chapter 11

JULY 4TH

It was dark, as far as the eye can see. "That's a weird saying." My wolf said, "I never asked what your name is." She was silent for a moment "Rose." She said, "And yes, I agree. What's going on?" I asked her, but she didn't say anything. Then I felt warmth in my hand.

Daimen

"It's not funny Ann." Her head bumped into my arm, I looked back and I saw she had passed out. "Anna!" I screamed, no no no no no no no no no. No. I can't lose you. I caught her head and gently laid her in my lap. "Her sparks, Daimen where are her sparks?" My beast said I softly shook her, I should have taken her lightheadedness as a sign or warning that something wasn't right. "Anna!" They said in unison, Drew made a portal to the girl's building and I hurriedly brought her upstairs. When we all crammed into the elevator that's when we all smelt it. "Anna's bleeding," Marcel said worriedly. "She's mine!" He knows that. I had to calm my Lycan down before he spilled any more blood tonight. "How the fuck did they find her?" Drew said through gritted teeth. "I don't know but whoever the spy is I'm gonna kill him." The elevator opened and we practically ran to Drew's flat, Rayne doesn't need to see her like this. Amber comes to the door and her eyes land right on Anna. I could see the gears turn as waves of emotions. She parts from the door and shows me where their spare bedroom was. I enter and take her to the bed, where she was treated through magic. Amber stood over her and the healer's light cast down and almost made Anna see through so we could see her injuries. Amber froze when she got to her abdomen, we all did. It was deep, old, and pitch black. we were pulled out of our shock by the sound of Drew growling. I turned to see him fighting off a turn. "I'll get to that later. First, mate." "How old do you think this is?" I asked her, and she shook her head, "I don't know, days, maybe two weeks. It's not that old, like every time it heals it comes back." She said, "What is that supposed to mean?" Said the imposing mosquito. "That means, she hasn't had this long." She then turned to me and Drew, "If you're trying to insinuate what I think you are then no. She's been doing good in training. especially the evasion part." Drew said, he walked closer the Amber "Can you find the oldest one then?" He asked, we all wanted to know that one. She looked a bit deeper and that's when I saw it, and that's when I understood. "She never started her period." I said and looked up at Amber, "She must have had a nightmare." She said suddenly, "Nightmares don't do this." Said the cockroach, "I don't know how. but I know what he's talking about, earlier this week Anna has been found cleaning the bathroom more heavily than she normally would. And every time one of us asked why she said she was on her period. And it's only been noticed after she goes in first thing in the morning." she told him as small sobs start to come from her. "But how could nightmares get like this?" I asked her, I know how she feels right now. Just then Rayne came busting through the door, we all turned and she saw Anna as she lay there. "She said she's been having weird full immersive dreams lately, like giant wolves and a weird tar beast and invisible man, kind of weird." She said.

Rayne's words hung heavy on all of us as we just watched Amber heal her. "This is all my fault." I said, I didn't know Rayne was beside me until she placed a hand on my shoulder, "it's not your fault Daimen, she always does this. It took Grams and me years to even learn about her nightmares. So a piece of sisterly advice, always ask. If you have a hunch and her answer doesn't sound right ask again." I reached for my mate's hand, it was warm. "She's gonna wake up." Yeah, soon. I told my beast, After Amber finished healing she left. Drew went to check on her and I sent Marcel away. Vampires get on my nerves with all their blood sucking and compulsion.

After two days of her sleeping Amber came in to check her wounds and we were glad to see them completely healed. We both released the bated breath once we saw not even a trace left. "That's good, but we still don't know if she's having a nightmare," I said, "or even dreaming at all." Amber chimed in, she wasn't wrong but now I needed to protect her from both herself and her dreams. I reached to kiss her temple, "are you ready to eat yet? Or are you gonna wait til she wakes up?" She asked as she was leaving. "You know my answer," I said and she left me to the small sound of my mate's snores. She was so precious and all mine, but I knew something that she doesn't, or at least not yet. But I know that her nightmares are not dreams, we all do, except Rayne. Anna is a hybrid, of beasts and magic. And I couldn't mark her now even if I wanted, I would have to wait, and I'm fine with that. I reached out my hand and caressed her cheek. She truly is perfect, with chocolate skin, raven curls, full lips, and eyes that could stare into your soul. Her hand suddenly moved in mine, "Amber! Rayne! Drew!" I called them with the hope she was waking up. Just as they came through the door I saw her eyes slowly open, it took everything not no move. She looked around before landing on me. "Hey, babygirl. How was your nap." A smile slowly grew on her and I knew she was okay.

