Chapter 5: Starting to Heal

Elleanna awoke early in the morning as the sunlight peaked through the curtains. She stretched then stiffened when she felt an arm tighten around her waist. With a slow movement ,so as to not wake the other person, she turned to look at him. She inhaled a deep breath sending his intoxicating sent swirling into her nostrils. She let a small smile tug at the corners of her lips and laid there staring at him for a moment. Romero…Her mate….

~“Ellie…we could stay….Maybe he won’t reject us.."~

Rose spoke up in their mind. She frowned

~"I can’t risk that Rose…It would kill us this time…"~

Rose and Elleanna sighed together in their shared mind.

~"He is handsome though…."~

Rose said after a few moments causing Elleanna to softly chuckle.

~"That he is Rose…That he is…”~

With one more look at Romero’s sleeping features, she slipped silently from the bed. She quietly made her way down the stairs making sure no one else was awake. She had determined to run as soon as she had gotten down the stairs, but her rumbling stomach caused her to pause near the kitchen.

~"What do you think Rose? Should we make breakfast to thank everyone?"~

She asked Rose in her mind. Rose nodded happily at the thought of fresh breakfast. Elleanna smiled and walked into the kitchen and began looking for the ingredients to make a fantastic feast. She found bacon, eggs, and sausages in the fridge before going into the pantry and taking out flour, sugar, and everything else to make homemade chocolate chip pancakes.  She found the mixing bowls, whisk, pans, and spatula as well then began making the food. She quickly whipped up the pancake mix and added the chocolate chips as well as some walnuts before mixing it again. She got caught up in the cooking and started to sing a song that she had listened to as a child while watching Mulan. She thought about how her family never accepted her while she sang and cooked without having to fully focus on it as cooking and baking were second nature to her.

“Look at me…I will never pass for a perfect bride…or a perfect daughter…can it be…I’m not meant to play this part…Now I see, that if I were truly to be myself …I would break my family’s heart….”

Romero awoke when he heard her singing. He smiled when he realized she hadn’t just run away. As he came down the stairs he heard her singing still. There were other pack members standing around watching Elleanna while she expertly flipped a pancake while singing still. He noticed that she tuned the world out. He stood watching with everyone as well, including her brothers Dolan and Nolan.

“….Who is that girl I see…staring straight back at me…why is my reflection someone I don’t know….somehow I can not hide…who I am though I’ve tried….when will my reflection show…who I am inside…”

Elleanna put the pancake onto an empty plate and continued cooking and singing not noticing the small crowd of people watching her.

“How I pray…that a time will come…I can free myself and meet their expectations….On that day, I’ll discover someway to be myself…and to make my family proud…They want a docile lamb….No-one knows who I am….Must there be a secret me…I’m forced to hide…Must I pretend that I am someone else for all time…When will my reflection show…who I am inside….when..will..my reflection show…who I am….inside…”

She let out a sigh thinking back on all the times she had sung this song when younger. She moved onto cooking the bacon and sung a different song.

“Would anyone notice…if tonight I disappeared?…Would anyone chase me..and say the words that I need to hear?….That I’m no burden…not so worthless…bent so much that I just might break…all-consuming…so confusing..the questions that keep me awake…would anyone care, would anyone cry…If I finally stepped off this ledge tonight?…Would anything change, would you all be just fine?…’Cause I need a reason not to throw the fight…It just might save my life…would anyone want me…if they knew what was inside my head?….Would anyone see me…for the person that I really am?….I won’t lie…so hard to hide…I’ve never felt worthy of love…I would give up…everything I have…just to feel good enough…”

She finished singing as she cooked. The group of pack members now included Jonathan and Crystal. Everyone stood silently watching her who still had blood all over her as she hadn’t changed or showered yet. While she was watching the bacon crisp up she began to talk out loud to Rose.

“Rose…I was never going to be anything to them was I?”

Elleanna asked with a sadness in her voice. Rose shook her head inwardly and replied softly.

~“No Ellie…They were to jealous of your beauty and rarity to ever truly see you…to see us..”~

Elleanna flipped the bacon over with a sigh.

“Rose…why did you stay with me…there is nothing special about me….I should have died long ago……”

She said in almost a whisper. The depression that had always come after a kill was slowly creeping into her mind. Rose tried comforting her, but it was no use. Rose let out a small whimper before laying down and

staring at her inside their mind.

Romero stood watching her closely when he heard her address her inner wolf. Aidrien perked up at hearing her name…Rose….How beautiful just like Elleanna. Suddenly he felt her sadness and frowned himself. He contemplated stepping closer, but stopped when he saw that she held a large knife. Panic arose in his chest when he thought she would hurt herself. He stepped closer to her instinctively and spoke softly

“My love…what are you doing with that?”

He asked her while taking another step closer determined to stop her from hurting herself. Elleanna, lost in thought about suicide, held the large knife in her hand not hearing Romero speaking. She let out a soft sigh and chopped the sausage up before putting it into another pan along with the eggs. She softly placed the large knife in the sink and continued cooking. To her there was no one else around because her thoughts were consumed in her own mind. The thoughts ranged from being good enough to realizing she would never be good enough. When the food was done she plated everything family style and poured juice into an empty pitcher as well as made a fresh pot of coffee. As she stood watching the coffee pot intensely, she felt an arm snake around her waist causing her to let out a scream as she was dragged from her own mental turmoil.

“Shh my love….It’s ok..It’s just me…”

Romero said as he tried to calm her as she had just let out a loud scream. He could hear her heart racing twice as fast.

“..I didn’t mean to scare you.”

He whispered into her ear.  She relaxed slightly and a blush spread on her now pale cheeks.

“S…s…sorry..”

She stuttered as her heart began to race wildly in her chest. She leaned back into Romero’s chest and took a few deep breaths trying to calm herself. Romero smiled and held onto her, his chin resting on the top of her head. The coffee finished a few moments later causing her to move and pour the hot coffee into cups.

“I hope you don’t mind that I made breakfast.”

She said as she turned around with a smile on her face.

Romero let a huge smile cross his face as he stepped closer to her and wrapped his arms around her waist again.

“It looks and smells amazing, Love."

