Saving His Luna

*Charlie* We are on the way to church camp for two weeks in New Mexico from Burleson, Texas. Winona, Ash, and I are laying on each other in the second row of the 15-passenger van. It's completely dark outside since we left in the middle of the night for the 12-hour drive. I'm tired. Everyone stayed the night at the youth pastor's house, and I don't sleep very well without Dylan. I can't sleep for fear of dreams. I can't handle the questions and they don't believe the answers anyway. I know I won't sleep this entire week unless I want to see it again. And I don't. I hate reliving that s**t. And yes, I know, churchgoers shouldn't cuss. But I couldn't care any less. Winona or just Nona is my best friend. She knows everything about me. I've tried telling others about it and they don't believe me. Always say I cry wolf. Callie is 18 months old. I'm 13. She is mine and not by choice. That's my biggest non-secret. Her biological father happens to be sitting in the last row with the pastor’s daughter Hannah. They're boyfriend/girlfriend. He's my foster brother and my mom knows he hurts me any chance he has. She doesn't care. She only wants the money she gets from the state. We live in a five-bedroom 3-bathroom townhouse apartment. I'm downstairs with Callie everyone else is upstairs. However, I'm rarely there unless the social worker pops in. I normally take Callie and stay with Dylan 6 doors down. I've only been home 3 times in the past 6 months and never overnight. I already miss them. They also know nothing of Dylan. He's amazing. We've been together since before I had Callie but only recently started having s*x when I moved in with him since Trey was adopted seven months ago. We didn't plan on having s*x since both of us have been sexually assaulted and both have kids because of it. Callie, 18 months and Paettynn, 4 years. But I don't regret it and it feels amazing. I love him immensely. And I know it's not just because he saved me. He walked in on Trey holding me down even though I begged and begged for him to stop. I told Dylan that same day that it wasn't the first time and that I thought I was pregnant. He asked his dad if he could take me to their doctor for help. Mr. Matthews took us the next day. Dr. Monroe is now my permanent doctor and Mr. Matthews takes care of all my bills. I am extremely grateful to him. Dylan convinced me not to terminate and I am so glad I didn't. I wouldn't trade my Callie Rogue for the world. I jolt awake when Nona shakes me. "You were slipping into a nightmare." I look around to see if anyone noticed. "Everyone is still asleep." "Thanks," I mutter. I sit up and stare out the window, thinking about Dylan and our girls. Callie is Treys but has Dylan’s last name of Matthews. She has platinum blonde hair and vibrant sapphire/green eyes like Trey but looks almost exactly like I did at her age. Paettynn looks exactly like Dylan, with black hair and emerald green eyes. Paettynn is his daughter but also happens to be his sister. Mrs. Matthews just got out of jail and isn't allowed to see her so Mr. Matthews emancipated Dylan at 15 so he could live on his own with P, but still supports him with everything financial. Mr. M says he still deserves some teenage life but still needs to take care of his daughter, Dylan does with no complaints and has been on his own for a little over a year. Like me, he wouldn't trade her for anything. I should also mention that most of the people I’m close to are supernatural. Dylan swears I am too, but I’m not sure. I think I would know by now. I’m thirteen, that’s the age that everyone from Dylan’s pack has their first shift. He says I don’t smell human, none of my family smells human but nobody has said anything to me. Dylan thinks I’m going to shift any day now. At the very least, I know Callie is half-wolf because Trey is a werewolf. Winona and Ash are both werewolves too. Nona had her first shift a month ago after she turned thirteen. She turns into a dark brown wolf with white front paws and blue eyes like her human form. Nona’s wolf's name is Marie. Ash just turned thirteen and should be shifting at the next full moon. Hopefully, she doesn’t shift early because we are supposed to be home two days before the full moon happens. Dylan turns into a solid black wolf with green eyes. His name is Kaizen (KAI-zen). He’s an Alpha and tells me I’m his mate, his Luna. The sun is coming