Wolf Born

Chapter Four.

I awoke the next morning, hungry with my head pounding. I squeezed my eyes shut once the bright light struck me and balled my fists when a wave of pain shot through my body. It was stiff and sore, it felt like I’d just been shot a few times in the chest and abdomen area. I opened my eyes once the pain dulled a bit, hand reaching out for something, but I didn’t know what until I swallowed. My throat was on fire, dry and itchy. I wanted water. Heavy footsteps sounded against the wooden flooring and a figure entered my range of sight, he was male and large and had a pair of familiar brown eyes “S-Silas” I rasped out, my voice sounding similar to nails being dragged along a chalkboard. He placed his knee on the edge of the bed and leaned over to scoop me up in his arms. A sharp pain shot through my chest and I groaned, closing my eyes as I gripped his upper arm. He helped me sit upright, leaning me back against some pillows that were stacked against the headboard “It will continue to hurt for a few days” Silas explained, standing back upright to retrieve a glass from the nightstand to pour me some water. I felt something tug at my arm and looked down to find tubes sticking out of it that was attached to a bag with clear liquid inside it. Silas held the glass out to me, insisting on helping me drink as he gently tilted my head back and placed the glass to my lips. I gulped down the liquid, hungrily, desperately until there was nothing left. My throat instantly started feeling better as I leaned back against the pillows, eyes droopy and tired “What…happened?” I asked, breathing each word out weakly in between gasps of air. I turned my head to look at Silas, who took a seat on the edge of the bed, his body turned sideways so that he was facing me. I’d lost control only three times in the past, the first being when I had a nightmare and it was raining outside the cabin, I was scared, and my wolf wanted to get out to protect us. Silas had managed to calm me down each time before it got too bad but this time, this time was the worst yet “You passed out, your body was starting to shut down from having rejected the shift” he explained, looking away and to the corner of the room. He didn’t want to meet my gaze and I couldn’t blame him because I wouldn’t want to look at a monster like me either but just as I was about to look away, he looked at me, his eyes filled with worry and fear instead of the disgust and hatred I had been expecting “I thought I was going to lose you” his eyes began to glaze over and my heart squeezed. This man could never see me as a monster, this man loved me, he cared for me and would do anything as long as it made me happy. I meekly reached out my hand to cup his that was resting on the mattress “I’ll never leave you” I assured him, placing a faint, sad smile on my face. His eyes dried up as he took hold of my hand, gently holding it in his. I could only imagine what it must’ve been like for him to see me in such a state. Weak, with tubed sticking out of me and bruises all over my skin. I knew what my face must’ve looked like but didn’t want to think about it “Something happened back there” Silas announced, thinking back to the scene from the day before. He traced his thumb over the back of my hand and looked down at it, deep in thought. I knew what had triggered me, I just didn’t want to think about it “What triggered your wolf to react like that?” there it was, the question I had been dreading to hear. I turned my head away to glance at the window where the blue sky was clear in my range f sight. I could handle my wolf, even if Dustin had managed to strike me, I would’ve been fine, he had nothing to do with me loosing control like I had “Alec” the name rolled off my tongue like a song, a sweet melody that rung in my ears. Silas stayed silent, watching me intently as I thought back to the moment I’d locked eyes with him. His scent had been so intoxicating, it suffocated me, and he was most certainly the most beautiful man I’d ever seen. His green eyes saw right through me in that split second and caused my heart to ache with need. My wolf wanted him, she wanted to be with her mate, but I couldn’t allow her to claw her way out of me like she tried to do “He’s my mate” I finished, turning my head to look at Silas. His muscles tensed, and his jaw tightened, his thumb rubbing circles on my hand stopped and his eyes searched mine for any telltale signs of me lying but there were none. Alec was Silas’ older brother by two years, making him as old as Dustin and the next in line Beta of the Trojan pack “When he joined us at the clearing to check on Jake, you must’ve-.” Silas trailed off. I only nodded my head weakly in response. Alec, much like Silas was tasked with training two of my brothers. Both Nick and Jake were his responsibility and with Jake having skipped his training to be at the fight, it made sense that Alec would track him down and stumble upon us like he had “And yesterday morning when you…I’d gone to see my brother” it explained why I’d wanted so desperately to mark Silas, how my teeth had ached at the smell radiating from him, he’d been around his brother and the scent stuck to him. I thought back to our argument at the cabin before we left for Trojan territory. How I’d said that I didn’t want a stranger and that all I needed was Silas “His scent was all over you” I agreed, referring to the prior morning when I’d made things