The Twin Alphas' Man-Made Luna

Chapter 8 -Familiar golden eyes

Six companies in twelve hours. Ten hours in the air. Awake for over twenty-four. I was exhausted. Arriving at my apartment. It was one of many properties I owned, although I used this one the most as it was the closest to the office. The door clipped behind me, and I took a deep breath embracing the silence that accompanied the emptiness of this place. This was not home and did not spend a lot of time here. The only purpose this apartment held was to sleep, and I did not do much of that. I poured myself a glass of whiskey, kicked off my shoes, and dropped onto the couch. The soothing burn from the whiskey running down my throat brought me comfort. It was the perfect end to a very successful day. The image of the old couple from my last meeting today appeared in my mind. The loving and protective hold he had on her at all times. The knowledge of what comes with being a mated wolf brought bitterness in me. I desperately tried to swallow it down with another sip. Every wolf is raised with the knowledge that the day will come to have a bond with someone so strong that nothing else in the world will matter. That you will be so important to a person that they would rather die than be without you. What that couple has, is the ultimate for a wolf, and I will never have that. My hand grazed my necklace at the thought. I reached to the back to remove it but paused. I should be taking it off in the evenings. Let my wolf free from the oppression this thing forces on her. The necklace not only hides my true appearance, it hides my supernatural abilities and the only way to do that is to oppress her. She is aware of what I do, she is present and can hear it all, but she cannot communicate with me while I am wearing it. She cannot shift, she cannot take over or influence me in any way. She describes it as a light switch. When I wear it, it all turns to darkness. The outside echoed into the hollow blackness surrounding her. She does not feel me, only observes… but when the light goes on, she can see and feel it all. She feels connected, like one whole. Unfortunately for her, I feel it too. I feel the connection back in place, my emotions intensify, including the longing for my mate, the anger, the disappointment… the abandonment. Although I use all of those to fuel my drive… When something good comes along… happiness, joy, or even accomplishment… the moment I take this thing off, everything comes flooding back in. Usually overshadowing the bit of good I felt. My hand slipped from my necklace as I decided to keep it on for tonight and enjoy the small joy that I felt with today's accomplishments. I took the last sip of whiskey and rested my eyes just for a moment.

Golden eyes appeared, lighting the darkness. I was captured, they seemed so familiar. I could not look away although everything inside me was shouting for me to get away. The eyes disappeared the moment two strong arms wrapped around shoulder. A long inhale was heard next to my ear, sending chills down my spine.

“There you are, my dear.” A familiar voice echoed all around me. I struggled against the hold. I jerked and pushed but could not move.

“Why can’t I see her?” The voice spoke to someone else, making them seem further away. Perhaps this was my chance. I tried to wiggle and shrug my shoulders, anything to loosen the surrounding grip.

“Let me go!” I shouted in frustration when it amounted to nothing.

“Let you go?” The voice filled the darkness as the hold on my shoulders tightened.

“My dear, I designed you. The only reason you even exist is at my request, my coin!” He now shouted in fury. “Designed me?” I asked myself, confused. I jerked my head from side to side looking for anyone, anything, but saw no one. I tried again to break free, my desperation turning into fear.

“You are hurting me.” I barely managed to get out as I felt the air being pushed from my lungs.

“I own you… I will never let you go.” I tried to inhale but had no space for my lungs to expand. My chest jerked and jerked desperate for air. I could feel my consciousness slipping away from me until I went limp.

I jumped up as I gasped for air, finally able to inhale again. I sat out of breath and bewildered at what had just happened. I looked around and found myself on my couch…

“It was just a dream,” I whispered in disbelief. I was alone in the living room. I took in my surroundings, but the only thing out of place was the whiskey glass on the ground next to me.

“I must have dropped it when I fell asleep.” I tried to soothe my fears as I picked it up to take it to the kitchen. I stood in front of the sink staring at the glass I had just placed there. Replaying the dream in my mind. I rubbed my arms, wanting to soothe my restrained muscles that were compressed too tightly.

“It was just a dream.” I scolded myself for how I was reacting to the creepy nightmare.