up, so I wake Nona. "We need pictures." Nodding, she digs her phone out to capture the view. I keep mine hidden, saying I left it at home so we can have a phone in our room to call Nona's mom and my Dylan. The rooms are set up like college dorms. Nona, Ash, my sister, and I are in one room, the other girls are in another and the female adults have one. We have a small group, 12 females and 11 males. I love that there are no adults in our room. I don't relish the idea of hiding all my meds. I take a low dose of Zoloft and Ambien when needed and birth control daily. I breastfeed Callie so I try to take as little as possible. I need to pump and sadly I can't exactly do it in a van full of people. My pump is in my backpack so hopefully, I can pump at our breakfast stop for a few and relieve some of the heaviness. We finally hit the New Mexico border and stop for breakfast at McDonald's. Dylan handed me a bundle of twenties before I left to wait for Donna, our normal ride to and from church, so she doesn't have to pay for my food. Seven pairs of eyes fill with suspicion when I order and pay for my food, so Nona helps cover for me and tells them that her mom gave us the money. We immediately text her mom our cover story in case they call her to verify. They do. "I hate that they do that," Nona complains. "Yeah, me too." I agree. "I need to call Dylan and pump. Will you come with me to get my bag?" I ask quietly. "Sure." After retrieving my backpack, we head inside to the bathrooms. I'm on my period so it helps as a cover too. "I'll say 'I want some marshmallows if someone comes in." "Okay." I head into a stall and get my pump set up and started before dialing Dylan. He answers on the second ring. "Hello, my Luna angel." "Hey, babe." "Where are y'all?" he asks. "Just pass the border. This sucks. I miss you. You should have come. Your dad said he would watch them." I'm whining and I know it. But I miss him. "It's only been a day baby. That's not that long." "But I won't get to see you until next Sunday and that is a long time." "I know and I miss you too. Think I can still come?" He asks. "Not likely. It's too late." I snort. He's silent. "Trey came." I hear his sharp intake of air. "I'm sorry, angel. I love you." The door opens and Nona smoothly says, "I want some marshmallows." like we've been having a normal conversation instead of me on the phone with Dylan while pumping. I end the call right away and send him a quick text.   *Sorry, I love you.*   His reply is instant. *It's ok angel. We'll talk more later. I love you too.* I shove my phone back in my bag. It's on silent so no one will hear it. "We'll get some back-home Nona." I laugh as I flush the toilet. I quickly shut off the pump and put it back in my bag as well. I don't have time to properly store the milk so it will have to wait. "What's taking you so long?" It's Melodie. The pastor’s wife. She is always on my ass about everything since I tried to tell her about Trey r****g me. That didn't go over very well. Her daughter Hannah is dating him. She called my mom and my mom told her I was lying and not to listen to me. I stopped trusting everyone at church. I withdrew from all things extra at church saying I had to study and only went on Wednesdays and Sundays after that. "I started my period," I reply. It's a half-truth. I started a few days ago but they don't know that. I'm grumpy and tired. I know I'm not going to sleep. This is gonna be a crappy week. "Well, come on. We are waiting on you so we can leave." I exit the stall after straightening my clothes and go wash my hands. My bag is securely on my shoulder. We climb in the van and get back on the road. I fall asleep despite everyone being awake and loud.   "No, no, please stop!" I beg. He's on top of me again. His c**k is shoving between my legs. It hurts so bad. He holds my hands above my head in one of his hands so I can't fight this time. I close my eyes, so I don't have to see him. I'm trying to kick him off, but every time I do, he presses the knife harder into my thigh, drawing more blood. I try to yank my hands from him, it just makes him more excited. "Please stop," I beg again. "Get off me." "Shut up." His voice is laced with venom, hatred. "You like it. I'm gonna come inside you again," he spits. "No, please! NO!" He ignores me as I feel the lava heat of his release flood me. "STOP!"