surrender easily"

Time freezes for a moment as I mull over the thought. I wanted Flicker to submit and obey us but I also expected her to be a strong and fearless Luna at the same time.

I realised now that I couldn't have both.

"Look" she pauses and I notice that it's becoming difficult for her to speak. I'm telling you both this, to give you a different perspective and to inform you about what happened in the past between me and your father. Her face falls and she takes a deep breath before starting.

"It was the middle of summer and your father and I just had an argument where he had threatened to whip me, if I continued to disobey him. When I went to see him again a few hours after our argument, I didn't know that he was in a meeting with four other powerful alphas.

I walked in unannounced and told him quite adamantly that I was leaving and he could find some other pack whore to be his mate because I was never going to obey him."

She closes her eyes taking a breath, "Your father was furious and his wolf Hunter quickly took control. To show to the four neighbouring alphas that he was not to be messed with, he chained me to the pole outside." She points outside the window, it was still there. " And he whipped me fifty times"

I stand there shocked as I try to understand what happened. My father punishing my mother I couldn't comprehend it, they always looked so deeply in love. Jake's looks at me, his expression mirroring my own. She continues on,

"When he finished the pack doctor rushed to my aid, my back was a bloody mess. They believe that another ten minutes and I would've been dead. From that day onwards I became completely obedient, your father apologised but I was terrified of him, doing everything he asked.

For the next six months I couldn't sleep next to him, I was petrified that he would punish me again. Your father soon realised that he didn't want a mate who was scared of him, he promised me that he wouldn't touch me again without my permission. It was another two years before I allowed your father to mark me. He let me decide when I was ready and over those two years he slowly earned my trust and love. His wolf also realised that I was not inferior to him"

"That's not likely to happen" Zach says

This time I choose to ignore him.

"Your mate loves you, it will just take time and effort on both sides" she says her lips lifting into a small smile. "The only reason that her wolf isn't responding, is because she is too weak to contact you"

My eyes lock with Jake's, "Shit" we both mutter. We completely forgot that her wolf would also be suffering.

We race out the door, heading towards the pack prison but before I leave, I turn my head back towards the kitchen.

"Thanks Mum"

She winks at me, "Go save your Mate"