Chapter Four

Everything was dark, so dark, but that was not what bothered Morana. Her real issue was with the pain, Morana could not understand why she felt pain all over her body especially when she was supposed to be dead. “Why do I still feel pain? What is that noise?” she tried opening her eyes but was unable to, Morana felt like she was frozen in ice, unable to move yet she could feel immense pain, was this what hell felt like? After all she’d been through, she still somehow ended up in hell “Hontas, it really hurts” Hontas never did reply, ‘Hontas?’ Morana tried again to reach her other half, searching through her mind she came back empty, the silence caused her more pain, sending her into a panicked state.

"Morana." Her mother's voice rang through, Morana jumped on Serena’s bed and grabbed a handful of her mother’s sheets pulling it up her much smaller frame. She was back in the pack with her mother chasing after her. Serena finally caught up with her little daughter, a smile tattooed on her face as she lightly tapped Morana’s nose, "Morana, you silly little creature" she said and grabbed her body pulling it close to hers as she kissed her daughter’s face repeatedly, "You'll be able to talk to your wolf soon, do you have any idea what you will be naming her?" Serena asked smiling at Morana now nestled in her arms. Tilting her head to have a good look of her mother she shook her head.

"What is your wolf's name mommy?" she asked. "Her name is Aurora, I named her that because that was the first time I talked to her, when first got a glimpse of her, it was right at dawn, she spoke to me right when I woke up and that’s what Aurora means, dawn" Her mother said and smiled turning towards her and leaned against her elbow.

“wow!! Just like the princess in your favorite cartoon?” Morana aske eagerly, “yes honey, just like sleeping beauty” Serena chuckled "Then I'm gonna name mine wolf Ho-Hontas! Just like my favorite princess" Morana proudly declared giggling, happy to have thought of a princess’ name too.

"Oh my darling girl, that’s not why I- I mean it’s not the-,“ Serena was lost for words, staring at her beaming daughter, she couldn’t find it in her to take that smile away from her daughter. “that’s very wise of you, you picked a strong princess, a very pretty one too” her daughter nodded happily “yes she’s gonna be pretty like princess Hontas.” Serena noticed Morana’s blunder, “That is not how you say-" she got interrupted by her very excited daughter "Hontas, Mommy! Hontas! Hontas! Hontas!" her daughter declared looking at her mother, she pointed a finger towards her, "My wolf is going to be as beautiful as yours." “Of course she will be, I am your Mother aren't I?" Serena said grabbing her waist, pulling Morana into her body as she kissed her round, red cheeks.”

Pain. Darkness. Hurt. Not to mention, a very annoying noise. Morana needed to be free, she felt suffocated and still couldn’t open her eyes, she was fighting to see the sunlight again, fighting for Hontas. One minute she was on a flat surface, the next she was back in her mother’s arms, it felt so real.

Serena had Morana in her arms as she walked away from the pack house. Morana could see a few lights still on in the large building as she clung to her mother's body. Her nose fell against Serena’s neck as her scent comforted her. Her mom had said that she would get a wolf in a year or two. Morana couldn't wait! "Mommy." she whined and pushed her forehead against her mother’s jaw, "Drink. Mommy. Drink." Morana said and pointed towards the house.

"Hush now Morana." Serena cooed as she continued to step in the forest, shielding the pack house from her daughter, rubbing circles against her back as she walked in the darkness. The woods held a chill in the air, in fear, Morana squeezed her eyes shut in fear and soon fell asleep in her mother’s arms. It wasn't long until Morana was startled and woke up, looking around, they were now deep in the forest, the pack long forgotten, tears filled little Morana’s eyes, but they never fell, she looked up to see a man she was unable to identify.

He seemed familiar yet Morana was sure she had never seen him before, his blue eyes looked down at her, he had a smile on his lips as he pushed away the tears that threaten to fall, "Don't cry little one. "He said in a deep voice. Serena smiled towards the two, her gaze pausing at the man with loving eyes, "Serena, you need to come with me." The man said, starting his conversation again. Morana leaned against his chest and looked at her mother as she grabbed a hold of the man's shirt.

