31. Night of Terror

Nova

White and sterile..

The only words that could describe the room I was sitting in right now. The evening sun had already set, sending hues of pink purple and oranges scattered across the darkening blue sky, beams of hot evening sun sinking low, light coming in from the window licking at every shadow.

Whirring of machines and the steady beep of the heart monitor the only thing that could be heard as i sat next to the hospital bed at Doc's, watching Eden sleep off the dangerous poison she had consumed.

Meant to kill.

Doc confirmed she had been poisoned.. they found the poison residue in some pouches of herbal tea meant to ward off males during the few days a heat can be sensed before it actually hits..

She had gotten those for me..

Thankfully she only drank half the cup. She, being an oracle, had to always make sure her heat was masked completely.. she didn't have a mate out there for her but recieved her heat once she shifted.. and going without those herbs would risk her gift if anything ever happened to her. She must have sensed it coming and broke open the packaging to have some.. just in case.

But that tea was laced with blue lotus and wolfsbane.. a lethal combination for wolves. It would have killed her if she had consumed the entire cup of tea... meant for me...

Someone had meant to kill me..

And i knew exactly who it could have been.

Only one wolf here has experience with herbs and hates my guts.

The Healer Witch...

I did some research.. with our own healer. Yesterday, after the entire ordeal went down.. after watching my best friend strangle and seize right in front of my own eyes..

Our pack healer said eyes so dark like the ones Anita possess.. it happens when a wolf is given gifts from the moon like healing or sight and they use their talents for the wrong purpose.. to harm instead of help. Daisy, our healer.. told me that Anita had misused her powers so much that it had taken its toll on her.. darkening her eyes to match her soul. The moon would have no favor with her when she eventually died.

This wasn't common knowlege. Other wolves didn't know anything about trivial things such as eyes so dark like two round coal pieces.. it was however common knowlege among healers who have witnessed events such as those. Daisy said all healers are warned in their training about this but Alpha's.. Betas.. and every other wolf known to the pack wouldn't know about this.

I had come to Daisy, desperate for anything she could tell me. She had been working with Doc on Eden's behalf... helping him reverse the powerful herb that took her under.. Daisy knew all about Anita.. knew the stories but she wouldn't share that because she said it wasn't her place. All she could do was tell me she had turned down a dark path..

And then i told Alpha Blake everything.

He was speechless to say the least. Then he became angry... that an unwanted guest on his territory had attempted to snuff the life out of one of his pack members.. instead of me, she poisoned an Oracle in training which was a death sentence. Oracles are rare and special to the pack..

Anita signed her own death warrant when she did this.

But unfortunately, its not enough to just point a finger. There was no proof. Alpha Blake had to initiate a full investigation before he could sentence her to death.

I sighed heavily as i stroked Eden's hand in mine. She looked so peaceful yet so weak.. her skin so pale it was almost paper white.. her glowing blonde hair looked darker and dull against the crisp white linens and her lips were not their usual pink.

My poor Eden.

I realised i hadn't slept since yesterday as i yawned, rubbing my eyes as i stood. The bleach smell was giving me a migraine so i decided it was best if i left for a while to take a nap and get something to eat. Leaning down, i pressed my lips to her temple before removing my hand from hers, exiting the door quietly.

I couldn't describe the sorrow i felt inside me.. thinking I was about to lose someone so close to me.. i have already lost Zaryn and Deacon.. and my brother had been going against me as well but i dont think i could handle losing Eden too. My sanity was already in question as it is.

Smoothing my hands down my wrinkled outfit from yesterday, I walked down the sterile white corridor toward the lobby, my heels clicking with each step i took.

As i rounded the corner, my eyes fell on Zaryn, sitting in the lobby on the black leather couch. His body was leaned over, forearms resting on top of his thighs with his head bowed, being held in his hands.

Grief.

I attempted to seem non chalante but the scent of him was driving me crazy...my body wanted to feel his skin against my own.. his lips against mine. I hate that feeling because I hate him and i just want those feelings to go away and never return...

But our wolves are both marked now.. i couldn't stop those feelings and thoughts from stirring inside me. Having no sleep made it worse.. my wolf was begging his to comfort us.. he could sense my wolf just as i could sense his.

But the image of his lips on Grace's quickly sent my wolf to the back of my mind.

Taking a shaky breath, I stepped out of the corridor and made my way through the lobby, leaving him without a word his way. A smile crept onto my lips, feeling home free as i reached for the doorknob of the clinic, ready to be outside.. away from his enticing scent that drove me wild.

"Nova..." His deep husky voice croaked. It stopped me, sending shivers down my spine with just one word... one word uttered in despair, thick with guilt.

Taking a deep breath, i paused, my hand still on the doorknob, eyes trained on the white painted wood of the front door as i stayed still.. waiting on his words to come.

If he thought i was turning around to face him, he was mistaken. He deserved my back. Always.

"I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry Nova." His voice cracked with pain.. i could hear the tears breaking the barrier through his words as i turned slowly.. curious as to what he was sorry for.

