Warrior Luna - Fighting for Survival

Worst Fears Come To Life

*Warning  violence and adult language*

Andromeda POV

Over the weekend my conscience ate away at me.

I regretted yelling at Joe and pushing him away so roughly. I desperately wanted to apologize, but my pride kept me from reaching for my phone. I decided I would see him Monday and talk to him then.

I spent Saturday cleaning my little cabin, washing dishes and doing laundry. I thought I felt tired enough to finally sit still and watch a movie.

I was wrong.

My mind raced and replayed the Friday morning over and over again. My mate, calling out to me. Jane said his name was Alpha Lopez. His beautiful brown eyes. His fresh woody scent.

I ran from him. ‘Why would an Alpha like him want me even after I ran away?’ I asked myself.

My eyes grew heavy as I thought about everything that happened that day.

Eventually, I fell asleep on the couch.

.

In my dreams Cole taunted me, ridiculing my every step.

But this time I dreamt of my mate. I was pleasantly surprised and relieved. I hoped it would be a good dream. For once.

My mate was beautiful, his lean muscled build conveyed confidence and pride. He stopped in front of me, his smell enveloped me. He caressed my cheek with long delicate fingers, and asked me what my name was.

I smiled. I opened my lips but no sound came out. 

I was speechless.

I tried to speak again, but no sound came out. Alpha Lopez reached out for me, as if to embrace me.

But his features suddenly grew angry, his smile disappeared.

He grabbed me by the throat and shouted in my face “What’s your name!?”

Fear jolted through me like electricity. I kicked at him and tried to scramble away, but his grip stayed firm on my neck. I closed my eyes and pushed at him with all my strength. He didn’t budge.

“Why did you run!? COWARD!” he bellowed.

I opened my eyes and started to turn, my wolf ready to come out and fight.

I was looking at Alpha Lopez’s face, but his eyes were blue. His lips contorted into a sneer.

Then just as suddenly as he grabbed my throat, he let me go.

I fell.

I kept falling for what felt like an eternity.

I woke up when my head hit the floor of my living room.

My head spun, adrenaline and fear still coursing through me. My legs were still tangled up in a blanket, I kicked off angrily.

I sat on the floor with my back against the couch for a while, a torrent of emotions running through me. I was afraid my old pack would find me. I was angry at my brother for betraying me, but most of all I was angry at myself. Angry that I trusted him, loved him and jealous that he was dead… and I was living my every day in fear because I murdered him.

I was alone. I couldn’t even call my mom because they would know where I was.

I was so angry I cried.

Eventually I ran out of tears and picked myself up off the floor, got dressed and got in Cole’s BMW and drove into town. I didn’t know where to go on a Sunday afternoon, in almost two months of being here I’ve only ever gone to work and home. And to get coffee.

I parked in front of the coffee shop and found a quiet table inside.

“Well, well. Isn’t this a nice surprise!” Jane greeted me with a hand on her hip.

I looked away trying to hide a small smile, “I didn’t know where else to go on a Sunday.”

“Are you asking for a personal tour of the city?” she flipped her light brown hair over her shoulder “Because you know I get off in half an hour or so…”

“Are you suggesting you actually wouldn’t mind hanging out?”

She gave me a lopsided grin. “It’s only an elephant sized hint. I’ll get you your mocha while you wait?”

“Sure. Thank you.”

Jane bustled about in her black apron, chatting away with customers and another barista. She made her job look easy, effortless. I admired her. It wasn’t long before she was done work and she came up to my table and saluted me.

“Ready for an adventure?”

“I’m not sure I want one…”

Not listening to me, she grabbed me by the arm and pulled me towards the door. “First we’re going to Meadow Spa for manicures, then some dinner and a movie? Your car or mine?”

“Mine is right there.” I gestured towards the window where the BMW was parked.

“Okay.We can drive around and see what food you like? Do you want greek food? Poutine? Steak?” She continued unfazed.

“Jane! Slow down.” I cleared my throat. “I umm..”

“Hey! I’m excited! I finally managed to get you to go out with me!”

I furrowed my eyebrows. “What do you mean?”

“I’ve been asking you if you wanted to come by after work for weeks now.” She scoffed. “You’d have to be blind not to notice.”