awkward by subconsciously trying to mark him. Silas slipped his hand out of mine and looked off into the distance, his eyes lost in thought before he finally spoke, but his words had nothing to do with Alec or what happened “Your father has arranged for us to leave as soon as you’ve recovered” I knew he was talking about finding the other wolf born wolves and I nodded, grateful that he’d decided to change the subject. He knew when I didn’t want to talk about something and never forced me to do anything that made me uncomfortable “How long?” I asked, not needing to explain myself. Silas knew me better than anyone else which meant that he could catch on to what I was implying without me having to explain it. After seven years spent living together it became second nature to us “An estimated three days until we can leave” I didn’t want to think about mates or issues regarding my kind anymore, so I rolled over onto my side so that my back was to Silas and curled in on myself. The liquid dripping into the IV were pain killers from the strong smell it omitted, most likely to help with my fractured bones and bruised body “I’m hungry” I complained, glancing back over my shoulder at Silas. His expression was emotionless at first, but they finally softened as my stomach growled. The sounds it made were those of a starving beast which made him chuckle light heartedly “And what will it be?” he rarely asked me what I was in the mood for, mainly because each time he’d ask it’d be the same thing. I placed my head back down on the pillow and closed my eyes, feeling the full effect of the drugs, they were giving me. A normal wolf would’ve been fully healed by then, but I wasn’t normal. My body didn’t heal as fast as theirs did but with that being said, I was stronger and more powerful than they were “Homemade apple pie and steak” Silas placed a hand on my head and brushed the hair back out of my face. He breathed a laugh and shook his head at my request. He knew that I was going to ask for those two specific things, yet he was hoping otherwise since he’d most likely be slaving away in the kitchen for a few hours, but he complied only because I was in the state I was in and he wanted to cheer me up “With mashed potatoes and raspberry jelly?” he asked, making sure that he got the order correct. I nodded my head against the pillow and hummed to signal that that was correct. His weight lifted off the edge of the bed as he stood and started making his way to the door “Don’t forget the grape juice” I called out after him when I heard the door being opened. He chuckled as he stepped out into the hall and closed the door behind him. I listened to the sound of his footsteps retreating down the hall with my eyes closed and followed his movements all the way down to the kitchen on the first floor. It wasn’t long after he started readying the utensils that I fell back asleep, wrapped in the white sheets and accompanied by the smell of cooking meat.

I began to stir when I began smelling old leather and potent musk. My wolf was trying to warn me that our mate was near and was clawing at the ground in her cage. She whined, wanting to see him, wanting to be close to him. I groaned, opening my eyes to the sight of an empty room, he wasn’t there but his smell was coming from somewhere nearby. Footsteps sounded in the hallway, carrying someone closer to my room but they abruptly stopped right outside my door “I have to see her” Alec’s voice declared to someone. The smell of steak and freshly bakes apple pie touched my nose as I sat up in bed, my hair falling over my shoulders and framing my face as I looked towards the closed bedroom door. Silas was stood outside, facing his brother, who had been waiting outside my door for some time “She needs to rest” Silas argued, making my health top priority. I picked at the bed sheets, nervously fiddling with the fabric. I didn’t want to see Alec, I had no idea how my wolf would react, and I wasn’t about to find out. There was a loud bang as Alec’s fist connected with the wall outside. His breathing was ragged, and his heart skipped a few beats “It’s my fault she got hurt” my eyes widened, my head snapping up in the direction of the dark wood door. I found myself questioning whether I had really just heard him say those words or not. He felt guilty, because I almost lost control? Silas shifted his weight slightly “I’ll try to convince her to see you” Silas said, turning towards the door and reaching for the door knob. Alec stepped back a few paces, allowing his brother to pass “Thank you” Alec’s voice rang through the air, rattling through the walls to dance in my ears. I quickly turned my head away as the door opened, hiding my face behind a curtain of crimson hair when Alec’s eyes landed on my form from his place outside in the hallway. Silas tensed when he saw that I was awake and had most likely heard their quick conversation, but he turned to his brother, nodding once before closing the door behind him. I stared down at the wooden flooring, lost in thought as Silas made his way towards me, placing the trey of food on the nightstand beside me “You heard that?” he asked, looming over me as he waited for my response. I nodded my head, slowly, knowing that Alec could hear every word we said as long as he stayed out in the hall. Silas removed the empty glass from the trey and set it down on the nightstand as he picked the trey up, using both hands and set it in my lap. I