Was he sorry for Eden? For my almost-loss or his? For kissing Grace? For lying to me? For not keeping his words.. any of them? For breaking me? For making me hate him? For not believing me? For bringing me in this situation to begin with?

As i turned to face him, his head angled upward, red rimmed blue eyes staring back at me as they shimmered with tears. My breath hitched in my throat and i hated the feeling. I loathed the fact that my body wanted me to comfort him.

I stood motionless, my hand moving away from the doorknob as I stared across the room at him.. tired eyes and wrinked clothes, my hair in a messy bun atop my head.

"What are you sorry for this time Zaryn?" My tone held no slightest inclination that i sympathized with him. I was numb in my mind allthough my body hummed with blissful pleasure. I wanted to suffocate that beautiful face of his.. let him know what suffering felt like.

He rose from his seat, the only other wolf here was Doc and he had gone to his office to hole up with his meatball sub. I watched with cautious eyes as Zaryn began walking toward me, his sharp cheek bones streaming with tears that he made no point to hide.

"Dont." I held up my palms as he got closer, my tone firm.. demanding that he stop. He did. Standing three feet away from me, looking like a sad lost little boy.

"Nova.. I didn't know you were serious about what you said.. about Eden.. about Anita poisoning her. I talked to my dad.. he said that it was meant for .. for you." His eyes scrunched up, his words broken, voice hoarse.

I felt the pain he was in.. that his wolf was in.. the thought of losing his mate. It hurt his soul..

"Yeah." I whispered softly before turning, jerking the door open and walking out, leaving Zaryn standing there watching me go.. feeling his eyes on me until the door closed, blocking his view.

With heavy steps, i briskly trotted down the dirt road, the sun already sinking down the horizon, leaving a darkness in its wake. Crossing my arms over my chest, I kept walking, my heels digging into the dusty ground as I felt my insides wring with his pain.. his wolf's pain. He was crying hard.. i could feel it. His wolf was showing mine what his skin side was feeling.

I was proud of myself.. not letting the bond take me over.. not letting it weaken me, throwing me into the bond's beckoning call.

He kissed her. Amongst many other things, he kissed her and that image will be forever engrained in my memory.

As i rounded the corner, going down the road toward my house, i realised how dark it had already become outside when the street light illuminated. Two single streetlights to iluminate a long stretch of dirt road near the lake wasn't too bad as it was still semi light outside.. the sky a deep navy, tinted by the moon and the fragments left over from thr sinking sunset.. the trees that lines the dirt road prevented any of the light to penetrate its shield.. making it dark and eerie along the path.

All that could be heard aside from my heavy breathing were the crickets and frogs.. chirping.. but i scented something off.. something familiar... yet tainted.

My steps quickened, wanting to get inside my home.. away from this eerie feeling i felt. It was as if I was being watched.. and with the Witch out to get me.. I didn't want to risk anything. My wolf was nudging me in my mind to hurry.. she felt that feeling as well and she didn't like it one bit.

My house came into view, the porch light on, giving me a rush of relief.. sighing in contentment, i stepped onto the cobble stone sidewalk, shaking that gut feeling away but i felt a presence behind me causing me to pause, widening my eyes.

A firm strong hand reached out, grabbing my arm and jerking me backwards before my heels hit the cobblestone path.

My heart hammered in my chest loudly as my head whipped behind me, seeing two gold eyes glowing, glaring back at me.. a deep rumble tumbing out if it's chest.

"Deacon.." i whispered in horror, seeing his wolf staring at me through his eyes. Not just the darkened eyes that happens when a wolf looks through your human side... partially shifting. This being looking at me was something i had never seen.. not on him or anyone else. It was as if he was using his wolfs stregth but his skin side to maneuver.

I tensed, trying to wretch my arm from his grip. "Deacon. You're hurting me." I warned.. he was about to set my wolf out and i wanted to grasp that concet befoe it was too late.

As I growled, my eyes flashing dark, A hand with black sharp claws, dug into my skin. My mouth opened and i tried to scream but a fist came out of the dark, smashing into my face, quickly sending me spiraling into the dark abyss i began to become familiar with as of late.

Still semi conscious, i could feel myself fall limp but i never hit the ground.. i was being lifted in strong arms and carried into the woods across the street.

×××

My head felt as if bricks were resting ontop of me.. pressure in my eyes building to the point of explosions. I groaned, shifting to my side, my eyes scrunching up in pain as I brought a hand to my head.. trying to remember..

That's when it all came back to me..

Deacon..

My eyes flew open as i shot up, my head pounding even more. Feeling my heart speed up inside my chest i began to panic as i glanced around, looking for any sign of him..

Nothing but darkness.

The side of my face felt swollen.. bruised.. but i ignored it the best I could as the terror of what could happen sunk in. I hadn't seen Deacon since i attacked him .. and he hurt me. He wants to hurt me even more.. i just know it. He voiced his want to mate with me more than once now..

