012: I can't breathe
1160 Words
ALMA'S POV
Silence dominated but it was soothing. She was truly a mother, lowering me to a little girl who just needed the comfort of a mother.
Not many people could provide such comfort so easily.
A smile drew on my lips. "Thank you."
She nodded her head. Heaving a sigh, she rubbed her hands against her thighs. "Well I guess it's my turn but I want you to promise me something first," she stared at me.
My brow arched. "What is that?"
"Even after hearing what i am about to tell you, you will wear those clothes and look good in them. Starting from now, when you want to change out of your dress, put on something from there. I give it to you, honestly I do. I would not want to see so much clothes and shoes and other accessories go to waste. Promise me?"
I felt hesitant, when a werewolf made a promise, it became close to impossible to break. But since she was giving it to me so willingly...
"I promise."
My words seemed to have brightened her mood. "Okay," she said with a smile.
Then a thought crossed my mind, I was suddenly worried about Jeremy. Why? Did I actually care about him after all the harsh things he said to me?
Though a part of me felt like he only said those things out of pain but it caused me pain and I should not care.
"Before you do..." I cut her off softly. I just couldn't help but to worry about him. "When I was climbing up the stairs, I heard alpha Ethan order Jeremy to the training ground and you didn't seem so pleased with it. Is something wrong with training in the night?"
She suddenly tensed up. "The training ground...except during the devoted hours of training, once summoned there, it never goes well--"
A sharp gasp drew from my mouth as the door flung open. Jaxon looked so petrified, his deep blue eyes shone with fear as he spat out without hesitation.
"Dad is going to kill Jeremy! We need help!"
Luna Catherine immediately sprung to her feet and dashed out of the room without hesitation.
My legs reacted the same and ran after her, not caring whether it was a family issue or not.
Down the stairs and behind a firm door stood a large and spacious room with different kinds of equipments and courses for training. But that was not important at the moment.
Jeremy was barely standing, holding on to his father's arm that gripped tightly on his shirt. Blood designed him from his head down to his toe and his light green eyes flickered like they were about to close for good.
A sharp gasp drew from my mouth and I pressed my hands against it, trying to keep myself as invisible as possible.
Luna Catherine dashed towards them and held onto her mate's clenched fist that threatened to land another punch on their son.
"Alpha Ethan," unlike I expected, she didn't yell or scream or act out, her voice was soft and gentle, almost like she was afraid of getting him any more angry than he already was.
"Please... Let him go. He has learnt enough for one day." She pleaded softly.
He turned his head to look at her. "Are you sure? Because I don't think he sees the point. He probably thinks I am beating him up because I can, because I hate him, and that's not true, until he sees what I want him to see, i won't stop."
Jeremy growled and attempted to lung a punch at his dad but alpha Ethan simply shoved him away and he crumbled to the ground effortlessly.
"Why are you so blind?!" Alpha Ethan yelled out, trying not to push Luna Catherine away as she held him back from attacking Jeremy any more.
"She is gone!" He barked, his voice sharp and stern. "Eleanor is gone and she is never coming back to us no matter how many people you bully, no matter how many people you hurt, she is gone!
"Do you think she will even be happy to see you living like a mess like this?! It has been years Jeremy, when are you going to wake up?" Alpha Ethan's voice softened with pain.
"Do you think you are the only one suffering? Do you think you are the only one missing her? Do you have any idea how many nights i wish... I wish I could give her a hug one last time?"
His eyes glistened but there were no tears. He didn't need them, his pain reflected perfectly like a mirror. "She was the first one I ever opened my heart to asides from your mother, i trained her and loved her so much and i couldn't save her.
"She was there before you three, your mother and i loved her alone first before we had you three, what makes you think you are the only one suffering? What right do you have to be so pathetic when we are barely holding on?
"Wake up! I will give you a beating until you wake up!" He growled, not out of anger but out of pain.
Jeremy laid on the floor, his emotion was obscured by the blood that covered his face.
I stood there, hands clasped to my mouth. I had never expected to see so much on my first night there. Tears trailed down my face...
Their first daughter probably, she must had died a few years ago, leaving them with so much pain. Jeremy the most.
I could relate to his pain. Losing my parents felt like the end for me, like I would never be allowed to be happy again. Every single time I smiled, it felt like I was commiting a great sin.
I should be grieving, I should be sad, I should be bereaved, I kept telling myself. Happiness wasn't for me.
That must be how Jeremy was feeling, so conflicted and alone, even with his family around.
He must have been closer to this Eleanor to be this sad.
A thunderous yell caused me to flinch, "I won't have mercy on you! Get on your feet or forever live as a coward! Bullying others so they could feel pain just like you. Get up!"
Tears poured down my face where I stood, my body trembled and my heart seized. It felt so hard to breathe.
Luna Catherine's eyes met mine and she finally yelled out. "Stop it! You're scaring her!"
"Her?" Alpha Ethan asked with squinting eyes. Following her gaze, his eyes landed on me and they windened. His hand that was clenched and ready to throw a punch fell to his side and he just stood there now.
I heaved heavily, trying to catch my breath yet it felt so impossible.
My chest became stuffed, my system panicked and my throat clogged. I couldn't breathe...
- Writer
