C15 Nightmares

Zephyr’s POV:

I watched from the shadows, my spiteful gaze on the pair as they chatted. I wasn’t supposed to be here, spying on them like a stalker but I couldn’t shake it off. This profound friendship was beginning to get on my last nerves. I knew Xander was a softie, but befriending my enemy was the peak of it. After all, the friend of an enemy is an enemy.

Curiosity had gotten the better of me. Peering closer and feeling left out, I watched them closely. I had always known Xander was loyal, but seeing her—the woman who had been a thorn in my side, so animated and happy was a surprise to me. She was always distant and closed off, yet here she is, laughing freely with Xander.

I narrowed as I listened to their conversation.

Her voice carried a sadness that tugged at something deep within me, a part I rarely acknowledged. She was telling him she didn’t have a wolf, something I already knew. But hearing her say it herself, with an edgy tone, … it felt strange.

Earlier, I overheard her telling Xander that at least I had him by my side. It was a simple statement, but it lingered in my mind. She saw his love as a blessing, something I kind of have taken for granted.

I couldn’t help but let my wandering eyes check her out. She looked beautiful under the moonlight. Her glow reflected brighter than the moon’s. It was an observation I had stubbornly avoided making. But now, as I stood there, hidden in the darkness, I saw her in a different light. I fucking hated weaklings and I believed she was one. But now that I look at it again, I see… strength in her vulnerabilities.

I wasn’t one for sentimental thoughts or emotions, but something about her was beginning to chip at my defenses. I clenched my jaw, pushing the feeling aside. I couldn’t afford to be affected by stupid distractions, especially not her. Yet, as I continued to watch her, I couldn’t deny that something about her made Luca uneasy. As stubborn as he is, and as adamant as I convince myself that we hated her. She has a way of pushing our soft buttons.

Our eyes met when she looked up, maybe she felt the weight of my eyes on her. I felt blood rush to my groin. Knowing how she tasted, how soft she felt flushed against me. I yearn for her, a deep, unsettling desire flowing through me. I am sexually frustrated because as much as I would love to offload my junk, I just didn’t have it in me to do it anymore. Without her eyes, haunting me.

I watched as they zoomed off with a big smile on her face. I decided it would be best for me to go stand under the cold shower to tame down my thoughts. There is nothing more in this world than the need to tame her, to mark her, and bind her to me forever.

“Fuck it.” What the fuck was I thinking. I felt disgusted with myself for having such explicable imaginations about her. She was like a forbidden fruit and I was her Adam, ready to fall into the sins of temptations, to devour her. This shouldn’t be. I should guard my defenses upright. If anything, I know I am a man of morals and what I am doing, is sheer stupidity.

I came out of the bath and stood in front of the mirror as I got dressed. My chest looked like a canvas, painted with scars and a bullet mark. At least, this should be enough waking call for me. I threw my shirt over my body and decided it would be best to stroll around.

………….

“Greetings, Alpha” I turned to Kadien, the gamma of this pack and the person who is in charge of all military affairs, including prisoners and wrongdoers.

“I can see everything is in place. or is there something I should be worried about?”

“Not at all.”

“How is Zeina and her child.”

“She’s faring well, thank you.” Zeina is his wife. She was also Xander’s supposed mate. It is a sour topic but life goes on. In as much as he convinced himself that letting go was the right thing to do, I knew his heart still belonged to her and he hadn’t moved on completely. She is currently pregnant and almost due.

We talked about the welfare of the pack and other small talks, here and there. It was already late and I wondered what the fuck was keeping them so late. But knowing Xander, I have a full assurance that he took her to the lake, or rather his “Heaven mirror” as he would prefer to call it. Kaiden bade me a good night, leaving me all to myself. Maybe I could indulge myself in some work since it was already late and I had nothing better to do.

I stood at the entrance of my art gallery. Tracing the doorknob, memories of what happened the last time I was here flooded my mind. how I lost control and snapped. How I let Luca wallow my being and almost ended her life. It took a lot of self-restraint to not strike her. I have never raised my hand on any woman in my life and she certainly wouldn’t be the first either.

I turned the doorknob and advanced inside, going straight to his portrait that I drew. He was engraved in my head, every outline, every dent, every speck on his face I remembered it vividly. I stared at him. Same silver hair and piercing blue eyes. She was the exact replica of him and it brought pain to my heart, to even think I was attracted to her after all of this. ….I am a goner.

I can’t remember much after that night, I can’t remember how we made it out, or what happened next. All that I know is, I was found by Xander by the bank of the river, bleeding. I was in coma for a very long period of time. Xander’s parents adopted me and I became their own.

“I’ve won, but at what cost,” I said still staring at him intently, he felt so alive in my memories, haunting me each day.

I snapped out of my reverie when I heard them approaching. I didn’t know how long I spent in here but I knew it was a lot of time and it was past midnight already. My ears perked and I listened to every word being said, every intake of breath.

I haven’t been here in ages and everything felt so foreign to me. I drew the drawer and picked up my brush. It felt so unfamiliar to my hand. I stared at the blank canvas unable to move. My mind was blank, I couldn’t think of anything. I closed my eyes and all I could see is………blue. So much fucking blue.

“Argh” I threw my head back frustrated with my life. she is the devil’s spawn. HIS spawn. During his lifetime, he haunted me, now even in death, his by-product is haunting me. What is all this?

“NO.”

“PLEASE, let me go.”

“I’m sorry don’t hurt me.”

“HELP!!! SOMEBODY HELP ME!!!!”

AMBER??? Tossing everything to the side I ran immediately to her room. She was wailing and screaming and my heart broke. What confused is that I know I was the only one in the house and no one else. No one could invade my property without my approval. So, what the fuck is happening?

I barged into the room and my eyes urgently found her figure. There she was, thrashing and kicking her feet.

“I… I’m s,,,soo..ry..” she managed to choke out.

“Hey hey shhhh” I slowly approached her and sat at the edge of the bed.

She let out another blood-curling scream. “i..it hu..rts.“

I gently shook her, trying to bring her to consciousness but I didn’t want to startle her.

“Amber…wake up”

“Amber? Wake up” and this time around, I applied more force.

“NO, NO NO, NO” This time she snapped out of it and started hyperventilating. Her body vibrated as she cried.

“Let me go”. She kept mumbling lost in her head.

“Amber, snap out of it. you’re safe here.” she kept shaking her head in denial. “No, he , they.. i….”

“LISTEN!!!” that definitely caught her attention. Her teary eyes are on mine.

“Zeph??” she has never called me by my name and when she did, God save my soul. I felt the urge to take her into my arms and fight the demons who dared haunt this precious child.

“Yes, it is me. Nothing can get to you, ok?” I squeezed her palms and she let her guard down. Wapping her hand around my stomach, she buried her face into my chest and cried.

“They will take me away”

“No one dares” I stroked her hair lightly. Pulling her closer to me.

After what felt like an eternity, she snored lightly against my chest and I placed her head on the pillow and pulled the covers up. Turing on the nightlight, I turned to leave but she grabbed my shirt.

“Zeph? Don’t leave me” she said with desperation evident in her voice. She attempted to sit upright but I beat her to it.

“Lay down, I’m going nowhere.”

She nodded and closed her eyes again as I settled close to her. She scooted closer and held my shirt, like a lost child. she doubted and didn’t believe me when I said I wouldn’t leave her alone. Why is she scared of being alone or is it that people tend to leave, or she was neglected as a child? how often does she have nightmares and what are they about?

With my eyes wide awake like an owl, our body heats mixing and becoming one. I swore to bring her demons down. Each and, every one of them.