He said honestly. Elleanna blushed a deep shade of red and hid her face. Romero let out a soft chuckle and put his chin on top of her head once more.

~“Ellie…do we really have to go?…This is nice.."~

Rose said in their mind causing Elleanna to pull out of his arms.

~"Yes Rose..he can’t love me…”~

She responded in her mind to Rose with a deep sadness.

“I need to go…”

She said out loud as she turned for the door leading outside. Romero took hold of her hand before she could go

“At least stay and enjoy the breakfast you made.“

He said hopefully not wanting her to leave. She turned and looked at Romero as she bit a little portion of her lower lip while she thought.

“Okay..”

She said softly and walked towards the table. She smiled at Dolan and Nolan as they ran to her and gave her a double hug.

“Ellie…we missed you…we thought you actually died like dad and mom said…we are so sorry that we didn’t defend you better…”

They said at the same time causing her to smile widely. She wrapped one arm around each of her younger brothers.

“It wasn’t your place to protect me, but my place to protect you both…”

She said in her normal melody like voice. They all walked to the table together and she sat in a chair between her bothers. They ate and talked then helped clean the dishes. The pack members began to file out of the pack house to go about their day as they all thanked her. Soon the only ones in the house were Dolan, Nolan, Romero, Jonathan, Crystal, and Elleanna.

“I need to leave now..”

She said as she began to walk towards the front door.

“You should shower and get some fresh clothes first.”

Romero said softly out of desperation for his mate to stay. She turned and looked at him then down at her clothes before she

responded with an

“okay..” 

He led her back to his room and showed her where the shower was at. He handed her a fluffy dark blue towel before he left her alone. Elleanna turned on the water in the shower to let it warm before she striped herself of her blood soaked clothes. She stepped into the water and let out a soft purr as she felt the hot water trickle down her back. She started thinking about her past and as she normally did in the shower  so she began to sing a song called Concrete Angel. Romero and everyone else left in the house heard the water going then they heard her begin to sing.

“She has such

a beautiful voice..”

Crystal said as they listened.

“She walks to school with the lunch she packed…nobody knows what she’s holding back…wearing the same dress she wore yesterday….she hides the bruises with the linen and lace…oooh…”

Romero listened closely as he heard her sing. Elleanna washed her body as she continued singing.

“The teacher wonders, but she doesn’t ask…it’s hard to see the pain behind the mask…bearing the burden of a secret storm…sometimes she wishes was never born….Through the wind…and the rain..she stands hard as a stone…in a world that she can’t rise above…but her dreams give her wings and she flies to a place where she’s loved….concrete angel…"

She rinsed the soap off her body before she started on her hair and continued singing.

“Somebody cries in the middle of the night….the neighbors hear, but they turn out the light…a fragile soul caught in the hands of fate….when morning comes it’ll be too late…..Through the wind and the rain she stands hard as stone in a world that she can’t rise above…but her dreams give her wings…and she flies to a place where she’s loved…concrete angel….A statue stands in a shaded place….an angel girl with an upturned face….her name is written on a polished rock….a broken heart that the world forgot…through the wind and the rain she stands hard as a stone in a world that she can’t rise above…but her dreams give her wings and she flies to a place where she’s loved…concrete angel…but her dreams give her wings and she flies to a place where she’s loved….ooh..concrete angel….”

Elleanna took the conditioner and scrubbed it into her freshly shampooed hair before she starts a different song. Romero and the rest of them sat downstairs silently as they listened. They could hear the sadness in her voice, but it was still so beautiful. There was a brief pause as she switched to the song Alyssa Lies.

“My little girl met a new friend just the other day…on the playground at school between the tires and the swings…but she came home with tear filled eyes..and she said to me, daddy…Alyssa lies…well I just brushed it off at first..’cause I didn’t know how much my little girl had been hurt…or the things she had seen…I wasn’t ready when I said you can tell me…and she said….Alyssa lies to the classroom….Alyssa lies…everyday at school…Alyssa lies to the teachers….as she tries to cover every bruise….”

Elleanna sighed and rinsed her out before singing again.

“…God bless my mom and my dad…and my new friend Alyssa..oh..I know she needs you bad….Because Alyssa lies to the classroom….Alyssa lies everyday at school…Alyssa lies to the teachers as she tries to cover every bruise….”

She leaned against the shower wall as she continued to sing.

“….My little girl asked me why everybody looked so sad…the lump in my throat grew bigger with every question that she asked…”

She began to silently cry as she remembered the one friend she had in school that had just not shown up one day. The image of Magnolia popped in her head as she sang the next part of the song.

“…Until I felt the tears run down my face…and I told her that Alyssa wouldn’t be at school today…cause she doesn’t lie in the classroom…she doesn’t lie every day anymore at school…Alyssa lies with Jesus because there was nothing anyone would do…Tears filled my eyes…when my little girl asked me why…Alyssa lies……oh daddy….Oh…daddy tell me why……Alyssa lies….”

She let the water drop down her face as she whispered into the air

“…I am sorry I couldn’t help you Magnolia….I miss you Mags..”

She slid down the shower wall and wrapped her arms around her legs bringing her knees to her chest. She let the tears flow as she missed her friend.

Everyone downstairs heard the singing stop and listened to see if she would sing again. They heard her apologize to someone named Magnolia and wondered who she was. It was then silent except for the sound of running water for a few moments before Elleanna sang once again.. This time it was My Immortal by Evanesce. She was thinking about all the people that had hurt her in her life as she sang.

“I’m so tired of being here…..suppressed by all my childish fears…and if you have to leave…I wish that you would leave…cause your presence still lingers here….and it won’t leave me alone….these wounds won’t seem to heal…this pain is just too real….there’s just too much that time can not erase…when you cried I’d wipe away all of your tears…when you’d scream I’d fight away all of your fears…..and I held your hand for through all of these of years…but you still have all of me….”

She ran her fingers through her hair

“..you used to captivate me by your resonating light…now I’m bound by the lies you left behind….your face it holds…my once pleasant dreams…your voice it chased away…all the sanity in me…these wounds won’t seem to heal…this pain is just too real…there’s just too much that time can not erase…”

She stood up and wiped her face before she washed it and shut the water off. Romero was listening to her singing closely as he heard the words he realized they were sad songs. Crystal looked at him before speaking

“I think they did some real damage to her..”

