His Sleeping Mate

***(EXPLICIT MATERIAL WARNING: SUICIDAL TOPICS)*** (ie. suicidal thoughts, actions and/or depicting) If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Text HOME to 741-741 or visit their website, suicide prevention lifeline . org. Ellie POV "Hey look! Its that UGLY LOSER! Ugh. I hate looking at her stupid face!" screeched Lana. "I wish you'd just f***ing disappear!" Lana Hooker is the most popular girl in junior year at Crystal Moon High. She has pin straight, bleached blonde hair that curtains around her pale, elongated face. Her heavily charcoal lined hazel eyes on either side of a curved nose that could almost pass as a beak. Her paper thin lips over-drawn to attempt to appear bigger. She attempted to hide her horrible features behind mounds of makeup, but anyone could see that she was the one with terrible looks. Her 5'11 body was stick thin and flat chested, which she tried to hide by stuffing her push up bra. I was pretty much the exact opposite with honey skin that seemed to be sun-kissed. My hair was a light brown shade that fell with slight waves and half curls forming of their own accord to just under my shoulder blades. My eyes are like the sea, changing from a crystal clear blue to a stormy grey, depending on my mood. I had a little button nose above rosy pink luscious lips. When I smiled, a dimple would appear on each side of my mouth. Although, lately I haven't truly smiled in a long time. Especially since I agree with Lana. I am an ugly loser and I should disappear. I want to disappear. Life at Crystal Moon High in the Crystal Moon pack hasn't been what everyone thinks it's going to be. At least for me. I just turned sixteen two months ago and it didn't seem like anything changed. Lana and her group have made my life a living hell the last two years. At first they started with the disgusting comments and maybe some light shoving or tripping occasionally. Then it grew to be a more physical torture. They would slam me into the lockers as they passed, punch me everywhere but my face, and even choke-hold me in the air until I almost pass out. Every time they came after me, they made sure I knew how worthless and pathetic I was. At first I would try to fight back, but this would just encourage them to keep going. So I eventually gave up and just let them get their fill in of beating me and they eventually would get bored and strut off laughing at my pathetic form curled in a ball on the floor. The first and last time Lana attacked my face directly was almost a year ago. She had punched my nose, breaking it and giving me a black eye from the bruising. My parents had demanded to know who had done it to me but I refused and kept insisting that I tripped and fell, smacking my nose into a shelf. I didn't lie to protect her. No. I would never do that, of course. I lied to protect myself as I knew if I told anyone, Lana would kill me herself. I would never give her the satisfaction of ending my life. I was going to be the one to take my life, ending my torture and freeing those in my life from suffering under my meaningless presence. As I shrunk from Lana's hateful gaze, I decided that I would start implementing my plan now. I had everything I needed to complete it, stashed away where no one would find it. I skittered into class and gave my teacher a lame excuse that I had a doctor's appointment and needed to leave. Of course, she needed some proof to release me, so I produced my forged doctor's reminder of my "appointment" and she waved me off as she started roll call. I bolted out of the classroom as fast as I could as the bell rang, indicating the beginning of class. The hallways were now deserted, so I ran out the front doors of the school and started my short trek home. It was around one o'clock in the afternoon so I had plenty of time to execute my plan. I walked at a normal pace home, wanting to savor my last stroll home. The sun was beating down high in the sky. The August heat made beads of perspiration form on my forehead. My wearing black sweatpants and a black hoodie didn't help matters much. My 5'2, curvy body was always cold to some degree so always welcomed the heat that built, warming me to my core. There wasn't anyone around, everyone was either at work or at school. As I passed a trail that wove in and out of a nearby wooded area, I noticed movement. Normally I wouldn't think much of it, as people are always in the wooded areas walking or running in human and wolf forms. But, for some reason I chose to stop and see who it was. As the movement came closer, I realized it was the Alpha's son, Ezra. He graduated 3 years ago and he's going to be made Alpha soon. I stood frozen as I watched him run. He was shirtless and sweating. I couldn't take my eyes off his muscles moving as he ran, showing a glimpse of his strength. I felt the heat rise in my core and my heart start to thump rapidly in my chest. I could tell my cheeks were turning red as a tomato, but I couldn't seem to tear my eyes away from him! What is wrong with me? Suddenly, his head started to turn in my direction and I gasped. My legs finally figured out how to move and I bolted, hoping he didn't see me. By the time I reached my family's home, I was drenched in sweat but I didn't care. Knowing the house was empty, I walked straight up to my room, not bothering to close the door. I went to my hiding place, a place where the baseboard was loose and pulled the trim back. A hole the size of an index card was missing in the drywall and I reached in and slipped out my pouch of items. I laid everything out on my nightstand and fetched my laptop from my desk. I pulled up my video diary application and began a new entry. "Hey diary. Its Ellie. I know I'm earlier than usual today, but this will be my final entry so I guess there's no time like the present." I paused, looking at myself on the screen. I really am ugly. I