looked down at the T bone stake and mashed potatoes with a large slice of apple pie and a small bowl of red gelatin. I heard him pour the grape juice into the glass before taking a seat on the edge of the bed beside me, his back facing towards me “You need to eat” he randomly said when he realized that I was only staring at the food instead of eating. I wasn’t hungry anymore. I found my mind taking me back to the day before, an image of Alec looking on confused and desperate, eyes filled with worry and fear “It’s your favorite” Silas tried again, glancing back at me from over his shoulder. I snapped out of it, reaching for the fork and knife with trembling hands. The metal utensils clanged together as I took hold of them, repositioning them for me to use “You have to talk to him, eventually” my body froze at his words, the utensils clanging against the porcelain plate as I looked up at him. He was staring straight ahead at the open balcony doors. A light breeze blew in, catching strands of my hair in an attempt to carry them off. Silas knew that I didn’t want to see Alec, he knew how I felt about mates, particularly mine. I glanced down at the food in front of me and opened my mouth to speak, knowing fairly well that Alec could hear every word that left my lips “I don’t have to do anything” the atmosphere grew tense as I cut into the stake. It was my choice whether I wanted to see Alec or not and there was no way that I was going to risk my wolf losing control again because of a Beta wolf demanding to meet with me. There were too many people residing in the pack house for me to even consider risking it “You at least owe it to him, to explain what he saw” Silas reasoned, glancing back at me. His chocolate colored eyes were looking straight through me and into my soul. He knew why I was scared, he had spent too many years watching over me not to be able to pick up onto my emotions “It’s…too dangerous” I muttered, tired eyes following the movement of my fork as I raised a piece of stake to my lips, biting down onto it. The texture was just right as it melted in my mouth and the seasoning was made to perfection, just how I wanted it “You’re looking at this with a one-track mind” I didn’t quite catch on to what he was implying as I took a bite of the mashed potatoes. I felt threatened in that moment and refused to meet his gaze as he looked back at me. I wanted more than anything for him to stop pushing the topic, but he wasn’t having any of it. If I had been mated to any other person, he would’ve chased them off if it made me that uncomfortable, but it was his brother, the only person besides me that he trusted and knew cared for him “You’re convinced that the moment he walks through that door, you’ll lose control again” my shoulders stiffened, my eyes widening at his blunt words. He knew exactly what I was thinking and voiced them not just for me to hear but for his brother to understand why I was refusing to meet with him “But you’re stronger than that, the mate bond caught you off guard and that’s the only reason why you lost control” he had a point. I had gone through a lot of things with my father and brothers but managed to control my wolf, mainly because I was expecting Dustin to be a jerk and my father to be cold and inconsiderate but Alec, I wasn’t expecting to meet my mate during the battle and it triggered my wolf, it made me loosen my hold on her without realizing it “This time, you’ll be expecting it” I silently began to eat again, staying quiet for some time as I mauled over his words. He didn’t push me, instead sitting in silence, staring out over the balcony railing and allowing me the space I needed to think. It would still be a risk if I agreed to meet Alec, but I knew that Silas would also be expecting me to lose control and stay close by incase I needed him. He’d stop me before I’d be able to hurt anyone. I turned my head to look at myself on the mirror, hung on the wall opposite Silas, his back and my reflection staring back at me “I don’t want him to-.” I trailed off, wanting to add the words ‘see me like this’ at the end but knew that Silas would catch on. He turned to look at me, his eyes lingering on my reflection in the mirror. I studied myself, my face was covered in gashes from when I clawed at it, my bare arms were covered in black, purple bruises and I was weak, hooked up to an IV. My bottom lip was slightly swollen and cut from where I’d dug my canines into them as an attempt to stifle my cries of agony. Silas reached out to take hold of my hand, causing my fork to drop onto my plate as I turned my attention back onto him “You are beautiful no matter what” I didn’t want Alec to see me covered in wounds and bruises. I was afraid that he might think I was ugly consider me undesirable. I tightened my hold on his hand and gave a small sad smile as another thought filled my mind ‘What if he thinks that I’m a monster?’ the question was asked in silence through the mind link connecting me to Silas. He breathed a laugh, shaking his head from side to side as he glanced towards the bedroom door. He ran his thumb along the back of my hand and asked me a question that made my heart stop “Do you honestly believe that he’d be standing out there if he was afraid of you?” the question placed things into a new perspective for me. If any other person had seen me almost lose control like he had the day before, I highly doubt they’d want to come anywhere near me for fear of me tearing them apart, but Alec was out there, waiting for me, skipping his training with my brothers just to see me “He’s worried about you, Luna” I slowly slipped my hand out of his and picked my fork back up to taste the slice of apple pie he’d made for me. I left the fork in my mouth as I savored the taste, eyes staring down at the bed sheets. How could anyone ever worry about me? I was a monster, I was dangerous, a threat and despite that, Silas cared about me, but he was the only person who ever did. I wasn’t expecting anyone else to ever consider me worth worrying over let alone the fearless and strong future Beta who’d never said a single word to me when we were younger. He was always too busy with my brothers, including Dustin who had been his best friend at the time to even notice me “I want-.” I began, removing the fork from my mouth and swallowing the apple pie in the process “To see him” Silas gave me a small smile and leaned over the bed towards me. My eyes widened when he kissed my temple, right below my left eye where a scar sat. I turned to look at him in shock as he leaned back and breathed a laugh “Thank you” he said, talking about me agreeing to see his brother. I hadn’t realized how much it meant to him for me to talk to Alec, but I supposed that it was his brother and he would do anything for his older brother. I nodded and turned back to my food, finishing what was left on the trey in silence as I thought about the years I’d spent with Silas, getting to know him better than I knew myself. I believed that he’d never ask me to do something that could potentially harm me, and the thought calmed my nerves, placing my worries at ease.

After I managed to convince Silas to remove my IV and that I didn’t need the pain killers anymore. He reluctantly gave in and helped me to the bathroom, helping me strip since my ribs felt like they were broken and then gently lowering me into the water. He helped wash me, like he had done so many times in the past, washing my hair and scrubbing my back before holding a white towel up for me when I stood upright in the tub. He held his hand out for me to take as I slowly, cautiously stepped out of the water and onto the white bath mat, allowing him to wrap the towel around my form. I gripped the towels in my hands and felt myself stumble back slightly from exhaustion. I fell back against Silas’ chest, causing his arms to instinctively wound their way around my waist “Careful” he breathed, his lips grazing the outer shell of my ear when he spoke. My eyes drooped slightly at the feel of his touch, so warm, so familiar. I leaned my head back against his chest and looked up at the plain white ceiling overhead. The sound of his calm heartbeat, thudding in my ears like heavy footsteps. I felt his knees bend slightly as he placed one arm behind my knees and the other around my shoulders, lifting me up off the ground and into his strong arms. He knew I was tired, he could sense that I was in pain which was exhausting me even more. I curled into his chest, my hand gripping at the material of his shirt “Let’s get you dressed” he whispered into my wet hair as he carried me out of the bathroom and to the bed, gently setting me down on the foot of it. He’d already set some clean clothes aside for me along with an extra towel for my hair like he always did when he was the one bathing me. He knelt, down in front of me and reached for the extra towel. He tossed it over my head and began scrubbing at my hair to try and dry it. I peered at him from underneath the edge of the towel, eventually closing my eyes as I thought back to our life in that small cabin. I didn’t think moments with him would ever feel the same again after we’d left the cabin but as he dried my hair and tugged one of his old purple shirts over my head, paired with a pair of his grey boxers. He took hold of one of my feet, tenderly cupping it in his palm as he moved to slip some black socks onto it. I took that moment to examine my legs which were covered in bruises. The largest being the size of a football on my upper right thigh. They were a mix of purple and blue. I ran my fingertips across the bruises as Silas stood and reached for the towels, to go properly clean them for my next bath. I looked up at him, knowing what was to come and partially dreading it “Silas” I lightly called, causing him to stop dead in his tracks on the way to the door. He turned, towels dangling from his arm as his eyes met mine. My hands instinctively gripped the bed sheets at my sides, my fingers fiddling with the fabric like they always would when I was nervous. It was something he quickly caught onto “Don’t go too far, okay?” I asked, causing his eyes to trail up from my hands and back to my face. He gave me the same small smile he would every time he’d try to ensure or convince me of something. It was a smile I knew I couldn’t live without “I’ll be right here if you need me” he said, reminding me that he’d never be too far away just in case I needed him. I nodded, turning my head to look down at the wooden flooring. I smiled a genuine smile as the door clicked open and the smell of leather and musk swirled around me like a hurricane. I pulled one knee up to my chest, letting my foot rest on the edge of the bed and clutched it to my chest as some sort of a safe guard. I closed my eyes, speaking to my wolf and mentally preparing her for what was about to happen. Her thrashing at