She said softly before leaning into Jonathan. Romero nodded and looked at Dolan and Nolan before speaking to them

“How long will you be staying?”

Dolan and Nolan looked at Romero before they answered honestly

”We will head back today. We must inform the pack that we are now in charge as Beta and Alpha.“

Romero nodded and let them sit there in silence as everyone waited on Elleanna.

Elleanna stepped out of the shower and dried herself off with the towel. She loved the feeling and softness of the towel as she rubbed it along her skin. She walked over to the mirror and let out a sigh as she stared at her reflection.

“I should have died instead of my twin….Then my parents would be alive…and they would have never hated me….Then I would have been the loved twin..”

She let out a long breath as she continued looking into the mirror. Her long hair lay down her back in a natural wavy curl. She frowned at her reflection before she turned away from it and went into the bedroom to put the clothes on. Crystal had let her borrow a long dark purple dress with elbow length sleeves. On Crystal it would have been to the floor, but for Elleanna it ended just below her knees. She dried her hair with a t-shirt and sat on the floor. The thoughts in her mind causing her to spiral further into a depression. She found a razor in the bathroom and took it apart until it was just the blade.

~you should have died…I would rather your twin have survived…I Jackson reject you….You are good for nothing….You got your baby killed on purpose….You probably just let that hunter take you…he should have killed you…..~

She heard her parents voices in her mind a long with Jackson’s cold voice. She let more tears fall from her eyes as she opened the closet and walked in. She sat in the furthest corner of the dark closet that she had shut and locked. With all the thoughts in her head and tears coming from her eyes she took the blade and quickly cut it across both her wrists so the blood would leave her faster. She held the blade tightly in her right hand as she watched the blood draining from her wrists and now her hands. Her wounds started to heal so she cut deeper not even wincing at the pain she felt. This time she cut deep enough that the wounds couldn’t heal quickly. She started to feel groggy as she watched the blood pooling onto the floor around her and all over her dress.

~“Oh Ellie…no…”~

Rose said in her mind as she felt the darkness of death starting to enclose around them.

-“AIDRIEN!!!! HELP!!!”-

Rose called out to Romero’s wolf as she was too weak to shift now.

Romero jumped up from his seat as his wolf howled loudly in his head.

~“Mate….Trouble!"~

Aidrien shouted into their mind. He bolted up the stairs followed by Jonathan, Crystal, and Elleanna’s twin brothers. The smell of fresh blood filled their noses causing them to skip some of the stairs on the way up. Romero followed the scent of blood as he called out for Elleanna.

“ELLEANNA! My love where are you???”

He called out, but got no response. Her body began to slump down further into the wall of the closet as darkness surrounded her and she lost consciousness. Romero followed the smell of her blood until he reached his bedroom closet. He tried to open the door, but found it locked.

“My love…are you alright…open the door please??”

He asked worried. When he got no response he threw himself into the door causing it to shatter. He flicked on the closet light and let out a loud gasp at the sight of her. Blood was all over her body, the dress, and the floor. The deep cuts in her wrists were still bleeding and she was paler than ever.

“Oh, my love,…what have you done?”

He asked softly as he walked over to her quickly and listened for her heartbeat. He took two of his black socks and tied them around her wrists to try and stop the bleeding. Crystal let out a shocked gasp as she entered the closet as well.

“Oh Goddess!”

She exclaimed in shock. Dolan and Nolan stood in the bedroom waiting to see what had happened.

“Jonathan, call for an ambulance quickly!”

Romero shouted in his deep Alpha voice. Jonathan took out his cellphone and called for an ambulance. Romero bent and picked Elleanna up hoping she would survive. Her heartbeat began to go slower from all the blood loss.

-“Rose?”-

Aidrien called out to his mate.

-“I am here for as long as I can be..”-

Rose replied sounding weaker than before.

-“Why did she do it?”-

Aidrien asked softly. Rose took a shallow breath as it became incredibly hard to breath

-“The pain was too much….she still loved her parents….this was too much for her…”-

Rose said between shallow breaths. Aidrien let out a whimper as he felt he was losing his mate.

-“I…I..will….hang… on….for….as ….long….as…I …can…”-

Rose said to Aidrien as her breathing came in small pants. Aidrien whispered sweet nothings to Rose as Romero carried Elleanna down the stairs. He skipped a few steps to get her downstairs quicker.

Jonathan was next down the stairs and went to open the door for Romero. As soon as they all stepped outside the ambulance arrived and two of the pack nurses stepped out opening the back and letting Romero inside.

“We will meet you there.”

Jonathan said just before the door was shut. The ambulance took off quickly towards to pack hospital. What took them a total a 3 minutes, because they were speeding, felt like it took hours to Romero. As soon as the door opened he ran inside the hospital carrying Elleanna in. Doctor Jeana gasped at the sight of her covered in blood.

“What happened??”

She asked as she quickly walked into the room that Romero carried Elleanna into. As he laid her down onto the bed he said with a sigh he replied

“She slit her wrists while we were all downstairs.”

Doctor Jeana gave a small nod then unwrapped the sock from Elleanna’s left wrist first. She frowned when she saw that the cut hadn’t even healed.

“GET HER TO THE OR NOW!!!!!!”

Doctor Jeana yelled to the nurses. They took the bed and rushed to the operating room leaving Romero behind. A trail of blood dropped on the floor from the bed as they ran. Romero joined Dolan, Nolan, Jonathan, and Crystal in the waiting room. He paced back and forth blocking out everyone else as he tried to hold himself together. Doctor Jeana and her partner Doctor Julian went to work quickly trying to fix the damage from the cuts. Elleanna continued to lose blood before they finally got the stitches into the wounds and closed them. Her heart beat slowly beeped on the monitor.

“I have never seen someone lose this much blood and survive…”

Doctor Julian said in his baritone voice. Doctor Jeana looked at the pools of blood that lay on the operating room floor and nodded.

“The next 24 hours will prove if we were able to save her or not…I remember last year when she got here she was in terrible shape….That hunter did a number on her…but I think she was damaged long before then…”

She said with

sorrow in her sweet voice.