"I've told you before Marcus, I can't just leave the pack. I'm supposed to be Luna, Kevin can't be the-" "The pack isn't of your concern anymore!" The man said, stopping Serena’s words, "She is." He said and poked my nose, He used that same hand to grab her hand, "Come with me Serena, leave your pack. I will keep you safe. I can't keep you safe when you're in that territory, please. I'm begging you Serena.” Serena frowned as she looked at her daughter curled up in Marcus’ arms with guilt and then turned to the man with tear in her eyes.

"Marcus." She said and closed her eyes as she walked towards him. He wrapped his free arm around her body and placed a kiss on her head. "Serena, my love, my mate. I need you by my side." He whispered in her light brown hair, "My Daughter will need a Father." He added and looked down at little Morana. She met his eyes and held his stare for a moment before turning to her Mother.

“We will leave once the rogues are taken care of Marcus; I can't promise anything more. It won't be safe for Morana to travel in the forest with them roaming around. And if he finds her-" She let out a breath as Marcus leaned down and crushed his lips against her. “If he hurts you or her, I will haunt him down until I die. I will kill him." Marcus said in a stern deep voice, his finger brushing against her mother's face.

Serena was a fighter, in front of the pack she held herself high. But in front of her mate, she melted. She had a happy smile on her face and her eyes looked like running water. So much love was in her eyes as she pulled the two people, she loved more than herself into her arms. They held their little girl between them for a while before they eventually split. Morana watched as Marcus left with tears running down his cheeks, he kissed her cheeks and forehead promising he to see her again.

Serena cried as she walked back to the pack, she stopped her sobs once she felt she could be seen. Morana could feel her mother’s heart breaking as she looked at the warriors that watched her, it was plain as day that this wasn't where she wanted to be. The little girl turned back to the forest in wonder, holding onto her mother. Memories Morana hadn't remembered rushed through her head and slowly she started to find a peering light.

Her body ached and as much as she wanted to, found it difficult to move at first. Slowly, very slowly Morana to gain feeling in her hand, she could feel her fingers rubbed against another, she wasn't dead, she also realized that she wasn't in the cell either. There was an annoying beeping noise coming from somewhere beside her, along with a strange swishing sound.

Further away Morana could hear voices and chose to keep her eyes close and listened, "Alpha, she's doing better now," "You said that last week!" A male voice growled. He sounded angry, furious more like. This sounded like an Alpha, "How long will it be until she wakes up?" he asked again.

"Her injuries are severe; we should be happy that she is even alive!" Another male voice said. Morana could hear another growl from the Alpha as footsteps echoed the room. After a moment the man spoke, "Have you found out what has happened-"

"Of course not!" The Alpha said, his voice was closer this time, "When I find out who did this, I promise the punishment will be deadly." He said. Morana could feel his warmth, she could feel the breeze he made when he walked past her bed, "It's been almost a month." The Alpha said in a small voice.

"I promise you; I'm doing everything that I can." The man replied, coming closer to where she lay, "For a woman on death's door, she is healing wonderfully. Even without her wolf's help she is getting better." There was silence in the room for a few moments as they all listened to the annoying sound of the machine. Morana was barely hanging on to consciousness as the Alpha continued to speak, "Internally bruised, internally clawed, tears, whips, wounds and rape? Is this what we do to innocent women who wander into our territory?" The Alpha asked shaking his head.

"It wasn't just one male who had his way with this young girl" The man replied, "From the size of the claw marks, bruises I would say at least twelve, maybe more." A growl filled the room at that answer, "You told me to be honest-"

"I know, I'm sorry Dr. Linn." The Alpha said quickly, but still sounded very angry. In that moment Morana could feel every inch of her body. She could feel the weight of the room fall on her and her back burned in pain. The heart monitor raced as she struggled to breath but was met with plastic. Morana choked on what little air she could squeeze through her lungs, her tube doing nothing to ease her breathing, her hands scrunched up the bed sheets in an attempt to swallow air.