 “I umm…” I hesitated as we got into the car. “I didn’t want to take advantage. I thought you were just being nice.”

She laughed. “I am nice! But that doesn’t mean I don’t want a girl’s night out!”

I felt a blush creep up to my cheeks. “I’m sorry I thought you’d have enough girlfriends to do that with.”

“Please.” She snorted. “The only other girls at the pack house are Laura, Maddy and Luna Lopez. And you know what Maddy’s like.”

“Yeah, she’s a bit of a drama queen I guess.”

Jane forced out a laugh, “My brother is a drama queen, that girl is a full on circus.”

We went to Chuck’s Steakhouse and got a table next to a huge wine rack display. I got a ribeye steak and Korean short ribs, both were so juicy and tender and heavenly they melted in my mouth. Jane got escargot and a bison burger with extra cheese and home made fries.

We were stuffed.

We ended up talking until eight in the evening, long after our food was gone and forgot about the manicures we had planned earlier.

The more we talked the more I liked Jane. She was kind and happy, she asked but she didn’t interrogate and most of all she didn’t judge. 

She was becoming a good friend.

A group of six guys caught my attention as they came into the restaurant. They were all tall and broad shouldered, hockey player types. One of the guys, pointed at the bartender and hollered for some shots. They laughed and hooted in excitement.

The one who ordered the shots had his blond hair shaved on the sides and the longer top slicked back. He rubbed his jaw as he surveyed the restaurant. 

His gaze landed on me. He excused himself from his group and started walking over to our table.

“Jane, we should go.” I croaked, my breath catching in my throat.

She noticed my alarm and immediately.

“Andy! What’s wrong?” she hissed in a whisper.

Before I could answer, the blonde man strolled up to our table and greeted us with a broad smile. “How are you ladies doing tonight?”

“Not as good as you, clearly.” Jane glanced at his group with a smile.

“You could say that.” He combed his fingers through his hair. “It’s a welcome to the gang party for the new kids. You two want to join us?”

Jane glanced at me, but something told me she already knew I would rather run for the hills than join the guys at their table.

“Thanks for the invitation Vince, but maybe another time?” She smirked. “Perhaps when you’re less intoxicated?”

“Ah come on, won’t you at least introduce us to your gorgeous girlfriend first?” He pleaded with her as he shot me a smile.

My heart was pounding in my chest as I waited for what felt like an eternity for Jane to answer.

“Actually we’re leaving.” She stood up from her chair, stepping so close to him that he had to step back. “See you Vince.”

He stammered a reply and crab walked back to his table.

I rushed outside, my heart was pounding, I couldn’t take a full breath, I wanted to cry and collapse. Jane caught me by the shoulders and squeezed my arms.

“Andy? Are you alright? Do you want to sit in your car?”

“No… I…”I took a deep breath and tried to get myself under control. “I’ll be fine. I just need a moment.”

We waited for a black ford sedan to pass before we ran across the street to Cole’s BMW. I focused on my breathing and tried to shut everything out of my mind, eventually my heart stopped pounding and I felt like I could function again. Jane sat quietly, worry creasing her brows.

“Do you wanna talk about it? Is there anything I can do?”

“Thanks Jane, you already did.” I gave her a sad smile. “I’m sorry I don’t know why I freaked out like that.”

She shrugged. “Vince, and the guys are warriors and they’re pretty intimidating, I’ve grown up around them so I guess for me they’re like brothers.”

“I just felt like…” I hesitated, unsure how to phrase my feelings. “I guess I felt like… prey.”

Jane chuckled. “I know what you mean, they pounce on a pretty girl in a heartbeat. You should take it as a compliment.”  

“I guess.”

We went to pick up Jane’s car from the coffee shop parking lot and said our goodbyes.

.

I got home around nine o’clock.

Suddenly I felt very lonely. 

I tried not to think about it and got busy with some chores.I got my uniform ready and ironed for Monday and folded it over the armchair. Got my lunch packed away into Tupperware and put it in the fridge.

But I still wasn’t tired enough to go to bed yet so I sat on my couch, with a glass of wine with a blanket around my feet, reading a book.