“Thank you for your help. I am sure we would have lost her if you hadn’t stepped in.”

Doctor Julian smiled at Jeana

“Anything for the Alpha…and anything for you my dear.”

He said with a huge smile. Doctor Jeana smiled and went to wash her hands in the wash basin while the nurses wheeled Elleanna to a private recovery room. Doctor Jeana pulled her long black hair into a high ponytail and then went to the waiting room to give an update. As she walked in she saw Romero pacing himself into the floor, well not really, but it looked like he would if he could.

“Alpha Romero?”

Doctor Jeana asked softly as she put a hand onto his shoulder. Romero stopped pacing and turned to look at the doctor with wide eyes full of fear.

“How is she?”

He asked her. Doctor Jeana straightened herself before she replied.

“The next 24 hours will be critical. She lost a lot of blood and I am surprised she even lived to make it here. If you hadn’t come when you did…I fear the outcome would have been different. We did what we could, but those cuts were very deep. I don’t know how she did it, but I am hopeful that she will make a full recovery. We will have to place her on a psychiatric hold until we can determine if she will hurt herself or others again.”

Romero listened and nodded.

“When can I see her?”

He asked Doctor Jeana.

“You may sit with her now. She is sedated at the moment and won’t really be able to do anything.“

Doctor Jeana said softly. Romero nodded then let Jeana lead him to the room where Elleanna was at. He saw her pale skin and pulled up a chair to sit next to her bed.

“I don’t understand why you did it Elleanna, but I love you either way. I want to help..I just don’t know how.”

He whispered to her sleeping frame. Elleanna moved her body a little in her sleep, but didn’t wake up. Romero sat in the chair and picked up her hand.

“I will be here when you wake up.”

He said softly before placing a kiss on top of her hand.

~Rose and Aidrien have a conversation while their human counterparts sleep~ 

  Rose: "Thank you Aidrien."

  Aidrien: "Anything for you my love. Has she always been like this?"

  Rose: "Only Since she was a teen. She used to be a happy child even despite the abuse. I was with her from a very young age. She shifted long before most would have."

Aidrien: "Who is Magnolia?"

Rose: "Ah…Magnolia…Ellie called her Mags. Mags was the only friend she had in school. She was killed when they were in elementary school by her father. She was also terribly abused….No one did anything about it…they knew the girls were abused….Elleanna had physical, emotional, mental, and sexual abuse…Magnolia was just beat endlessly. That poor little girl had a terrible life…This is part of why Elleanna did what she did…She was broken hearted after killing her parents…and angry that she couldn’t have save Magnolia since no one did anything…and then she felt guilty for being alive."

Rose let out a sigh

-"She is broken Aidrien. This isn’t going to be easy. She won’t stay and risk being hurt again….I don’t want to go, but I won’t put her through torture. Even if I had to kill you……I would for her…I would for me not to be rejected again…that pain is terrible…"

Aidrien: "I won’t reject you. I already love you. Romero won’t reject Elleanna…he is head over heels for her…even since two years ago when he first brought her here. The way you both killed that hunter was actually a bit of a turn on to us."

Aidrien said with a laugh causing Rose to smile as well as a wolf can.

"I promise not to hurt you. We can take it slow and try to help you and Elleanna to heal. We can even let you go until you are ready…no matter how much it will hurt us…you are worth it."

Rose: "I love you too Aidrien…just give us time to come around…especially Elleanna since she was the one that went through most of the abuse."

~Elleanna wakes up~

As Elleanna opened her eyes she saw a bright white light. Did I die? She wondered in her mind before she blinked and heard the beeping of a heart rate monitor. Nope…still alive…but why? Rose was silently sleeping in the back of their mind so Elleanna couldn’t ask her. Then she heard the soft whispering of Romero and Doctor Jeana.

“She has a lot of trauma…it’s going to take some time….She may try to run away..”

Doctor Jeana said to Romero just outside the door to her room.

“Yes, but does she really need to be held as a psychiatric patient?”

Romero asked with concern.

“Yes, Unfortunately she does…”

Doctor Jeana said in reply. Elleanna’s eyes opened wide. I will not be a psych patient….Not today….Not ever…. She thought to herself. She silently got up and unhooked all the machines from her and turned them on silent so they wouldn’t be heard. She also ripped the IV out and then she ran through the door and past them. Romero blinked in surprise as she ran past him quickly.

“Elleanna, wait!”

He called out, but she was gone. He began to run the way she went to chase after her.

-“Elleanna ran away….again…please tell the warriors not to harm her if she crosses them”-

He mind-linked to Jonathan.

-“Yes Alpha!”-

Jonathan mind-linked back before telling Crystal, Dolan, and Nolan about the escape. Dolan let out a soft laugh.

“I doubt anyone will catch her…when she ran two years ago she was so quick to get away…even with her injuries….our fastest couldn’t catch her…”

He said while he shook his head to the side. Nolan smiled a little and spoke up as well

“I always knew our big sister was special..”

They all went and caught up to Romero.

“Did you catch her?”

Crystal asked softly. Romero brushed his fingers through his hair and let out a sigh before responding with one word

“No.”

Elleanna continued to run faster than before. She had a mission…to get away from here. Soon she found herself outside the home of Jasmine and Jasper. She smiled as she slid around to the back side and let herself in through the back gate. She peaked into the back door and saw Jasper and Jasmine with their backs facing the door she was at. A huge smile ran across her face as she decided to scare her friends. She very quietly opened the sliding back door and slipped inside the house before shutting the door just as quietly. Jasper and Jasmine continued to eat their dinner and spoke amongst themselves not aware someone was in their home. Elleanna silently walked up behind them and held her breath for a moment before she spoke in a soft, playful tone

“You know…you should really try locking your door at night…you never know who might enter…”

Jasper gasped and clutched his chest with his right hand. Jasmine let out a scream that quickly turned into a laugh. Jasper turned around to stare at Elleanna as he let his heart slow down.

“Jeez, you almost gave me a heart attack!!”

He half yelled at her. She gave him an apologetic smile.

“Sorry about that..”

She said sweetly. Jasper and Jasmine came over and gave her a huge hug.

