4

"Helang! Come back!" I hear Jessie bellow out with urgency.

I keep running down the trail as my lungs burn and sweat drips down my face profusely.

You know how I said I was a witch? Sometimes there are things I wish I knew how to do; I would have been out of many situations like this.

Unfortunately; I never got much practice in.

Dad was the only one who taught me but he disappeared shortly after the incident.

"These woods are dangerous! Stop!" He yells out.

I took a sharp left off the trail and kept running.

I looked behind me for a moment and ran smack dab into something hard. I fall and exhaustion takes over.

"Are you ok?!" I hear a soft and gentle voice.

"Water. I need water." I stutter out weakly and out of breath.

"Little mate, these woods are dangerous. Especially for a beautiful woman like yourself." I hear him softy coo to me.

"Mate?" I question as my eyes roll back.

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John Carters POV

"Get the fuck outta here! She's mine!" I yell at Steven. Hurt crosses his features before his eyes darken. I never know what they'll change to; his eyes that is. They change too many colors.

"She...but..I..." he stutters in a panic. He can't even talk right.

I growl and shove him hard in the chest.

"She'll never want to be with a weakling like you." I snarl out.

"One day...she might not want you...whatever you two have... " He says mournfully before running off.

He hasn't even shifted yet.

I look at Helang and my lip twitches.

Remember me...

I grab a water bottle from the back pack I brought with me and twist the cap; I pour the water on her face.

She wakes with a start and sits up quickly.

She scans her surroundings and when she locks eyes with me she lets out a massive scream to which I quickly cover her mouth.

"Ssshh! Calm down. I'm not going to hurt you. I was just playing around earlier...this is all a dream. You're in a coma. Anything can happen." I lie to her so she'll calm down.

Then I felt bad about it cause she was still freaking out so badly.

"Ok I lied! You're not in a coma!"

I say to her panicked.

Her eyes roll to the back of her head and she passes out again.

"Oh for the love of mother Selene!" I cry out throwing my hands up; she falls to the side on the ground.

I grumble as I pick her up and throw her over my shoulder and jog us the rest of the way back.

This is too much! I think shaking my head.

She'll come around. I know it!

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I get us back to the house and sneak her inside.

I forged so much paperwork to get her here.

No one knows about me bringing her here. They all think that I fantasized her up and have made fun of me all the time but she's real and what better way than to just bring her here to prove I'm not lying.

I take her to my room and lay her down on my bed covering her up. She's been through hell and back. I'll do everything in my power to keep her safe. I'll always watch over her and protect her.

I look at her sleeping frame and the urge to kiss her grows again.

"Helang...I have so much to tell you."

I whisper out tucking some of her chestnut brown hair behind her ear.

I get up and walk slowly out of the room quietly closing the door.

I need to go for a run.

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Helang POV (dream)

I'm running...

There's trees everywhere...

It's dark and everywhere I turn there are shadows lurking.

Why am I running for?

"I'll kill you! You hear me?! When I find you I'll kill you!!!!"

I hear a woman screech out.

Mother!

I trip over a tree root in a panic.

"No no no no!" I sob out as my entire body refuses to cooperate with me. I finally manage to get up to start running but no matter how fast I try to move; I'm no faster than a snail.

"You can run but you can't hide! You hear me you bitch?!" I hear her say with a cynical laugh.

Frustrated; I try even harder.

I keep tripping over nothing and everything; barely moving from my original starting point.

"FOUND YOU!" I hear her scream.

I look behind me and I'm dragged backwards and viciously rolled over.

I scream as I watch my mother morph into something demonic with long horns and the face of a goat with extremely long sharp teeth. I scream but silence is the only thing that escapes my throat. It laughs as it wraps it's hands around my throat as tight as it can.

I thrash around to no avail but nothing I do works.

"I sssshoouldve kiiiilled you the daaayyy you wassss bornnnn!" It hissed out.

I feel my eyes bulging and rolling back.

A wolf throws itself at the creature and a loud thud is heard; I wake up gasping taking in large amounts of air.

Was that a nightmare or reality?

My neck hurts so badly and I start to hyperventilate out of fear.

"Sssshhhh."

I scream as I hear the whispery echoes of what my mother and that creature said in my dream.

In my panicked state I only get one word out and it comes in the form of a scream as I notice I'm surrounded by unfamiliar people.

"JESSIE!!!!!"

Tears pour down my face as thoughts flood my head.

They're all going to hurt me too.

I'm not safe. I never was....

Why am I always targeted?

What did I ever do to deserve any of this?

The abuse?

The abandonment?

I can't take any of this!

I continue crying and having my panic attack.

I hear a groan off to the side of the room and a few low growls.

"He threw me against the wall! Steven attacked me!"

I throw the blanket over me and try to hide since the lights are off...I know they know I'm in here...I was screaming in my sleep.

"She doesn't smell entirely human Antonino..." I hear whispered.

"Hey are you ok?" I hear one of them ask me.

I try to stay as quiet as possible but I can't help but let out a few whimpers.

"Should we kill it then?" I hear another say. My heart starts beating out of my chest and adrenaline courses through my veins.

I can't die here! This isn't good... I must be dreaming still!

Yea that's it!

I'm dreaming!

I have to wake up soon or at least right now!

Footsteps come towards me slowly before the floor creaks.

"Jessie...I don't know where you are but please...don't let me die here!" I sob out under the blankets.

I heard gasps around me and then the room fell silent.

"Turn the lights on."

A small clicking noise and then the room flooded in what I'm assuming light.

I remain under the blanket as a panicked mess.

"José, remove the blanket. Let's see who's in here."

The blanket was jerked from my body and I instinctively curl up and cover my head whimpering and crying.

"Don't-don't kill me. Please! I...I don't know where I am!" I cry out still trying to hide myself.

I hear a door slam shut and I jolt at the noise.

"Guys I'm back!" I hear Jessie yell.

Relief floods through my body but I'm still surrounded by these people who are contemplating my death.

"Where are you guys at?" He shouts with irritation.

"We're in your room!"

I hear his footsteps pick up speed and he runs through the room.

I look up and see his panicked face and with what willpower I have left; I jump out of the bed hurdling full speed into his arms.

I start crying and cling to him breathing in his scent.

"Where were you!" I cried into his chest.

"Ssshhh! You're ok, everything is gonna be ok. I'm right here. Cmon stop crying! You're fine."

He says picking me up bridal style and carrying me back to the bed while I cling to him like a koala.

It took what felt like forever for him to get me to calm down and stop crying.

Jessie doesn't seem to mind helping me calm down in moments like this but it's clear he's not really used to it.

"Can someone explain what the fuck is happening right now?!" I hear a gruff and edgy voice ask.

Jessie looks up at these other guys surrounding us with a hard glare.

"An explanation sounds nice." He says; voice hardening.