Chapter Seven

I woke up in an unfamiliar room, a thick, soft blanket hugging me, reassuring me that I was safe. My head was pounding against my skull, and I winced as I eased myself upright. Something warm and heavy lay beside my feet, softly breathing through their nose, a strong arm protectively holding on to one of my legs.

The events of last night flashed before my eyes and I choked as I remembered Cain carrying Jess's limp body up some stairs.

Cain stirred and I pulled my legs away from him, hugging them tightly as I tried to get away from him.

"Faye?" His voice was raspy as he squinted at me. "Are you okay?"

I shook my head. Of course I wasn't!

I couldn't stop the tears that streamed down my face, even if I'd wanted to.

Everything hurt and I wanted nothing more than for things to go back to how they were. Back to my old, simple life. Where I had close friends that cared for me and weren't supposedly mythological creatures, throwing me into their twisted lives.

I'd never seen anyone get killed before and the image haunted me, teasing me behind my closed eyes.

Jess hadn't been someone on my list of people I liked, but the fact that she had been turned into a monster and then killed disgusted me.

"Don't touch me." I muttered as Cain reached out to me. I could feel the hurt radiating off him, but I didn't care. I was done with him and his werewolf fantasy life. The further I got away from him and his family, the more normal I would be able to feel again.

I sat on the edge of the couch in the den, listening to Cain talking with my father.

I had had to walk out into the cold in my little dress and bare feet to get Cain to take me home, and even now he was insisting that I stay with him.

I felt sick as I remembered Jess on top of him. He'd preached about love, and then allowed her to kiss him. She had been leagues above me, so it didn't surprise me that something like this happened. But to think I'd begun to fall for him myself.

I heard the front door shut as Cain left and dad walked into the den.

"Cain told me what happened. I'm so sorry you had to witness that, Faye."

I shrugged in response. What part?

"I think it would be safe for you to stay with Cain." He continued.

"What?" I spat. And why is that?"

"He can protect you, Faye. I'll be on a hunting trip this week and I'd rather you not be alone."

"So putting me in the 'safe hands' of a werewolf is your idea of protecting me?"

His eyes widened. "How-"

"He told me himself. Look, I get that you were just protecting them and me by not saying anything, but I didn't ask for this!"

My voice had started to crack as the memories played through my mind again.

"Faye-"

"Dad, I just want to go home. Mum might not have been around much, but at least my life was normal."

At least I didn't see people get murdered before my eyes.

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, the lack of sleep noticeable on his pale face. He was struggling too and I suddenly felt bad for what I'd said.

"I'm sorry." He muttered. "I didn't expect this to happen myself. I just wanted us, you, to be happy here."

I nodded in understanding.

"I can't promise that Cain won't stay away, the boy is determined to protect you. I know all too well how much they care for their soul mates. But, I'll not expect you to stay with him."

He left the room quietly, the house silent except for the patter of rain on the roof.

The weather had gotten significantly worse over night, as had my mood. The rain had soaked through my clothes, leaving me shivering despite the heater in my car being cranked up to maximum. I felt like crying, but I had to be strong. No one had witnessed what I had on Friday night. Her friends would never know about the monster she had been turned into.

The school was eerily quiet as students shuffled around, trying to go about their days normally. I'd hoped to not be reminded of Friday night's events, but posters of Jess had been stuck up around the school, informing students of her loss and the memorial that was going to be held for her at 1pm.

Groups of girls huddled around these posters, crying. Some just stared, almost non caring that she had passed.

I squeezed past everyone and made it to the girls bathroom, which was thankfully empty as I dried my clothes under the hand dryer. I leaned my head against the wall and breathed a shaky sigh, contemplating going back home.

Satisfied that my clothes were dry enough, I head out of the bathroom just as the first bell went off. As I stepped out, I crashed straight into a tall figure. My initial thoughts were that it was Cain and I stiffened, but the familiar tingling sensation wasn't there as I pressed into his bare arm. I looked up and felt myself blush.