thought to myself. I sighed. "I can't take this torture called life anymore. I know no one will miss me. Well, maybe my parents, but I guess they're forced to love me since I'm their daughter. Deep down, I'm sure they'll be relieved to have me gone." A tear slipped down my cheek. I didn't bother brushing it away, adding to my hideous self. "Anyway, diary, you'll get to watch me leave this harrowing life as I drift into oblivion." With a shaking hand, I reach over to my nightstand and grab the bottle of cheap v*dka and open it to take a long swig. I splutter as the liquid scorches down my throat. Once I catch my breath, I take one drink after another, each one getting easier. Once the bottle is dry, I slide it down next to where my laptop is propped up. I go back to my nightstand to grab my next item and turn back to my laptop. "You know, diary, they say never get drunk and cut yourself cause you'll bleed faster. Also, as I am pre-wolf, I heal at human speed! This is good for me, liquid courage to do the deed and thins the blood to bleed faster! Double win for me!" I slurred, my mind growing fuzzy. I lift my left hand with the object to reveal to the camera a razor bl*de. I raise my right arm, bringing the bl*de to the crook of my elbow. I press the razor sharp corner into my skin. I hiss with a smile on my face, closing my eyes momentarily at the pain. I look back at my arm and guide the bl*de, still deep in my skin, down to my wrist, slicing the plump vein in my arm open. I quickly switch hands and repeat the same with my left arm. I set the bl*de down on the bed next to me and lean back against the headboard. I lay my arms out, palms up, as I watch the bl**d pour out of my deep cuts. I gazed around my room as sweet memories of my childhood came forth. My father, Charles, and my mother, Diane, laughing and giggling as they played with a young, bright and happy me. The clock was reading close to three o'clock. I started mindlessly humming a lullaby my mother used to sing to me to ease me into slumber. I could feel myself getting tired, my eyelids drooping. I kept humming that sweet tune as darkness slowly took me to oblivion. Charles POV I placed the last stack of files in my out slot and sat back, letting out a long content sigh. I finally finished my huge mountain of paperwork that was waiting for me this morning. I didn't have any meetings the rest of the day and with all of my work finished, I decided to leave early. My sweet Ellie flashed in my mind and I grinned. I quickly made a plan to surprise my little princess with a special treat. "Joan, I finished everything for today, so I'm gonna head out early so I can surprise Ellie!" I told my assistant, who sat just outside of my office door at her desk. "Okay, Mr. Clarke! Have a good night! I will leave in a moment too then, if you don't mind?" She asked. "Of course, Joan! I wouldn't dream of making you stay here when all the work is finished! And how many times must I remind you? Please call me Charles! My father is Mr. Clarke! Goodnight, Joan!" I replied laughing. "Yes, of course, Charles. Thank you!" She said. I walked out of work and headed towards my car. Joan was so kind. I'm glad I chose to hire her a few months ago. My files and office have never been so organized! Work life before Joan was so hectic that I was usually putting in late nights just to finish my work so I wouldn't fall behind. I owned an accounting firm in the lovely Crystal Moon pack. I love living in this pack I grew up in with my family. My beautiful Diane and my precious Ellie were everything to me. I would protect them with my own life, always. As I drove towards home, I stopped at my Ellie's favorite bakery shop and bought her favorite red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. I loved to buy her these treats often as I loved to watch her face light up. I ran next door to the bakery at the flower shop and picked up a bouquet of roses for my lovely wife and a bouquet of lilies for my Ellie-girl. I nestled everything into the backseat of my car and finished the drive home. When I pulled into the garage and parked, the clock read quarter to four. Ellie should be home by now and in her room studying. I entered our four bedroom, two story home through the garage door that led to the large kitchen. The kitchen had heather grey cabinetry with granite countertops and light turquoise backsplash. The grey-washed hardwood floors spread out through the entire house. The whole house was adorned in grey tones, with hints of color here and there with every shade from deep blue to light green. I stopped in the kitchen to unwrap and trim both bouquets and settle them into glass vases. I left the roses on the counter, so they would be the first thing she saw when she came in. I grabbed Ellie's cupcakes and the lilies and padded down the hall to the stairs that led to our bedrooms upstairs. When I reached the top of the stairs, a strange smell hit my senses. "Blood!" my wolf, Jax, whined anxiously in my mind. My heart started to race in my chest. I ran the last few steps to my Ellie's bedroom and stepped through her open door, afraid of what I would find. When my eyes met the scene before me, time stopped. My whole world seemed to crash before me. My sweet little angel laid slumped over on her bed, bl**d soaking the sheets with a long gash adorning each of her forearms. I realized I had stop breathing and I forced myself to take in a deep shuddering breath. My whole body went limp and I slid down to my knees. Suddenly, I heard the most awful sound. I realized it was coming from me. I was screaming a choked sob. Jax howled in agony within me. I shut my eyes forcefully, willing this to be a horrifying nightmare. I could feel Diane trying to mind-link me but I couldn't let her see this. I wanted to save her from this agony, so I shut her out as quickly as I could. I opened my eyes with