TTMA [Complete ✔️]

23. Memory

Dalia's P.O.V

I was sitting on the bed, staring at the window above it with my head resting on my hands. The night was a bit chilly, but the sky was clear, apart from being covered in stars. The pack members and pups were still hanging out together on the grass. It radiated happiness, but not for me.

The first time I went outside in almost nine years was when I got dragged to this pack. I could barely breathe, it was freezing, and I was wearing only torn rags, shaking from the cold and the fear, that enveloped my body. I couldn't even look around, observe the foreign, as I blacked out and woke up because of the pain in my hip and head as I got dragged through the wet, cold ground like a doll.

I do, however, recall the weird feeling, the familiarity of the area, before fear shut everything down again. The grass, the lake near it, all seemed like things I had seen before. Now, sitting in front of the window, and staring out into the same space, my chest tightened, doubt creeping into my mind.

It felt like I knew this place, like I had been here before. It made me recall the faces of my beautiful parents, which I lost on a grassy field, just like this one. I hadn't imagined their faces since they passed, my last memory with them being them forcefully held by rogues as my brother slashed their throats.

I still remember the day clearly, even though I wish I didn't. I remember the smell of blood, as it trickled down their now lifeless bodies. I remember the look of pure horror on my sweet little sister's face and her pained cries as she screamed for her parents before they dragged us away without so much as a goodbye.

I also remember a field, much like this one, where I played with all my friends and my sister. We used to spend hours splashing each other in the lake, pretending to swim, although the water barely reached our knees, making, or attempting to make sculptures out of mud before throwing it at someone because we thought it was funny.

I smiled fondly at the memory, wondering where my friends and sister were now. Were they alive? Did they face a fate similar to mine? I could only hope to find out one day, maybe even see them again.

I finally had the desire to go outside and feel the sun on my skin, but I was locked up again. The worst part was that I missed the comfort of my mate, a male, more than I missed the opportunities I could have had if I wasn't locked. I wanted to go out, but I wanted to go out with him, where I knew he would protect me from everyone and everything.

Sitting here on my own, listening to my wolf's reasonings on why I should accept him really made me think. She was right, he made me the happiest I had ever been. He gave me emotions, that no one had given me before, and most importantly, he made me feel as if I really was his equal, like my life was really worth it. I wasn't afraid of him anymore, now, I was afraid of losing him.

And I did. I did lose him because of my stupidity, because I had and still have no idea how to control my emotions. Because I said stupid things, that I knew would hurt him just so he could leave. And he did. Except it turned out it wasn't what I wanted at all.

Today, I had heard footsteps and had smelled his scent in front of the door. Since my wolf was finally becoming stronger I managed to make out his scent amongst all others. Pinecones and rain. Who knew they made such a mouth-watering scent?

He stopped, all sound stopping with him. I was holding my breath, excited to see him, tell him, that I wanted to stay, that I wanted to be his. Delilah was purring with delight and anticipation to see her mate again, his scent driving both of us crazy.

"Go to mate!" She squealed, and I did. I excitedly got off the bed and placed my hand on the doorknob. With a deep breath, I tried to open the door, but it was still locked. I accidentally let out a disappointed sigh, my stomach tightening at the thoughts that were filling my mind.

Even if I tried to stay optimistic and wait for him to open the door, dread washed over me as I went back to sitting on my bed. I knew he wouldn't and with each passing second, the dread became stronger until he walked away, confirming my suspicions. Tears pooled up in my eyes - I had lost him, forever.

Just when I decided I wanted to finally trust someone, to spend my life with someone, I pushed him away. I pushed my mate away and now I was truly and completely alone. Again.

Delilah fought to take control, trying her hardest to push me to the back of my mind, but even though she was getting stronger, she was still weaker than I was since I had more time to recover, so I managed to push her away. Angry tears spilled from my eyes as I unsuccessfully tried to blink them away.

"It's over! We ruined it, ruined our chances of being happy! He left, Delilah, and he's clearly not coming back!" I cried, my energy growing weaker by the second. If I wasn't sitting, I would have collapsed.

She growled loudly, making my head feel as if it was being torn in half.

"We didn't push him away, you did! This is all your fault! I hate you!" She hissed, continuing to make the pain worse.

I grabbed my head, starting to feel dizzy.

"Please!" I begged. "Please, stop this!" But she didn't, in fact, it only became worse as I begged her to make the pain stop, begged Knox to forgive me, and begged the Moon Goddess to help me. I had never begged her for help as I knew I deserved everything that had happened to me, and I knew I deserved this too, but this pain was something I just couldn't bear. The one, of being away from my mate, was one, I couldn't bear.

I whimpered for hours, holding my head and thrashing in the sheets as they tangled around my body. Luckily, after many hours of agony, she weakened herself to the point she couldn't hurt me anymore, and I managed to feel a bit of relief.

