The Rising Moon Pack

Chapter 27

Maria POV

This was my fault. This was all my fault. If I hadn’t allowed Bella to the front, I’d probably be curled up in bed right now with Matt and Jake. Instead, I was stood in a foreign bedroom down the hall, with Cassie pointlessly talking at me. This was all my fault.

“Maria? You need to shower, love.” Cassie said to me gently.

No. I didn’t want to shower, I deserved to smell the sticky sweet stench of Matt’s blood on my hands. He was hurt because of me, because of Bella. She whined in my mind, but I shoved her away. This was our fault. I should have warned him first.

“Maria, listen to me. You need to shower.” Cassie said, firmly. She took my hands and led me towards the en-suite, flicking on the bright light. This bathroom was different to the one in Jake’s previous room, but this marble tile was still the same. An imagine of Matt bleeding flashed in my mind, and I shuddered violently at the memory. My stomach began to turn, and I rushed across the room to vomit violently into the toilet.

“There, shhhh. It’s okay.” Cassie soothed, rubbing my back as I emptied the contents of my stomach into the toilet bowl. She held my hair back for me, and passed me a wet flannel to wipe my face with.

“Thanks.” I mumbled, my face hot from the strain of being sick.

“Maria, don’t take this the wrong way, but you really stink now. You need to shower, babe.” Cassie told me.

“I know.” I answered, sadly. “But I don’t want to. What happens if he dies and this is all I have left of him?” I gestured to the blood all over my hands and clothes.

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Cassie retorted bluntly. “Girl, you don’t give yourself enough credit. You healed my baby effortlessly. What makes you think that Matt will be any different?”

I sighed and wipe my face again.

“Matt didn’t wake up.” I told her sadly. “ I don’t think I was strong enough to completely heal him.”

“Leon slept for hours after you healed him. Maybe Matt just needs time for his wolf to process what’s happened?” She suggested, and I thought about what she said.

“Maybe you’re right. “ I answered, “but I won’t know more until I hear from Jake.”

There was a soft knock on the door, and a tired looking Noah walked in.

“How we doing, Squeak?” He asked me softly.

“Well, I just threw up everything I ate yesterday.” I laughed weakly. “Any news?”

“No, none yet. They’re going to scan him for more trauma. Jake made the decision to stay with him, he asked me to let you know.”

I bit my lip and frowned, deep in thought. Was Jake blaming me for this?

“Don’t look like that, Squeak. Jake isn’t blaming you! He blames himself for not catching Matt quicker.” He said, as if reading my mind. “He just wants to stay and make sure Matt is ok. He knows you’re here with Cassie and she’s looking after you. He just wants to be there for Matt.”

I nodded, and my eyes filled with tears. As much as I loved Matt, I couldn’t bring myself to go near him. I felt like I was dangerous to him, and I didn’t want to hurt him again.

“I’m gunna go to bed, I’m shattered. If anything happens, scream at me through the link. I’ll be right in, ok?” Noah asked me, rubbing his tired eyes.

“Of course. Noah, skip training. I’m sure Jase will explain to my dad and Jamie what is going on. You need sleep.” I told him, firmly.

“Yes, Luna. Goodnight!” He waved as he walked out through the door.

“Right,” Cassie stood to her feet. “Shower. Now!”

I stood slowly, taking a deep breathe. Cassie turned the knob on the shower and adjusted the temperature as I stripped off. I didn’t feel uncomfortable being naked around Cassie. She was a mom, she knew what naked bodies looked like. She was old enough to be my mom, after all. I felt a pang, as I realised that I no longer really had a mom.

“You okay, sweetie?” Cassie asked softly.

“Mmmm. It’s just been a really crazy couple days. I also lost my mom yesterday after discovering some horrific truths.” I told her.

“You don’t think you can work it out?”she asked me.

“No, not this time, Cass. I don’t think there will ever be a way back from this. My parents will probably end up getting a divorce.” I said quietly.

“Oh.” She responded. “It’s ok, Maria. Sometimes this is the path life chooses for you. But your dad will get back up, as will you. Pain isn’t permanent.” She smiled reassuringly.

“I’ve just realised I told you all that, and it’s not common knowledge yet that there’s even a problem.” I blurted. “Can you keep this a secret for now please, Cassie?” I pleaded.

“You don’t even have to ask me, love. Of course I’ll keep it to myself. I consider you part of our family after what you did for Leon. Now, sit. Let me wash your hair.” She answered.

I sat in the cold tray of the shower as Cassie gently washed my hair. She was very careful, making sure not to use too much shampoo.

“How is Leon?” I asked, smiling gently at the memory of him cuddling me tightly.

“He’s great.” She replied. “All his pains went,even his teething pains!” She grinned.

“Oh really?” I asked, surprised. “Did I do that?”

“You must have done!” She laughed. “You healed him. I’m assuming that it works for all body parts, not just the bit they’ve hurt.”

“That’s crazy,” I mumbled. “I didn’t know I could do that.”

“Never underestimate yourself. You’re destined to be special, Maria. You know that!” She said proudly.

“My powers aren’t at their fullest yet, though. I didn’t know they would even be strong enough to heal Matt even slightly.” I answered.

“Maybe you healed him just enough to last until you gain your full powers.” Cassie suggested, rinsing my hair. “Maybe he’s already ok. We’ll have to wait and see.”

I nodded, and sighed as Cassie massaged conditioner into my hair. I felt my body relax as she worked her fingers from root to tip, and all too soon I was ready to get out. My body ached, and I was super tired. Cassie handed me a soft white robe, and I accepted it gladly, the warmth enveloping me as I put it on.

“Maria, I can either stay here with you, or I can go. The choice is yours.” Cassie said to me gently.

“Go,” I told her. “I’ll be fine. I need to sleep, and if I keep you here you’ll only miss time with your family.”

“ I don’t mind staying.” She reassured me. “My husband is at home with the children.”

“It’s okay, I’ll be alright.” I told her. “ Go home and rest!”

She nodded to me, before giving me a warm hug. I hugged her back tightly, grateful for the physical contact.

“Goodnight, Cassie!” I whispered.

“Good night, Luna.” She replied, leaving me alone in the bedroom.

As the door closed quietly behind her, I turned to the bed. The omegas had packed and brought everything from our bedroom, all of our clothes were here but there was one thing missing. I decided to go back to the room and get it, before Jake returned and noticed it was gone. I slipped on my favourite T-shirt of Jake’s and a pair of pj shorts, stuck my feet into my favourite pair of fluffy slippers, and left the room. The sun was beginning to rise, leaving the corridor gloomy, but light enough to see.

I walked over to the wing where Jake’s old guest room was. I knew as I was getting close, because the stench of strong bleach was filling the air, hitting the back of my throat and making me gag slightly. The door was ajar, and the window was open to air out the bleachy smell. I switched on the light and found the room almost exactly as we’d left it, Matt’s makeshift bed on the floor, the sofa with the blanket strewn across it carelessly. The bathroom door was open, and I could see the Omegas had removed the bath mat, which had been covered in blood. Matt’s blood.

My stomach lurched as I forced myself to turn away from the sight of the bathroom, and shakily crossed the room to the bedside table. I picked up Jake’s family photo frame, and looked at the photo. This was my future family, and I was excited to one day know them. I turned to leave, and my eye wandered over to the bathroom again. This time, I walked over to the door and pulled it shut. I never wanted to be in that room again.