** Diana’s POV **
Grace lied limp in my bed. Her breathing was faint and she hardly stirred in her sleep. But I was happy. I wasn’t happy that she was in poor condition, but that she was alive. She kept her promise all along. That she would find me.
I sat on the side of my bed, watching Grace. I didn’t want to look away because I was afraid she’d disappear from my life again. She was my only friend that survived the attack.
Two hands placed themselves on my shoulders.
“Gianna is here,” Christopher whispered.
I nodded. We called Gianna so that she could help Grace. I was afraid that if we tended to Grace ourselves, we’d do something wrong and harm her. Maybe a witch could do something better.
I turned to Christopher and gave a hopeful smile. Then I looked out the open door to the hallway and saw a smiling Gianna. I smiled back and nodded. She took that as a sign and walked in, making her way until she was right next to Grace’s sleeping form. She smiled and looked at me and Christopher.
“Oh yeah, I can fix her up with a simple potion. But I’ll need one thing.”
I stood up quickly, hope filling my body.
“W-what is it? I can go get it.”
Gianna laughed. “I’ll need an angelic herb.”
I cocked my eyebrow. “Angelic herb?”
She nodded. “Oh yes. It’s actually a flower found in the forest around the town. When it’s mixed properly it can be used as a strengthening tonic.” She said happily.
I nodded and turned to leave. “Okay, I’ll be right back!”
Before I could exit my bedroom door, Christopher quickly grasped my arm.
“Wait, we can have one of our gatherers find the flower. You should stay here, where it’s safe.”
I gave him a reassuring smile and easily slipped my arm from his grasp.
“It’s fine Christopher. I’ve been gathering for the past three years, I’ll be fine. And what would I be safe from, bunnies?”
He looked like he wanted to argue, but he let it go and allowed me to leave. I gave a thankful smile before running out of my bedroom.
I ran through the hallway, down the stairs, and out the front door, greeted by the morning sunlight.
I saw some pack members walking up and down the street, but they didn’t notice me. Seeing them though made me think of the previous event I was in, when I was only in my undergarments and a jacket.
I shook my head. It wouldn’t happen again because once Christopher, Grace, and I arrived home, I quickly threw on a white day dress with some white flats. I was in a “white” mood.
I ran into the street and began to run towards the forest. Surrounding pack members noticed me and bowed their heads. I waved to some, but was in a hurry. So I began to pick up speed.
The members soon became blurs as I passed by. I know I have never ran this fast before. I was running faster than the time I was chasing down Christopher to stop him from hurting Grace. So faster than an hour ago.
I stopped running when I entered the forest.
The forest was a lot more beautiful than when I was arriving to the pack through it. It seemed more at peace.
I began to walk, using my instincts to find the right flower for Grace. I didn’t know how to find it, but I felt like I was close, if that makes any sense.
‘Diana,’ Sofia whispered in my head.
I nearly jumped when she spoke. She’d been ignoring me ever since we found Grace, then all of a sudden she decides to speak. Talk about being rude.
“Sofia!” I hissed. “Why have you been ignoring me!”
‘You didn’t feel it, did you. You were to distracted.’ She stated quietly.
What?
“Feel what?”
I could feel Sofia sigh. ‘I felt like we were being watched.’
Well of course she felt like that. We were being watched, by the whole pack.
“Hate to break it to you Sofia,” I started. “But we were being watched, by the whole pack.”
Sofia grumbled in my head. ‘That’s not what I meant. We were being watched by someone who doesn’t belong to this pack.’
I sighed while I continued to search for the flower. “And who would that be?”
‘I don’t know why, but it felt like-‘
Sofia didn’t get to finish her sentence. Why? Because I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going, as usual.
Instead of tripping on a log and rolling down a hill, I caught my foot in a tree root that was sticking out of the ground. Then I stumbled and caught my balance, but doing so made me cut my ankle on a nearby thorn bush and earning a little blood to seep out.
I have the most amazing luck.
“Son of a poop!” I screeched. “Well, at least it didn’t tear my dress.”
Sofia sighed but then went silent.
“Sofia, don’t ignore me again,” I whined.
‘No, I’m not. But do you hear that?’
I went quiet and listened for a bit. But nothing made a sound.
