Adonis

8

Already I can feel his eyes on me through the glass of the window, focused on my cheek then drifting down slowly as I hold myself still, rigid and uncomfortable. Taking my mirror out I have a final touch making sure all traces of my tears are gone as I had cried during my male's funeral before being whisked away in the large black car Adonis has organised for me. I do not want to show him how he's affected me, I do not want to give him the satisfaction of seeing me cry - it's like Tom and I've learnt all males, no matter how good they seem at first, will turn rotten. Shaking my head to myself as despite Tom being rotten he held my heart, I loved him with everything I had.

The door opens for me as one of the males who picked me up from the funeral holds it open, offering his hand to my gloved one but I reject it; my wolf already feeling on edge we have never been around so many wolves before - only if they had the intent to kill us on those horrific nights in the woods. I can't help but have the mindset of this is why I'm here, they will kill me - Adonis has already killed my male, I will be next.

Stepping out I turn my head in each direction identifying my surroundings; there's a large house in the centre of plain land - isolated. It looks as if there's fields for miles with forest located behind the house, my mind ticking as I try to sense where the rest of the pack is; is the Alpha house separated from the pack?

"Corinna, welcome to Bloodmoon" Adonis greets, his form stood just in front of his house whilst a group of wolves stand on the front porch of the house behind him.

"I didn't realise I was being greeted by other wolves?" I sneer, already feeling uncomfortable with the amount of wolves around me, all watching me. "They are no threat to you Corinna, this is a peaceful welcoming for you. Come forward and greet them" Adonis tells me, I make no moves as I feel as if this is a trap; my wolf is on full alert standing to attention in my mind, tail straight up, her body tense as she's alert waiting for any sign that they will attack. I feel even more vulnerable as my senses are temporarily impaired sue to Tom's handiwork, the silver has weakened my state dramatically where I need to sit down after only a short span of standing, my sense of smell is only slightly there, my sight is worse; I cannot see out of one eye and the other is blurred unless I'm looking directly in front of me, my hearing is now like an elderly human's - I'm an easy target for these wolves, practically defenseless. But I will not let them hurt me, I will fight until my last breath.

A hand grips onto my arm pressing into my damaged skin causing waves of pain to crash through me. My eyes snap to his; one of the male's who drove me here - my reaction is instantaneous as I grab his forearm twisting ti with a quickness he doesn't possess and my hand latches onto the pressure point where his neck muscles connect with his jaw pressing my index and middle finger down and the male drops to the floor - asleep.

Twisting around as the second male holds my shoulder and I do the same to him before brushing down my dress, fixing myself and facing Adonis who I notice is closer now. "Anyone else?" I growl out, balancing on the balls of my feet as best as I can in these heels, as I'm shaking in anticipation, my wolf ready to fight.

He holds his hands out to me "We mean no harm Corinna, if I wanted you dead you would be. There is no threat imposed on you here" he tells me stepping forward but I only tense "Who are the wolves behind you?" I question "My family and your family"

This has me walking around him, so I can get closer to the wolves, see these people who are said to be my family - not that I could recognise them (even my eyes sight was better). "They may be impostors. I do not remember what my family looked like" I state as I sense Adonis coming to stand beside me, my own feet taking steps away from him.

"I assure you they are your family" he tells me as if his validation means anything to me.

"Corey how can you forget us?" a male says, quickly coming towards me making a deep growl emanate from me, claws breaking through my gloves, my knees crouching ready to attack but Adonis steps in front of me "Ezra, let her settle in" he tells him - I know Ezra is the name of one of my brothers, the other Luca. This memory has me standing straighter, my hand going to my temple to ease the ache of my brain as memories try to push forward; when I came home crying over Tom after he had broken things off due to my age - I now can put their faces into that memory, their features seeming clearer in my mind more than ever.

Having to close my eyes to stop the memory as it's too painful for my already weak state, and when they open Adonis is stood in front of me, staring at my face that's shielded by the black veil of my funeral attire. My whole being is covered in head to toe black, but I've had to ensure every part of me is hidden as to prevent anyone from seeing the damage Tom inflicted upon me; the burns and cuts covering my body were masked by my long sleeved, ankle length and high neck dress, gloves to hide the further damage and the veil with large sunglasses kept the mutilations disguised.

I sense his eyes try to see more of my face as he stays staring, when he finds a revealed part of skin his gaze focuses on it for a few torturous seconds which seem to make the cuts on my face burn even more.

"Are you in pain Corinna?" he questions - again using my name, I hate the way it affects me making my insides bubble in a way they only do for him before I snap out of it and my stomach churns in disgust as I remind myself he killed my true male.

"Nothing that I cannot handle, Adonis" I respond, seeing his pupils dilate as a visible shudder goes through him, a growl rumbling from his chest as he stares at me even more intensely.