the smell of our mate stopped as she began to pace back and forth along the bars of her cage. The door shut, and footsteps sounded down the hall “Blake” my eyes snapped open at the sound of his voice, whispering my name, sending tingled down the back of my spine. My hands balled, my nails digging into the skin of my palms and no doubt leaving behind crescent shaped marks in their wake. I kept repeating to myself that I needed to look at him, that I owed it to both him and my wolf to look at him, but my heart was racing, and my breathing caught in my throat. Slowly I straightened out my shoulders and began raising my head, turning it to meet the emerald green eyes of my mate. His eyes were filled with so many emotions, worry, relief, joy and compassion were among the few that were swirling around in their depths. He was the most handsome man I’d ever seen, with short cropped ebony hair that had bits of auburn in them and his defined jawbone. He was tall but not quite as tall as Silas and his body was toned with muscle beneath olive colored skin. His eyes had bits of gold and brown mixed in with their bright forest green. His jaw was covered in a thin layer of stubble and his nose was slightly crooked from having been broken so many times before. His cheekbones sat high on his face and his eyelashes were almost longer than mine but just as thick. He looked like a mess with his hair sticking up in every direction and his grey button up shirt having been unbuttoned. The sleeves had been rolled up to his elbows and dark circles lined the under side of his eyes “You’re hurt” he stated, his eyes roaming over my skin and face. I couldn’t speak, I couldn’t move as I looked at him. My body refused to move, my throat tightening at the sight of him. It was only when he took a step towards me that I snapped out of it, turning my head to hide my face behind a curtain of my damp hair. He froze at my movements, my shoulders slumping as I instinctively curled in on myself, trying to make myself as small as possible in hopes that he wouldn’t see me, but he did, and I couldn’t escape him “It’s my fault that you got hurt” my eyes widened, my mouth falling open slightly as I let those words wash over me. It was like before when he was speaking to Silas in the hallway. He felt guilty, he blamed himself for my wounds, for me having lost control “If I hadn’t shown up when I did-.” my movements cut him off as I unwound my arms from around me and stood up from the foot of the bed. I took a deep breath and turned to fully face him, my arms dangling loosely at my sides. I was weak, and my legs trembled as I stood but I had to get through to him somehow. My fists balled at my sides as I willed myself to speak “If you hadn’t show up, I would’ve never met my mate” I would’ve never seen him again, never known that he was my mate and the very thought of that happening made my heart squeeze and my wolf whine in protest. Before, when it was just Silas and me, I didn’t want to meet my mate but after having met him, after having felt that incredible feeling of love towards a single person, I couldn’t imagine having gone through life without it “None of this is your fault” I protested, my eyes locked onto his and glazing over. He blamed himself, he didn’t blame me for being a monster but instead blamed himself, feeling guilt for my mistakes, for my loss of self-control. He wasn’t to blame for us being mated, neither can I blame him for appearing when he did since he had no idea what I’d be to him “You can’t blame yourself for something I did” I declared, bowing my head to look down at the floor as I spoke. I was the one who had weakened my resolve, who let go of my wolf’s restraints, I had been the one to be caught of guard, I had clawed at my own face and created the gashes that now sat there in its wake. I grabbed gold of the bed post when my knees gave way, gripping it for dear life as a wave of fatigue washed over me. Alec stiffened and moved to rush to my side, but I held my hand up, stopping him dead in his tracks as I lowered myself down onto the edge of the bed. My breathing was shallow and my eyes drooping “I’m to blame for this” I breathed out in a low whisper, one hand still gripping the bed post. I leaned my head against it, closing my eyes as I took in his scent, allowing it to fill my senses and cloud my judgement. I felt oddly at peace around him, I felt at home which was a feeling that I only ever had with Silas “I’m a monster” I whispered which caused footsteps to ring out in the room until a set of strong hand was grabbing hold of my free one. My eyes shot open to look at the man on one knee in front of me. Tingles shot through my hand and up my arm when our skin made contact for the first time “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen” he declared, his thumb running back and forth along the back of my hand, much like Silas would do when he’d try to comfort me. I stared down at our hands, the way his touch made my skin ignite with a spark and how his hand fit perfectly in mine “Something so precious, can’t possibly be a monster” I turned my head to meet his gaze. His words made my heartache in a good way as tears welled up in my eyes. I gave a small, sad smile and felt my wolf howling at the edge of my mind. She wanted to spend some time with her mate too. I closed my eyes and let go of the chain I was so desperately holding onto. When my eyes opened, they were glowing as a single