Chapter Five: Safety

 Serena’s POV

  There are moments in your life you know for sure what is happening to you.

  Darkness. There is nothing more numbing and reassuring than that feeling of nothingness like you are floating and all thoughts all pain, everything just seems not to exist anymore and suddenly it stops.

  The sound of low growling brings me back to consciousness and I feel panic spears through my body at thought that Michael might have come back to finish what he started.

  “I’ll kill whoever did this. Death will be a mercy.”

  The voice growls out with such anger that it sends a shiver down my spine and I feel relief right after when I realize the person isn’t talking about killing me.

  I manage opening one eye as the other is swollen shut and l feel pain radiate my entire body.

  A figure is hovered over me, his features blurry and he is holding my head in his lap.

  He brushes my hair away from my face gently and whispers something I can’t hear over the ringing in my head.

  I must have hit my head when they dumped me here but I ignore it and try to force out my words. I can’t waste any chance I can get to escape this nightmare.

 After the nightmare I have suffered at the hands of my former mate and pack, I will make sure that I survive just to prove that I’m not as worthless as they think I am.

  I move my lips but no sound comes out. The pain from my broken ribs making it difficult to breathe.

  I call for Celeste and search for her in our mind space.

  “Celeste? Celeste? Are you there?”

  She doesn’t respond. I start to panic. Could something have happened to her. Did the severing of the mate bond affect her in anyway? I can feel the spot where the mate bond was severed, causing my heart to throb painfully but I can’t feel Celeste. How is this possible?

 Celeste is the one good thing that I have in my life. I’ve known her for as long as I can remember. Initially, I thought it was normal to talk to your wolf spirit before you matured until Celeste told me that no one else could, that I was special and there was no one like me.

 There’s nothing special about me, I’m just-

 “Stop your whining. I’m here. You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”

 She’s not gone. Relief courses through me at the thought. She’s fine although she sounds very weak, like she’s also injured.

 “Yeah I spent almost all my energy trying to cushion the effect of the rejection but you still felt pain.” She says regretfully. Even in this moment, she’s still looking out for me.

 “Of course I am, I have to my little moon, who else will? But that won’t be for long anymore. You’re safe now.”

 Confused, I ask Celeste what she means.

 “Hush now, because of the massive drain on my powers, I will not be able to communicate with you for a while but you’re in safe hands now. Now remember, don’t blame yourself for what happened, none of this is your fault, okay? I’ll see you soon.”

 “Celeste? What do you mean by I’m in safe hands? Celeste? Celeste!”

 She doesn’t answer me. She’s gone.

  Why am I so weak and pathetic. I couldn’t even protect my wolf, a part of myself and now she might be gone, forever. If I could shift to my wolf my injuries wouldn’t be this severe. But I can’t because I failed my wolf too. Why am I so useless?

  Not anymore. I fist my palms and hold the dirt on the ground. I won’t let this defeat me. I push through the pain and manage to speak up, my body trembling from the strain.

  “It h-hurts. Make it s-stop. H-help me, p-please.”

  I manage to gasp out brokenly.

  I feel the man above me begin to shake, growls coming from him but for some strange reason I am not afraid. I feel like this man won’t hurt me. I look up at him as my vision clears and I glimpse and strong jaw and dark eyes but I can’t make out his features fully.

  Who is this man? Why does he look at my injuries as if they are his own? Is this what Celeste was talking about when she said I was safe?

  “You’re safe with me. No one would ever harm you again.” He whispers, as he grazes his fingers along my jaw.

  “Who are you?” I ask. The response he gives shocks me.

  “Mate” He says. Pulling me closer to his body. “Mine.”

  “That’s impossible.” I think to myself as I let me pain take me into the embrace of darkness once more.