“It’s sooo good to see you!”

They said in unison chasing her to laugh.

“I missed you both as well.”

She said softly.

“You came just in time to try Goose Surprise!”

Jasmine said with a bright smile. Elleanna arched an eyebrow and shrugged.

“Good thing too…I am really hungry.”

Jasper served up a plate for her and brought her a glass full of ice water.

“Thanks Goose!”

She said before she dug into her plate of food. She closed her eyes as she tasted the first bite

”Mmmm”

She let out a delighted mmm.

“Goose this is delicious!”

She said between bites causing Jasper to blush slightly.

“So are you here to stay?”

Jasmine asked while she scooped up a bite of food to eat.

“I plan to…if that’s alright with you?”

Elleanna asked while looking at her friends.

“Girl…me casa..su casa!”

Jasmine and Jasper said at the same time causing them all to giggle.

The next morning Elleanna grabbed one of her loose black

t-shirts and a black work out skirt to get ready. She took a nice hot shower and then put her clothes on. She slid on a pair of black socks and her purple tennis shoes that she had left there.

“I am going to go work out before we head to the bakery..anyone want to join?”

She asked as she came down the stairs. She pulled her long hair up into a fluffy purple hair tie making it a ponytail going down her back. Jasmine and Jasper both agreed to go with her. They ate some toast and eggs for breakfast with some coffee before they went to the nearby track. They jogged together for awhile before Jasmine and Jasper both sat down. Elleanna set up some practice dummies in the middle of the track. She started by doing some punches to one dummy. Meanwhile Romero, Jonathan, Crystal, Dolan, Nolan, and the visiting Alpha of the neighboring pack were sitting on the hill so Romero could show the other Alpha the town he owned. They weren’t too far from the track and watched as Elleanna and her friends arrived.

“That’s my mate…”

Romero said as he pointed at her with a smile.

“She is very beautiful. Why is she not with you?”

Alpha Dylan asked in a husky voice as he watched her.

“She had a rough life and I will not force her to be with me because of that.”

Romero responded. Dylan nodded and sat in silence.

“Hey Goose…can you turn on some music?”

Elleanna asked while looking at Jasper.

“Yeah, sure thing!”

He said with a smile and pulled out his phone.

“Can you also grab the twins?”

She called out as she began to walk towards her friends. Her voice carried up to the hill Romero was sitting on and his eyebrows scrunched together.

“Twins?”

He asked while he inched forward. Jasper stood up from his seated position and walked over to a large black bag he had brought with. Elleanna stood near Jasmine and they spoke about the twins.

“Does she have pups?”

Dylan asked Romero who shrugged his shoulders. He wanted to confront her, but decided to stay quiet and watch. Jasper returned from the bleacher area carrying two long pure silver swords with dark purple handles.

“Ah, my babies…I haven’t seen you in weeks!”

Elleanna said as her eyes lit up in excitement upon seeing the swords.

“Ok..your mate is so awesome!”

Dylan said as he watched her expertly pick up the swords without touching the blades. Elleanna returned to the center of the track with her swords. Romero smiled and watched her as she used the music to time her attacks on the dummies. A slight breeze filled the air and she stopped swinging her swords at the dummies.

“This girl is on fire….She's walking on fire…”

Played from the phone by Jasper. Elleanna stared ahead silently as she felt goosebumps all over her skin. Then she smelled them…Rouges….About 10 of them. She straightened herself and inwardly spoke to Rose.

~“Rose…you up for some fun?”~

Rose yipped and jumped up inside their mind excitedly. She watched as the rouges came on the field surrounding her, but she showed no fear. Her eyes began to glow golden as she and Rose merged. Elleanna smirked and spoke to the rouge looking her dead in the eyes.

“You all thought you were just gonna pick on a girl….Do I look that weak to you?”

She asked in a cold voice. The rouge snarled at her but didn’t take a step forward.

“Well, bring it!”

She said as she heard the song change. Romero stood up preparing to shift as he saw the rouges. Savage Daughter by Sarah Hester Ross began playing on the phone as the rouges began to come closer to her. She turned just enough where Romero saw her eyes and he sat back down.

“Aren’t you going to help your mate?”

Dylan asked curiously.

“No….You see her eyes?”

Romero asked as he pointed at her and Dylan nodded as he saw them glowing gold

“Well that means they aren’t going to survive this song…”

Romero said as he watched her with a smile. She swayed with the music taking down the first rouge that leaped at her. She began to sing along with the song as she fought the rouges.

“I am my mother’s savage daughter..the one who runs barefoot..cursing sharp stones..I am my mother’s savage daughter..I will not cut my hair…I will not lower my voice…my mother’s child is a savage…she looks for her omens in the colors of stones…in the faces of cats, and the fall of feathers…in the dancing of fire..and the curve of old bones…”

She quickly took down two more rouges. Her friends watched her silently as she continued moving and killing to the song. More rogues appeared, but she didn’t notice it though because she was in the zone.

Romero and the group with him on the hill watched her as she skillfully took out the rouges even when two attacked her at once. She continued taking the rouges out while still singing and dancing

“…my mother’s child dances in darkness..she songs heathen songs..by the light of the moon…And watches the stars and renames the planets…and dreams she can reach them..with a song and a broom…I am my mother’s savage daughter…the one who runs barefoot..cursing sharp stones…I am my mother’s savage daughter…I will not cut my hair…I will not lower my voice……We are all brought forth out of darkness….into this world, through blood and through pain…And deep in our bones, the old songs are waking…so sing them with voices of thunder and rain…”

She took her swords and destroyed the last rouge then stood up straight as the slight breeze gently made her loose hairs blow across her face. She took the blades and wiped them on

the side of her skirt before she walked over to her friends. Her eyes were no longer glowing and some of the color drained from her face.

“Sorry you had to see that..”

She said as her friends stood.

“GIRL!! YOU ARE SO COOL!!!”

Jasmine said in a loud excited scream. She blushed at her friends comment and rubbed the back of her neck with her left hand.

“I was zoned out there for a moment…”

She said softly while looking at the ground.

“GIRL YOU WAS FIRE!!”

Jasmine said loudly. Jasper let out a laugh and looked at her

“Ellie…I never knew you were such a baddie.”

