Unknown Wolf

Nightmares and Magical Friends

********* Lucy's POV

I awoke with a start to someone screaming in the night. Sitting upright in the bed, I turned to see Rowen tossing and turning in his sleep. He let out another scream as he thrashed around. He didn't look like the strong man he normally seemed to be, but almost like a little boy having a nightmare.

My heart was softened by the scene, and I rushed over to him softly, touching his arms. He began to settle at my touch, so I began to rub his arms up and down as sparks traveled through my touch. He stopped thrashing around, and I snuggled closer to him. I ran my fingers through his auburn hair with one hand and gently rubbed his forehead and cheek with my other. He seemed calmer now as I held him in my arms, cradling his head to my chest.

"Mom.... No.... please... don't hurt her, please.... I'll do better.... just don't..." he continued to mumble in his sleep, and a tear escaped down his cheek. I pulled him closer to my chest, wiping his tears away, and began rocking him.

"Shhh... it's okay.... you're okay..." I whispered while rocking him and rubbing his head.

After several minutes, he calmed and fell into a deeper sleep. His arms wrapped around my waist, holding onto me and pulling me closer. I tried to move away to go back to bed, but he had a vise grip on me. I couldn't move, so I tried to wake him.

"Rowen? Rowen, please. Wake up, please, Rowen." He never stirred. Now I was stuck here in bed with him, and that realization was hitting me.

I took both my hands and tried to push away from him. Nothing, so I tried to undo his clasped hands. No luck. I took both my hands and feet, trying to push off from him. He tried to move closer to me, and I about fell off the bed. I stopped pushing with my limbs, and he pulled me right into his chest. He was still dead asleep, so at that point, I gave up. My feeble attempts to free myself must have looked ridiculous, and Rowen clearly had no idea what was going on.

I was so tired. I laid my head against his chest in defeat, listening to his steady heartbeat. He was so warm, and I couldn't deny that I fit perfectly in his arms. I inhaled his delicious scent and felt weak to the soft sparks between us as we touched. I felt safe, and with the comfort and warmth of him, I quickly fell back asleep.

******** Rowen's POV

Beep... Beep... Beep... Beep

I heard the alarm blaring, and I knew we needed to get packed and head on our way. I was so comfortable, though. I didn't want to wake up or get out of bed. I slowly opened my eyes to be surprised seeing Lucy laying next to me snuggled into my chest. I lay there as still as possible, hoping to extend this moment before she woke up, but that stupid alarm kept going off.

She slowly began to stir just as the alarm let off heading into snooze mode. Not fully awake, she nuzzled her face into my chest and made a small groan unhappy about being disturbed. She was so cute, and I felt my heart melt out of happiness at that moment. Her eyes slowly began to open. She looked at me, and I couldn't help but smile at her.

Her eyes widened into the size of saucers, and she leaped out of the bed as if I was made of fire tripping and tumbling to the floor. I couldn't help but laugh. It was a deep belly laugh that I had never had before in my life. She got up from the floor, her face scarlet, grabbed her bag, and headed for the bathroom, locking the door behind her.

I sat up and stretched before looking over at the clock. It's 7:10 a.m., and I make sure the alarm is cut off, not wanting to hear it go off a second time. Then, as Lucy got ready in the bathroom, I decided to go ahead and pack my suitcase. We need to hurry up and get on the move to stay ahead of anyone who would be hunting us down.

******* Lucy's POV

I was mortified, waking up in his arms. Never in my life had I ever slept with a man before. I briefly remember dozing off in his arms after his nightmare. Even though I was embarrassed, I had to admit it felt nice snuggling up in his arms. I felt safe, and I slept so soundly. He seemed to be happy to wake up to me there.

I rolled my eyes, thinking about his smile. It was the first thing I saw this morning, and the little I did know about Rowen Blackwood, he didn't smile much at all. I'm sure he never laughed either. Probably wasn't much in his life to be happy about. I quickly went to the bathroom, and then got dressed in jeans and a white t-shirt. Throwing my hair up in a ponytail. I brushed my teeth and was ready to head out.

I walked back into the bedroom to find Rowen already dressed, and his suitcase was pretty much packed. He walked around me, still smiling, and went to use the bathroom himself and brush his teeth.

