Enchanted moon child

Fire

Looking both ways I bolt into the woods. I hide around a tree for a few minutes, listening for anyone who might have seen me. Nothing so far. Hopefully, this path will take me into town. If it fails, maybe I can run back and ask someone for help. I take careful steps around the trees just feet away from the path so I can hide fast. Something about this area feels strange. The trees are the largest I have ever seen. It looks like no one has touched them in hundreds of years. Despite all the research I have done on plants, I see ones I don’t recognize, and there are many of them. Like these wildflowers, I can’t identify. They are a color I have never known existed. Almost as if purple, peach, and another unknown color got mixed. I wish I could draw or even paint them. I am not going to touch them, though. They could be toxic or dangerous. Taking one last look, I continue further on.

After about 2 hours of walking, I am starting to feel more and more like this was a mistake. Maybe I should have stolen a car or begged one of those people to help. I am getting worried that I will get in trouble for skipping out on the clinic. Hopefully, I won’t be in too much trouble for that. The sky is starting to get dim, and I am starting to feel cold. Sitting down on a log, I take a look in both directions. The way I am going and the way I came from. What should I do? It will be nighttime soon, and I need shelter and a fire if I don’t make it back to some kind of civilization soon.

A twig snaps behind me, and I instantly turn my head towards it. A man is walking towards me. He looks kind of homeless with his unkempt hair and clothing. Not waiting for him to make it over, I jump up and run back towards the clinic.

“Ugh!” Slamming into someone else, I lose balance and fall.

“Hello little girl, what are you running from?”

I start crawling away, unsure what to do. These guys are not friendly, that I can tell.

“She is running away from me, brother. I am afraid I spooked her already.” He grips my arm and pulls me up. I try to jerk away, but he pulls my arm harder until I feel a pop. Screaming is all I think to do. My arm is completely numb, and I can’t move it. He slams me against a tree, and I fall to the ground. My head injury feels worse, and I can’t seem to get back up.

“Well, this is much better. No need for you to scream or move anymore.” He leans down and moves my hair out of my face. I try to look at him, but everything looks doubled and spotty. He stands up, and I hear him pull his zipper down. I am tired of fighting at this point. There is a feeling of doom in the pit of my stomach.

“You want to go first, or should I?”

“I.. wait, do you hear that?” I listen too, wondering what it can be. I close my eyes since they are useless anyway.

“There it is again!” I hear them zip up their pants. As for the sound, all I can hear is a high-pitched sound.

“There!” One of them says with fear in their voice. I hear a screeching sound followed by wings flapping. I think it’s a large bird, but it would have to be massive. Opening my eye a peak, I see something large and red but very blurry, Come down and pick up one of the guys straight off of the ground.

“Brother! Noo! Let him go!” He got his wish. I heard as his brother's body was dropped a few feet away from him.

“Nooo Sam!” His cries are loud, yet I can’t find compassion for him in my heart. Perhaps this is karma for them, or maybe this entire thing is just hallucinations I am having.

“Ahhh!!!” Looking back up, I see him being attacked by a large red bird. Maybe this is a weird dream. If not, I hope it thinks I am already dead. When the screams stop, I feel relief that it is over. I think I should be afraid, yet I feel calm. The bird steps up to me rather quickly. Its size reminds me of a larger vulture, but its feathers remind me more of a parrot. The red is so extreme that it looks like fire. The bird even has a warmth to it.

“Hello!” I whisper to it. It nudges me with its beak, but I can’t move. The bird lifts its head towards the sky and lets out the saddest sound of sorrow I have ever heard. Tears start falling from my eyes. A cracking sound snaps through the air, and the bird catches into actual flames.

“Noo! Someone help.” I start to sob, and I am unsure why. I just know that bird saved me, and I didn’t want it to die.

Surprisingly, nothing else caught on fire around me. I don’t understand where the fire came from, but my heart feels so broken. Once the fire died down, all that’s left is ashes.

“I am so sorry.” I whisper out.

Wait, what was that? Quieting my sobs, I listen for the sound again. Yes, that’s chirping, I hear, but where is it coming from? I use my good arm and force myself to lift my torso. Looking around, I see something moving in the ashes. Out leaps a baby chick.

“Come here baby it’s okay.” I put my hand out, and it leaps up onto it. I don’t know how, but I know she is a girl. I lay back down, tired, and put her on my chest. She is so sweet and very warm. It feels good since the ground feels so cold in the nighttime temperature.

