I shook my head, hearing more shrieks and a sudden downpour of rain. The sounds overwhelmed me and I struggled to breathe, clutching different areas of his shirt in panic to find a more comforting position with no success.
All the best warriors are out there. I got here as quick as I could, Blaine’s voice found my ears and I felt my feet find the ground.
Thank you. If she finds her, I won’t be able to live with myself, he responded so quietly I almost didn’t hear, except I did and my body froze in horror.
She is here.
Jade is here.
She found me.
I ripped out of his grasp and bolted out the door, hearing them call after me but refusing to stop with continuous tears rushing down my face that mixed into the rain. I pushed myself into the darkness without knowledge of what to do next.
I need to get away or she will kill me.
Nobody can save me.
Not even Axel.
There you are, little bitch !
Her voice made me freeze and my knees buckled, sending me thudding into the wet grass as another flash of lightening lit the sky and the rain came down much heavier. I whipped my head to see her legs approaching me in a rush and it felt like my ribs were breaking off into my lungs.
Horrid memories flooded in and I prepared for a hit that’d kill until rapid thuds grew near then her scream filled the air, sending warm tingles through me and I looked up just in time to see a familiar white wolf-dog pounce.
I was too mesmerized by how bright his fur was that I didn’t realize she barely dodged his attack and slashed his side with a strange, braided rope soaked with a silver liquid. It resembled mercury.
Marshmallow didn’t show signs of pain as he turned back to her, snarling and baring his teeth, except my eyes remained on the nasty injury she inflicted on him.
The fur fell off the wounded area like autumn leaves, creating a hairless line of skin all along his side that I visibly watched bubble off down to his bones where it suddenly stopped, making the surrounding skin black like it had scabbed over to heal within the matter of seconds. However, the area that came in direct contact with the weapon didn’t get any better and I watched in awe.
Is Marshmallow my guardian Angel ?
I knew she’d be mated to one of you. A real daughter of mine wouldn’t be such a disappointment ! She screamed and I cowered down, shakily watching her pull a long, silver blade out of her camouflaged pants.
Marshmallow stood his ground, the hackles on his back shot straight up and he growled at the woman I used to call mother. He looked truly murderous and I felt uneasy, shaking my head and waving my hands at him. I tried to scream for him to stop when he got in a pouncing position but nothing came out and I cried harder, not knowing what else to do.
I don’t want her dead… I just want to be free.
She’s still my mother.
Suddenly, a burning sensation filled my throat the more I tried to scream and I felt like I was choking. I coughed harshly, a bunch of blood hitting the grass beneath me and I gasped for air only for it to trigger more coughs.
I vaguely saw Marshmallow rush to my side in urgency, ignoring everything else as he sniffed the blood and my face in panic. He whimpered and whined, forcing himself under me by army crawling. I noticed Jade jumped back from us at the sound of howls before she pointed the blade at me.
I now know where you’re hiding, Angelica Mae Winter, she spat, spinning on her heel and disappearing into the ocean of trees. I clung onto Marshmallow’s fur, barely able to hold on with how fast he ran.
We arrived in a building with white all over, for a moment I believed I had died and somehow entered heaven before my eyes adjusted to the lighting and I blinked slowly.
Next thing I knew, I was on a stiff bed with multiple unknown people standing over me saying things I couldn’t quite comprehend. I continued to cough, thrashing around when multiple pairs of hands touched me and none of them felt warm and tingly. My rising hyperventilation made more blood accompany my coughs and my body had a mind of its own when terror finally caught up to me.
Ma’am, please, calm down, we’re trying to help you, a distant voice said, yet my racing heartbeat muffled my hearing and I whipped my head around, my eyes darting every possible direction while more tears and black spots blurred my vision.
I want Axel !
She’s having a seizure !
They sure are. These doggies can shape-shift, he replied and my mouth fell agape with a small gasp, a huge smile taking over my lips in amazement.
Really ? So when they don’t want to be a doggie anymore they can change themselves ? I grinned.
Yes, they can look just like you and me. They’re called werewolves, he smiled, placing his hands on his knee and I stared at him in astonishment.
How do you find them if they look like us ? I mumbled, feeling a sudden sadness hit me at the thought I’ll never get to meet one. I wish I were a werewolf so I can become a doggy.
You don’t, but there will be things that’ll help you, the main thing being what they call each other, he said. I stared intently at him and nodded slowly, very interested to every word leaving his mouth.
You may hear the words Alpha or Beta. Those are the two main titles they use when they’re talking. If you hear either one, just remember only the doggies know those words, he glanced around us before returning his gaze to mine and I nodded, urging him to continue.
What do they mean ? I asked, tilting my head slightly.
An Alpha is the leader, he’s the strongest doggy in charge. A Beta is the second strongest, they are the ones who take lead if anything bad happens to the Alpha.
*
I blinked repeatedly, forcing myself to zone back in as my heartbeat fastened in realization, a mixture of excitement and fear pumping through my veins. I looked back up at the men who were now standing at the end of the bed talking inaudibly, a nervous smile finding my face.
It all makes so much sense now.
They’re dogs.
I found them.
I can’t believe it.
Could my father be here too ?
I jumped out of my thoughts when I felt a warm hand around mine, looking up at the culprit and seeing Axel sitting on the edge of the bed next to me, holding my hand in my lap. I suddenly felt much more comfortable being here and smiled, scooting closer to him and leaning my head against his shoulder.
Are you okay ? He asked, squeezing my hand slightly and I nodded, nuzzling further into him.
I’ll give you two a moment, the other man coughed, although it sounded forceful, then he left the room and closed the door behind him. I tilted my head back after a few seconds and looked up at Axel, catching his gaze immediately and I felt my face heat.
Why was he staring at me ? Do I look weird ? Is it the scars covering my face ? I didn’t think they were that obvious…
You’re so beautiful, he mumbled with a forming smile, keeping me in place using his bright, mesmerizing eyes. My body relaxed at his unexpected compliment and my lips parted as I maintained eye contact in awe. I was entranced staring into his eyes, feeling just as starstruck as the first time I saw them and my stomach sent tickles up into my chest.
Your mere touch makes my heart race, he said quietly, his teeth peeking out from behind his lips as he continued to smile at me, creating little indents near the corners of his mouth.
His expression never lessened while he slowly raised his hand to my forehead, delicately using his finger to swipe away the hair covering the entire left side of my face. I began to get anxious, my breathing quickening as he analyzed my blind eye, making me feel ice in my chest. My lip quivered and my eyes started to water, but when I broke our stare to look down in shame, he cupped my cheek and raised my head to meet his eyes again.