The Luna Behind The Chains

Chapter 6 - Learning to Cope

Isabelle POV

I expected to have a nightmare last night but I awoke more refreshed than I have felt in a long time. I glanced at the clock on the side table and it showed it was half 5. I dragged myself out of the enormous bed reluctantly, it was super comfy. That's when I realised I fell asleep in the clothes Alesha gave me yesterday. I look around and notice there was a bag placed on the chest of drawers on the wall by the door. Preston or Alesha must've placed it there I thought to myself. I open it up and notice that not only is the bag with toiletries in there that Preston got me but a few sets of clothes and more toiletries as well. I look around the room hoping to find a door to a bathroom, I don't want to wander around if I can avoid it. Strangers are still strangers and I don't know what they are capable of. I spot a door in the corner of the room and open it. I was so happy when I saw the bathroom. I go to the shower and look at the knobs and dials. That's when dread seeped in... I don't know how to work a shower.

Back home Alesha brought down a bucket of warm soapy water so I could clean myself with and the very very very few times she could sneak me into a guest room for a proper wash, she was the one to turn the shower on for me. At this thought I just break down crying. I slide down the bathroom wall defeated. How was I supposed to function in this world? I was isolated and separated for basically my whole life. My earliest memory is of my mum being killed and from then on, I was trapped in a cell at the mercy of my father. I don't know how long I was sat on the bathroom floor but I screamed when I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"Hey, hey shhh, it's just me Izzy, it's Alesha, shhh you're fine honey. you're safe." Alesha soothes me.

I stop screaming when I hear her voice. "Sorry, Mrs Beltram" I say when I calm down. "I'm doomed" I state when I look at her.

"Hey, what did I say when we were at the rest stop? Call me Alesha, also why do you think you're doomed?" she asks me.

"I can't use something as simple as a shower. I don't know anything about anything. I'm as useless as a baby. I just want to wash my hair and scrub the rest of that awful place off of me. I want to feel like a normal wolf and I can't because I'm to stupid to turn a shower on" I'm all but sobbing again at this point.

"You are not stupid. Being less educated as somebody else is not stupid. You can and will learn about these things. It will just take time and a little effort on your part, now chin up my young warrior. I will show you how to turn the shower on, change the temperature and how to turn it off. You will then get dressed amd we will head downstairs and get some breakfast." Alesha all but orders me, but it makes me feel more confident, so I get up off the floor and she proceeds to show me the knob to turn the shower on and adapt the water pressure, the dial for the temperature and how to turn it off.

I get in the shower and the first thing I do is wet my hair and lather it with the coconut shampoo from my bag. It smells amazing and the dirt that came out of my hair is disgusting! I am going to ask a member of the pack staff to change my bedding as I slept on that hair last night... just ew, no. I then condition the ends of my hair how alesha taught me and lather up my body with a coconut body wash. People are going to presume I am a coconut at this point. Once I am all clean I get out of the shower and wrap a towel around me. After washing my hair though my arms are so tired I can't get dressed myself.

"Alesha, could you please help me get dressed and ready. I am really struggling after washing myself." I open the door and ask her.

"Of course I will Izzy. never hesitate to ask me for anything okay sweet." she says giving me a look so I know not to question her on it.

After I am dressed and Alesha has braided my now lovely clean waist length hair. we head down for breakfast. I glanced at the clock on the way out and was surprised to see that it is now past 7. How long was I on the floor crying for? I am sure I didn't take that long in the shower. or did I?

As we head towards what could only be described as the packs dining hall it gets slowly louder. I cling onto Alesha's arm and try and hide behind her, which is a little difficult as Alesha is quite petite at only 5'2" even for a wolf. But she pats my arm, as for support and we head inside. As soon as we enter Preston must've spotted us as he appears by our side as we get our spot in line.

"Hey munchkin, how did you sleep? Also want to use me as a shield, I don't think Alesha is a great one since she is shorter than you." He says winking at Alesha.

"I slept great, that bed is so comfy." I respond letting go of Alesha's arm. Only then realising my nails had dug in a little. "Oh no, I'm so sorry Alesha, I didn't mean to hurt you. You should have said."

"It's okay sweety, look no harm" she says pulling her sleeve up and showing me her uninjured arm.

"Okay, but say something if I am hurting you okay?" I request her.

"I promise I will say something if you ever hurt me." She promises me back.

