Shifters of Shadow Falls Collection (Books 1-3) by Crystal L. Shaw Page A

and squeeze my eyes shut, willing the memories to go away.  I thought I’d escaped all this.  I thought I was finally free.  How could this happen?   My shoulders shake uncontrollably as sobs rock through my body.  I gasp for breath, but it’s too difficult as my throat dries and closes, suffocating me.
    I remember the pain shooting through my back while they whipped me.  Taking turns and making bets on whether I would break or if the wolf would show.  The spikes piercing into my skin and gripping on before being ripped away taking bits of bloodied flesh with it, leaving nothing but raw, broken skin and blood.  Although my vision was blurred, I can still see the splatters of my blood as they hit the wall.  So much blood.  I can still hear them laugh as my wounds closed before their eyes, although the brutal pain remained.  That’s all the proof they needed.  They kept at it, saying they would beat the latent out of me.
    I prayed every night for the healing to stop.  I begged the Gods, any and every God to have mercy on me.  To let them kill me.  And one night my prayers must’ve been heard.  I stopped being able to heal.  Their confusion gave me relief.  But it was short lived.  They continued to torture me.  They brought me to death’s door over and over again.  Each day they invented new ways to damage me.  To bring back my wolf.  But she left me.  Left me or died, I’m not sure which.  I’m not sure if she ever even existed.
    It took years before they gave up and tried to get their money back.  They wanted to return me because I was broken.  But my “pack” didn’t recognize my scent.  They denied me.  I was thrown away and left in human territory for them to claim me.  But no one did.  It took nearly two years of living at the shelter for the Hender’s to take me.  They got a check for keeping me.  It wasn’t enough to stop them from beating me though.  I was worthless to them to, just like everyone else.  At that point I was so numb to the abuse I just accepted it as a way of life.  At least they only struck me with their human fists or light objects, like the plate I didn’t clean properly.  They never tried to get “creative” like the shifters did.
    I only started to heal when Ari took me in
    “Ari.”  I sob her name into the cold tile wall.  Please come help me.  I can’t even speak the words my throat hurts too much.  Come hold me.  I wrap my arms around my shoulders and rock.  She’s the only one who’s ever cared.  I squeeze tighter as my head falls limp on my knees.  The only one who’s ever touched me in a kind way.  I can’t survive here.  I know it.  This time it will kill me.  With my last bit of energy, I whisper, “please save me.” 

 
     
     
    Part III
    The Betas

Chapter 11: Dom
     
    The sound of my mate crying is killing me.  My heart feels dead in my hollow chest as I lean my forehead against the door to her temporary room.  She won’t stop sobbing and my touch is useless to quiet her.  I don’t understand; it’s not supposed to be like this.  The sound of her cries echoes in my head and my wolf whines in absolute torment.  I’m angry at my wolf, at myself.  I should be able to soothe my mate, to be a balm to her broken soul.  Instead, I’m the one causing her pain.  The way she looks at me with sheer terror in her eyes, shatters any hope I have at claiming my mate.
    I need to do something, but how can I help her when she won’t confide in me?  I don’t know what the hell to do.  I pound my fist against the wall in fury.  My only consolation is that our alpha mate can calm her.  I’ll do anything to heal Lizie, to have her whole and happy.  I need to find out what happened and I need to make it right; the sooner, the fucking better.
    I scowl as Caleb approaches the door.  I don’t want to share her.  Fate’s a real bitch. 
    “She’s not letting you in?”  His voice is low and full of worry.
    “No