He said with a smirk before giving her a hug. She smiled wide and hugged him back just before Jasmine jumped in on the hug.

“I pity the fool that crosses you!”

Jasmine said as the hug ended.

“I don’t enjoy killing, Jazz..”

Elleanna said as she stared at her friend.

“Well..no….but you are GOOOD at it…you could be an assassin and no one would even know it was you!”

Jasmine said with a smirk. Elleanna shook her head and grabbed the bottle of water that Jasper handed her.

“Yeah…I could go duck, duck, GOOSE…too”

 She said before drinking the water. Jasper laughed

“No…leave me out of it!” 

He said playfully. She smiled as she moved the water bottle from her lips.

“So you think I can still work at the bakery after I just left ?”

She asked.

“YES!”

Jasmine said excitedly.

“You can meet Christine…she just started, but your job was put aside because you are special!” Jasmine said excitedly.

“Alright well let us go home and change then..”

Elleanna said as she put her swords into Jasper’s bag before picking it up. Romero let out a sigh as he watched her interact with her friends.

“You let her hug another male?”

Dylan asked as he looked at Romero.

“I can’t control her…I mean I could try…but with her past…she would hate me for it…I have to wait for her to come to me….Besides that is Jasper…He saved her life two years ago and I can’t take away a best friend just because I am jealous of him..”

Romero said firmly. Dylan nodded

“You are wise beyond your years Alpha Romero.”

Romero smiled and stood.

“Jonathan, have someone clean up the rouges so the humans don’t find them.”

Jonathan nodded before mind-linking the clean up crew to come clean up the mess.

“We should visit town today….Maybe stop in at the bakery on Green Street.”

Romero said as he walked to the car they drove up in

“Sounds good to me.”

Dylan said with a smile as he followed Romero.

Elleanna changed into a simple calf length black dress once they got to the house and she had a shower. She left with her friends and headed towards the bakery. As she entered the bakery Mrs. Linda Brown smiled wide and walked over to give her a hug.

“Welcome back Ellie”

She said softly as Elleanna hugged her in return.

“Thank you”

Elleanna said softly.

“Well, get to baking my dear…and later when Christine arrives we can introduce you..”

Mrs. Linda Brown said sweetly. Elleanna smiled and went to her favorite place and began baking the cookies that had gotten her the job in the first place. She zoned into her work and began singing a song from Demi Lovato.

“This is a story that I have never told..I gotta get this off my chest to let it go…I need to take back the light inside you stole…You’re a criminal…and you steal like you’re a pro..”

Elleanna sang and baked as people came into the bakery to buy their baked goods.

“It’s so nice to have her back..”

An elderly woman said with a smile as she heard Elleanna singing

“…All the pain and the truth…I wear like a battle wound..so ashamed, so confused…I was broken and bruised…”

Elleanna spun around to place the next batch of cookies into the oven and back again to continue mixing ingredients. The light ding of the bell brought Mrs. Linda Brown to the front and she smiled.

“Hello Alpha Romero. It is a pleasure to see you.“

She said with a smile.

“Have you come to see your mate?”

She asked as she handed him a cookie Elleanna had made. He smiled at her

“Hello Grandmother..you know you can just call me Romero, right?”

He asked as he gratefully took the cookie and ate it.

“Not when you have company present my dear.”

She said as she then handed Alpha Dylan a cookie.

“Thank you ma’am.”

Dylan said as he took the cookie and ate it.

“I just want to hear her singing Grandma.”

Romero said as he took a seat in an empty chair. Elleanna’s voice carried into the front as she sang and baked

“…Now I’m a warrior…Now I’ve got thicker skin…I’m a warrior….I’m stronger than I’ver been..And my armor, is made of steel, you can’t get in…I’m a warrior…and you can never hurt me again….Out of the ashes, burnin’ like fire….you can save your apologies…you’re nothing,but a liar…I’ve got shame, I’ve got scars…that I will never show…I’m a survivor…In more ways than you know…”

She took out the cookies and moved them to cool down then she began baking a homemade carrot cake.

“…there’s a part of me that I can’t get back…A little girl grew up too fast…All it took was once, I’ll never be the same….Now I’m taking back my life today…Nothing left that you can say…’Cause you are never gonna take the blame anyway…Now I’m a warrior..I’ve got thicker skin..I’m a warrior..I’m stronger than I’ve ever been….and my armor, is made of steel, you can’t get in….I’m a warrior…and you can never hurt me again….”

She stopped singing as she turned to put the cake batter into the oven.

She turned to take her dishes to the sink when she froze in place.

“Christine…."

She said with a shock. Christine turned to face her and glared.

“Elleanna…”

She spoke with a cold voice. Elleanna straightened herself and looked Christine straight in the face as she spoke.

“What are you doing here Christine?”

She asked in a calm voice. Christine sneered at her as she answered with a snotty attitude

“My mate lives here.”

Elleanna let out a laugh that was cold.

“Wait…you mean after everything you did to me….You still got a mate?”

Elleanna laughed harder at the thought of this.

“Yes…everyone gets a mate…I mean you were rejected for someone better than you…”

Elleanna stopped Christine before she could finish speaking.

“No…you see that’s where you are wrong…you aren’t better than me…I was the Alpha’s daughter…even if he hated me…which makes my bloodline better than yours…I am not the scared little girl that you used to bully.”

Elleanna stood taller than Christine and towered over her.

“You had no right to bully me, but….but I forgive you…”

She said before she turned to take the cake out of the oven. Romero heard Elleanna laugh in the back and smiled until he felt her sadness and anger. He looked towards the back contemplating going behind the counter. Elleanna placed the cake into Jasper’s section so he can decorate it. Christine followed her and began speaking to her rudely

“You aren’t any good Elleanna…you deserved everything you got…even losing that baby…”

Elleanna let out a warning growl her Alpha side emanating.

“Christine….Stop….go any further and you could lose your head…”

She warned as she began to walk towards the front of the bakery needing to get away from Christine. Christine foolishly followed her thinking she would win this fight. Romero looked up as Elleanna’s figure appeared by the door followed by a much shorter woman.

“Poor Elleanna….Yeah right…your twin should have lived instead of you..”