"S-sorry." I stammered, taking a step back from him. He was cute, and even cuter when he smiled.

"That's okay. I can't complain when my first day at a new school involves someone as cute as you crashing into me." He stuck out his hand. "I'm Mason."

I blushed more as I took his hand and he gently shook it. His skin was incredibly warm considering he was wearing a t-shirt in this weather.

The second bell rang and I realised that we were now the only people standing in the hallway. I considered going home again, if it meant I could spend some more time with Mason. He seemed like the perfect distraction that I needed.

I showed him to the office, where I myself played the mourning victim, saying that I couldn't handle being at school yet.

Mason shot me another gorgeous smile. "Hope you crash into me tomorrow." He waved as he left the office.

As I walked out of the school I saw Cain jogging through the rain. His wet hair stuck to his forehead and he slowed down, coming to a stop before me, breathing hard. My heart hurt as I walked straight past him, feeling his sad golden eyes staring after me as I walked into the cold rain.

This is what's best for me. I told myself, but I had to fight the urge to turn around and run into his arms.

The next few days passed by slowly. I spent them alone at home, not ready to go back to school, or face Cain. Being stuck inside was taking its toll though.

I put on a warm coat and stepped outside, my breath visible in the now icy air. Rustling in the nearby trees startled me and I strained my eyes, trying to see in the dark. The thought that Cain was watching me crossed my mind. I tried to reassure myself that it was him just making sure that I was safe, but my gut flipped at the possibility of it being Abel.

Fear set in and I was suddenly afraid of being alone. Locking the front door behind me, I jogged down the stairs to my car, locking its doors once I was inside. I let the engine warm up, constantly checking the mirrors as I fiddled with my phone.

The drive to town felt a lot longer than it was. A car had been behind me all the way there, and I couldn't shake off the feeling that it was someone following me.

I smiled when I saw Aldrich, the familiar face settling my shaking body. He gestured for me to take a seat, the warmth of the cafe warming my insides. He brought over a big mug of my favourite cocoa, loaded with marshmallows and chocolate powder on top.

"You look like you could use one of these." His eyes wrinkled as he smiled and I couldn't help but smile back as I thanked him.

I opened up the book I'd brought, sipping my cocoa as I absorbed the words and let them take me to their world.

"'The Beautiful and Damned'?" I heard someone say as they sat in front of me.

Looking up, I saw Mason sitting before me, a beanie covering his floppy blonde hair and a silver ring in his nose. He seemed to favour wearing just a t-shirt, his jacket already hanging off the back of the chair.

"You know it?" I asked, closing the book in front of me.

"Read it a hundred times." He winked, flashing me the smile I felt was meant only for me. "You haven't been at school." He queried.

"I'm sure you heard about Jess. She was a good friend of mine." I lied. "School was...hard."

He nodded. "Sorry to hear about that."

"You didn't have a nose ring at school." I queried in return, changing the subject.

He grinned. "I just didn't have it in. You like?"

"Yeah, I'd always wanted one myself. Any other secrets?"

He lifted his shirt up to reveal a tribal like tattoo covering his stomach, disappearing around to his back. He was a lot more toned that I'd imagined him to be, too.

"That's so cool." My eyes widened as I took it in. "Does it mean anything?"

"I come from a big family, we all have one. It's a symbol that means we are connected, that we are one." He pulled his shirt back down and smiled.

An hour passed by so quickly with Mason keeping me company. My cheeks had started to hurt from smiling so much, I wondered how he could do it all the time.

"Hey, how about we get out of here?" Mason announced, pushing his chair back.

I pushed back my own chair and slowly stood up, finishing off my third mug of cocoa. "And go where?"

"I found this great bookstore the other day, maybe we can check it out?"

I followed Mason out of the cafe, thanking Aldrich on my way out. He smiled in response, but it faltered as he eyed Mason suspiciously, a worried look crossing his face.