“Sofia, there’s nothing-“
That’s when I heard it. A type of whining sound. It sounded painful, like whatever was making the sound was being ripped apart.
I began to walk towards the sound.
‘What are you doing?’ Sofia hissed. ‘Never walk towards a strange sound! This is probably why Christopher didn’t want us coming out ourselves!’
I shook my head and continued to walk. The sound got louder as I pushed through some bushes. Then a small clearing opened up. And that’s when I saw it.
An injured doe lying on the ground.
It’s legs were sliced, causing blood to seep through it’s wounds. And there was a huge claw mark across it’s side as if a wolf had attacked it.
It took one look at me, then it’s big black eyes filled with fear. It began to do it’s painful whimper while it tried to stand, but it failed miserably. To be honest, it looked like it was struggling just to hold onto it’s life.
“No, don’t struggle.” I whispered. “It’ll just make it worse.”
It ignored me and continued to squirm.
What was I supposed to do? Let it die and walk away? Or try to help it as best as I could?
I shook my head and slowly approached it, holding out one hand while keeping my eyes on the ground. It seemed to have calmed down it’s whimpering, but it still thrashed around as I was basically towering over it.
“It’s gonna be okay,” I cooed. “I’ll help you.”
‘You sure are something,” Sofia stated.
I ignored her while I looked at the doe. It stopped squirming and looked at me with pleading eyes, as if trying to talk to me. I could imagine it saying something like, it hurts so bad, please help me.
I looked around, searching for a plant. Maybe an angelic herb could help it. I was searching for one after all, maybe I could get another. Or maybe I wouldn’t have such luck.
That’s when I felt it, a slimy thing on my ankle.
I looked down and jumped back with shock. The doe was licking my cut I had gotten from the thorns.
I looked down at my ankle and stared at amazement. There was no cut. It was as if it had vanished. Then I looked back at the doe and nearly yelped out of fear and utter disbelief.
It’s wounds were healing. Right in front of me. The injuries were closing up at an amazing speed that a leopard would be jealous.
It’s scratch on it’s side was fully healed, as well as it’s injured legs. Then it stood up, shaking out it’s short hair.
It looked at me with thanks in it’s eyes. Then it nodded and strolled off.
What happened? Was that deer a wizard thing?
I shook my head at the insane idea. Impossible! Then again, humans think it’s impossible for werewolves to exist.
“Well that was impressive.”
I tensed. That voice. I know it. I know who it belongs to. It belongs to the boy who caused everyone that was precious to me be killed three years ago! It belonged to the boy that played with my feelings. It belonged to the boy who I actually cared for once.
I turned around slowly and met with his still beautiful hazel eyes.
“Paul,” I whimpered. “What-what are you doing here?”
He was a couple feet away from me, smiling as if we were best friends. If I had never known what he was like, I would’ve mistaken him for a kind, loving boy.
And that’s when I noticed what he was wearing. It sent fear into my body. He was wearing the same clothes he did the night he killed my family. A dark dress shirt with a tie, dark dress pants, and dress shoes.
“I’ve come for you,” he said while closing the space between us until he was towering over me. “That outfit is beautiful, by the way. It looks like you’re getting married.
I was to scared to move. My body was shaking ferociously. He probably came back to kill me. To kill off the soul surviver of a dead pack, other than Grace.
“Y-you’re a killer,” I stuttered. “You’d only come for me to kill me.”
Paul laughed and traced his hand down my cheek, causing me to shudder with disgust.
“Why would I kill you? Diana, I came back because I love you.”
My heart stopped. He loved. He thought he had the right to say he loves me after everything he did so far.
That’s when the memories of that morning came back to me. The morning when I went back to my burned down pack.
«He sighed and started to rub the back of his neck. “You know, if I would’ve just forgotten about my mate when I rejected her, this would’ve never happened, and, I would’ve fallen in love with you.
I shook my head from that memory. He was controlled by his mate. But I still couldn’t trust him.
“You don’t love me,” I said with false confidence. “If you did you would leave me alone.”
Paul’s smile disappeared and a frown took it’s place.
“Diana, I can’t forget about you! It’s like you’re my mate! All I do is think and think, and you’re the one that pops in my head! I can see us together happily! I can see us raising pups! I see myself with you!”