By then we had made our way to the front of the line. There was a lot to choose from and even the empty plate was heavy for me. Preston notices and takes the plate from me. I give him a small smile and after I have at least one of everything he leads us both to the head table at the front of the hall. There sat both the Alphas in the center and to their right sat a man with medium length brown hair and broad shoulders, and next to him sat a man with shorter dark brown hair and a slighter slender build but still has some muscle bulk. I presume they are the Alpha’s Beta and Gamma. Preston takes a seat next to the Alphas after pulling the chair next to him out for me and Alesha takes the seat next to me. After taking a couple small bites of food, I feel eyes on me. I glance up and see a few pack members staring at me. It throws me off so I look back down. After about 5 bites I lose my appetite, I cant eat much anyway but I am too nervous to try and eat anymore. Preston is talking with the Alphas and Alesha seems to just be focused on her food, so I just sit keeping my eyes down feeling like I just want to go back to my room.

“Munchkin, Delta Justin wants to see you after breakfast. He says he has the herb that should help you and your wolf out.” Preston leans over to let me know.

“Okay.” I say quietly. “Let me know when he’s ready.”

“Hey sweety, do you want to get out of here, I am sure the Alpha’s won’t mind if we go sit in the garden until the delta is ready.” Alesha says to me.

I look to the Alpha’s who looked over at us when Alesha says that. “No, of course, we will send Delta Justin out to meet you guys.” the long haired Alpha says.

“Thank you Alpha Harry” Alesha thanks him, myself and Alesha stand up to leave the room. Alesha takes the lead and we head to the back of the pack house. Out back there was a giant lawn that leads into the forest. But to the left there seems to be a patio area that opens up to a lovely colourful flower area. Amongst the flowers there are a few chairs and a table. We go towards the chairs and both sit down.

“This must be a lot for you. But don’t worry, you’ll soon gain some confidence like the bright kindhearted soul I know you are, you will grow into the amazing young woman I know you will be.” Alesha says to me with a bright smile on her face.

“I don't know Alesha, I am on edge all the time, how am I meant to talk to anyone or even become a functioning pack member when I feel like an outsider. You are the only person I feel comfortable talking to. Even Preston feels like a stranger. I never got to go to school, I missed out on so much and why, because my father thinks I am the cause of mothers death. I was five, how did I kill my mum at 5 years old?” I burst out feeling all of these emotions churn in my chest.

“You will be, you have only been out of that cell for 24hrs, actually not even that. You can’t learn everything at once. You just have to take it one day at a time. Speaking of days, what flavour cake would you like for your birthday? You turn 18 tomorrow, that's a special day, you will be able to sense your mate!” Alesha becomes excited at that prospect.

“Excuse me ladies, how are we both this morning?” Delta Justin comes round the corner.

“I am doing alright, but Izzy here, as you may guess, will need some adjustment time.” Angela answers for us both. Omegas are very empathic and can sometimes feel how others are feeling depending on how strong the emotions are. It seems being away from the toxicness of fathers pack Alesha and her wolf may be starting to heal I wonder.

“I have the herb that I mentioned last night to you, it will be able to help you and your wolf to filter out the wolfsbane and as such your wolf will hopefully start to come out of her coma. Now I have already processed this herb, it is known as the Silver-Leaf Fern and it is really rare. However we have a patch that grows here on our lands and I have my own nursery where I have a few plants of it for such circumstances as your own. Now, you will have to mix a spoonful into some tea twice a day. As for your weight, you can’t force yourself to eat huge amounts as your stomach will need time to readjust to normal meals, so just eat what you can and dont stress yourself out. I will check up on you tomorrow morning to see how you are feeling and go from there.” Delta Justin instructs me. He then passes me a small tub of what looks like silver glitter.

“Okay, thank you Delta” I say timidly.

“Anytime Izzy, now I must go, like I said, one spoon twice a day. See you tomorrow.” as he says that he turns and makes his way back into the pack house.

“Thats some pretty herbs. I will go in and brew us some tea, okay, wait here and don't move.” Alesha says getting up and heading into the packhouse herself.

I stay sat like she said and look around at all the flowers, there seems to be so many in as many colours you can think of. They are so pretty and as I am looking at them someone seems to exit the pack house. They walk to the forest, strip off their clothes and shift into the most magnificent wolf I have ever seen. The wolf’s dark fur seems to shimmer against the mid morning sun and he stands at at least 4 and a half feet. Then he just takes off into the tree line. Who was that I wonder in disbelief.