I don't remember when I fell asleep only that at some point the storm outside faded and another one took its place.
Fire, screams, the sharp scent of blood and ash burned my lungs as I stood frozen, watching two figures collapse in front of me.
My legs couldn't move, my voice wouldn't come.
"Mom!"
"Dad!"
The world shattered and I jolted violently, a scream tearing from my throat before I could stop it.
No!"
Strong hands caught me instantly….... I thrashed, heart racing, nails digging into anything I could grab, breath coming in broken gasps as the nightmare clung to me.
"Luna!"
His voice cut through the chaos and I gasped my eyes flying open, disoriented... the cabin swimming back into view, the storm reduced to a distant howl.
Rhage was sitting up beside me one arm wrapped around my back, the other on my shoulders holding me steady .
"You're safe…...." he said quietly.
"It's over....."
I shook my head tears spilling before I could stop them.
"They were... I saw...…"
"I know.... It's okay....you're safe..." he interrupted gently and it broke me.
The sob tore out of my chest as my body folded forward instinctively burying my face against his chest before I could think better of it.
He stiffened for half a second then his arm tightened around me, pulling me closer protectively.
I clutched his shirt like I was drowning, his masculine scent comforting me... shielding me from whatever traumatizing memory in my head.
"It's over...." he murmured his hand moving slowly up and down my back soothingly.
My wolf stirred softly leaning into the comfort he provided.
I sniffed him, cheeks pressed against his chest, painfully aware of how safe he felt.
When my breathing finally slowed I realized what I was doing, where I was, who I was pressed against then I froze.
"I.….. I'm sorry" I whispered trying to pull back but his hand stopped me.
"Don't...."
"You didn't do anything wrong."
I looked up but our faces were too close again.
His eyes were softer now, still intense but stripped of that dangerous edge from earlier. Something else lived there instead and I felt it so hard.
M
"You've had these nightmares since you were a child….." he said.
"You knew that too?"
"Yes."
"How?" I whispered
"Because every time you screamed" he said quietly.
"your wolf did too."
My heart skipped a beat as I stared speechlessly….. His thumb brushed a tear from my cheek before he seemed to realize what he was doing.
His hand stilled then slowly withdrew, curling into a fist at his side.
"I'm sorry you had to go through all these alone." He continued which caused another rain of tears on my cheeks again and this time I was full on sobbing cos It was the truth.
I never deserved to go through all I went through..... I was just an orphaned child and was crucified cos i was different.
The tears couldn't stop but those words soothed my heart in ways I couldn't imagine.
He pulls me even closer as we both layed on bed his hand playing with my hair and the other one rubbing my back in soothing circles.
As sleep pulled me under again one thought lingered, terrifying and comforting all at once.
Whatever was happening between us was no longer something either of us could ignore.
...….
I woke stiff, trying to move but his hands were wrapped protectively around me, caging me in like I would escape.
I moved the hair from my face as I stared at his sleeping form.
Even while sleeping he still looked as beautiful.
I stayed still...… afraid to move... afraid of how my body reacted to him even in sleep.
When I shifted slightly, the mattress dipped and his breathing changed immediately.
"Morning." he said.
His voice was low and rough with sleep and it slid straight down my spine.
"Morning." I replied barely above a whisper.
A very akward silence followed and I stared at my hands suddenly nervous as his gaze burned into me.
I pushed myself upright quickly, dragging the blanket with me like armor.
He sat up slowly as the blanket slid down his torso, revealing the hard lines of his chest, the tattoos partially hidden in the shadow.
I looked away immediately swallowing hard.
"Cold?" he asked.
"I'm fine" I said quickly.
I swung my legs off the bed and stood pulling the oversized hoodie tighter around me. My heart was racing for reasons that had nothing to do with the temperature but with the man laying on that bed.
Behind me, the bed shifted again as he stood too but I didn't turn.
Last night felt so intimate and now I dont even know how to act around him.
" slept well?" His deep voice came right behind me and my heart raced.
"Yes" I replied voice shaky. He could feel the change in my demeanor, heck I felt the change in my demeanor but I couldn't help it. Being close to him is messing with my head and if this keep going I might loose control.
"Luna….."
"Yes?"
For a moment he said nothing and when he finally spoke it was quieter than before.
"About last night, I didn't mean to frighten you."
That surprised me enough to make me turn. He stood right behind me hands clasped behind his back, posture rigid, expression neutral.
"You didn't" I said though my voice wavered slightly.
His gaze flicked to my face searching briefly, intensely then he took a few steps back.
"Good."
"That was all?" I wondered.
I thought he'll kiss me or something.
I nodded unsure what else to say then excused myself to the bathroom. As I passed, I felt it again that pull, not physical, something deeper, like gravity bending.
I hated how much it affected me….. but I had no control over how I felt or how my body responded to him..... behind me I felt his gaze burning through my back watching as I disappeared into the bathroom.