Hidden Within

Dead Dog

Dalia's POV

Pondering on what Jax told me about wolves, I wonder what shifting will be like. Does it hurt?

"It hurts the first time, but after that, you will be fine." Yahni pipes in, obviously listening to my thoughts.

"Do you always hear me?" I asked while getting up from the couch and making my way to the massive bed.

"If you don't block me out, I can hear you." She replies.

"And how do I do that?," I ask while plopping onto the bed, letting the softness of if swallow me.

"Rude," Yahni says, her voice laced with attitude.

"I don't mean it like that, Yahni, it's just a bit overwhelming." I sigh apologetically as I stare up at the ceiling.

"Uh huh, well I'll tell you, but you don't have to hide from me." she says sounding annoyed. "You just picture a wall up in your head." she explains.

"How do I know if it works? I ask.

"If it works and I try to get in, you'll feel me pushing on the wall." Yahni says. "To remove it, you just take the wall down. It's all about your imagination, I guess." she replies.

A knock sounds on the door again, and I sit upright, waiting for someone to enter, but no one comes inside. Instead, they knock again.

"Come in," I say this time, and the door opens.

An older lady enters, dressed in a plain grey dress with glasses hanging around her neck.

"Hello, I am Racheal, the teacher here." she smiles with kind but stern eyes. Alpha asked me to bring some books," she explains, placing several bags of books down on the little table.

I gulp, knowing I won't be able to get through one of those, let alone all of them.

Racheal notices my anguish and says, "Don't worry child alot of them are pictures with a few words."

"When you feel up to it, I can help you to read better." She offers. "I must be going now but don't hesitate to find me later for some lessons." she says while reaching the door.

"Thank you," I mutter out as she leaves. embarressed that another person thinks I am an i***t now.

I lay back on top of the bed and stared at the roof. I can't help but smile a little, knowing I am free from my aunt. She can't hurt me anymore, and just maybe I can now live a normal life. I laugh out loud at that thought. This is definitely not a normal life, but at least I can live.

My head was swimming with so many different thoughts and feelings that I didn't notice the sun go down. I had been lost in my thoughts for hours. I was wondering if I would be able to stay here and what would happen if I couldn't. Where would I even go? Would my aunt ever try looking for me? What will it feel like to become my wolf? I was so overwhelmed that I completely lost track of time.

I peel myself off the bed and step into the bathroom, mentally preparing myself to see the tub. I walk in, take a breath, and look at it. It is just a tub. It can't hurt me, and no one here will do what my aunt did, I tell myself. Now my head is clear, and I actually look at it properly. It actually looks impressive. I think it's a spa bath. I have never seen one, but it has those little jet things. One day, I might just try it out.

Once I'm seated on the toilet, emptying my bladder, I hear the door open. Great timing, I think to myself. I call out that I will just be a moment, but no one answers. Once I am done, I wash my hands and go see who it is. No one is there. How strange I swear I heard the door open, I think while shaking my head and going to get one of the many books Racheal brought in.

Halfway across the room, I smell a sickly sweet perfume lingering in the air. Smells like something my cousin would wear. My heart rate started to increase, and I spin around, expecting to see them standing there, but no one is there. Maybe I'm imagining it, I take a big whiff, but it's definitely there, and I can even feel Yahni thinks something weird is going on.

That's when I see it. A dead dog on the bed. Blood coating its fur. I let out an ear splitting scream as I back away from the bed, my eyes darting all around the room for someone lurking. No one is here.

Seconds later the door burst open. Jax bursts in with Jay right behind him. his eyes dart around the room and then to me huddled in the corner.

"What happened? are you ok?" he says, rushing towards me.

I point to the bed, he spins around to see what I am pointing at.

"Disgusting. Who the f**k did that?" I hear Jay saying as he looks at what I'm pointing to.

"I was in the toilet and I thought someone came in the room but when I came out, no one was here." I tell them with a shakey voice as the tears start to fall.

Jax immediately rushes to me and I flinch back as his arms reach out for me. I expect the blow to come but instead, I feel warm, strong arms wrap around me. He's hugging me.

"Shhh," he whispers while letting me go and leading me straight for the door.

"Get rid of it and find out who it was!" Jax tells Jay with so much anger in his voice it sends a shiver down my spine.

He leads me up the hall to another door and we go in. It's another bedroom. His smell is strong in here so I assume it's his bedroom. He let's go of my arm and heads over to the mini fridge, grabbing a bottle of water out and handing it to me.

"Are you ok?" he asks and the anger from before is replaced with concern.

I nod my head, yes. Although I'm not sure if I actually am ok, my heart is still racing. "Who would do that to the poor thing?" I stutter out looking at him.

"I don't know but I'm going to find out! Tell me exactly what happened?" he asks while leaning against the end of the bed, eyes fixated on me.

I tell him what happened and about the perfume smell. He doesn't say anything for a few moments and I wonder if maybe this is my fault. I don't know anyone here, I have only met a couple of people. Why would it be my fault? I think as I fiddle with the hem of my shirt.

"I will get to the bottom of it but until I do you will stay in here with me." Jax says with an air of demand in voice.

I nod my head, yes even though I really don't want to stay in this room with him. I don't think I have a choice in the matter.

Jay enters the room and looks between both of us. I see his eyes go blank and wonder if he's ok. I look to Jax and see him doing something similar.

Then Jax snaps out of it and looks at me.

"I know your probably not hungry after that but you need to eat to get better so let's go down for dinner. While we are there I'll get your things moved into this room." he says while motioning for Jay to leave.

"Ok but what was that about?" I ask before I have time to stop myself.

"What?" Jax answers me confused.

"You just went all weird and so did Jay?" I answer questioningly.

"Oh," he chuckles. "We were mind linking." he tells me like I know what that means. He must have noticed the confused look on my face before I can ask what mind linking is and says "we were talking to each other in our heads." You will be able to do that too when you join the pack officially." He smiles big and wide.

"Oh ok." I reply relieved that he said I can join the pack. I don't have to find somewhere else to go.

Jax leads the way out of the room with me following closely behind still shaken up.