Royal Crescent Moon

Nightmare

“Is that why you can’t sleep. Nightmares?” He asked, completely full of concern.

“Yes.” I groaned. It seemed like a silly reason not to sleep, nightmares. But mine shook me to the point where I didn’t know where I was, or who I was. I hid in his neck, not wanting to face the facts.

“And the last one you had, that pain I felt, I rejected you?” He asked cautiously. I nodded, not trusting my voice.

“Why would you think that? That I could possibly reject you?” He asked, more offended for himself. I scoffed at his reaction and pulled back to face him.

“It’s not my fault, I can’t help what my subconscious dreams about!” I yelled exasperated, daring to let go of him to throw my hands in the air.

“You think I’m going to reject you? That I don’t want you.” He asked, his face pained. I moved to hide from him in his neck again. I didn’t answer. He sighed in defeat, then took a step forward, further into the deep water.

“Jace!” I squealed. Being the asshole he is, he took a few more steps into the water. I struggled to moved higher on his solid body.

“Stop it!” I demanded, clawing his shoulders. He didn’t seem to mind, in fact, he laughed. The nerve this guy had!

“You still think I’m going too reject you?” He asked smugly. He let go of my back and tried to remove my arms from his neck.

“With you threatening me like this, yes!” I shrieked a reply.

“You rather me threaten you another way?” He said lowly. I pulled back and made my eyes into slits as I stared at him.

“What are you planning?" I muttered more to myself, but he heard me. He started to move down the creek, away from where everyone was hanging around at the trees. He walked far down the creek and a few minutes later, we passed a massive rock that stuck out of the water. Was he planning on killing me or something? I pressed myself into him more as the water got deeper. I moved my thighs above his hips, hauling myself away from the water. He moaned as I grind myself against his hips. I smiled down at him teasingly.

“Fine then.” He groaned as he started trudging out of the water. The water got to his hips and I released my legs from their cage around Jace to step out of the water. But he grabbed my thighs and put them back where they were. He got closer to the shore and he crouched, me still clasped against him, and put me down on the ground. He placed me on my back with him hovering over me. I tried to swallow the lump in my throat as me pressed his lower half into my core. I instantly felt my whole body flame up in response, and he scented it. He inched closer to my face, to my neck as he inhaled my scent of desire and lust.

“You torture me woman.” Jace grumbled. He returned to my face and his eyes shot straight to my lips. He stayed there, at war with his wolf. I was sick of him waiting so I reached up to his face and crushed my lips on his. My tongue brushed against his lower lips, they were so soft, so kissable. He groaned in frustration as he opened his mouth and my tongue entered. The kiss was not soft, or sweet. It was hot, hungry and possessive. His tongue entered my mouth and I couldn’t help the moan that escaped my throat. We continued until I pulled away to take a breath, but Jace didn’t stop. He kissed my cheek, biting at my jaw and making his way down my neck. I didn’t want him to stop touching me, kissing me. He got to the place at the base of my neck, kissing and licking it. I had enough of his teasing, I wanted him to mark me. My hand snaked up his strong, muscled arms and to his head. I gripped his soft onyx hair in my fingers and pulled. His head lifted back and retracted his canines. He knew what I wanted and was more than happy to do so. His hands found themselves roaming my body, my breasts, my stomach, my hips, my thighs. Then he sunk his teeth into my neck. Pleasure and heat erupted through my body. Sparks were erupting from his teeth in my neck. It was euphoric, hot and claiming. I was his, finally his and this was real. He pulled his canines from my neck, licking the bite clean.

I shivered. He met my lips, but I grabbed his shoulders and rolled on top of him, pushing him into the ground. I kissed him, tasting the tangy flavour of my blood in his mouth. I bit at his jaw, at his neck. It was my turn. 

My hands went to his hair, pulling as I retracted my canines. I plunged them into his neck, claiming him as mine. He growled in acceptance. His blood crackled in my mouth, like it was full of little embers of fire. I slowly and tortuously licked his wound clean. I pulled back, satisfied with my work. I collapsed onto his chest, sucking and nipping his jaw.

“I’ve wanted to do that for ages.” He admitted in a husky voice. I felt my core melt at the sound of it. I've only known him for four days. He laughed, scenting my arousal. He sat up, pressing my body into his torso.

“If I could mate with you right here, right now, I would. But there’s too many people, I don't want anyone else to hear you.” He mumbled against my neck. I ignored Jace's cocky remark and focused on the fact that he wanted to mate with me. It was one thing to claim someone, accepting the bond, but to complete it was a whole other thing. I couldn’t stop the grin that was foolishly plastered on my face. I put my forehead on his.

“I would take you right here.” I said cheekily.