tear ran down the side of my face. My wolf let go of the bed post and reached out to grip his shoulder, shoving him back onto his rear as we fell to our knees in front of him. His eyes were filled with shock as we buried our face into his chest, breathing in the scent that made our canines ache with longing and desire. After a few moments, he wrapped his arms around us, cradling us to him as he buried his face in our hair, inhaling deeply. I made sure to restrain my wolf just enough to not let her gain complete control over me. She didn’t want anything more than to just be with him in that silent moment, with him holding us and his scent enveloping us. After a while of just sitting there in silence, Alec moved to scoop us into his arms. We instinctively wrapped our legs around his waist and buried our face into the crook of his neck as he carried us to the bed where he gently laid us down on the soft, white covers. He knew we were weak and in pain and didn’t want us to exhaust ourselves too much. He let go of us, our eyes closed as we felt sleep threatening to take over. Alec knelt over the side of the bed and placed a kiss to the center of our forehead “Get some sleep” he breathed, pulling away to leave but we reached out to him, grabbing hold of his hand in desperation. He glanced back at us, his eyebrows furrowing up in confusion as we gazed tiredly up at him “Please-.” we began, our voice meek and fragile as it broke. It was a pleading tone that came dripping off our lips, one that begged him to stay “Don’t go” he nodded, taking a seat on the edge of the bed and reaching his hand out to smooth the hair out of our face. He gazed lovingly down at us, his eyes filled with admiration and a tender gleam. We leaned into his touch, our eyes closing as a calmness came over us. It was the first time that I didn’t have to fight my wolf to stay in control, she was giving me the control as long as she got to be around Alec. I fell to my knees in the cage, my wolf coming over to rest her head in my lap as we fell into a deep sleep. I stroked her pelt, the red fur smoothing back in synch with my petting her. We were at peace, we were happy and in control for the first time in our lives.

I stirred at the sound of a familiar voice and blinked my eyes open to find Silas seated on the edge of the bed. Alec was by my side, his hand gently caressing mine as he spoke with his brother. I blinked and subconsciously rolled over onto my side, pulling my hand out of Alec’s and resting my head in Silas’ lap. His hand moved to brush the hair out of my face as I curled in on myself and clutched my hands to my chest “Wolf born wolves usually undergo their first shift moments after birth” Silas explained, speaking to Alec who most likely had no knowledge about my kind. It was normal for Silas to want to fill him in on as much as possible since he was my mate. Normal wolves usually undergo their first shift once they turn sixteen, but wolf born wolves shift right after birth and remain in their wolf forms until they reach the age of ten “And spend the first decade of their life in wolf form” my life before moving to the cabin was mostly in the form of my wolf, a wolf pup with crimson red fur and gold eyes. I only shifted back into my human form a year prior to us being shipped off to live in the middle of nowhere, in which time my father cared very little about my development. It was Silas who helped me to speak and write since I had had no prior education what so ever. I was able to understand the language, but pronunciation had at first proven quite difficult. I had spent most of my time as a wolf locked away in the basement, the dark and damp cells being my only friends until I underwent the shift. It was the most painful thing I had ever experienced, my bones snapping and realigning, my skin tearing to give way to human flesh, my muzzle shortening along with my tail. I remember howling and screaming, tears falling from my eyes as I clawed at the floor of my cell. It was a twelve-year-old Nick who came to my rescue at the time, bringing some of his old clothes for me to wear and unlocking the cell to get to me. I couldn’t walk on two legs and needed his help to get to the infirmary where they’d examined me and run a few tests to make sure that my body had grown accordingly. I could still remember the first time my father saw me as a human, he stood frozen in the door of the doctor’s office, eyes wide as he looked at me. I was so small and fragile, like glass with red hair and gold eyes. Despite the obvious difference in eye and hair color, my father still turned on his heels and looked to the doctor ‘She looks just like her mother’ at first, I felt a feeling of joy come over me when he said that. I was too young to remember her but at least I knew that I’d get to see her whenever I’d look in the mirror, but my feeling of pride and happiness was short lived ‘Get her out of my sight’ my father stormed off, leaving me alone, unwanted and unloved like I had been before, left in that cell to rot with only Nick ever coming to see me. He was the one who brought my food for me, the only one who talked to me, who acknowledged my existence. I was kept secret from the pack and the rest of the world, only seeing people the last year before Silas and I would leave pack territory. I met my brothers, but they felt like strangers to me, I met Alec, but he paid little to no attention to the odd girl that suddenly