Christine sneered at her. Elleanna turned to face Christine as her eyes glowed and she leaned forward towards her. When she spoke her voice was like pure ice causing everyone to stop and stare.

“WHY?? SO YOU COULD HAVE BULLIED HER INSTEAD???”

Romero stood up as he watched them.

“No one will ever love you Elleanna!”

Christine spat out at her. Elleanna took a deep

breath trying to calm herself.  As she reached her hand up to grab Christine by the throat, she felt an arm snake around her waist. She stood still as she heard a voice behind her

“And who says no one will love her?”

Romero asked as he glared at Christine. Christine stood her ground not realizing he was the Alpha of the pack she had just joined a few weeks back.

“I do because I know the wretch that she is..”

Christine said boldly.

Romero arched a brow at Christine.

“Who are you?”

Christine smiled at him and replied

“Christine…mate of the Gamma, Tyrone”

Romero shook his head before he replied

“As mate to the Gamma I would expect you to show more respect to your future Luna.”

Christine looked at Elleanna and sneered

“Yeah right…once the Alpha sees her he will reject her just like the last guy did…”

Elleanna growled loudly at Christine

“Yet I wonder…does your mate know what you have done?”

Elleanna asked as she moved to leave Romero’s embrace. Then she smirked before she continued speaking

“Do you even know who your new Alpha is?”

She asked Christine. Christine shook her head no which caused Elleanna to smile brightly and her eyes to shimmer.

“I would expect you to treat your Alpha with more respect than you just did…"

She said with a slight cold laugh as she leaned back into Romero’s embrace causing him to smile and look at her. Christine looked up at Romero and glared.

“Any man that can touch you is no Alpha…”

Christine spat causing her to smile wider.

“But you see….You are sorely mistaken…”

Elleanna half whispered to Christine and she leaned forward slightly.

“..You see…He is your new Alpha…and as his mate…I would be your Luna…so therefore…disrespecting me….Is disrespecting your Alpha…and even your mate can’t save you from that…”

She said with her cold voice and another smirk. Romero smiled when he heard refer to him as her mate. He got caught up in the excitement and forgot what was happening before him.

“I’ll kill you….”  

Christine spat at her.  Elleanna laughed loudly as she leaned further into Romero.

“Is that a challenge?” 

She asked when she was done laughing a mischievous glint was in her eyes. The little bell on the shop went off letting them know that

someone had entered. Elleanna turned to see Gamma Tyrone. He looked at the interaction and glared at Christine. He spoke in a low, husky voice

“Christine…you better be respecting our Alpha and Luna…”

He warned as he walked over to her. Christine paled instantly as she looked at Elleanna.

“Oh you know…just some death threats…sounded like a challenge to me..”

Elleanna said with a bored voice before she continued to speak

“However…I am willing to forgive and move on…for today….”

She looked at Christine

“…But if you ever try that again…I will end your life before you can even get the words out….”

She finished speaking. Romero smiled at his mate and how diplomatic she sounded.

“Understood my Luna..”

Gamma Tyrone said as he wrapped an arm around a now silent Christine.

“Congratulations on finding your mate.”

Elleanna said as she bowed her head towards them.

“I am sorry for the disturbance Mrs. Linda Brown…please forgive me…I will be out for the rest of the day..”

Elleanna said as she moved out from Romero’s embrace and left the bakery. She needed a run and so she took off quicker than anyone could catch her.  Romero sighed as he watched her run once again.

-“Hey…if you can keep up, I would love for you to join me.”-

Elleanna said through mind-link to Romero. He smiled and ran the way she did without saying a word to anyone else. When he got to the forest he stripped and shifted. Aidrien let out an excited howl as he sniffed for the scent of his mate and followed it. Elleanna laughed softly as she ran in human form ahead of him.

~“Rose want to run?”~

Elleanna asked and before she could get an answer she shifted causing the dress to rip. Rose ran faster enjoying being chased by her mate. Soon she slowed down and came to stop by the little lake she had found the first time she was here. She lapped up some of the water from it and then laid down. She yawned and laid her head on her paws while she waited for her mate to join her. She fell asleep rather quickly not realizing how exhausted she was. Aidrien caught up and turned his head sideways slightly as he saw her laying down. He walked up and realized by her breathing that she had fallen asleep. He smiled and drank some of the fresh water before he curled up next to her resting his head on her back. He laid watching over her as she slept.

In town, Dolan had entered the bakery to see where his sister had been working. He inhaled deeply when he caught a smell that had his mouth watering. The smell was of vanilla chai tea and honey. A young woman came out from the back and smiled at him.

“You must be one of Ellie’s younger brothers. You look so much like her.”

The woman said in a soft voice. He smiled at her and realized the smell came from her. His wolf Abiather howled in his mind

~”…MATE…this is our mate”~

Dolan smiled and spoke to the woman

“I am. My name is Dolan. What is your name?”

She blushed and smiled at him

“Jasmine.”

“Jasmine…what a beautiful name..”

He said with a smile still on his face.

“By the way you are looking at me…I’m guessing we are mates?”

Jasmine said as she placed a hand on her hip. Dolan blushed and looked shocked.

“How do you know about that?”

He asked her curiously.

“Well, Ellie told me all about mates…and how they look at each other when they find them…and how they can reject each other, but that it hurts."

 Jasmine said honestly and blushed a little herself. Dolan nodded

“I would never reject a beautiful woman like you..”

He said softly as he took her right hand and placed a kiss on it.  Jasmine blushed again and looked at Dolan.

“I, Jasmine Marie Daniels, accept you Dolan as my mate.”

She said with a smile.

“Wait…did she tell you about that as well?”

Dolan asked confused. Jasmine nodded and replied

“Yes, and I secretly always hoped I would be able to say that someday, because I am a little jealous of Ellie.. I mean she gets all these cool things…and I’m just a human….”

“A perfect human…”

Dolan said as he wrapped an arm around her pulling her in for a hug. Jasmine smiled and took in his deep forest scent that had a hint of fresh rain.

“You smell really good…”

She mumbled against his chest.

“You smell amazing as well, my beautiful mate”

Dolan said against her hair. Then he lifted her up and carried her all the way to Romero’s Pack House to introduce her to everyone.