I heard the sound of gravel crunching under a car’s tires. 

I froze for a moment, the pit of my stomach growing heavy with dread.

Not daring to push the curtain aside, I peeked through the window, my heart in my throat. 

The door of the black sedan opened and a tall broad shouldered man with raven black hair got out, he slammed the door shut. His heavy footsteps crunched over the gravel as he strode over to the front door.

‘Evan… He found me.’ I realized. 

My body shuddered violently and my hands shook. Cold sweat broke out over my body. ‘He’s come to kill me.’

Heavy footsteps sounded on the front steps then stopped in front of the door.The loud knock snapped me out of my paralyzed state.

I leapt across the table, knocked my glass of wine over. I didn’t care.

I ran for the kitchen.

Frantically I rattled the window until cracked open. Then with all my might shoved it open as wide as I could.

“Andromeda Wetherfield! Open up!” he pounded harder on the door.

I scrambled up onto the sink, knocking some dishes off the counter as I went.

The pounding on the door intensified.

“If you don’t open the door right now I’m going to break it down!”

True to his word, he rammed the door. Terrified, I lost my grip and hit my temple on the corner of the cupboard.

With an effort I squeezed my legs through the window, but it was too small to fit my hips.

Tears sprang to my eyes. ‘I’m going to die.’ I thought as I tried to get back into the house, anything to get myself unstuck from the window.

I kicked again at the window frame. But it held strong.

The door frame however did not. It splintered and broke as he kicked the door in.

He ran up to me bellowing. “WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!?”

I scrambled off the counter, looking for anything to use as a weapon to protect myself.

I found a block of kitchen knives.

I took them.

The biggest knife in my right hand, smaller one in my left.

He stood in front of me now, his big frame more muscular than I remembered.

I tried to blink away my tears, but I couldn’t.

I stumbled over some broken dishes on the floor.

“Put those away, I promise I’m not here to hurt you…” he pleaded, his palms outstretched in front of him in surrender.

He sounded hoarse.

“Bullshit! You wouldn’t have spent two months looking for me!” I screamed.

“Please put down –”

“YOU MADE ME KILL HIM!” I pointed the one knife at him, my hand trembling making the knife waver in between us. “You… ruined my life! YOU TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME!” I cried.

Fresh tears blurred my vision. I wiped them with my right sleeve.

That was all the time Evan needed.

He lunged for my arm and twisted it behind my back, then bent me over the counter until I dropped my knife.

 I braced on the counter and kicked behind me connecting with his knee. Then spun around with a backhand s***h with my other knife, catching his upper arm.

He yelled in pain as he retreated.

“Andromeda! Stop this!”

I bared my teeth at him in rage.

“You’re not going to put me down like a mutt! I’LL KILL YOU FIRST! YOU BASTARD!”

I swiped the remaining dishes off the counter and hurled them at him.

He dodged, left then right.

He shifted to the left again, I threw a stab at his upper ribs.

He dodged. Grabbed my forearm with one hand, my throat with his other hand and slammed my head into the cupboard.

My head rang.

My vision went black.

“f**k! f**k! Andromeda! f**k!” I heard him yelling before the darkness washed over me completely.

‘Am I going to die now?’ I asked myself.

.

.

.

I felt light on my face.

My eyelids opened with difficulty. For a moment I didn’t know where I was. Then my memories came flooding back.

The cabin. Evan breaking down the door. The fight.

I was alive.

I sat up on my elbow and looked around the cabin, it was clean. There were no dishes or anything else on the floor. The blanket was draped over me and the couch. The only thing that still looked broken was the door.

I heard a rustle behind me.

I nearly jumped out of my skin when I saw a strange man sitting in the armchair in the corner next to the sofa.

He watched me silently. His hazel eyes never wavered.

He had his raven black hair cut in a high and tight military haircut and his T-shirt fit his muscular body well. He had an angry looking s***h across his right bicep.

 He looked tired.

My head still spun a little as I sat up.

“Wh…” my voice cracked. I swallowed hard and tried again. “Who are you? And what are you doing in my house?”

“I’m Officer Vacarro.” His voice was deep and slightly raspy. “Do you remember anything about yesterday evening?”