“I’m sure you would, babe.” He whispered in my ear. I shivered as he chuckled at me. I stood up, Jace doing the same as he held my hand, walking back into the water. I stopped when the cool water was up to my shins, when I couldn’t see the bottom. Jace glanced to me, wondering why I stopped. He chuckled as he stood right in front of me. I seemed to read his mind as I jumped onto his back and he marched back into the water. I instantly pressed my limbs against his, attaching myself once again. He laughed, that godlike sound, as he walked slowly through the cool liquid and past the gigantic rock that jutted out of the water. I instinctively closed my eyes shut and put my head on the back of his neck when we moved into deeper water. He tightened his hold under my thighs to secure me to him.    

When he made it to the original spot we were before he escaped with me latched onto him and Ricky and Katie were still swinging off the rope, into a deeper part of the creek. I pulled my arms away from Jace’s neck and climbed around the side of his solid body, so we were face to face.  My eyes went straight for his mark. I ran my fingers over the puncture wounds on the left side of hick neck. He emitted an approving growl that vibrated his whole chest.

After a while, I began getting comfortable around Jace in the water. I swung my legs around in the water with my arms around Jace's neck. He had his arms around my ass, either to hold me closer or to block the view. Michael called us all over and Jace let go of my body, causing me to climb around his body and settle on his back once again. Being the brute he is, he didn't even budge as I climbed around him like he was a tree. He settled his hands under my thighs as he walked towards the shore, where everyone in our group was gathering.

----

When Jace got out of the water, we sat on a low trunk of a tree. I straddled it as Jace pulled me back into his warm chest. Reese and Esme later joined us, and Reese's eyes went straight to the scars on my body. He looked extremely guilty, hurt in his eyes as if he was remembering everything from that painful day. I smiled and mind-linked him.

"It's okay, it's not your fault remember?" I answered his glance.

He smiled apologetically as he wrapped Esme in his arms. I leaned my head on Jace's broad, tattooed shoulder. Izzy wondered up to us with Katie and Ricky at her side. Izzy wore a black once-piece, matching her onyx hair, whereas Katie wore a black bikini with her blonde hair in a high pony. They all looked impossibly gorgeous. I must have looked like the odd one out, sticking out like a sore thumb. I sighed in disappointment and I grabbed Jace's arms to wrap around my stomach, suddenly self-conscious. As usual, he noticed it and leaned over my shoulder to give me an angry glance and opened his mouth to say something. Here we go.

"Later." I said as I waved my hand, dismissing him. I didn't want to talk about it, especially not now. Izzy seemed to notice my refusal and she laughed at us, at how easy I dismissed the Alpha. Jace growled and started nuzzling my head with his, inhaling my scent to settle him. At least I smelled good to him. Everyone started to talk to one another, and drinks were passed around. One was passed to me by Ricky but before I could open it, Jace being a b***h, took it from me. I turned to scowl at him and got up and stalked over to Michael and grabbed myself a drink. Jace stared at me with annoyance and I decided to rile him up. I sweetly smiled at him and pretended to drop my drink. I bent over to pick it up, slowly, keeping eye contact with Jace. His eyes darkened and he snarled at me. I laughed but soon regretted it as he walked over to me and picked me up, chucking me over his shoulder like I weighed nothing. He sat me down on the tree branch and took up a spot next to me.

"You suck." I complained to him.

"That was your fault." He countered, pushing my shoulder. I took his drink from his hand and started drinking it.

"It's mine now." I poked my tongue at him. He rolled his eyes at me.

"Pretty eyes." I poked his brow. He slapped my hand away and I started laughing at him. He gave me a grumpy look but that only made me laugh harder. He abruptly got up and picked my body up, bridal style, and made to walk towards the creek.

"No. NO!" I started yelling and thrashing in his hold.

"That's what you get." He said smugly.

"You d**k! Put me down!" I commanded. Then I realised he was standing in the water and I immediately regretted it.

"Okay." He shrugged and dropped me in the water. I fell into the cool water, completely submerged. I rushed to the surface to take a breath. Then I gently put my feet down on the bed of the creek and cringed.

"For f**k sake Bellamy!" I grumbled, waves of rage crashing down on me. I forgot all about the creek and trudged over to him. He was smiling that stupid boyish smile. So, I decided to play dirty. I punched him in the gut, and he groaned, he didn't even expect it. He swayed, almost collapsing into the water. Not without bringing me down with him. I reached for air to find him already standing up and laughing. I groaned as I pulled on his arm, hauling myself to stand next to him. I went to punch him in the face, but he blocked it, but then I pinched him in the inner thigh, sending him falling on his knees in the water.

I pushed his head under. "Serves you right." 

