I woke up to a stampede in my head. I didn't think I had enough to properly have a hangover, especially with the hybrid bullshit running through me. But I guess not even the Moon Goddess could take pity on me over this one.

"Aspirin." I groaned out to no one in particular, but I was only met with a chuckle. I looked up to find a half naked Tyler laying with his head propped up on his hand, a grin on his face as his dark locks fell over his eyes. I reached out and pushed them back, the familiar shivers cascading down my spine.

"Nope, you get a punishment for yesterday. I mean seriously, what were you thinking!" He had moved from the wall to right in front of me, my eyes squeezing shut from the pain that shot through my head.

"Jesus Christ get out and let me change then!" I looked up to his blazing eyes and clenched jaw.

"Why do you have a room here?" My eyes shot around me, taking in what in fact was my room. I couldn't remember much from the night before, I remembered the meadow and the hunters, but that's about it.

"It's new, your mom just gave it to me." I lied, praying to Selene that I sounded convincing. He narrowed his eyes at me, crouching so he was eye level with me.

"You're lying, I can smell your scent through here. It's worn, you've been here for a long time. How long, exactly?"

I sighed, running my hands through my hair. "Let me shower and change, I'll tell you everything. Meet me at the waterfall in thirty minutes."

I watched him leave my room as I made my way to my shower. I took my time under the hot water, savoring the way it relaxed my tense muscles. I sighed as I stepped out, walking back into my room before changing into leggings and a grey sweater. I threw my hair up, smiling when I saw my mates clear mark on my throat.

I ran in my human form to the lake, the deafening sound of the waterfall hitting me before I actually got there. I was close to five minutes early, so I sat and waited on the rock Tyler usually sat on. I smiled but as time passed by, it slowly dropped.

"Tyler?" I called out. I followed his smell as close as I could, leading me to an open meadow covered in flowers. "Ty?"

"Well well, look who's mate is here!" I whirled to Damon standing in the middle of field, my fingers inching to my knife.

"Where is he Damon?" I growled at him, my wolf wanting to rip out his throat. He merely buckled at my growl, stepping to his right. I sucked in my breath, Tyler stood there with three vampires hanging onto him.

Tyler had a black eye and blood lip, my heart wrenching as I took him in. "Lena, leave!"

"Let him go Damon!"

'Ethan, east meadow. Bring everyone, please hurry!'

"You know what I want Leona." I gritted my teeth, my eyes flashing in the direction of the castle.

"Fine, please, let him go." Damon mercilessly grinned, the true amount of evil showing in his black eyes.

I heard the paws on the ground as the Queen and King burst through the brush, my group of Protectors not far behind them. Tyler's Beta and Delta came in close behind them, with varying pack warriors. Ashe cried out when she saw Tyler, Xander's eyes turning black as he took it in.

"Oh look! You called backup!" Damon cackled, his lackeys laughing along with him.

"Let him go, please." I whispered the end, Tyler shaking his head as he looked at me. I sent him a soft smile, my heart hurting as I tried to pour as much love as I could through the bond.

"Oh I will, but I need to do something first." More Vampires came from the forest line and walked towards me, pushing me down to where I sat on my knees. I look up to him quizzically as he started a fire, setting an iron bar into the heat. "Now you may be wondering, how do I know so much?"

I caught Ethan's eye, both of us looking confused. Ashe was crying in her mates arms as another vampire landed a blow to Tyler's stomach, a cry leaving my lips as I struggled against those that held me down.

"Come here sweetie, no one will hurt you, and I'll even give you the honor of it." Damon smiled as he walked back to the fire, his eyes never leaving mine.

David walked out from the line, Mariah and Jessie having to hold back Ethan. I growled as he walked over to Damon, smiling as he kissed his cheek. "She really is pathetic huh?"

"David! Wh- why?"

I watched the way he looked at Damon, and everything clicked in my head. I pretty much felt my stomach in my throat, my hands began to shake as I wrung them together. They were mates; and as much as I wanted to be mad at him, I could.

"I would think it's pretty obvious." I nodded, scrunching my eyebrows.

"But why? Did I do something to hurt you?" I noticed pack warriors starting to scout the perimeter, flicking swords in their grasp.

"No, you did nothing wrong. My mates needs his power, his rightful power." He took the iron brand out of the heart of the fire, the metal glowing red as he inched his way to me. "Tyler, has she told you how long she's known you?"