I began packing my suitcase nicely, folding all the clothes and placing them inside. Then, I put all the toiletries and my makeup bag inside, zipping it up. Rowen came out of the bathroom and packed his toothbrush away.

"Are you ready?" He asked. Turning towards me.

"Yes, let's go." I grabbed my suitcase to carry out to the car, but he took it from me, lifting it with ease to carry out with his own.

"I'm not incapable of carrying my own luggage." I rolled my eyes at him.

"No one said you weren't, but you don't need to when I am capable of taking care of it." I huffed, and he continued with, "A thank you would suffice." He looked down at me with raised eyebrows.

"Thank you, but I'm not weak." He smirked at my response.

"No one is accusing you of being weak, but there is no harm in me taking care of you either." He put the bags in the trunk before getting in the driver's seat next to me.

"Crap! I almost forgot." He pulled out the spray bottle and proceeded to spray us both down. Then, we started the car, and we pulled away from the hotel getting straight on the highway.

******** Rowen's POV

Steadily driving on the highway. It was going to be a while until we reached our next destination, so I decided to start up a conversation.

"So out of curiosity, how did you end up sleeping in my bed?" I turned to look at her after finishing my question to see her reaction. Her face looked beyond cute as her cheeks turned red. She stared at the floor for a minute quiet.

Finally, she looked up at me, "I woke up to you screaming in your sleep. You were having a nightmare, so I went to try and calm you down."

I went stiff and stared forward at the highway ahead of us. Not knowing what to say.

"It took a bit for you to settle down, and when you did, you clung to me in your sleep. I couldn't get free, and I was so tired I must have ended up dozing back off with you." It was silent in the car for a minute. This isn't where I thought opening this conversation would lead, but here we were stuck in the awkwardness.

"It's okay," she whispered. "I have nightmares at night, too."

My shoulders relaxed at her confession. It dawned on me that we both probably had nightmares of my father killing our mothers.

When you start a relationship with someone, you try to find things you have in common with them. Things that help bond you together. Nightmares about our mothers murders, both murdered by the same man, was not what I wanted for us. What were we bonded by trauma? Why can't I have a happy, normal life?

Boy meets pretty girl. They fall in love, get married, and have babies. Not this nightmare rollercoaster. Maybe if we are lucky we could find some resemblance of that in a simple life together in the future. Hopefully, I can cover our tracks well enough to keep us hidden.

I looked down to see her place her hand over mine on the gear shift. Sparks traveling up my arm, pulling me out of my thoughts. She gave me a knowing look but seemed to be trying to let me know it was okay.

I stopped later on to get gas. She asked to buy a dime store romance novel. I guess to keep herself busy in the car ride, and I obliged. Then we grabbed a quick drive thru lunch. She was a pretty good passenger for these long drives. It was about 5:45 before we made it to our next destination.

She looked up from her book as the sun began to set over the horizon. We had left the busy highway and were out in what seemed the middle of nowhere as we passed by corn field upon corn field.

Finally, I turned down a long straight driveway leading to a white farm house up ahead with a small barn to the back. There was nothing else for miles around except corn, that is. This was my oldest friend's home, Arthur Hess.

************ Lucy's POV

Rowen pulled up to a beautiful white farmhouse with red shutters and a wrap around porch. Bushy, green ferns hung from hooks on the eves, red rose bushes lined the front, and white rockers with red and white buffalo checked pillows stood in rows down the porch. It was beyond beautiful and inviting. He grabbed our suitcases as I got out and gawked at the beauty of it.

He came up beside me and said, "Charming isn't it."

"Oh, it's beyond beautiful," I said in awe as the skyline behind it was painted with yellows, oranges, and pinks.

Suddenly, the front door flung open, and a man in his early thirties popped out. He had blonde hair and warm brown eyes that sparkled with delight.

"Ryan!" He shouted with a slight wink. He flew down the porch steps and pulled Rowen into a tight hug. Rowen rolled his eyes at the dramatics of it all.

"Arthur, this is Lindsey." He nodded to me when Arthur finally let him loose.