"How about we all go inside? I'm sure Corinna doesn't want to stand out here whilst you stare at her" his mother says, her eyes boring into his as she gives him a disappointed look before shaking her head and turning to me with a smile. "I am Selia, you may or may not remember me-"

"I remember you, from the first meeting and from more recently" I grit out "How long have you had your family watching me?" I snarl to Adonis who growls, coming forward and gripping the back of my neck "I have already warned you about your tone Corinna. I am the Alpha, I am your Alpha and you will show me some respect unless you want the fitting punishment." he snarls, the raw power and dominance he has has even my wolf tucking her tail in my mind - something she has never done before, as her paws shield her eyes from his powerful glare.

I push her away "You are not my Alpha" I spit "And you do not deserve my respect" the words leave my mouth with venom as he gives me a smile, his teeth showing as they extend into fangs "Clever little female, no I am not your Alpha yet" he says, releasing me "They simply happened to meet you and told me about your encounter - now inside" he tells me, looking at me expectantly as the other wolves go into the house I notice his father staring at me as if he's observing and he gives me a nod - just like at the bar - before taking his females hand and leading her inside.

"Inside Corinna, you have more wolves to greet" he informs me "Who?" I ask, already feeling on edge and uncofrtable around just one wolf let alone the group that was just here, and now even more. "New members of your family" he says, his arm reaching behind me making me growl towards him in warning but he simply ignores me putting his arm around me, resting on my hip and rubbing overtop my dress unknowingly touching a sore burn making more growls tumble from me, he simply pulls me into him, a firmer grip applying to my hip and he picks up my hand, bringing it to his mouth and nipping at the tips, tugging at the silk gloves.

"I have told you I am no threat to you, I can tell you are nervous Corinna, slightly fearful of anyone's touch - that is why you're growling; you are scared. But you will learn to accept my touch, to enjoy it and revel in the pleasure I can bring you my female just as you will learn to respect me as your Alpha." his words come confidently from his mouth as he takes me into the house, my body rigid as I try to suppress growls "I am not scared" I snarl, causing him to look down at my face before looking forward again.

I feel suffocated with the amount of people in the room, everyone seated comfortably on sofas and conversing as if they're good friends; my family and Adonis'.

He brings me to sit next to a female as he sits beside me "Your mother," he tells me as she looks at me with a sad smile "My pup" she breathes her arms reaching forward that has me growling furiously, claws out, teeth descended as my wolf goes into survival mode - not used to any of this, both of us panicking as I lunge forward, teeth aiming for her neck but Adonis pulls me away, gripping onto my neck harshly as I see a male grab the female at the same time.

Adonis pushes me against a cupboard, pressing his body to mine to restrict my movements, his hand staying on my throat whilst the other holds both wrists - every part of me he's touching is in agony from my silver inflicted wounds which only fuels my instinct to kill; to fight for survival.

"Don't touch me Lucian!" the female seethes, "This is your fault, look at what you have done to her!" she snarls her words trigger a further memory, just after the whipping as remember my mother saying those exact words to my father. Her voice and face now joining the memory like the last puzzle piece.

More memories of my mother, holding me, kissing me, hugging me, smothering me flood into my mind making my body slack in exhaustion, my mind and body in such agony as Adonis holds me up. "Relax" he tells me, his harsh hold loosening as he just clasps onto my waist.

Once I gather myself I step out of his hold, seeing my parents looking at me both with sorrowful faces - even my father. "Take off your coat Corinna," Adonis says, he sees me ignoring his request so he steps forward his hands going to do it himself that makes me growl in annoyance "And the hat, show us your face my female"

I decide to just comply, the extra coverings making me feel even more constricted so I comply, first removing my coat, smoothing out the fabric and folding it placing it on the counter, removing the hat which I know unveils a few on the angry marks on my face, the sunglasses coming off has Adonis stiffening beside me, his chest rumbling with a growl as a few more growls sound from my family. I pull my gloves off finger by finger, and then folding them together placing them next to my other garments as I look out to the other wolves; my senses restricting me form gouging their reactions but I can feel the tense air around us.

"Who did this to you?" Adonis growls, eyes examining each s***h across my face. The biggest cut runs from my hairline, down to my jaw, cutting through my right eye; no swelling, but the white of my eye is blood red, my iris abnormally pale from the silver.

I ignore his question and lean my body on the counter slightly, needing some support as I am feeling tired, light headed, and weaker by the second as if I'll faint.

"Are you hurting?" my mother asks, all of her motherly actions flashing into my mind that cause my heart to constrict - thinking of all the time we wasted being apart, I wish she had been there during these last years; perhaps she would've helped mine and Tom's situation as I remember her always solving my problems. Memories of me crying to my mother whilst she soothes me, giving me advice on how to deal with whatever it is that is burdening me - she had a way of soothing me the way only a mother can.