The whole time, I stayed glued to the window, watching others being with their families and having the fun I couldn't. I watched the pups throw balls and chase after them, I saw their fathers shift and chase them in their wolf forms, and their mates laugh their heads off.

As I rethought of the memories, Delilah stirred, dread settling in my stomach again. I knew what was coming and I knew that this time, I wouldn't be able to handle it.

"Please, Deli, don't do it!" I tried, the last ounce of hope in me disappearing as she started the pain with full force.

"Don't do what?" She asked innocently. "I asked you not to push our mate away too, but did you listen?" Silence. I couldn't say anything due to the horrible headache, that fogged my thoughts, but even if I could physically answer, in my mind, I knew she was right. "Thought so." Was her reply before everything became ten times worse than it had been.

My body shook as my hands desperately cradled my head in an attempt to soothe it. I was a mess of whimpers, cries, and groans, but the doctor had already checked up on me so no one would come to see me until after midnight.

Time felt like it had stopped until it really did. All I saw was darkness, any pain, disappearing with it. I welcomed it gladly, silently saying my goodbyes and welcoming death.

***

The sun caressed my skin in a gentle matter as I ran after a butterfly. I felt completely free and painless, my blonde hair flying behind me. There was some noise coming from the lake, which distracted me and I lost the butterfly.

I carefully walked over to the water with a pout, hearing my brother scream for help. My pace fastened and I jumped into the lake, out of breath from running toward him.

"Ali is drowning!" He screamed with a panicked voice. "Go under and check!"

I immediately nodded and dunked my head, his hand going to my neck and keeping it under. Ali, a beautiful brown-haired girl, and a boy with jet black hair jumped in the water, laughing their heads off.

Ed let me go after seconds, his intentions not being to actually hurt me. It didn't stop me from pouting and hitting his chest as hard as I could after I caught my breath.

"Kids, time for dinner!" My mom called, making all of the girls, including me, groan, while the two boys and my brother ran out, hungry as always.

"No, mama, I want to stay here!" My little sister's lip quivered as she sat back in the water. I also sat down in protest, teaming up with my sister against our mother.

"At least you, Rose?" My mom groaned. Rose laughed and got out, dragging us by the hands so we also got out.

We dried ourselves off and sat at the picnic table, where we were having dinner with our mothers, while our fathers worked.

"Knox, stop throwing food at Zane!" Zaria, Zane's mother, rolled her eyes. The boys laughed, Knox tackling Zane to the ground as they rolled around in the grass.

"Mutts!" Rose mumbled, getting a scolding from Aria, her and her brother's mother.

We continued eating and talking, enjoying the warm summer night until the sun set and the moon took its place. My mom raised her head to look at the moon, a content smile curling her lips.

"Dali, Ali, come on, time for bed!" She told us, taking our hands and helping us stand up. Ali rubbed her eyes sleepily, causing the other moms to giggle in awe of my beautiful sister.

I hugged Rose and took my mother's hand as we walked back to our house. We laughed, pointed at the stars, and even did a little dance before entering inside and getting ready for bed.

My sister and I were both in our pajamas now, giggling about a joke I had made. We were supposed to be asleep a long time ago, but that didn't stop us from chatting and angering our tired parents.

"Alana, Dalia, I swear if I have to walk in there one more time!" My dad threatened, although we weren't scared since all he ever did was tickle us and make us do extra chores.

"I made Eddy a card for his birthday tomorrow! It has a huge 16 on it!" My sister whispered, a yawn escaping her lips. "Night, Didi!"

"Night, Ali!" I smiled as I too succumbed to a peaceful sleep.

Suddenly, I felt someone violently shake me, making me groan. My body felt tired and heavy, I wanted to stay in the dark. I mumbled something, but I'm not sure it made any sense since the person kept on talking and shaking me.

"Luna, Luna! Luna, please wake up!"

I opened my eyes, the pain immediately coming back, making me shut them tighter. My sister was there! My sister, my mom, my dad, my friends, they were all here! I wanted to go back, why couldn't I go back? The darkness didn't bring me back, why didn't it bring me back?

"Luna, keep your eyes open, you can do it!" A tear escaped my closed eyes, stinging. I didn't want to come back to loneliness and pain, I wanted my family!

My family. My friends. My friends - Knox, Rose, Zane... The familiar-looking territory and field... Suddenly it all snapped in place. I was in my own pack, the one, I grew up in, with the wolves I grew up with. Some of my closest people were still alive, fighting for me. Next to me. Maybe not all was lost just yet.

I forced myself to open my eyes, staring right into those of the worried doctor. I could hear the drumming of her heart against her chest and could smell the worry oozing off of her, but it didn't matter right now. Only she could help me.

With the last remains of strength, that hadn't been killed by my wolf, I took a deep breath and whispered:

"T-take me to-to Kn-Knox!"

A/N:

Hi, Treasures! Make sure you join my F-a-c-e-b-o-o-k group Teddy's Treasures for extra content and discussions! Anyone figured out how the prologue and this chapter tie together?