The Alpha's Mate

"Stop no!", the girl screamed, pulling at her bound hands, her voice raw from the permanent screaming. "Purify her for me", the man said, completely disregarding her screams. The second man was quick to execute himself, both of them sharing maniacal smiles. He was quick to shed his pants and– *** Candace woke up with a scream. She was breathing hard and sweating profusely. She had been having that nightmare three nights out of seven for the past four years and she didn't know how to stop them. She looked at her alarm clock on the nightstand. It was just 5:30 am. She practically collapsed on her bed, heaving a sigh of exhaustion. Trying hard not to think about her nightmare, she woke up from bed and went to the bathroom, in an attempt to remove the feelings of dirtiness she was having. It was a routine really. Candace has a nightmare. Candace wakes up crying. Candace proceeds to scrub her skin raw, tears silently flowing down her cheeks. After about forty five in the shower, Candace came out. She would have stayed longer but she had a busy day today and staying in the shower for an hour was not a luxury she could afford. She picked out an outfit for the day; a beige long sleeved bohemian fringed top, distressed boyfriend jeans, brown ankle length boots and a multicolored scarf which she attached on her neck. She didn't get dressed right away because she knew it would be stupid as she had not yet given a bath to her little angel, Elle. She tied her bathrobe and went to her baby's room. Elle was already up, hiding her face under the blanket and giggling, giving small peeks at her mother. Candace tiptoed to the corner of her small bed. In a silly voice, she announced, "The tickle monster is near", making Elle giggle even more. "Tickle monser not real. I know is you Mamma", she answered, peeking at her mother through her little fingers, still giggling. "Grrr, I'm going to get you", Candace growled playfully, jumping into Ellie's bed, making sure not to hurt her. Both of them burst into laughter and the door opened suddenly, quieting their giggles immediately. There stood Candace's mother, Harriet, with a stern look on her face. "You guys are making all this noise and having tickle wars, without me?", she asked mock angrily, though she cracked a little smile. Candace and Ellie started giggling again, making Harriet burst into laughter too. She went forward towards them and jumped on the bed too. "Mom! You're going to break Ellie's bed!", Candace shouted in alarm, laughing, making everybody burst into laughter again. "We'll buy a new one!" *** After the bed episode, Candace went downstairs to start packing. They were moving Clairey, a town six hours away so she had to get everything movable into boxes. She could not wait to leave this godforsaken town and make the dream she had always had come true; opening a bakery. She sighed, thinking of her nightmare once again, despite not wanting to. "Candace", a voice said behind her, making her jump. "Candace, stop thinking about it okay? It doesn't help you in any way", Harriet said, putting a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "I know Mama, but it's hard. Sometimes all I think about is it. I literally can't sleep and when I manage to fall asleep, the memories haunt me. They haunt me Mama", Candace sobbed, burrowing her face into her mother's shoulder. Harriet's expression was sad as she comforted her daughter, whispering comforting words into her ear. "You're leaving now, okay mon bébé? Concentres-toi sur ton futur et essaie d'oublier ton passé troublé", Harriet advised, switching to French, a language common to her country of origin, Cameroon. "How can I forget my past and focus on my future when I have a reminder of that troubled past? Don't get me wrong Mama, I love Ellie so much but sometimes it gets hard to look at her face", Candace whispered, afraid Ellie could hear her. Harriet smiled sadly and changed her tone, "By not talking about it first. Now go and pack. Remember you're leaving tomorrow" Candace smiled weakly and went to do what just her mother had said. She put some music and packed, hoping the activity was going to get her mind off those memories. *** The next day, Candace had finally finished packing and was just waiting for the car she had bought Harriet was going to stay in Carrington even though Candace and Ellie had begged her to come with them. "Mama, you still have time to change your mind you know", Candace reminded her as a black SUV pulled up, smiling teasingly, knowing exactly why her mother wanted to stay back. "You're not too old for me to spank you", Harriet laughed, eyeing her daughter. "Hey, you're just 38, stop talking old", Candace said, standing up and escaping before her mother could smack her behind. She went outside, thanking the person who had brought the car and taking the keys from them. She came back in and sat next to her mother, sighing. She didn't want to go but circumstances had forced her to. "Don't regret you actions baby. You're doing what you have to to keep you and little Elle safe", Harriet said, guessing correctly what her daughter was thinking. "I know Mama. But it's going to be hard to leave you", Candace said, smiling sadly. "And it's going to be hard to see you leave", Harriet replied with a smile matching Candace's. Candace clung to her mother then proceeded to take everything to the car, making sure to wake Elle up at the last minute. With the help of her mother, she took everything to the car, her heart heavy. It was time for goodbyes already and with lots of tears and sobs, Candace and Ellie were on their way, their towards a new town and a new beginning, hopefully.