Kneeling, my movements jerky, i attempted to hide my panic and failed, my eyes shifting all around like a caged animal. It was dark but I could see I was still outside somewhere.. in the forrest. Fixing my senses on smells.. I could distinguish where I was from the smell of Jasmine that lingered in high concentrations.. i wasn't too far behind Doc's. A little ways out.

Just as I stood, rustling came from the trees, deep growls reverberating through me as I turned swiftly to see Deacon leering at me from in the shadows behind a tree. He stalked forward, my mind inna haze as i backed away, my wolf not surfacing. A frown etched onto my head as I tried to call her to the front line but revieved no answer.

"Dont freak. Your wolf is fine. I just had to give you something so she wouldn't come out to attack me. Now.. lets pick up where we left off shall we?" A dark chuckle left his body as he sauntered slowly into the moonlight, eyes still glowing. Frightened was an understatement. I felt as if every source of power insidee had vanished, leaving behind a useless human shell. This is how humans must feel.. scared... fearing for the unknown at all times.

I was frozen in my spot as he launched forward, claws digging in my hips. I gasped, his claws digging in hard, drawing blood as he forced my body to his.. tears stung my eyes as i began to hyperventilate.. pressing my palms into his chest so I could break his grasp on me but my strength was no use. I was weak.

This Deacon. This Deacon that hits females.. puts unwanted advances on his best friend.. kidnaps.. professes his love for me..

This was not him. At all.

"Mmm. You smell so good. Calm down. Im not going to hurt you." He whispered in my ear making me nauseated.

"Let me go!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, thrashing in his hold making his claws slice through the skin over my hips.

"Shhh!" He turned me so my back was pressed against his chest, a hand holding my wrists togethet in front of me as i strugglef while his other hand closed over my mouth, pressing me to him. I closed my eyes as tears fell, his lips pressing into my neck in a gentle kiss.

"I told you I loved you. And you will be with me Nova. I got tired of watching you exchange letters back and forth with my brother.. watching you leave the tree house with him.. his scent all over you. It drove me insane.. " He seethed, his tongue licking up the side of my neck as muffled sobs left his closed grip on my mouth.

My eyes widened at what he had just said..

He knew about the letters.. he knew about our meetings...

Gathering all the strength I could muster, i focused on my anger and pushed the fright out of my body.. seething hot rage coursed through my veins .. Deacon was just another form of my self destruction. I sighed , leaning my head back onto his shoulder.. ready to fake him out like. Did before.

He chuckled lightly. "You cant resist me can you baby." He kissed up my neck as I tried not to cringe. When his hold on me loosened, I kicked backward, my heel hitting him right in the nuts as he groaned, falling to the ground in a fetal position.

I wasted no time, running through thr woods blindly as i chucked my heels into the trees. "Help!!! Please someone help!!!" I screamed and screamed as I ran towards what I assumed to be the area towards where Doc's was. I wasn't sure though since my wolf wasn't with me to guide me and follow scents.

Leaves shook in front of me and I stopped in my tracks, thinking Deacon might have caught up with me. Ducking behind a large oak, i sat.. waiting.

"There you are you naughty wolf." Deacon spat appearing behind me as he jerked me up by my hair. I screamed blody murder, his mouth pressing againsy my neck, hands molding my body against his which i felt was hard.. all over. Ready for something i would not give willingly.

His claws ripped at my clothes, shredding the shirt away from my body along with the short shorts as I let out a strangled sob. I was left in my panties and bra as his hands moved down the front of my body.

I felt his canines scrape against my flesh and my screams turned into high pitched wails before suddenly a dark shadow flew into Deacon, sending him flying into the tree trunk with a cracking sound.

Another shadow flew past me and all I could see were two naked forms looming over Deacon as they threw their fists at him over and over and over again. Backing up, my heart was ready to jump out of my chest.. the blood from gouges in my hips dripped down my legs as i stumbled backwards in a daze.

Falling to the ground, i just laid there.. unmoving as i stared up int the sky. The moon looking down on me, i wondered if she could feel my emotons. My terror.. my pain.

After a few moments, the sound of fists cracking onto bones stopped. I wondered who my saviors were..

The two figures loomed over me under the moonlight as I lay there with a bruised swollen face and deep gashes along my torso and hips, bleeding onto the pine forrest floor.

Before I closed my eyes, I watched as the two figures squatted down to me..

"Shit!" One exclaimed. "Is she okay?" I glanced up to see my brother staring down at me as he moved closer, worry masking his features.

Strong arms slid under my body as my eyes closed, going into a state of shock from the terror i experienced. Ptsd. Once I smelled the scent of the strong male holding me, i knew who it was before he even spoke.

"Nic, grab Deacon. Take him to the cellar then meet me back at Doc's. She needs help now." His commanding tone made me want to smile but I couldn't.

"You're safe now Nova. I've got you. You're going to be okay." Zaryn's deep voice soothed me as I let my mind drift.. far far away from the reality that I lived in.