| KALEB

Time was moving at a crawl. After two days of traveling it seemed like we were never going to make it to the safe house. I admit I was getting impatient. I just needed to know that the rest of the pack were alive and well.

Josh and I were forced to travel in the middle of the group as Darren led the party and Zev kept pace from behind. There were at least ten wolves on either side of us at all times.

Josh had managed to get Darren to stop hovering by convincing the young Alpha that he was hungry. Darren being the doting mate he was, immediately spearheaded the hunt for tonight's dinner. Leaving Zev and five enforcer wolves behind to keep an eye on us.

Before he left, Darren made extra sure that his mate was comfortable almost ordering one of the enforcers to become a wolf seat for him. Josh growled, saying he wasn't going to break if he sat on the floor and that if Darren didn't calm his shit, blue balls would a constant companion for him.

Currently, Josh was leaning against the tree trunk next to mine, eyes closed in peace and relaxation. Yet his shoulders were tense as if he was expecting a fight to occur out of nowhere. It made me wonder just what he had to endure during his time in that shack. Would it be too insensitive to ask? Only one way to find out.

"W-what happened while you were with Jared?" I asked, ripping it off like a bandaid and breaking the silence. Josh sighed heavily, resting his troubled blue eyes on my form.

"Darren wants to ask me that too, I can tell, " his eyes lowered, almost in guilt. "but I can't tell him. Not yet." My heart clenched at the pain stricken look that crossed his face.

"You don't have to tell me either," I said softly "I'm sorry for asking." Josh gave me a watery smile, so unlike the smirking or comforting ones I was used to seeing.

"No, it's fine... I just-" he heaved a sigh. "I feel like I can talk about it with you. I feel like if I told Darren he'd reslize just how... used I am. He'd reject me." His voice broke towards the end. "That's what scares me the most. I know that I don't deserve him but... I love him, damn it, I love him and I could lose him. If he found out he won't want me anymore, Kaleb, I know it."

My eyes filled with tears, but I wouldn't allow them to fall, instead I resolved to help my new best friend as best I could. I'd do anything to see him smile.

"Josh, that's not true and deep down you know it. Deep down, you know he loves you too, no matter what." A single tear trailed down his face, the vulerability in his eyes wasn't gone but there seemed to be a newfound resolve gleeming in them.

Taking a steadying breath, Josh closed his eyes for a moment before opening them. "He never penetrated me there, he preferred my mouth for that. He would beat me, just for fun or when he was frustrated..." His expression took on a faraway look, as he was reliving the abuse, "then, he'd masterbate over my body while I bled out. It didn't matter if I was conscious or not. He seemed to enjoy watching his semen cover my bruises, especially the ones on my face. Sometimes he told people to watch, he loved having an audience."

"Did they touch you too?" came Darren's deathly calm voice. We hadn't heard his approach and the sound of his voice caused us both to jump. Behind him was my mate who'd been checking the surrounding area for signs of rogues. The enforcer wolves seemed sense the tenseness in the air and made sure to stay on the other side of the small clearing because of it.

Josh swallowed as his his mouth open and closed, but no words came out. "H-How much did you hear."

"Enough." Darren's tone remained impassive, the only sign of the anger he was supressing were his fists that clenched and unclenched at his sides. His nails had enlonged, creating gashes on his palms. Josh almost seemed to cave in on himself, his shoulders slumped and he refused to meet his mate's eyes. "Did they touch you." He asked once again, his voice still deceptably calm.

"No," Josh looked up and noticed the damage Darren was doing to his hands. His face clouded with concern. "Stop that," he said, his voice was noticably steadier. Darren growled softly but said nothing, still, he complied.

"I-I understand if now you don't-"

"Josh have you been listening to anything I've said?" Darren asked, his tone dripping with pain. "I want you. I want you from the tip of your head to the soles of your feet." He stepped closer to his huddled mate before crouching infront of him. "I want your smart ass mouth, your anger problems. I want your cute little smirks that make me want to devour you, and those blushes. I love it when your cheeks heat up just for me. All of these things and so much more, are what made me fall in love with you."

Josh's breathing faltered as tears filled his blue eyes til they were full. Darren caught the first one that spilled, brushing it away. I felt my heart swell as tears filled my own eyes.

"I want you." He placed a kiss to Josh's tear streaked cheek. "I want you." The next place his lips landed was his nose. "I want yo-"

"Shut up," Josh cut his mate off. "dork." His voice was breathy, his blue eyes watery. Darren just smiled softly, shaking his head.

"That's Alpha to you," he growled playfully, pressing their foreheads together.

Zev moved around them as he made his way over to me. As usual, butterflies erupted in my belly, just being around him made me happy.

Without a word Zev picked me up before settling into the space I'd previously occupied and pulled me into his chest. He had only been gone for twenty minutes it felt like an eternity. He must have felt the same way because he buried his face in my neck and pulled me impossibly closer.

....

The day passed uneventfully after that, soon it was time for us to start moving again. According to Darren we were only a day away. I was more than happy with the news and overly eager to finally be somewhere I could rest. Somewhere I could finally feel safe for more than just a few hours.

At least I hoped. I knew that Jared was still out there and still wanted me for his weird scheme to become an alpha of his own pack with me as his luna. Something I hoped never happened. Sensing my thoughts, Zev nudged my shoulder with his huge nose as we walked side by side.

He won't touch you again, I'll make sure of it. Zev growled to make his point. I couldn't help the butterflies the simple show of possessiveness caused. As always I felt, secure with Zev, I knew he'd keep me safe and I loved him for it.

The rest of the walk we continued in silence for a few more hours before Darren called us all to a halt. He announced that we would be sleeping here for awhile before picking up the pace in the morning. I had a suspicion we were stopping because of Josh. He was still pretty weak and all the movement probably wasn't good for him. He needed rest and his mate knew this and tried his best to give it to him without slowing us down too much. Zev nudged my shoulder again to get my attention.

Follow me, little one. Zev said as he began walking away from the group. I followed closely behind, as well as I could anyway. My mate's freakishly large size made it difficult to keep up, but he didn't slow down, nor did he speed up.

When we were a little ways away from the others, he stopped and shifted. The sight of his naked body caused mine to heat a few degrees. I shifted as well, walking over to him. There was a slight nip in the air but I paid it no mind, knowing that my mate would keep me warm.

"Tonight I wanted to sleep away from the others, I need you to myself for a little while." He explained as he pulled me against his chest. I gave him a timid smile, pressing my hands against his chest. I understood perfectly. It wasn't in Zev's nature to be social, he needed some separation, well as much as he could get right now.

"Don't worry, you'll have me all yourself in a little while." I reminded him with a smile that he returned. His grip on me tightened as he pulled me closer, dipping his face into my neck. I shivered as his breath fanned over my mark, causing me to tremble.

"I know, but I'm getting impatient. " he rumbled, removing his face from my neck and looking me in the eye. My grin widened as I giggled at him.

"Just a while longer." I assured him, rubbing my knuckles against his scruffy cheek. Chuffing, he lowered us both to the ground, positioning us so that I was lying on his chest. Immediately I melted against him, fatigue causing my eyes to droop closed.

Goodnight, my little Kaleb.

Goodnight, Zev.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

I know this chapter isn't the best, it's a filler, the good stuff will start picking up again soon.