“I feel like your name is Goldie. I can just tell.” I stroke her little head. She is so adorable I can’t take it. I can tell my body is about to give out, so I tuck her in my pocket to keep her safe. She seems to be okay with it and is keeping me nice and warm. Is she the same bird or like a baby of that bird? I can’t keep my eyes open anymore. Hopefully, a bear doesn’t attack me or anything because I can’t move.

I am woken up by a bunch of footsteps making me feel panic. When I open my eyes, I see Jayce running towards me. “Olive, are you okay? What happened?” He does a double-take at the sight of the two dead men near me. I probably should have attempted to get away from them. They could have attracted something dangerous.

“I’m fine, just leave me.” He looks at me for a moment stunned.

“You are bad at lying, you know that. Look at your arm. Your shoulder is completely dislocated from the socket.”

“I will figure it out.”

“Hell, you will! Can you even sit up?”

“Sure I just need to rest.” I say, closing my eyes and drifting off into sleep.

“Olive don’t fall asleep.” He picks me up and is trying to keep me awake.

“Don’t tell me what to do.” I mumble before completely letting sleep take me over.

“Ugh!” It’s that light again. My body feels heavy, but I have some feeling back in my arm again. I sit up and open my eyes. My arm is in a sling, and I am back in the clinic.

“Goldie!” I look around and see my coat draped over the chair with my shoes. I reach into my pocket to find the little chick napping. I give her little kisses on her head. Laying back on the bed, I set her on my chest and gave her some pets. I tried to give her some water and crackers that were on the nightstand, but she wanted nothing to do with it. Maybe I should grind up some worms for her. The way she looks at me with those big eyes melts my heart. I make a hissing sound when she jumps up on my arm. Trying not to spook her, I hold my breath to hide the pain. She tips her head sideways in response and lets out a few tears.

“Don’t cry Goldie it’s okay.”

Suddenly, I feel a wave of comfort rises through me. Nothing hurts anymore, and I am not even tired now. I pull my arm out of the sling, and it’s not hurt anymore. I check the mirror, and my bruises are gone.

“You did it Goldie let’s get out of here.” I rip off the sling and jump off of the bed. I put my shoes and coat on setting my magical baby chick in my pocket. How exciting to find another creature that humans wouldn’t believe existed. Stepping into my shoes, I head straight for the window this time. I will walk in another direction to find my way back. Lifting the window, I can’t get it to move. They nailed it shut! Pacing the room, I try to think of what to do. Maybe if I tape the window up, I can break it without making a huge mess, and it won’t be as loud. I’m not even going to dare try the door. Opening up every drawer, I finally find some medical tape. I try to place it on the glass, but it won’t stick. My breathing starts to get harder, and I feel myself spiraling. F*ck this! Taking the IV stand, I pick it up and swing it at the window. I keep hitting it over and over again. The glass won’t even crack what is it made of? I drop the pole and start to freak out. Not one of my more finer moments, but I can’t hold in my fear and anger anymore. Knocking down everything on every counter and ripping all the drawers out, I will destroy everything in my path. “Let me the f*ck out of here.” I scream.

A guy I saw last time opened the door.

“I can’t let you out right now.”

I take a glass jar off of the counter and hurl it at his head. He closes the door just in time, and it smashes all over the floor. I push the bed further from the wall and sit in between them, leaning just enough to give Goldie room to stretch out in my pocket. Why won’t they just let me go? No one else has ever cared enough to stop me from leaving. Why did he come looking for me? What does he want from me?

I hear a knock on the door, but I don’t respond. They will just come in if they want anyway. Sure enough, the door opens, and I hear the glass being kicked away. I take breaths, trying to regain control over my poker face again. I know it’s Jayce coming in from his smell. He has a divine scent that is very attractive. I can’t describe it further than that, but I feel like I could figure it out with time. He moves one side of the bed further back so he can sit next to me. He is so big that it’s a struggle. I keep my eyes on a little rip in my pants on my knee. I don’t know what to say. If I am honest with myself, I am embarrassed with how I just acted. I guess holding my emotions in back fires when it all breaks loose.

“How have you healed already? You don’t have a single bruise on you.”

“I used makeup to cover it.”

“Did you use it on your arm too?” He says kind of sarcastically.

“No my arm didn’t need that sling. The doctor must have been wrong on how bad it is.” He takes a deep breath and lets it out.

“ Olive, why do you want to leave so bad.”

“Why do you want me to stay so bad.”

“Why are you so difficult?”

“Why do you put up with it?”

“I like you, Olive. I just want to help, but you keep running away.”

“While I do appreciate you saving me, I have to get out of here by this weekend. It’s important that I am out of here, and I just can’t tell you why, okay?”