Then Morana heard a calming voice that jerked her from her panicked state, silence fell in the room for a moment. The only sound being that of the annoying machine, she turned to the tube, my hands reaching for it. "No! Stop her! Now!" The Doctor screamed, she could feel hard hands around her own as she tried to yank on the tube, before she could try again Morana felt a pinch and then coolness filled her body. It took only a second before her hands to fall and her body relaxed. The beeping on the screen slowly as she fell back in darkness.

Once she calmed down Alpha Brandon lowered her head and took in a few breaths, he placed his hands at the back of his neck as he stood. So much rage had been boiling in Brandon ever since the doctor told him what his mate had endured. The doctor had to use tweezers to pluck each silver piece he found. Using a heated blade, he also had to cut the dead skin that was left hanging on her back.

The internal claw marks was what made him furious, doctor Linn knew better and allowed a woman to stitch the wounds, "Alpha if I may ask, who is this woman to you?" Dr. Linn asked once he had disposed of the syringe, "If you don't know her mate, then there are no ties between you and this woman." He said.

Brandon watched him carefully as Dr. Linn looked at the woman, slowly Brandon leaned back. "I feel responsible for her." he said and turned towards his mate. Truly, he wanted nothing more than to scream at the top of his lungs that she was his mate, his everything. But he knew better than to declare her a Luna when she wasn't even awake.

For all he knew, Dr. Linn could have been one of those who had abused and raped her. Brandon cleared his throat, holding back the growl that was trying to escape, "I left my pack and came back to find an almost dead woman on my land. What if her mate-" he hated saying that word, he hated thinking she had marked someone else, "Decides to declare war because our men almost killed her?" he finished.

"She could be a rouge." The doctor said and leaned against the wall. He was in his mid-forties, taller than the average male and skinnier too. His large forehead held wrinkles now, and his brown hair was receding to the middle of his scalp. His gray eyes looked at Brandon’s mate for a second and then looked down as he pinched the bridge of his nose, moving his glasses away, "She might not have a mate. She could have been forced to bare that mark." He said and sighed, "From what I can tell from her blood work and her body weight, this wasn't the first time she was starved. She's malnourished, and there are scars that seemed to be given years ago, still trying to heal."

Brandon closed his eyes and shook his head. "Nonetheless, she shouldn't have been raped because she trespassed on my land!" he growled loudly and glared at the doctor. He’d been waiting for Jon to accidentally slip one of these days, but he has been awfully quiet.

"For all we know she could have been a rogue whore, and they just decided to leave her-" His voice stopped speaking once he saw his Alpha glaring at him. "If you have something to say, say it." Alpha Brandon said in a stern voice.

"I just believe you would be happier doing your Alpha's duties then watching over a girl that is nothing to you." The doctor said truthfully. 'Kill him.’ Aero ordered but he only blinked and tilted his head. "I will continue doing my Alpha duties, but I will also stay by this woman's side until she is fully healed." he said glaring at the doctor, "If you have a problem with that, I can gladly find another who will tend to her."

Doctor Linn bit his tongue, but nodded, dismissing himself from the room and closing the door tightly. Brandon allowed his shoulders to slouch as he grabbed hi mate's hand and looked at her sleeping face. Very slowly, his finger traced down her swollen cheek and around the tape that held the tube in place. He leaned his head down and kissed her hand closing his eyes. Brandon sent a silent prayer to the moon goddess to watch over his mate and offer her wisdom at this moment.

Her hair was pulled back and tucked under the tape, looking at her made Brandon’s stomach turn. Her beautiful, long lashes looked to be resting, he grabbed a chair and pulled it to her side. Alpha Brandon was the leader of a ruthless pack, a pack that was strong. A pack that was unbeatable, yet in this moment he hated this pack. He hated that he had a feeling they did this to his mate- no, he knew they did it. Brandon promised to find out who they are and remind everyone why he is known as the Alpha of the most feared pack.