Love
Pain coursed throughout my body. My eyes were half closed as I fully regained consciousness. I could tell my face was sore, and I had deep cuts on my flesh that were far from getting healed. I slowly scanned the room I was in until my eyes landed on a figure. It was Maleck. He was standing before me with his arms crossed against his chest.
" Even without your lycan, you heal well," he said. My breath shuddered as I tried to sit up. Vee, where are you?
" How do you feel, Love?" he asked. I contemplated answering him. His eyes darkened a little at my refusal to respond. I didn't have the strength to fight him, so I replied,
" Like I went out of the frying pan into the fire," I said. My throat was sore from not having any water for hours. His eyes lit up when I spoke. He chuckled. Maleck was obsessed with having me.
" Would it be that bad?" he asked. I scoffed at the audacity of that man. Maleck went to me and sat at the edge of the bed. He placed his hand on my chin. My stomach felt queasy, and I recoiled from him as goosebumps rose on my skin.
" I want to leave. I want to go home to my family, Maleck," His face was stoic so abruptly.
" Well, you can't leave," he said.
" Why?" I snarled.
" Finders are keepers. I found you in my territory, so you are mine," he shrugged. My stomach sank. I wasn't an object he could keep. I would never be his!
" Maleck, I'm your cousin's mate," I gritted. He was delusional if he thought I could stay with him willingly. He looked at me thoughtfully before speaking,
" I don't care about Ellis Carter. I've had my eye on you for a while. Love,"
My eyes fell on the gun on his belt. A shiver went through my body. Memories of that night at the casino came crashing down on me.
" You were the masked man at the casino that night, weren't you?" I asked as it dawned on me. I was disgusted with him. The way he treated me. The way he undid my shirt buttons.
" I was just having some fun. Take a joke," he smiled charmingly at me.
" I will when you make a funny one," I spat. My anger was bubbling, ready to explode at his antics.
" Ellis will kill you for this," I warned. My mate will find me soon. I just knew it.
" If he comes here. I will kill him first," he said and left the room.
I took this moment to check my surroundings. I was in a huge bedroom. There was barely any furniture besides the desk and a mirror against the wall. With difficulty, I stood on the bed and looked in the mirror. I scowled at my appearance. I was covered in bruises and blood. I rushed to the windows in the room, but they were all shut, along with the door. I fell on the floor, helpless. I missed my mate, and I missed my children so badly. I needed to find a way to escape this place.
' Love,' I heard Vee's distant voice. My heart almost leaped from my chest.
Vee
I've been trapped in the beyond for several days now. I was worried about Love. My human needed me with everything that was going on. I had just finished fighting the spirit that wanted my soul for his. I quickly left the darkness, trying to get into the light, but it was hard; I was using so much of my strength to fight the spirit.
I sat on the floor after feeling exhausted. My eyes filled with tears. I was missing my humans, my pups, and my mate. All I wanted was to go to them. However, something dark trapped me. Sometimes, I felt Love close to me, but it would just be a glimpse of her.
I tried to be strong, but I was getting tired of fighting. Tears flowed from my eyes as memories of Love appeared in my mind. She was my best friend.
" Why are you crying?" a velvety voice asked. I raised my head from the ground and followed the voice. It was a beautiful white wolf standing tall in front of me. In this dark part of the forest, she illuminated light.
" Hello,"
" You don't look like you belong here at all," she said.
"The same goes for you," I told her. She giggled. She had a nice, lasting laugh that would make one cheer up. It was harmonious.
" I don't,"
I got to my paws and walked closer to her. She was a few inches shorter than me, and that was when I saw her. She had three beautiful tails styled with pink flowers. A golden crescent moon sparkled on her forehead.
" What is your name?" she asked,
" I'm Vee. What is yours?"
" I'm Ziora, but you can me Zio,"
Zio managed to extend the light from her to me. Without any evil spirit trying to do something to me. We were unapproachable.
" How come you have this light?"
" I was blessed by the moon goddess when I was born," she answered. We were leaving the dark forest. I tried several times to leave but failed with Zio by my side. It was so easy, like walking in a park.
" What were you doing in this area?"
" Just doing a favor for a friend," she said. I narrowed my gaze on her with interest.
" What kind of friend sent you here?" It was a dangerous place.
" The kind whom I like. We met here when we were just pups," she said fondly.
" This place is dangerous. Wait, have you not been to the physical world yet?" She looked old enough to be with a human.
" These evil spirits don't bother me. If they did, I could kick their ass," she said proudly.
Zio ignored my question about being in the physical world. I couldn't help my familiarity with her—I felt like I'd seen her before, but I didn't know where or when.
" Do you have a human counterpart?" I asked her. She stopped walking. I felt a profound sadness radiate from her. Did her human reject her? It was rare, but humans could reject their inner companions. Or maybe she died.
" I don't want to talk about that. It makes me sad."
We reached a vast barrier. I couldn't see or touch it physically, but I could feel it.
" Just hold onto me," Zio said. I touched her. A white halo overcame us, and we were transported to another place—beyond heaven.
" How?"
" It's one of my gifts," she said.
" How?"
" I told you, the goddess blesses me. I have some abilities."
" That's great," I was in awe of her and our new place. Everything was beautiful, with many different bright colors. The legendary animals were friends, and all seemed to like Zio. I followed Zio to a great bridge by the golden lake. The lake was golden!
" This place is like a beautiful dream," I beamed.
" I've noticed you are hurt. Drink the water from the lake, and you shall be healed," she told me. I was indeed severely injured from fighting the evil spirits.
When I drank from the golden lake water, I felt a surge of energy fill me. I gasped in awe as all my injuries disappeared. It was like they were not even there. She smiled at me,
" Thank you, Zio,"
" You're welcome. Let's help you return to your human, Love, is it?"
" Yes,"
Zio was happy again. I couldn't help but smile at the gorgeous wolf.
Love, I'm coming to you.