Elleanna woke up still as Rose around sunset and stretched before standing on all four paws. She looked over at Romero/Aidrien and smiled seeing that he was asleep. She silently walked over then licked the side of his face gently to wake him up. Aidrien lifted his head with a yawn and looked at her.

-“We should head back to the pack house”-

She said through the mind-link. Aidrien nodded and stood up to stretch.

-“Are we racing or taking it slow?”-

He responded. Rose licked the side of his face again.

-“Let’s go slow to spend more time together….because Elleanna will be leaving again…She needs time to adjust…and doesn’t trust herself…and refuses to be on a psych hold…but she will not reject Romero.”-

Rose said in the mind link to Aidrien.

-“We will give her time. Please thank her for giving you and I time to spend together.”-

Rose nodded as they walked and she rubbed against his side. He smiled and kept up at their slower pace enjoying the time he was getting with her. As they neared the pack house Rose stopped and playfully pushed Aidrien with her body before she ran towards the pack house. Aidrien smiled inwardly and chased after her. He let out a happy howl causing Jonathan to open the front door of the pack house and step outside. He shook his head as he saw the two as wolves running and playing. Aidrien playfully pushed Rose sideways and continued on towards the pack house. Rose lunged onto his back causing him to collapse onto the soft grass. He squirmed to get out from under her causing her to pin him to the ground further before licking him from his neck to his ears. After she did that she took off full force and sprinted into the house and up the stairs still in wolf form causing a blur of white to speed by everyone. Romero shifted outside and shook his head at his mate.

“Playful isn’t she?”

He asked as Jonathan handed him a change of clothes. Jonathan let out a chuckle and nodded.

“At lease she isn’t running from you.”

Romero nodded and walked into the house looking for her.

“Elleanna, my love…come out come out wherever you are…”

He said playfully as he stood by the living room. She leaped from the top of stairs still in wolf form and landed on Romero causing him to fall down with her on top of him.

“Hey no fair!”

He said as he rubbed both sides of her head and she licked his face.

“Hey! Get a room!”

Dolan called out from the couch causing Jasmine to giggle. Rose looked up and headed over to Jasmine before placing her head into her friend’s lap.

“Hey you.”

Jasmine said softly as she ran her fingers along Rose’s head and behind her ears.

“It’s good to see you again. Just like when we first met.”

Jasmine said softly as she locked eyes with Rose.

“You are truly beautiful and sometimes I am jealous. But I am so thankful to call you my friend.”

Rose licked the side of Jasmine’s face before trotting off to go upstairs.

~“We have a chance for happiness Ellie..”~

Rose said in their mind as they sat outside of Romero’s door. Elleanna stayed silent in their mind as she thought about everything. Romero came up the stairs and smiled.

“Did a door stop the big bad wolf from entering?”

He asked with a playful smirk on his face. Rose turned and gave him a light growl and gently nipped his hand with her teeth. Romero let out a hearty laugh as he opened the door for her. She shifted back to human form just after they entered the room. She wasn’t afraid to be naked in front of him. As she turned to face him she blushed when she realized he was staring.

“I am sorry for all the trouble I have cost…I don’t understand why you wouldn’t reject me…or why you love me…but thank you..”

She said softly before she slightly chewed on her bottom lip. Romero handed her a long black shirt of his and a pair of sweat pants before he responded

“I too was a rejected mate. I love you because you are made for me and because you are worthy of love.”

He spoke honestly from his heart. She got dressed and then wrapped her arms around him.

“I can’t stay….Please…give me time…I promise not to reject you…I promise not to leave the territory…but please…I need time..”

She said softly not wanting to hurt him. Romero smiled and wrapped his arms around her as he responded

“My Love, Take all the time you need to adjust. I only ask that you at least become a part of the pack so that way others in the pack will not think you are a rouge”

She nodded and smiled.

“Now we have to go downstairs because my bestie is definitely my brother’s mate!”

She said with a huge smile.

Romero followed her downstairs after she put on a his clothes. Elleanna ran up and hugged Jasmine tight.

“I’m so happy for you and Dolan. He is such a big sweetheart regardless of his tough exterior!”

She said as they hugged.

“Dolan…congratulations brother…you have yourself one fine woman…I owe her my life…”

Elleanna said as she turned and hugged her brother tightly. Jasmine smiled as she settled next to Dolan.

“Ellie…I already love him so much…we would like your blessing to get married”

Jasmine said as she looked at her. Elleanna stared at her brother and best friend as happy tears started falling from her eyes. Romero noticed her crying

“Is everything alright my love?”

He asked as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.

“Yes…I am just so happy for these two. I can’t wait for you to be married and officially be my sister Jasmine…this is so wonderful..”

She said with a smile as she wiped her eyes.

“How soon do you plan to get married?”

Dolan smiled and confidently said

“Tomorrow night under the full moon.”

Elleanna let out a slight squeal of happiness which she had never done before.

“You know…we could make it a double wedding..”

Jasmine teased as she wiggled her eyebrows at Elleanna. Elleanna let out a laugh before tossing a pillow at her best friend

“No way Jazz…I am not stealing the spotlight from you….Besides..I..I'm not ready yet…” 

She said with a blush.

Jasmine smiled at her and leaned further against Dolan.

“Does this mean I will become like you?”

She asked after a few moments. Elleanna beamed as she replied

“If you choose to yes.”

Jasmine smiled and then asked another question on her mind

“Will it hurt?”

Elleanna took in a deep breath and answered very honestly

“The first time, It will hurt terribly, but your body will get used to it.. but you can choose to just stay a human.”

Jasmine nodded and then responded with a smirk

“No way am I staying a mere human when I can be like you Ellie..”

Elleanna let out a sigh and looked at the ground before she softly spoke

“You don’t want to be like me…I’m broken….”

There was a sadness in her voice as she spoke and her eyes became slightly filled with tears that fought to escape. With a sigh she slipped from Romero’s hold and

left the room.

“I will be back in the morning to help you wedding dress shop and plan the wedding…”

She said before she opened the front door and ran off into the cold night wanting to be alone. She ran all the way to the little lake and laid down looking up at the stars.