Tyler widened his eyes in confusion, looking to me for answers. "She met me a month or so ago."

Damon buckled behind him, lowering to where he was right beside he ear. "You really didn't believe her, did you? I mean, she's been lying to you this entire time!" He straightened up, Tyler's gaze burning through me. "Tell him Lena, when did you find out he was your mate?"

I shut my eyes, not daring to look at Tyler. "Please-"

"If you don't tell the truth I'll kill him Lena!" My eyes shot open as I shook my head at Damon, tears forming in my blue eyes.

"I've know he was my mate since I was six!" Tyler widened his eyes, hurt and pain flashing through them. I heard gasps from the group behind us, pain ripping through my chest. "I was going to tell him, I had to do it! I was his protector, I had to put him before me every time!"

Tyler shook his head, not daring to look at me. "I can't believe it." He muttered, trying as hard as he could to get away from the ones that restrained him.

Damon started to walk towards David and I, his face set in a harsh line. "We have to do this, to make sure he won't come find you." One of the vampires pushed my neck to the side, my body struggling against his as I desperately tried to get away from their grip.

There are three ways for a mind to be broke. For a mate to die, rejection, and burning off the mark. They almost always killed the mate, and I guess that's what Damon was going to do. I couldn't contain my tears as I tried to push away from him, his eyes glinting so maliciously it drove me insane.

"No! Please no!" Tyler shouted just as Xander shot out from his mates grip, pack warriors pouring in from the forest line.

David pressed the iron bar to my mark, pain shooting through every inch of me. I screamed as he held me down against he dirt floor, my body withering in pain. I saw Tyler on the ground ten feet away from me crying, convulsing in pain as his mark burned. He pressed it to my skin as Ashe sobbed and other pack warriors fought with the leeches around us. I couldn't breathe, I couldn't think, I couldn't do anything except scream.

"No stop!" David released the iron metal as Damon grasped my arm with his hand, the air around me spinning as he teleported me.

The air left my lungs as I collapsed on a cool stone floor, the bond I had cracked and hanging by a frayed thread.

***

The cell I was in burned against my sweat covered skin. My neck burned so badly I could barley breathe, my hand immediately wrenching itself away from it when I went to touch it gently. It burned like a thousand suns, like someone was holding a lighter to my skin and wouldn't let me leave.

I couldn't breathe as I tried to roll over, my mind trying to search for the bond. I cried as I couldn't find anything, my heart falling and shattering in this shitty stone floor. I called out to my wolf, but all I got in return was a whimper.

"No," I whispered as my cell door opened, David coming to stand in front of me. He looked smug as he crouched down in front of me, swiping away the hair that had fallen from my pony tail. He prodded the skin around my mark, grinning before he touched it directly.

I cried as I shot back, my back slamming against the wall. He smirked, shaking his head as he stood back up. "Shake your king had such a shitty mate."

I bit my lip as I tried not to show any emotions. I was Lena Dupree, badass hunter, and he was a rat.

"Leave me alone David. I get it, he's our fucking mate, but you didn't have to do this!" He shook his head, looking at me with pity.

That look sent me over the edge, my canines elongating as rage flew through me. I was seething, my eyes shutting as I tried to not Letha made how he effected me.

"I did. It was more than just him being my mate, that was just icon on the cake! I mean seriously, you were never made to be Alpha. You had all of them wrapped around your fucking finger, except me that is." He grinned again with that ridiculous smirk that I was growing to loathe.

"I'm going to kill you when I get out of here." I roared as I jumped to him, his fist connecting with my jaw. I flew back against the wall, a crack resonating through the room. I prodded slightly at my ribs, wincing as pain radiated through them.

"Good night, see you when it's time to kill you." He chuckled as he left, shutting the cell and locking it with a key.

I lay in the corner of my cell in pain, I had no idea how long I had been out. Judging by my greasy hair and face, and overwhelming smell, I'd say for a long time. I shut my eyes as I looked through everything, desperately trying to find any clue that the bond wasn't completely broke.

Deep in the corner, a frayed red knot was tied around my left ring finger, crossing the state, and tying myself with Tyler's.

***

Sorry it's so short! I just had midterms and that honestly kicked my butt. Thanks again!