----                  I wake up with tears streaming down my cheeks. Everyone is looking at me, Trey has a smug smirk like he's pleased his torment reaches my subconscious. I sink lower into the bench seat. "You okay?" Nona whispers next to me. It's still so quiet. I shake my head at her but say, "Yes, I'm fine. It's just a dream." I look up to the front, feeling eyes on me. Ronnie, one of the youth teachers, watches me through the rearview mirror, is driving and his wife Leanne is turned sideways in the passenger seat. I can't stop the tears from coming. Leanne turns on the radio and everyone else returns to their conversations. I sink down and lay my head on Nona's lap, covering my mouth to stop the sobs from escaping but my body shakes with them. Her hand smoothes my hair from my face as my tears soak into her leggings. I don't move for the rest of the trip.   *Dylan* I miss my angel. I wish I had just gone with her. We wouldn't be able to sleep together or have s*x but at least I would be with her. I get the girls up and ready for the day. My dad is expecting us soon, we are taking the babies to the lake, it's hot. We are waiting on one more test result to come back for Paettynn. She was diagnosed with Stage 3 Leukemia a year ago and had her last round of chemo a few weeks back. I'm anxious. Charlie's anxious. Dad is anxious, so is P. It's been a long year. I have my own place. Charlie is with me often which I love. She is so strong. After everything she has been through, I don't know how she does it. Selena, my mom, hasn't been in my life since P was a year old and it's still hard for me sometimes but I'm not broken like my angel is. She just keeps getting hit with bad luck and it's not fair. I wish I could take it all away and make her the happiest girl I know. She's too young for this hell. I'm three years older than she is but she has seen more horror than anybody should in a lifetime. We pull up to the packhouse as my phone chimes with a new text. It's from Nona. *She just had a dream... People saw...* Fuck, is my only thought. She doesn't trust these people and they don't believe her. I should have gone with. I text Nona back. *Have her call me.* *Can't too many ppl, still in the van.* *ASAP Nona, next chance you have.* *I will* Damn, she isn't gonna sleep worth s**t. I just want to hold her. Protect her. I search for the camp and call them. I need to be there. I ask if they have an opening and what church I would be with. I tell the lady I don't care about the cost, but my plans changed, and I would like to come. "Well, we don't have any room in the dorms, but we have a hotel with an empty room." She says. "That works. How much?" "Eight hundred dollars." "Okay, where do I send the money?" She gives me the information I need to transfer the money and I tell her I can be there by Wednesday night. "Perfect. That should give you enough time to get settled before the Thursday morning service. Does your church group know you’re coming?" "I want it to be a surprise if that’s okay?" "No problem." We say our pleasantries and hang up. My dad is already giving me a knowing smile. "You should have just gone in the first place. I told you both I would watch the girls." "I know." I give the girls hugs and kisses and tell them I'm going to go see their mom. My dad and I make plans for him to bring them out next Friday so we can all drive home together. I go upstairs to my old room to get ready for the lake. I'll spend the rest of the day with the girls and pack tomorrow morning, get to Sante Fe late Wednesday night and stay in the hotel dad owns then drive out to Glorietta Thursday morning. My mind wonders about Charlie and how amazing she is. I smile just thinking about how much I love her. My cell starts ringing, the ringtone I've set for Charlie plays Come On, Get Higher by Matt Nathanson. I answer immediately, "Hey baby. You okay?" Silence... "Angel?" "I-I. . . need-d. . . you." Her voice is broken with sobs. "Calm down love. It's okay. I'm right here." "No," she hiccups, "you're not. I can't touch you. . . You can't hold me." She's right, but she is calming down nonetheless. Proving more and more that she must be a late shifter since she calms with just my voice. "I know baby. I'm sorry." "I don't think I can do this." Her voice is barely a whisper. "I think you can." There is a knock on the other end. "I have to go. I love you, Dylan." "I love you, my Angel." "I know," she says, and the line goes dead.