“Is that when your birthday is?”

I look over at him, but still not at his face.

“Yeah, but that doesn’t have to do with it.” He has probably seen it on one of my medical papers.

“ So you are worried about your first shift into a wolf then?” My heart about stops. A sense of fear rings through me again.

“You don’t have to be scared, Olive. Where do you think you are? Didn’t you notice the forest was different from the human world?”

He's a werewolf, too? Then that makes this a…

“Are we in a pack?”

“Yes, you are at my packs clinic.”

I grab a hold of his leg.

“What pack is this!” I try to hold the panic in, but it’s slipping out.

“Well, it’s a new pack combining my pack with my father's.”

“What packs were they, Jayce!” I feel my patience growing thin. I look up at the window, wondering if the next room has one I can run out of.

“The Green Mountain Pack and Solitary Moon Pack.”

I let his leg go and relax. Wiping the sweat off of my face, I realize I have shown my cards.

“You're in trouble, aren’t you? That’s why you changed your name and kept to yourself.”

“ Just let me go. I won’t bother you anymore. I can do this on my own.”

“I am not going to keep you against your will, but I want you to stay more than anything.”

“Why would you want that?”

“Olive you are my mate.”

I know what a mate is, but how could he know that?

“My parents said that I don’t have a fated mate, so one was picked out for me.”

“There is no possible way they could have known that.”

“How is it possible for you to know? I am still a few days away from my first turn.”

“I can feel it. You smell of rich chocolate and fresh strawberries. When I touch you, the tingles have already started. When I am around you, it takes everything I have to keep my hands off of you. I want to love you and keep you safe. Please just give me a chance. Just give me until you turn, and you can see for yourself. You would be safe here surrounded by your kind. You won’t have to go through this alone.”

Well, it would be nice not to be alone for my first shift. Also, I have nowhere else to go since I lost a great deal of time to find somewhere else to live.

“Would I have to stay in this room?”

“Of course not. You would have your own room across from mine.”

“What if you are wrong about the mate thing?” I ask picking at my jeans again.

“I won’t be. Can you look at me in my eyes?”

“No!”

“Why not?”

“ I am scared I won’t be able to think, and I will just agree to whatever you say.”

“Why would you do that?” He asks genuinely, confused.

“You know, because you have that handsome Greek God thing going on.”

He lets out a laugh. He grabs my chin and pulls my face towards his. I can’t help but look at him. Now I can’t look away. I knew this would happen.

“Olive please stay here with me. I promise you can leave anytime you want, just give me a chance.”

“Gwen.”

“What?”

“My first name is Gwendolyn, but I used to go by Gwen.”

“Such a beautiful name.”

My heart is racing while looking into those hazel eyes. That olive skin and those perfect lips. I lick mine, unable to fight the urge. He looks down at them and then back into my eyes. My entire body goes on high alert as he brings his face closer to mine. I don’t know what to do, so I just freeze and let it happen. When his lips touch mine, I close my eyes and feel a sensation I never felt before rushing through my body. His kiss is gentle but firm, and I never want it to end.

When he pulls away, I am missing his lips already. I don’t know what to say or do.

“I hope that was okay to do.”

I look away, shaking my head up and down slowly, touching my fingertips to my lips.

“ I never have been kissed before is all.”

“Really? never?”

“Some of my foster dads have tried, but I usually kicked them in the balls before they could.” I almost laugh to myself. I look over, and Jayce looks like he wants to break something again.

“Sorry!” I say and put my head back down.

“I am not mad at you, Gwen. I just wish I could have found you sooner and saved you from that life.”

My pocket starts to chirp, and he looks down. I try to calm Goldie down without him seeing.

“Umm, can my bird stay too?” I come clean and pull her out of my pocket.

“You mean your phoenix?”

“Oh! That explains a lot. The whole burning up and everything.”

“ I couldn’t stop you from having it. They are stronger than I am. Wait, this is how you killed those two guys and why you are healed isn’t it?”

“Well, she killed them and saved me. Then she burst into flames and out came this cutie.” I say, stroking her tiny little head.

“How do you know that it’s a she?”

“She told me, and her name is Goldie.” He looks at me with his brow up.

“We should circle back to that, but how about I show to your room? That is if you will be staying. ”

“I guess, but I can’t promise that I really am your mate.”

He helps me stand up, and I realize that the room is still in complete chaos.

I start picking up stuff off the ground and closing drawers.

“Don’t worry about that. I will have someone come in and clean.”

“No it's not fair for someone else to clean up after my fit. Also, I should apologize to that guy I threw that jar at.”