Anastasia

I felt a warmth in my hand, and the more I focused the stronger I smelled pine. Daimen, "Amber! Rayne! Drew!" I heard him call, it took some effort to open my eyes but the blinds were open, letting bits of sunlight in. As I looked around I finally saw him. He looked worse for wear, with baggy eyes and a small beard. I reached up to touch it, it felt coarse and curly. "You need a shave baby." My voice broke as I spoke, he chuckled and gave me a half-cocked smile. "And you've been having nightmares little one." I froze, turning to Rayne who just sat down on the bed beside me, "I had to. You had a bad injury to your side." She said that's when I noticed the pain in my side was gone. I saw Amber, Drew, and Marcel there too. Then I remembered last night at the cafe, "what are you?" I asked him, "a blood-sucking cockroach princess, he is of no concern to you." Said Daimen, I tried not to giggle as I noticed Drew giving a slow nod.

Amber came around to the side of the bed and cast a spell that seemed to give me energy. But she said I need to stay in for a few more days seeing as I've been repeatedly injured for a week and was asleep for two days. Daimen never left my side the whole time. "Daimen." He was scrolling through movies on Disney plus, "yes princess?" I twiddled my fingers, "I'm sorry." I could hear him shuffling, "for not telling you about the nightmares, it's just. I didn't want you to worry as they have never caused me any harm before." "Besides having you sleep deprived and now injured," he let out a sigh, "will you tell me about the ones that caused you this?" I finally looked up at him. And the way he looked at me made my heart melt, I pulled him in for a deep kiss. "I wake up in a forest opening and run to a meadow with a single tree in the middle. I get to the tree and this tar-looking beast can't get in past the branches of the tree. But there was another under the leaves, but it was invisible to me, it was angry that I couldn't see it but was able to see the monster, so it kicked me." I unconsciously held my side, "I think you would have been safer with the beast." He said, "Did they speak?" He asked, "yes, they both did. And I agree, the monster called for him to stop many times but it took me passing out to wake up from the dream." I told him. Daimen was quiet for a bit, then he pulled me into his lap and put on lilo and stitch. "There is a legend." He started, "Of a young woman, who welded magic that no one could understand, and beauty that could match the God's. It was said that this woman would unite lands and Kingdoms through one of her magicks." He kissed the top of my head once he finished and we stayed like that most of the night.

I woke up the next morning and got up to go to the bathroom. I turned on the light and saw my reflection of myself. My eyes were green and the tattoo was faint but noticeable on my shoulder. I washed my hands and crawled back into bed. Daimen was still asleep so I crept up on him and wrapped his arm around my waist like a blanket. The movement caused him to pull me closer and hold me a bit tighter. I smiled to myself and went back to sleep. When I woke up again the sun was deep into the room, but Daimen wasn't there. So I got up and when I opened the door I was hit with the delicious smell of barbeque and meat. My stomach growled extremely loud, I walked to the kitchen and found Daimen and Drew in the kitchen, and Amber and Rayne were sitting on the couch drinking wine. "Was anybody gonna invite me to the party?" I jokingly said as I joined the girls in the living room. We all giggled and got lost in our conversation. Before we knew the boys were calling us to come and eat. "Come on ladies." Said Ben, when we sat down there was a lot of food on the table, hot dogs, ribs, cole slaw, beans, the works. and was enough to make my mouth water. I piled food onto my plate and didn't even wait for grace. I didn't even realize Daimen sat down beside me until he brushed my hair back and started rubbing my back. I turned to him and saw he didn't have anything in front of him, so I shyly offered him my plate and he shook his head. I quickly took back my plate before he could change his mind.

"Anna?" I heard Ben say, but I didn't acknowledge him for whatever reason that did not pertain to the food. "Anna your eyes," He said cautiously, "And your ears." Said Rayne, I perked up and looked at her, "What do you mean?" I said, "They mean, we can all see you trying to shift as you're eating." Daimen said as he continued to pet the top of my head, "I've never seen you this hungry baby." He said, I shrugged. "It's the fourth of July baby, everyone is hungry," I said, everyone laughed at that one and I was somehow able to calm down enough to no longer freak out Ben. "Like I care what he thinks?" said Rose. "Be nice" I told her, but she pouted and went back to being quiet.