"No." I respond "I apologise for my behaviour, I am not used to any of this - I haven't been around wolves in a while" I tell her, trying to use a softer voice on her as I feel a softness towards her; the natural bond between mother and pup. "Don't worry Corey, you'll get more comfortable." she says as she steps slightly closer, her eyes looking at me with a sheen to them "Can I hug you my pup?" she asks, making me stiffen "I don't think that's safe seeing as how she reacted a few seconds ago Evelyn, but in time I'm sure" Adonis says.

"Corey do you remember me?" my other brother says, stepping next to our mother and he looks a lot older than the brother wolf I knew when I left - he has grown into his Alpha title, but I can tell he's not yet Alpha, still preparing. "Luca, my eldest brother" I say, causing his lips to lift up "Yes" he says softly, regarding me with a caring expression - he was always the most protective.

"I want you to meet my mate, Isla"he says bringing forward a heavily pregnant female with golden blonde hair who gives me an apprehensive smile, I can tell she's trying to hide her fear of me as her nature tells her to protect her pup. I also see my brother feeling those instincts as he holds her tightly to him, his arm across the front of her and slightly shielding her from me, most likely due to my unstable nature.

"A pup?" I say, looking at her stomach feeling a sense of longing within me - I had wanted pups but a human and wolf couldn't reproduce, so me and Tom were incapable of having a family but I had always assumed we would adopt and create our little family.

"We already have twins; Isiah and Liana, they have been so excited to meet their Aunt Corey. Luca has been talking about you since we met and has told our pups about you, we're all so glad to see you" the female says, giving me a smile as Adonis' mother, Selia brings over two pups about five years old.

I see Luca, bringing his female to go in between our father and brother before he takes the pups hands and comes towards me, stopping a couple metres away with his eyes watching me as if I'll pounce on them and chew them up for my dinner.

Their eyes widen as they take in my appearance, open mouths when their eyes reach my face - I wait for them to perhaps cry, or scream at the sight but excited grins plaster each face, the female with two dimples on her cheeks whilst her brother has only one. "Dad is she a warrior?" Isiah asks, his eyes regarding me with awe, he suddenly comes forward and grabs onto my hand making my lips raise to snarl from the pain and from the contact but I swallow it down - he's a pup, I tell myself, no threat.

..

"You are my guest, just relax Corinna" Selia tells me as I stand to the side unsure of what to do - if I was at home I would be cooking, cleaning, tidying but here, I don't know my place, I don't know what to do with myself as I see everyone else looking comfortable as they chat, drink and watch television. Like at most social events I wouldn't be included, I would be off to the side cooking for the event or simply sat waiting until it was time to go, here I simply observe everyone still not comfortable - in all situation I seem to be the outsider.

"Aunt Corey?" Liana tugs on my dress, getting my attention "Yes." I say "Will you pick some of the flowers with me?" she questions "What a lovely idea, the roses have just bloomed ready for you to pluck" Selia smiles, before I can decline Liana pulls me by my sleeve out of the house.

She picked another beautiful fuchsia coloured flower that had me wanting to snap at her to not touch them, to let them stay as to me they were so gorgeous. I had never been able to garden at our house, Tom wouldn't let me buy any seeds or gardening materials and I had no money, he took care of everything. Perhaps now he is gone I may garden, I could plant a tree or flower beds in his memory.

"Do you want to play hide and seek?" the pup asks me, her attention span so small as she just carelessly drops the bouquet she had gathered to the ground to slowly wither and die.

"No." I tell her which has her bottom lip quivering "Do not cry" I demand, never had I been around pups and I hadn't the faintest clue on how I would cope with a crying one - from just my small outings to the grocery store I would catch a glimpse into the bad side of parenthood; the children would throw tantrums that had my ear drums aching from the high pitched wails and screams they would project from such tiny mouths. I do not want to hear that.

"I will play" I say and immediately the pup smiles "You count to twenty-two and I'll go hide" she tells me, giggling and running off as I turn around counting to the specific amount she wants me to before venturing out to find her.

Seeing her legs sticking out from behind a tree has me reaching the pup as she screams "You found me!" she smiles "It wasn't very hard considering you had your legs out in the open, you are not very good at hiding" I tell her, shaking my head at the young pup.

The small movement has my head sudden;y spinning, my stomach lurhcing and I feel a shudder go through me, my hand reaching forward to press against the tree bark, as I fall to my knees. "Aunt Corey?" she questions with her voice shaking "I'm fine" I mutter, feeling anything but as I know I have to hide it, remain strong but my body won't allow it.

Bile escapes my mouth in a violent torrent, blood mixing through it until I fall to the floor, my body convulsing in agony as I hear Liana scream.