The Moonstone Wolf

CHAPTER 12- Tormented

  ACYN

*Same day as Alora arrives*

   I open up the French doors to my balcony and let the cold morning air hit me full force, jarring all my senses awake all at once. Looking around at the surrounding landscape I realized the last of the snow is almost gone, signaling the beginning of spring and new life coming from what was dead. But this morning feels different to me- I feel more energized, more alive.  Perfect for a run.

   My wolf had been anxious to get out of the estate and go run, feeling the wind in his fur and the wet earth beneath his paws.  I didn’t bother to let Jon know where I was going and leaped off the third story balcony, shifting midair. I leapt over the towering wrought iron and stone privacy wall with ease, then headed off to the west of the park that butted up against my estate’s boundaries.

   I knew there was a small pond nearby so I followed the soft sound of shallow water lapping against the shore. I’m getting really familiar with where everything is, which is a good sign considering we’ll be here for two years. I finally found the small pond and we took a nice, long drink after running taking our time to get familiar with all the different scents around the are.  Not many humans seem to know this is here as most of the smells I’m picking up are animals, which is perfect.  I stayed a while, gathering my thoughts and enjoying the brilliant colors starting to dance across the sky.

   It’s time to go back as the sun is going to be coming up soon, so I run as fast as I can, pushing myself hard.  It takes mere minutes to get back and it was just as I could hear humans starting to run through the park.  Making sure it was safe I scaled the wall again, feeling rejuvenated from my morning and ready for the day.

   ‘Jonathan! Meet me in the back yard with the men for training. Jonathan? JONATHAN!!’ I yelled through the mind link but the asshole must still be sleeping. I chuckle evilly, coming up with the perfect solution.

   I looked for a bucket and filled it full with snow. Opening the door to the balcony ever so quietly, I can hear him snoring deeply and loudly, making me shake my head at his laziness. I creeped over and pulled back his covers, tossing the entire bucket of snow on him, laughing as he violently jerks awake.

   “WHAT THE HELL! OH MY GODS! COLD! COLD! COLD!”, he squealed in a high-pitched voice like a girl.  After the shock wore off he glared at me, seething and soaking wet.  Not only him, but his bed as well.  “I F**KING HATE YOU! YOU ARE GOING TO DIE TODAY ASSHOLE!!”, he screamed and tumbled out of the bed, landing on his cold, naked ass.

   “It’s 5am- you should be up by now. Now get your ass in gear and down to the training area!” I chuckled at him, watching him hang his head at the reminder. “You’ll think twice before sleeping in again!”, I yell back to him as I leave to meet the others in the gym and training area.

   Ten minutes later he was there, still glaring at me with daggers in his eyes.

   “What took you so long? We’re already behind so let’s go Delta!”

   “Hmph. That’s alright,” he shrugged his shoulders and narrowed his eyes.  “You’re just in a hurry to die, because I’m GOING TO KILL YOU ACYN!” He yelled and prepared to lunge.  I just smile and motion to him like Morpheus did to Neo in the Matrix movie. This is gonna be a good day…

ALORA

*Later that night while asleep*

   I can feel his rancid breath on my body, on my neck. His fingers are gripping my sides so hard that they’re drawing blood, and he keeps biting me, making me bleed. Why won’t he stop? Why is he doing this? It feels like he has 10,000 hands, all over me all at once, suffocating me.

   My heart is racing and I’m trying to fight the bile rising in my stomach making me want to lose everything, including my mind. I’ve got to get out of here! I need to fight him off but I can’t shift! Why can’t I shift? And why do I feel like I’m cemented to the bed?

   “Mom!  Morgana!  Where are you?” I frantically asked my my head, trying so hard to reach them. Why won’t they answer me?

   I can feel hot tears pour down my face as my body gives way to one heart wrenching sob after another, trying to force out all the torture and shame. Maybe if I cry harder he’ll have pity and stop…

   “Wha-wh-what did I ever d-do to you to deserve thi-this??,” crying out.

   I have to get away, I have to get somewhere safe. It feels like my heart is going to jump out of my chest, my pulse is so fast, I can’t get it to slow down.

   He’s going to kill me!  I don’t want to die!

   Why won’t he just leave me alone???

   “NO! NO! GET AWAY FROM ME! LET ME GO! LET ME GO!!!!”

   I wake up screaming and gasping for air, my lungs burning from the inside as I try to inhale between each sob.

   My eyes flutter as my bedroom door bursts open, cracking the frame in the process. A huge, tall, incredibly dark skinned man stood in the doorway breathing heavy, his hazel eyes darting from me to the closet, back to me and everywhere else in the room as if he was searching for whomever I was screaming at. His eyes landed on me in confusion and he was breathing really heavy, making me scream at the top of my lungs.

   “Get out! Who are you?! Get out NOW!”, I yell as loud as I can.

   I jumped out of the bed and landed square on my ass, immediately retreating to the closest corner with the blanket to protect me. As soon as I made it there I just continued sobbing, trying to become invisible and closing my eyes.  All I could hear was some mumbling, some yelling, and a deep voice retreating. I know they were asking me questions, but I couldn’t make them out. My head was splitting open, I was seeing stars, trying to calm myself down.

   But I just couldn’t get rid of the shame and humiliation I felt.  I felt two sets of arms wrap around me. 

   “I-I sh-shoulda f-fought-t h-harder, I sh-shoulda st-stop-ped him, why couldn’t I stop him? Why d-did he do th-this to-to me?”

   Finally I tried looking up to whomever had their arms wrapped around me, but my vision was too blurry. They smelled like fresh soap and gardenias, immediately invoking feelings of warmth and affection.

   I felt one of them leave me, and it was just me and the other person, not saying anything. As I quieted down a little, I could hear her softly humming the melody to one of the songs I heard in the car, and she was rocking me in her arms, back and forth, putting me in a sort of trance and stroking my hair.

   “Shhh, baby. You’re safe, you’re safe. Everything will be okay in it’s time. You’re not alone honey. We’ve got ya, we’ve got ya…” I could hear her whispering these phrases and others over and over in my ear. Finally I felt myself relax into the warmth.

   As I was drifting away I heard the deep voice come in again and they were mumbling, then felt myself being lifted off the floor and placed back on the bed. He smelled like cedar trees and earth and he gently covered me with the warm blankets, making me feel safe and secure.

   I felt like I wasn’t alone- someone was watching over me, and I felt protected and even a strong sense of love and affection. The feeling wrapped itself around my broken heart, soothing the pain and ache that felt like it was crushing me.  Soon, peace swept over my mind and body, accepting the peaceful and silent darkness.