I took a step back. “Stop it. You killed my family for your mate, and now you say you want me. Stop kidding yourself. And besides, I wouldn’t go with you anyways, I found my own mate.”
Paul scowled. “Yes, and he’s the alpha and you’re the new luna.”
My body went cold. How did he know that? Has he been watching me the whole time? Was I just something he observed?
I staggered backwards. “How? How do you know that?”
He shook his head and held out his hand. “It doesn’t matter. But what does matter is that you come with me.”
I stared at his hand, as if it was an alien. How could he offer me his hand? Did he really think what he did was right?
I shook my head and slapped his hand away. But he grabbed my hand with fast reflexes.
He didn’t pull me along with him. He just stood there with his head hung, while he held my hand.
“Paul-“
“What don’t you get? You understand that you have to do anything for your mate, don’t you?”
I flinched. Was he really feeling this way?
Paul raised his head and looked at me with tears in his eyes.
“I didn’t know any better, Diana! I thought I had to do that. But then I met you, and I felt stronger feelings for you, and only you.”
I looked at our hands and slipped mine from his grasp.
“I can probably forgive you, but I won’t be with you,” I stated while looking back at Paul.
His face flashed with hurt and anger. “That won’t do.”
Then he ran off, so fast that the leopard would be more jealous of him.
I stood there, looking at my hand that he held. I can forgive him, but I won’t be with him.
‘Diana-‘
I shook my head. “Not now Sofia.”
Sofia ignored me. ‘That flower right in front if you is the angelic herb.’
I looked ahead of myself and saw what she was talking about. A white flower that gleamed in the little sunlight it received.
I walked over to it and swiftly picked it. Then I ran back the way I came, wanting to get to Christopher more than anything.
** Christopher’s POV **
Diana has been out there for a while, searching for that one flower that would help Grace. I was worried, for both of them. I wanted to run outside and search for Diana, help her find the angelic herb. But Gianna said that she needed to face her demons out there, and learn the truth. I didn’t know what she meant, but thinking about it over and over again made it sound like Diana was in danger.
“It will be fine,” Gianna stated. “She’ll come back safely with the flower.”
I looked at her and narrowed my eyes. “You know, something has been itching at the back of my head. You’re a witch, so why do you need potions when you can just flick your finger?”
Gianna smiled. “That’s true, I don’t necessarily need potions, but this will help everything place itself in order.”
“What do you mean?”
The witch ignored me and looked down at Grace’s sleeping form. “She’s here.”
A second later I heard the front door open and slam shut from downstairs. Then I heard the running of footsteps coming up the stairs and through the hall.
I looked towards the hallway door and saw Diana standing there, holding out a flower while panting.
“Here-the flower-take it.”
Gianna snapped her fingers and the flower appeared in her hands. “Thank you Diana. Now Christopher, go comfort our luna.”
I nodded and gently took Dianas hand in mine. She stared at it with a horrified look, but then she calmed down.
Did I scare her? Was she afraid of me?
I shook my head and pulled Diana out of her bedroom. Then we walked down the hallway and entered mine.
She went over to my bed a lied on top. I smiled and joined her, pulling her close to my chest.
“You know,” she panted, her minty breath fanning my neck as she spoke. “It’s obvious Grace is going to be staying here with us.”
I nodded. “Of course, I wouldn’t want to separate you two.”
I could feel Diana smile. “You know what that means, right? She gets my room. Which means, um. Well, uh, I’ll have to sleep and stay in your room.”
I looked down at her as my heart began to hammer against my chest. She was blushing and averting my gaze. Gosh she was adorable.
I kissed her on her forehead. “I’m fine with that. I want you as close to me as possible.”
She snuggled deeper into my chest. “Good.”
I began to rest my eyes, even though Diana kept shifting for some reason. It was like she was trying to get up.
That’s when I felt it. Sparks engulfed my body as my eyes snapped open. She was staring down at me with a crazy blush on her face.
“I-I-I, uhh.”
I chuckled. “If I wasn’t so tired, I’d kiss you back.”
Her blush got even redder. She swiftly went back to my chest and began to snuggle.
“You’re so adorable,” I said while resting my eyes again.
“And you’re so cute,” she mumbled.
I smiled as I held her closer to me. Then fell into a peaceful sleep. The only thing I thought of was the kiss she had given me.