Chapter 22

Cirilla's point of view

There was a painful feeling in my chest, hurting me and tormenting me. I burned with so much pain that it caused me to grip the sheets of the bed. Tears rushed down my cheeks as I writhed in pain.

I hated this pain. I wanted it to stop. The voice in my head was screaming, howling in pain. The intensity of her cries was affecting me. Aside from the furious pain I felt, something else was wrong with me, something that caused my head to throb, almost as if the pain and the cries were awakening something within me from a deep slumber.

I began to groan loudly. The lights around the room began to flicker, but that was the least of my worries. I felt suffocated. The burning pain in my chest began to work its way to my throat. There was this urge within me to scream, to be set free. I had to leave.

I forced my shaky legs up, staggering my way out of the room. I managed to find my way out of the house, racing into the cold night. I didn't stop; I kept running, having no idea where I was going, but I just wanted to be as far away from Asher as possible; I wanted to get rid of this immense pain.

I took the path into the woods, my legs moving as fast as they could, not minding the pain that pierced through my bare feet. I kept running, suddenly collapsing into the ground. More tears escaped my eyes. I could see the faint outline of the moon above me.

I groaned, digging my nails into the rugged earth. The pain in my throat was choking me, as it began to move slowly, leaving an excruciating burn as it made its way to my mouth.

I felt my body tremble against the earth. The trees around me began to sway their branches against the growing wind that swirled around me. I couldn't feel myself. I wasn't in control of my body. The voice in my head had stopped crying. It began to growl furiously, pushing hard within me. I could feel the burning sensation move its way to the tip of my tongue, and without warning, my lips flew open and I released a resounding scream.

It was loud and enraging, piercing through the night air without mercy. The wind around me grew more violent. I could even feel the earth beneath me vibrate furiously. There was a sudden charge in the air. It was intense. I continued screaming, unable to stop myself.

My body began to weaken, losing its strength. Something within me began to battle for dominance, for control, for freedom. I stopped screaming, collapsing against the vibration of the earth, my eyes soaking in the reflection of the moon before I felt my own soul being taken over.

***

The darkness was blinding, and the silence was loud. I found myself struggling to escape, I felt like I was floating to the surface.

I groaned as loud noises pierced through my ears. I groaned again, wanting to stop the sounds blasting around me. Fuck, they were so loud that it made my ears hurt. The quaking from the ceiling fan, the slothful ticking of the clock, the faint sounds coming from the bathroom faucet.

I forced my eyes open, releasing a sigh. My body hurts badly. I thought to myself, rolling over on the soft bed. It was already morning. I could almost feel the sun's burning impact inside the room.

Another groan escaped my lips as my eyes stared blankly into the air. Swiftly, I jerked off the bed. At my sudden action, I felt immense pain all over. I had to pull my hands over my head in a poor attempt to stop the banging ache against my skull. The sides of my ribs shook with pain as well.

Suddenly, memories of last night rushed in like a cold dash of water to my face. And I froze. I remembered everything; Asher's confusing words, even the pain that filled my bones last night. But, something was wrong.

I looked around, and I was in Lyra's bedroom.

How did I get here?

The last thing I remembered was fleeing from here into the woods, and then I collapsed. How did I get here?

Panic settled in as I stared at the dried muddy stains on the floor. I followed the trail up to the bed, stopping on my feet. They were covered with mud and blood. My body was also covered in mud, meaning I was out last night in the woods, but I can't remember coming back in.

Fucking hell! Not another memory lapse!

I grabbed a handful of my hair in my dirt-filled nails, trying hard to remember something. But then the sudden scream from my phone jolted me back to reality. I turned to the bedside table, grabbing my phone. I froze again, my body becoming colder than it already was. Mom.

She was calling.

Bloody hell!

What should I do?

I paused briefly, unsure whether I should answer or ignore it. Either way, it won't end well. The phone stopped ringing. My eyes widened at the numerous calls I missed from Mom, Niko, and Mason.

Mason? Somehow, his numerous calls surprised me. Did something happen?

I couldn't return any of their calls right now. I had to leave here first.

I jumped from the bed, almost stumbling on my feet as more pain enveloped me, stabbing me from my stomach up to my chest. It was similar to the pain I felt last night after Asher walked out on me. What the hell happened to me? The presence at the back of my mind was completely quiet; even when I spoke, it didn't reply. It was damn hard to know if the crazed presence was still there or not.

I raced to the bathroom, stripping completely naked. I took the quickest shower of my life. I just had to leave here. I couldn't spend a second more in this place. As soon as I was done, I was out. I dressed quickly, wearing jeans and a cropped tank top that stopped at my stomach, tying a sweater around my waist.

I grabbed my little belongings and tossed them into my backpack. I was tying the ropes on my sneakers when the door jerked open and Lyra walked in with a tray of juice and pancakes.

"Ci, are you leaving already?" She asked, her soft voice sad. It forced me to look up at her. She looked completely heartbroken to see me leave, but the worry and sadness rooted deeply in her gaze wasn't from my leaving. There was something in those worried eyes of hers that caused me similar sadness and worry.