a small hope that this wasn't true, but it was. I crawled over to my precious baby and scooped her into my arms. "Ellie-bellie," I sobbed into her hair. "Please, princess, please don't leave me!" I choked. " Oh, my sweet angel, what have you done?" I asked. I realized as I pressed her into my embrace that I could just barely hear her heartbeat as it was slowly fading. "Save her! Help her!" My wolf cried, whimpering in my mind. I laid her down gently on the floor that was covered in her bl**d and began pumping on her chest. I remembered, suddenly, one of the pack doctors lived next door. I mind-linked him. Robert! I need you! Ellie is dying! Please help me save my baby girl! I cried through the link. On my way! Within moments, I felt Robert pause momentarily in the doorway, taking in the scene. He snapped out of it quickly and flew down next to me, taking over pumping my angel's heart. "I already have an ambulance on its way. It should be here soon." He told me, a serious expression on his face. A blood-curdling scream erupted from behind us that shook me to my core. Diane. I whipped around and flew to her crushing her to my chest. "Nooooo! My baby! My sweet little girl! Why?!" She sobbed into my shirt. I sank to the floor and pulled her into my lap, clutching her with all I had. The ambulance arrived shortly after and they loaded her into the back and we both climbed in after, refusing to leave her side. When we pulled into the emergency bay, they rushed her down the hallway and into a room. A pair of nurses held us back and led us to some chairs while we waited. We both waited silently for news, feeling numb from the anguish we both felt. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ After what seemed like forever, Robert came out to us with a look I couldn't read. "Charles, Diane, she's stable for now, but she lost a tremendous amount of blood, which we did many transfusions to bring her pressure back up. We also don't know how long she had stopped breathing for..." Robert rambled to us. "What are you trying to say, Robert? Is our baby gonna survive or not?!" I interrupted, exasperated. "She has a very long and very hard road ahead of her, but as long as her brain is undamaged, she hopefully will get back to her old self, eventually. All we can do right now is wait and hope. She's very lucky you found her on time, Charles. If you were a few minutes longer, she would not have survived." He said grimly. "So my baby is okay for now? Why would she do this? How could she do something like this?!" Diane said, starting to sob again. "Yes, for now she is okay. Honestly, only Ellie can tell you why and how this happened. We will have to wait for those answers until she wakes up. If you would like, you can go back to see her now. She's been set up in an ICU room. I will warn you, she is hooked up to many machines. She has bandages on her arms and a breathing tube in her throat to help her breathe," he said Diane and I both nodded eagerly, wanting to see for ourselves that she was alive. We followed Robert down the hall and through a set of double doors. He motioned into a doorway and stepped aside, letting us enter the room. My sweet angel was lying motionless on the bed in a gown, with a bunch of machines hooked up to her. She had a thick white tube sticking out of her mouth, leading to one of the machines. I watched her chest rise and fall, and heard her heart beat steadily. I sighed in relief, though I knew this wasn't the end. I wished she could open her eyes so I could see her pretty blue eyes, but it will be quite awhile before that would happen. Suddenly, I remembered that Ellie liked to make video diaries regularly. The memory of walking into her room to ask her who she was talking to, only to learn she was recording video diaries, sparked hope within me. Wordlessly, I ran home and up to her room. I paused at her door, tearfully taking in the scene before me, shook it off and grabbed her laptop off her bed. My stomach rolled at the smell and memory of what happened earlier today. I quickly left and closed her door, wanting to hide from the horrendous sight within. I quickly made it back to her pack hospital room and explained my thoughts to Diane. I set up the computer on the end of her bed and we started to play her diaries from the beginning. "Hey diary..." Ellie's voice said. We both teared up, but smiled at her melodious voice that came through the speakers. We ended up watching every single diary entry from her very first one, to her most recent. So many emotions ran through us as we watched three years worth of diaries. We felt bittersweet joy when she was happy and when she was sad and crying, we cried with her feeling tremendously guilty for not seeing our sweet girl's pain. We laughed and cried with our baby girl as we learned more and more about who she truly was. When we reached her entry from that dreadful day, we both sobbed as we watched our angel in pain as she tried to end her life. We watched every moment from start to end. We watched her lie on her bed, the life draining from her beautiful face. We listened to the moment I found her and the horrific screams as I begged her to not leave us. We listened as I saved her, Robert's arrival, and Diane's heart-shattering cries. We listened to hours of silence while we were rushing her to the hospital. Finally, we listened to my ragged breaths as I paused in the doorway when I went to retrieve the laptop. When the video finally ended, we held each other as we mourned our daughter's suffering. With new understanding, I sank into the chair next to her bed. I reached out to take her fragile hand in mine. I hung my head, feeling drained suddenly. I rested my head in a position that I could see her face and soon I drifted off to sleep. - "His Sleeping Mate" by Brea May Amor exclusively for Stary LTD. All Rights Reserved. (Dreame, Ringdom, Innovel)