He stepped back from Rowen and took in the sight of me before he engulfed me into a large bear hug, lifting me off my feet and twirling me around. I giggled.

"The famed Mrs. Ryan Benson. Shew!" He said, holding me at arms length to get another good look at me, and I blushed. Rowen was full on enjoying my reaction, smiling at me from behind Arthur.

"Come on inside so we can eat and catch up now," He wrapped his arm around my shoulders, guiding me towards the door while turning his head to hollar behind us. "Hurry up with those bags now, Ryan. There is no need to drag your feet."

I giggled as I looked back to see Rowen rolling his eyes and shaking his head. Stepping in through the front door, you walked into a beautiful foyer greated by a wood staircase with a white banister. There was a white chair rail molding separating the beadboard from the wallpaper above it. The wallpaper was white with red and blue flowers upon vines. Antique photographs lined the stairs going up, and the entryway also led down a hall connecting the rooms on the main floor.

Arthur proceeded to lead me to the dining room that had a large wooden farmhouse table in the middle with white ladder back chairs around it, and a large vase of yellow roses in the center of the table. The room was a soft blue color with a large set of windows on one end flanked with flowing white sheer curtains and white built-in corner cabinets to the other end.

"Sit, sit." He instructed, pulling out a chair for me. Rowen proceeded to sit directly across from me and Arthur between us at the head of the table.

Arthur then clapped his hands together, and I clasped my hand to my mouth with a loud gasp. Before us completely out of thin air appeared, our place settings were full with lemon pepper trout, cooked asparagus, and grilled corn on the cob. There were water glasses and three glasses of white wine as well. I looked up from my plate to see Arthur grinning from ear to ear over my reaction.

"I take it, Ryan, Rowen, didn't warn you of my talents. I'm a wizard."

"A wizard with a flare for the dramatics," Rowen shook his head. "I grew up with Arthur. He is my dearest friend."

I was still frozen in shock, looking at them both, but it dawned on me this must be where Rowen got the enchanted bag and the spray.

"She must not get out much," Arthur stated, and Rowen laughed. Arthur smiled at his friends laughter.

"She has an overly protective father," Rowen stated.

"Well, then he must really hate you," Arthur replied, raising his eyebrows. I laughed.

We continued talking and laughing in such a comfortable manner it just felt natural to banter back and forth with the two of them while we ate. Arthur had this way of making you feel at ease, and it was like I had known him all my life, too. Eventually, as time flew by, I began to yawn. Tired from all the driving.

"Let me show you to your room, princess. You have an early morning tomorrow, too."

I followed Arthur up the stairs with Rowen hot on my heels. He led me down the hall to the last door on the right. Holding it open for me as I walked in. It was beautiful in a soft mint green. A four-poster queen-size oak bed covered in a mint green and pink quilt with matching shams and white sheets. Two matching bedside tables, one with a glass lamp and a light pink alarm clock on it. The other had a white vase with a fresh bouquet of pink peonies in it. Across from the bed was a matching dresser. A large mirror hung on the wall over it, and a topped white dolly with pink roses sewn on it lay on top of the dresser. There was a double window on the wall directly across from the door with white lace curtains, and the moon could be seen peeking through.

I turned to see them both watching me take in the quaint room smiling before Arthur continued, "The bathroom is right next to your room through that door."

I noticed on either side of the dresser was a door the first one Arthur pointed to was the bathroom. The other must have been the closet.

"I am in the room right next to the stairs, and Rowen's room is across the hall from this one," He finished. "Goodnight, princess. See you in the morning." Arthur turned and left.

Rowen stood in the doorway but slowly came forward. "You sure you would rather sleep alone?"

Though my wolf would rather nothing more than to snuggle up close to his chest again and fall asleep to the sound of his heartbeat. I knew I shouldn't make a habit out of last night. I still don't know for sure if I want to be his mate or not, and I knew it was just improper.

"Yes, I'll be fine." I smiled at him softly.

He looked a little disappointed but nodded. "If you need anything or maybe just change your mind, I'll just be across the hall."

He quietly slipped out, shutting the door behind him. I looked to see my suitcase already next to the bed and pulled out my pajamas. I got ready for bed and slipped into the soft covers beyond exhausted.