He starts laughing really hard this time. I just look at him, waiting for him to stop.

“That was my Beta Cedric, He complimented you on your power and aim before wishing me good luck.”

“Your Beta? Wait, are you an Alpha.”

The thoughts of my past Alpha flash through my mind. The way he held me and complimented me. Something feels off about it now. After having some of the foster dads I have had, I feel a little sick with the way he behaved around me. The way he played with my hair and bought me certain kinds of dresses. The way he gave me dolls as gifts was nice, but thinking back now, it was always followed by him telling me to practice being a mother. These thoughts are starting to give me chills.

“Gwen, is it a problem that I am an Alpha?”

“No.” I haven’t thought about my old pack in a while. It usually hurts too much. I am not about to bring it up now.

I try to get the attention off of me by picking more stuff up off of the ground. Grabbing a large metal bed pan, I turn to stick it in the cupboard when I feel a sharp pain in my foot. My hand loses its grip, and I hear the bedpan harshly hit the ground, making extra clinking sounds as it bounces.

“You stupid little b*tch!” I hear Karen yell.

“I told you to be quiet when you cleaned or else!” Tom screams in my ear.

I brace myself, covering my head with my arms.

“I am sorry, I will be quiet. Sorry, sorry, sorry.” I say, waiting for the first blow.

It doesn’t come, though. Instead, I feel myself in a warm embrace.

“Gwen it’s okay. They can’t hurt you anymore.”

Taking in his comfort for a moment, I start to realize what just happened. I became vulnerable in front of him. How could I just let him in like this? Everyone hurts me in the end. what if he does, too?

“Can I look at your foot?”

I look down and see blood on the floor where I stepped down. A piece of glass managed to make it through my shoe. That’s what I get for waiting so long to get a new pair of shoes.

“No, I got it.” I hobble my way into the bathroom and close the door before he can argue. I lock the door just so he doesn’t try to come in. Sitting on the toilet, I take a look at the glass. It’s hardly in my foot. It just cut me in a way that looks worse than what it is. Pulling the shard out nice and easy, I wrap it in toilet paper and toss it in the trash. I take my shoe off and put pressure on the cut.

Things are so out of control right now. I have let Jayce in way too much. How could I be so weak and break all of my rules. I need to just pull myself together and just keep to myself. Most importantly don’t look him in his eyes. Those beautiful eyes. Can’t look at his mouth either. Not with those sexy dimples and pearly whites. Not to mention those perfect lips. Touching mine, I can almost feel our kiss still.

“Everything okay in there?” Immediately, I drop my hand from my lips and come back to reality.

“Bleeding has stopped. I will be out in just a minute.”

“Take your time. I am almost done cleaning up in here.”

Looking at my foot, it seems okay, so I put shoe back on. I wash my hands and face before going back out. I think I need a shower. What time is it anyway?

Walking out everything seems picked up nicely.

I look at my watch, and it’s past midnight.

No wonder I feel so off.

“Why don’t I show you your room. We can get you settled in and figure out the rest later when you wake up.” I am not really sure what he means by the rest, but I definitely want to get out of here.

“Okay.” I say as I follow him. He stops and puts his hand on my lower back, so I am beside him.

“I don’t want to lose you again.” He says kind of sternly. I go along with it since it doesn’t seem to bother me or make me feel weird.

He walks us through several hallways before getting to an elevator.

“How big is this place?”

“Well we have two packs combined together as one, so really big. At least once we are done building, it will be.”

“What is the name of this pack now?”

“This is currently The New Moon Pack.”

I can recall the guys outside now building.

“How many people live in this house?”

“Well the top floor will have us. It is made to be sort of like a condo so a family can live there. It comes with a little more than the average apartment. The floor below that goes to the Betas and their family. Then we have a floor full of rooms for visitors that need to stay overnight. We are working on additional housing outside the house for that as well. Then, the last two floors are full of amenities for all of the pack to use. Things like a gym and an indoor pool. Recreational rooms and music rooms. All sorts of things. The back of the building they are finishing up now will go to the Omegas that take care of this building. I want them to have a nice place to live that is close.”

“Wow that is a lot. I hope I don’t get lost.”

Once we get to the top, he shows me his door and then opens mine to show me my room. It’s a nice-sized room. It doesn’t look completely done but there is a huge bed and a big-screen TV.

“The bathroom is through that door on the right.” He says, pointing at it. A shower would be nice since I am so dirty. I look down at my filthy clothes. I can’t put these back on it would ruin everything. I didn’t exactly have any time to pack my stuff.

“I have nothing else to wear.”