I turned to trudge myself out of the water. Izzy was pissing herself laughing, along with Esme and Michael. Reese looked quite shocked and Katie was already on the ground, clutching her stomach as she roared in laughter. I turned to look over my shoulder and Jace was getting up and making his way towards the shore, towards me.

"s**t!" I swore as I lunged into a full-on sprint. I bolted through the trees, trying to make it to the car. With my wolf hearing, I could hear Jace not too far behind me. I made it to the end of the path Esme led us through and saw a large group of people, and Aiden and Sophie. I walked over to them and Aiden grabbed me a drink.

"Thanks." I said and I chucked my head back to take a few gulps, I would need it.

"What's wrong?" Sophie asked, smiling.

"Ummm, I need to hide." I said as I made my way to stand beside her.

"Hey Anna, this is Jake and Mason. Their in our grade." Aiden said, gesturing to the two guys in front of him. Jake had brown hair and light, sparkly brown eyes. Mason had dark blond hair with green-brown eyes. They were both tall.

"Hey." I greeted them, shaking both their hands. And just like any person from outside the group I sit with, their eyes snaked down my body and stopped at my scars.

"Cool. How did you get them?" Mason asked. Aiden straightened, about to do something but Jake beat him to it.

He slapped him on the back of his head. "Dude, not cool." 

"It's okay." I said to Aiden and he stopped. "I was 7, rouge attack." Jake's eyes widened and Mason's brows bunched together. I quickly smiled at them, trying to take their attention off the left side of my body. They smiled back. They seemed like they didn't mean it, they were nice people. I turned my attention to the path in the trees where I ran from to find Jace, surveying the crowd for me.

"Fuck." I muttered. I passed my drink to Sophie before saying. "I was never here." Aiden chuckled in understanding as he saw Jace.

"You two at it again?" He asked laughing. I smirked before turning to Jake and Mason.

"Nice to meet you two." I nodded before quickly walking away, hopefully unnoticed. I hurried all the way over to the other side of crowd of people, to the edge where all the trees surrounded the creek. I frantically looked for a place to hide, when I saw a path that leaded up to the cars. I hurried up the dirt path and all the way to Reese's car. It was unlocked, apparently, he trusted these people a lot. I opened the door and grabbed my phone. I saw a few messaged from Danny and I quickly answered it before grabbing my speaker and slamming the door shut. I decided that it was getting pretty boring without music, so I took the path back down to Aiden and Sophie that were around a larger part of the creek. I weaved my way through the crowd of pack members, earning some lingering looks. I realised that I was running around like a lunatic in only my bikini. I ignored them as I made my way to Sophie and Aiden, Jace seemed to have left.

"Hey, where did he go?" I asked no one in particular when I got there.

"Started to track your scent. He seemed mad, what did you do to him?" Aiden asked with a smug smile.

"He was being a d**k, so I decided to teach him some manners." I replied with a bright grin.

"Well, you really did a number on him, he seems furious." Sophie said laughing.

"Shit." I murmured. I didn't know what he would do when he found me.

"Are you talking about Alpha Jace?" Mason asked, eyes wide.

"Yes." I casually answered, confused.

"So, you’re his mate! That makes sense." Jake exclaimed.

"You got some balls on you, that's for sure." Mason said chuckling. I chuckled, forgetting about the problem at hand.

"Everyone says your bat-s**t crazy." Jake frowned. I laughed harder. Seems like my reputation grew after my situation with Lucy, or my incident with Luke.

"That seems about right." I answered. Everyone joined in on the laughter when I saw a pair of ocean green eyes meet mine from behind Jake.

"For f**k sake!" I yelled. Everyone looked confused until Jace came into view. I took Sophie's drink and took a few big gulps. I passed it back to her and hurried away.

"I feel scared for her." I heard Jake say from behind me.

"Well you obviously don't know her." Sophie answered for me. I giggled as I picked up my pace.

I made it to the path back to the area where Michael and our group hangs out. I walked through through the canopy of trees so see our group huddled around each other in a little gathering.

"Hey guys, I brought my speaker and-" But the words were knocked right out of me as the whole group faced me. Standing amongst the people I call my friends was the piece of s**t Luke. Memories of Kaitlin and that night filled my head. Her screaming filled my head. All I could hear was the piercing shrill of Kaitlin, screaming at me to help her, to run. I froze and dropped my phone and speaker. I glanced at Izzy; her eyes were full of understanding. She knew the pain that I felt, what was happening to me. Reese started to talk, but it was all muffled voices. I couldn't hear anything apart from the screaming. I started marching over to Luke. I felt my eyes glow, Keelie was threatening to come out. She had the instinct to protect me. 

Mike stepped in front of me but I shoved him away. It was like I was stuck in this constant Nightmare of reminiscing and pain, I hated it. I punched him straight in the jaw, again and again. Then there was a new type of screaming.