I ran to catch up with Mason, a smile playing at his lips when I reached his side. We walked out into the cold night, the Stars glowing bright in the cloudless sky.

"Wow." I breathed, stopping and staring up at it.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Mason agreed, looking up himself. "See that group of stars there? That's the constellation; Lupus."

My heart felt like it had stopped beating.

It's just a coincidence that he happens to know that one I told myself as I followed his finger pointing up at the sky.

"Faye?" My head whipped towards the sound of Cain's voice. He looked at me with a pain stricken face and I bumped into Mason as I stepped backwards.

"Is everything okay?" Mason whispered when I looked up at him. "Do you know that guy?"

I looked back at Cain who was now frowning. "He...he's just my ex."

The look on Cain's face after I said that shattered my already fragile heart. I grabbed Mason's arm and hurriedly walked away, tears blurring my vision. When had I become such a cry baby?

"Hey wait." He said, stopping us. He cupped my face and ran a finger over a tear that had run down my cheek. "How about I give him a reason to leave you alone?"

Before I could say anything, Mason's lips were pressed against mine. I gripped his wrist and whimpered softly, the sound only making him kiss me harder.

I finally managed to push him away. "I can't..." I breathed, touching my lips. His had been soft and warm, but they hadn't felt right. "I don't even know you, either." I added with a laugh.

He looked sincerely sorry, pulling his beanie off and scratching his head, his blonde hair sticking up in odd directions. "Does it help at all that I'd really wanted to kiss you when I first laid eyes on you?"

I shook my head but smiled.

The kiss had definitely distracted me, a loud crack bringing me back to reality. I turned and gasped when I saw Cain hunched over, his fists having smashed the wooden boards of a shop front. His breathing was hard and sounded like he was growling. Mason pushed me behind him, a hand outstretched protectively. Cain turned and ran into the dark, the splintered wood falling onto the footpath.

Mason turned to me, looking me up and down. "Are you okay?"

I shook my head. Was this really how I wanted things to be?

"Where's your car? I'll take you home."

We walked back to the parking lot, Mason's arm wrapped around my shoulders tightly.

It began to feel a lot like the night Cain had driven me home and I wanted nothing but to be alone.

"Thanks." I sniffed. "I should be okay now though."

"Are you sure?" He searched my eyes, making sure I was telling the truth.

"Yeah." I whispered, staring back into his baby blues. I sucked my breath in when he leant down, expecting another kiss, but his lips brushed against my ear instead.

"Call me if you ever need me." He murmured whilst pressing something into my hand.

I shivered, hoping for the spark I felt with Cain, but it never came.

Red eyes burned into mine and pointed teeth grinned above me, saliva dripping down from them. Abel chuckled, his half human, half wolf form a terrifying sight. I squeezed my eyes shut as he howled. I was paralysed, unable to fight him as he dragged me through the woods, his teeth sinking deep into my flesh.

I was in a dark room suddenly, the only light visible coming from underneath a door. Harsh whispers came from the other side and the door suddenly swung open, a tall dark figure walking in.

Their hands were suddenly around my throat, grunting as they strangled me, their blue eyes the only things I could see as they burned bright in the darkness.

I woke up gasping for breath, my hands flying to my neck. I felt around for the light switch and squinted in the brightness. The piece of paper with Mason's number on it lay crumpled beside my phone. I smiled, remembering the night with him, but it faltered as Cain crossed my mind. I'd hurt him when he hadn't done anything wrong. The pain had been so visible on his face when he'd seen me with Mason, it was as if someone was stabbing me repeatedly in the gut.

The longing to be beside Cain came back. I wondered whether he had had the same nightmare as mine, an observer of the torture I had endured. I wished to share it with him, to share the pain.

Had I pushed him away for good?

Cain...

I'm here.

I heard his voice just as I closed my eyes and fell back to sleep.