God! I hated these feelings.

"What is it, Lyra? Did something happen?"

Is Asher alright?

Those damned words nearly forced their way out of my mouth, but luckily I was able to stop them before they left. Just thinking about that idiot brought more pain to me. I had to fight back the tears that were threatening to fall.

"Oh, I don't even know where to start. But I don't worry about it." She smiled, almost sadly, "I brought you breakfast in bed."

That was sweet. Lyra was the sweetest thing that happened to me. I could feel her love for me, but I couldn't have breakfast. I was in such a hurry to leave this place that I couldn't spare a second for breakfast.

I smiled at her. "That's so sweet, but I am sorry, I can't. I have to leave. " I said sharply, my heart breaking at the frown that was on her face. I didn't want to hurt her, at least not in the way that I wished I could hurt Asher.

I hated him. I really don't know why or what happened last night, but it was like every piece of me was raging mad at him for the pain he caused me last night.

Strangely, my heart felt hurt and rejected. I was so hurt to the bones that I couldn't stop the burning tears that flowed from my eyes. Lyra quickly dropped the tray in her hands on the table, rushing to my side.

"Cirilla, what is wrong?" Her hands cupped my face, forcing me to stare into her worried eyes. "What happened?"

"I am sorry. I really don't know why I feel this way. I just feel so sad and broken. It hurts." I cried stupidly, surprising myself. I couldn't stop my tears. And this was all because of Lyra's imbecile brother. Whatever he meant by what he said last night really hurt me.

Lyra pulled me in one of her warm embraces. I appreciated it. I was in dire need of some kind of warmth. She kept whispering comforting words to me.

After I managed to put a halt to the madness going on within me, I stopped crying.

Lyra pulled away, her hands wiping off the tears on my face. "Did something happen between you and Mason?" She asked, quietly.

Oh, how I wished it was because of Mason that I felt this way. Only it wasn't. That was what confused me the most. Nothing was going on between Asher and me, so why then did it feel like I had just broken up with my boyfriend? Or even worse, dumped.

Lyra brought my attention back to her. "Whatever happens, remember that I am here for you, and I love you." Lyra's words were so sweet that they brought warmth to my chest.

"I love you more, Lyra." I hugged her.

"Do not spare a tear for the idiot who made you cry; it's obvious he's as stupid as he's blind for hurting you. Hell, I wish I could rip him into shreds." She said, her last words holding rage. A smile found my lips, only if she knew her brother was the complete idiot she spoke of. It was nice to know someone was willing to fight for my sake.

Lyra helped me with the rest of my belongings. I grabbed my backpack, and we left the room, leaving the house. I didn't even see Asher. Maybe it was for the best.

My eyes widened as we reached outside the house. "What happened here?" I asked Lyra, noting the cracks in the earth and the trees that were scattered around, completely ripped off from its roots. It was almost like a hurricane happened.

Lyra sighed. "We don't know what caused this, but last night something unexplainable happened. It destroyed the trees and left cracks on the ground." She muttered slowly.

"What could have done this?" I asked again. When I rushed out last night, the place was just fine.

"Whatever it was, it was either too dangerous or too powerful. Whatever the case may be, it's bad. Everyone is terrified." She voiced

"Did anyone get hurt?"

She shook her head. "Thankfully, no one got hurt. Everyone is already tense about tonight's full moon, to even begin to worry about this." She said, looking lost in her thoughts.

"Full moon?" My lips rushed. I remembered that Cory said something about it.

"Uhm..." Lyra drawled, tensing up. It looked like she said something she wasn't supposed to again. "It's really nothing."

I simply nodded. I didn't have the strength to even think or get bothered by what she said. My heart was too broken to allow me.

"Are you sure you don't want Stefan to drive you back?" Lyra asked for the umpteenth time as she escorted me to the giant gate.

I nodded again, for the umpteenth time.

"I could ask Asher too."

"No!" I found myself yelling. That bastard was the last person I wanted to see. I hissed internally at myself. I detested the way his name managed to rile me up and, at the same time, hurt me. "It's fine. I'll take a cab instead."

Lyra followed me out and refused to leave me until I found a cab. I waved her goodbye as the cab sped off.

I sighed, leaning into the seat of the cab. No matter how hard I tried not to, my mind kept replaying everything that happened last night. From the time Asher came to Lyra's room, to the moment we shared, which I stupidly enjoyed, then to his wolf, and those words. They repeated again and again in my head. Why on earth did it seem to hurt me? I didn't even know what it meant. And what the hell did he mean by "mate"?

I exhaled, realizing I had no answer to all my questions. Soon, the cab stopped in front of my house. I paid him off, shoving my backpack on one arm. I pulled open the front door to the apartment and stepped in.

I could have braced myself for anything but not the furious storm that was sent my way.

"What the fuck have you done again, Cirilla?" My mother's angry voice thundered, and before I knew it, her hand collided harshly against my cheek.

Holy crap!