The Black Forest's Beta

Chapter 16

A pain in my stomach woke me up in the morning just as the sun was making its ascent into the sky. I heard birds chirping through the window as I unwound myself from Raphael's embrace. After I was free I scurried to the bathroom and relieved myself before washing my face and brushing my teeth. Raphael was still asleep when I walked back into the bedroom. I smiled lightly and shuffled into the closet, not having much to choose from I pulled on a pair of navy sweatpants and a black shirt from Raphael's side of the closet. 

Being as quiet as I could I crept my way down into the kitchen where Rosina was drinking from a white mug. Her silver hair was styled up on her hair, held by little pink circles. She was dressed in a light blue fluffy robe and matching slippers. When she saw me standing there grabbed her chest and set the mug down while exhaling deeply. 

"Hai spaventato un anno della mia vita lontano bambino." (You scared a year of my life away child.) "Come and sit, I'll make breakfast." I smiled and walked over to the stool just as a rumble came from my belly. She lifted an eyebrow up and I gave her a sheepish smile. She chuckled and began making food, I watched every move she made, everything she did. 

"Good morning Emma." I turned and smiled at Ozzy as he pulled me into a hug. "Good morning to you too Nonna."

"Good morning Ozzy, how did you sleep?" 

"Great! Raphael and I watched three movies last night!" I giggled as he sat down and went to explain the movies. Rosina placed a plate of food in front of me and I slid it to Ozzy. She gave me a small glare so I got up and went to where she was standing and tried to figure out how to ask her to show me. 

"Do you want to help make the next batch?" She asked, I nodded and smiled, to which she grinned. "Okay let me show you." After about ten minutes it became clear I was going to need a lot of instruction when it came to cooking. I ate the food I made and it was okay, just not as good as Rosina's.

After she made and ate her breakfast Rosina walked out of the kitchen and into her room. Ozzy and I cleaned up, which wasn't too hard. Then he watched as I attempted to make Raphael's breakfast without help. I managed to make it and get it onto a plate which made Ozzy and myself smile. 

He washed my dishes as I brought the food up to Raphael's bedroom. His nose twitched as I set the plate on the nightstand, a second later he opened his eyes and stretched. His gaze fell upon me and he smiled before sitting up. 

"Good morning Emmaline." I pointed to the plate and fork which I remembered he was going to need. "Thanks miele." I sat next to him as he began eating. A few bites in he was chewing his food when his face scrunched up. I watched as he reached into his mouth with two fingers and pulled a little white thing out. 

I felt my heart sink a little when I realized it was an eggshell. Rosina said that it's easy to lose a piece in scrambled eggs. I thought I had pulled them all out though. "It's alright Miele." I felt Raphael's soft lips on my forehead before he took another bite. "You're bound to make mistakes when trying new things." He was only speaking the truth. "This is the best breakfast I have ever had meile, because you made it for me." I smiled and sighed before leaning my head on his shoulder. 

Once he was done with his food I took the plate back to the kitchen while Raphael got ready for the day. After I washed the dish I noticed Rosina pouring a dark liquid into a dark mug. She looked at me and I tilted my head at the glass. 

"This is coffee, Raphy is going to need it since he is supposed to start training again." I looked at Ozzy who shrugged. "Would you like to try some?" I nodded, Rosina poured some coffee into a light blue mug and set it on the counter. Then she began adding stuff to it, sugar, I recognized that right away. Then she pulled milk out of the fridge and added it until the coffee was a lighter brown color. After taking the warm mug from her hands I took a sip, my eyes watered seeing as I burned my tongue with the scalding water.

I set the mug on the counter and looked at Ozzy who reached out for the drink. He whimpered and set the mug back on the counter after burning his tongue too. "It's really hot." I nodded and padded over to him, then I began using my fingers to play with his hair. I found myself doing a french braid in his thick dark mane, once I was done I grabbed his hand and wrote "I love you", one letter at a time. 

"I love you too Emma."

"Guten morgen." I looked up at Alpha Gunter and Luna Gisela who walked into the kitchen behind Raphael. "Are you feeling any better Emma?" It was Alpha Gunter who asked. My hand went to my neck on it's own accord, I looked at my mate who smiled lightly and walked over to my side. I hadn't even looked at my throat this morning so I had no idea what it looked like, all I know was that the pain was more of a dull ache at that point.

"It looks much better, I mean the bruise is almost healed." Ozzy said while looking at my neck. 

"He iz right, your neck looks much better" I smiled at Luna Gisela as Rosina handed Raphael his coffee. 

"Thank you Nonna." She smiled and walked back behind the counter and began pouring more cups. He then turned to me and sighed with a forlorn look in his dark eyes. "Alpha Gunter and I have to work with the warriors today miele." I nodded and gave him a small smile. "You, Ozzy and Luna Gisela will spend the day together." I looked at Gisela and put my hand out, she took it with a smile, which made Alpha Gunter smirk. 