appeared out of nowhere. It was Silas who took an interest in me. Nick had taken care of me, but Silas was my teacher. He’d sit down with me at night and read to me, saying words over and over until I could almost perfectly repeat them. I had never said a single word to anyone before Silas, being a mute, even to Nick. I slowly began learning to say the words that I’d already learned to understand. I remembered the day of Silas’ sixteenth birthday. The day he shifted for the first time. I wasn’t invited to the parties that the pack held, I wasn’t welcome, so I went out into the woods and sat by the river, fingers fiddling with the material of my short, yellow sundress. I felt like crying, staring down at the water with tears in my eyes. My father didn’t once look at me that last year we spent on pack territory, disgust written all over his face when I’d go anywhere near him. My brothers saw me as a runt, a nuisance, a waste of time all except for Nick but even he couldn’t spend every waking moment of his day by my side. I was crying, sniffling and whining as I thought about the numerous times my father had blamed me for the death of my mother, telling me that I was a monster, nothing but a monster who killed for its own satisfaction. It was in that weak, helpless moment that Silas appeared in his wolf form. He was large and beautiful, he towered over me like a giant and bent his head to lick my tears from my face. He’d said to me the words that I’d never forget, the words that to this day still rang true in both my mind and heart ‘Don’t let them see you cry, it’ll only make them smile’ his words meant that if I cried, they’d take joy in my pain and from that day on, I vowed never to cry in front of any of them ever again. It wasn’t long after that, that I first lost control of myself. My father was yelling at me in a drunken state, telling me how useless and pathetic I was, and I lost it. My wolf broke free and injured countless of people in our pack, killing only one. The pack Gamma, third in command, a fully-grown man was killed by an eleven-year-old girl. That’s when the fear started. I hadn’t meant to hurt anyone, I never meant to lose control, I didn’t even know that it was possible for me to lose my composure as I had but I did it, I killed a man in cold blood and afterwards, I stood over his body, sobbing and screaming in horror. It was then that my brothers, even Nick grew to fear me, to see me as a monster and after a few days of consulting, my father chose to send me away, to live in solitude with Silas where I wouldn’t be able to hurt anyone again. I was grateful for him sending me away because it meant that no one had to suffer or die because of me but I also felt like I was being tossed aside, thrown away like a piece of garbage “Unlike us, wolf born wolves don’t have complete control over their inner wolf and can easily lose control if they’re not taught to handle it properly” Silas explained, his hand stilling on the side of my face. I opened my eyes to look at the far wall where a mirror hung. Alec was looking down at me with sad eyes. He knew everything I’d gone through, he knew what my life was before Silas and most likely felt guilty for not having done anything about it, but he knew his father would’ve disowned him if he’d so much as looked at me “And according to their file, it is extremely rare for a wolf born to be mated” my ears perked up at Silas’ words and I placed my hand on his thigh, pushing myself up into a sitting position to meet his gaze with my face a few inches away from his. The look in his eyes made it very clear that he’d studied the file to the best of his abilities, for my sake. He wanted to help me figure out what I was, figure out what made me different from other wolves “You read the file?” I asked, searching his gaze with my tired eyes. Silas nodded, his jaw tightening before he turned to reach for the cream-colored file that sat on the nightstand. He held it out to me and I tentatively took it, sitting back against the headboard of the bed with the file clasped between both hands. Silas turned his attention to Alec “Not only is she an extremely rare breed of wolf” he began, reaching his hand out to run his fingers through my hair. I leaned into his touch and looked up at him “She’s mated which makes her even more extraordinary” I had never thought of myself as unique or special before but clearly Silas saw me as such. I glanced back down at the file and ran my fingers across the big, bold letters, finding myself dreading what was inside. Alec noticed something that neither I nor Silas did and reached out to trace his fingertips across the skin of my face. I looked up at him, sparks igniting beneath my skin where he’d touch “Your wounds, they’re healed” I whipped my head around to look at my reflection in the mirror and sure enough, my skin was completely healed, the bruises and scars on my face were gone. I touched my cheek, eyes searching for any sign of wounds but there were none “It’s because of the bond, you being close to her speeds up the healing process” Silas explained. I lowered my hand away from my face and placed the file down on the sheets, grabbing hold of Alec’s shoulders. He caught on to what I wanted and wrapped his arms around my waist as he stood, gently lowering me onto my feet. My hands tightened on his shoulders when my feet touched the ground, socks skimming over the wooden flooring below. I looked up at