"Have fun today, once you are both officially added to the pack and healthy enough you will join in the training classes we have. Every shifted wolf must learn how to defend themselves. " I gave my mate a small smile before standing on my tip toes and kissing his cheek. His smile was so bright the sun must have been jealous. I used my fingers to write out the words GOOD DAY. He pressed his lips to my temple after nodding easily. I also pointed to Alpha Gunter and raised a single eyebrow. 

"Emmaline möchte, dass du einen guten Tag hast Gun." (Emmaline wants you to have a good day Gun.) Alpha Gunter smiled and nodded before pulling Gisela into his arms and planting a kiss on her lips. I felt my own lips turn up as Raphael wrapped his arms around me and pulled my body into his chest. 

I sighed and put my arms around his large torso, his face found it's way into the nape of my neck. I pulled back and he lifted his head up with a small pout on his face. I placed a small kiss on his lips before stepping out of his arms and pushing him toward the door. 

"So vat are ve going to do today?" Gisela asked as soon as Raphael and Alpha Gunter closed the door. I looked around and found a small note pad and pencil in one of the drawers. I thought for a moment before writing on the piece of paper. 

{I would like to go for a walk.} Gisela looked at my note and nodded before looking at Rosina who too, read the note. Her eyes clouded over for a little while, when they returned to their clear brown state. "Keifer will be here in a little while. Alpha Gunter and Raphy want him to accompany you." I nodded and quickly dashed up to Raphael's bedroom, pulling Luna Gisela behind me. She sat on the bed in her mint green sundress while I went into the closet and put on a rainbow pastel top and a black skirt that had built in shorts. Once they were on I pulled on a pair of socks with a dinosaur skull and my rainbow shoes. 

"You look good Emma." Ozzy said when I walked out of the closet. I smiled at him from his spot on the bed next to Gisela, his eyes went down to my leg and his smile got wider. I looked down and I felt my own smile brighten as I took in the beautiful blankness of my leg. There was no mark, no evidence that two days prior I had been bitten by a rouge. 

"Ze mark on your leg iz gone!" Gisela beamed as she took my left arm. Ozzy took my right and we all went down to the door where Keifer was waiting with Evangeline. 

"Hi Keifer!" Ozzy said excitedly. 

"Hey Oz." I waved and smiled before looking toward the kitchen where I heard Rosina whistling. I let go of Ozzy and Gisela and walked into the kitchen and knocked on the counter top. 

"What can I do for you honey?" Rosina asked looking toward me. Finding the notepad and pencil where I left it I began writing. 

{Do you want to come with us? I would hate for you to be alone all day.} She smiled at the piece of paper and patted my hand.

"sei così dolce." (You are so sweet.) "I would love to join you." I found myself beaming as she turned off the appliances she had on. I took her frail arm and linked it with mine as we made our way to the door. Ozzy smiled seeing Rosina, as did Keifer and Gisela. 

"Welcome to the party Nonna." Keifer said with a wink. 

"Ever the charmer Keifer." Rosina said while practically dragging me through the door. "Let's go see Mila." I began walking alongside the old woman who moved pretty quickly considering her age. She trotted past Alpha Gunter and Luna Gisela's home before waltzing into the pack house like she owned the place. 

"Nonna!" I looked up as a woman who kind of looked like Alpha Gunter walked in. She was much shorter than him, but she had the same blonde hair and dark blue eyes. She was smiling as she elegantly gaited over to us in a blue dress that seemed to flow around her. She pulled Rosina into her arms before looking at Gisela and grinning. Then she looked at me and suddenly pulled my thin frame into her embrace. 

"It is so good to properly meet you Emma." I smiled shyly and gripped onto Rosina's arm a bit tighter. "I am Mila, Gunter's mother." I felt my lips turn upward in a slight smile before nodding once shyly, my eyes then found the floor boards. They were a shade darker than the floors in Raphael's home, our home. 

"Hat Alpha Gunter dir erzählt, was gestern passiert ist?" (Did Alpha Gunter tell you what happened yesterday?) It was Rosina's voice who worded the question to Mila. 

"Er redete ein wenig darüber, er sagte, Emma sei verletzt und könne nicht sprechen, aber das war alles, was er mir erzählte. Er hat nicht gesagt, wer es getan hat, kennst du Nonna?" (He talked a little about it, he said Emma was hurt and couldn't speak, but that was all he told me. He didn't say who did it, do you know Nonna?)

"Es war Teresa." (It was Teresa.) I felt my body shiver at the freezing tone of Rosina's voice, the anger radiating off of Mila didn't do me any favors either. I looked at Ozzy when he placed his warm hand on my shoulder, he gave me a reassuring look, though it didn't do anything. I could feel the paralyzing terror of being beaten to death flooding my veins. 

I once read in books that some prey animals, when caught predators, will freeze and numb themselves to the pain about to be inflicted upon them. It's an instinct, they wont feel a thing as they are savagely ripped apart by whatever chose to attack them.