Alec, his eyes boring down into mine with so much love as I let go of him and waited for my knees to buckle out underneath me when he let go of my waist. I held my breath, hands poised to grab hold of him if necessary but after a long pause, I could still stand perfectly straight on my own. I looked at Silas and smiled, a smile that caused one of his own to spread across his lips. I ran around the side of the bed and grabbed hold of his arm, tugging him up off the edge of the bed “Dance with me” I demanded, and he chuckled, finding my excitement amusing as he stood. I let go of his hand and he held one out to me while the other was hiding behind his back “May I?” he asked, mocking some old timey gentleman, asking a lady to dance as he bowed slightly. We’d danced many times before, to music, without music and especially after I had been bed bound for a few days. I grabbed the fabric of his oversized purple shirt and curtsied before placing my hand in his “You may” I said, and he pulled me closer, using one hand to hold onto mine while the other pressed against the small of my back. We danced a few steps then he raised my arm, twisting me around and causing me to spin away from him. I laughed, stopping near the living room area and looking at Silas who was leaning against the bed post with his arms crossed over his chest, watching me as Alec smiled “I want to go jogging” Silas laughed, throwing his head back as the deep rumble echoed up from his chest and out between his lips. He shook his head and stepped towards me, reaching out to place his hand on the top of my head. I knew he’d deny me a run, but it was worth a try “Maybe once we’re sure that you’re alright, Luna” he lowered his hand and took a seat on one of the white couches in the living room area. I nodded and headed over to where Alec was silently watching me. He uncrossed his arms the closer I got and tried to figure out what I was planning but before he could react, I’d grabbed hold of his arm and was dragging him back onto the bed. He fell down onto it as I stood and started jumping up and down on the mattress. Alec chuckled, grabbing hold of my leg and pulling me down onto the bed, pinning me down underneath him. I struggled against him, but he was too strong, his hands holding my wrists above my head. I squirmed against him until I eventually gave in, breathing hard with my hair a mess as I looked up at him. My back arched as I leaned into him, feeling his chest pressing against mine. I tilted my head back to close the distance between us so that my lips were just inches away from his. He stiffened as I wrapped my legs around his waist and glanced down at his lips. He met my hungry gaze and loosened his hold on my wrists without realizing it as he leaned down to try and kiss me, but I broke free of his hold and shoved him hard in the chest. He flew back and off the side of the bed, onto the ground with a loud thud. Silas’ bellowing laughter met our ears while I sat upright between the bed sheets. He was laughing because it was the same trick I’d pulled on his a few days ago at the cabin “You two are more alike than you think” I commented as Alec gripped his head and groaned out in agony. He turned his head to glare at his brother when a knock sounded on our bedroom door. I turned my head towards it just as it opened to reveal a member of my father’s fighters. He glanced around the room, from Alec on the ground, me on the bed and Silas seated in one of the living room chairs, eventually deciding to look at Alec “Your father has requested to see you, sir” my back muscles tensed as an image of Graham flickered in the back of my mind. The clock above the fireplace read that it was almost nightfall and since Alec was still there, I assumed that he’d abandoned his duties for the entire day just to be by my side. I had no idea if Graham knew about us being mates or not, but I knew that my father was aware of the fact since he’d been present at the fight the day prior. He must’ve told Graham about the mate bond that he’d been able to sense as pack Alpha. I met Silas’ eyes and found him shaking his head at me, already knowing what I was thinking. I climbed off the bed and turned to face the fighter with the piercing gaze of an Alpha and Wolf Born “Tell him, we’ll be there shortly” the fighter looked at me and glanced at Alec before nodding his head and closing the door behind him as he left. Silas snarled, getting up from the couch and storming his way over to me as Alec sat down on the edge of the bed, still rubbing at the back of his head “You can’t just go up against my father, he’s dangerous, Luna” Silas argued but I ignored the urgency and worry in his voice. I was the daughter of an Alpha, I was a wolf born and it was high time I started acting like one. I glanced back at Alec from over my shoulder as my fists clenched at my sides. I wasn’t going to let anyone take away the people I cared about, no matter how strong or powerful they were. It was the only reason why Graham would want to see his son, to forbid him from having anything to do with me. Alec nodded, letting me know that he didn’t want to stop seeing me, that he wanted to be around me “So am I” I shot in Silas’ direction, my feet carrying me towards the walk-in closet where I closed the door behind me to get dressed for the meeting. Silas sighed heavily on the other side of the door, slumping down onto the foot of the bed and running a hand over his face.