Everything quieted down. Everyone went back to their duties after helping my bleeding calm down. It was questionable, as none of the pack doctors or elders could name what just happened to me. However, they let me rest after seeing my exhaustion from losing blood. Once again, here I am with a fresh new pair of clothes, lying down on the bed with fresh sheets, dextrose, and donated blood to replenish what I lost.
And my mother had never left my side, caressing my head gently, whispering, "You've been through a lot and still fighting just like your parents. Keep it up, honey. Survive the pain."
Hearing her gentle but quivering voice from crying, I opened my eyes, squeezing her hand. It caught her attention, and she smiled at me.
"Mom, don't cry," I said softly, which almost sounded like a whisper.
"I just remember your parents." She smiled softly and kissed my head when the newly fixed door opened gently, revealing the pack's Luna.
"And they're proud of you." Luna Taylor added, smiling at me as she went to my side. I wanted to say something, but she quickly stopped me from belittling myself, warning me, "Not a word of self-pity, young lady. You don't need them anymore. This time, hold yourself together as it's time for you to claim yourself back."
I blinked. Confused by what the Luna had just said, but undeniably curious.
"Taylor, what are you saying?" Mom asked curiously, but the Luna just smiled at us.
"They might not have had the answer for your bleeding, but based on what I saw, it came from your rose thorn mark. It's like telling her not to push it." She answered what she had noticed before adding her conclusion, "Whatever happened to you after you fell, it might have had a connection to your mark since it changed whenever I touch them."
I narrowed my eyes curiously and touched my temple where I felt my mark burn. My mark wasn't always defensive and protective of me, but hearing it, something indeed changed.
"Your mark always showed faintly when I touched them, but this time, when I did, it was whispering a belonging in the Knightrose family..." She continued, faintly touching my temple, showing proof to my mother before continuing, "...someone in the family already marked you."
My mother gasped to see something on my neck as she gently touched it, and by that contact, I shrouded a little. "She's bitten…" She whispered, but her expression was conflicting my thoughts before she added, saying, "…whoever bit you managed to save you from dying."
"And whoever from the Knightrose marked you, that vampire will come to your rescue whenever you're in need." Luna Taylor added, giving me an assuring smile before advising me, "Rest. Your body needs to adjust to the changes of having no wolf."
I could not argue with that. Indeed, I don't have my wolf anymore with me, which saddens me. As a sigh escaped from my lips, my sight spun, and my body felt heavy. I felt exhausted again, which led me to sleep. However, instead of having a peaceful, dreamless sleep, I was taken into a familiar dream. It was repeating the same dream about a particular Fenrir named Sage. I don't know why I dreamed of it again, but the effect this time was intense. My body went into hysterics as I trembled on the bed, dreaming the same nightmare that lasted for thirty minutes.
"Please…wake me up…" I muttered, trying to break free from the repeated dream that seems to be haunting me nowadays. Sadly, nothing was happening. I'm still stuck on the same dream. However, something changed.
It was the same dream each night, but something felt off. Instead of ending, I was suddenly taken back to the start. Initially, I thought it was just a typical dream, but encountering the same state for three weeks of my recovery, it's strange. It began with the Fenrir and the captive vampire lady meeting with a kiss, easing my trembling body. I'm thankful for that. However, the repetition didn't stop.
With an intelligent mind, I used my brain cells, letting them function, and focused on what my body was feeling during my repeated dream. During the dream, I felt a gentle but cold hand caressing my head down to my lips before landing gently where my bite mark was. It was a featherly touch, but it sent warmth throughout my body, making me moan.
I may not like how my body was responding to this gentle hand, but with the intention of waking up, a whisper escaped from my lips. It was a stupid word to use as soon as I opened my eyes, saying, "Hi."
I wanted to slap myself since there were a lot of words to say, and that greeting was the only thing I whispered. But my embarrassment quickly vanished when I heard a soft giggle from a woman who felt oddly familiar to me, making my body surprisingly wake up and look where it came from.
"You woke me up," I said, trying to adjust my sight in the darkness because I could not see anything aside from a presence sitting by my side. Yet, her calm and melodic voice speaks.
"I didn't, but you did."
"Well, that's true, but who are you?" I wondered, trying to be friendly before adding my curiosity, "You somehow felt familiar to me."
"Let it stay that way."
I narrowed my eyes, trying to see her, making me squeeze her hand on mine before requesting, "Then come to the light. I'll learn your name later."
And she did. Even in the dim light of my bedroom, I was struck by her beauty. This vampire beside me was unlike any other—more like a goddess with dark, blood-red hair cascading down her chest. Her reddish-mauve eyes, though hollow, always caught me off guard. I was left speechless.
But I don't know where this courage came from, and instinctively stretched out my hand, reaching her face before my thumb caressed it gently. It was cold, but not against my hand; they were warm.
And before I could ever hold my tongue back, I'm already rolling out my wonder, asking, "Why sad?" There was a pause between us. It was charged and was getting thicker until I realized what I had just asked, making me feel embarrassed. "Sorry, I…ahm…it just rolled out…I think…"
She giggled softly, shaking her head before saying, "It's alright." She patted my hand before standing up and leaving a kiss on my temple, causing me to whimper. Then she whispered, saying, "Rest. The dawn is breaking."
I don't want her to leave. I felt safe with her. However, I didn't tell her that; instead, I asked something, wondering, "When can I see you again?"
"Whenever you needed me the most." She said softly, showing a gentle smile, and before I could say another word, she was gone.
I just stared where she was once sitting, and when my hand touched it, my heart felt at ease. I had never felt anything like that before. I haven't felt any peace until this strange vampire came into my life, and somehow I knew, my heart knew she's a savior, my savior.
"My? That's too claiming for somebody who just met…" I muttered, lying down once again, smiling, but it fluttered when I recalled the familiarity that I felt around her, particularly her eyes. "Have we met before?"
***
Clocks have been ticking for days, and I'm still stuck in my bedroom, afraid to step outside, wolfless. I usually read to enhance my mind, often skipping meals, but not now. My eyes drift to the training field where others my age become official fighters. But I, the wolfless omega, remain inside the pack house, surrounded by books, hoping to earn the diploma I missed due to health issues.
However, being wolfless, something shifted inside me. At first, I found it odd when I started hearing and smelling things from miles away or even reading expressions better than before. It was not written in our history books, and my family told me that I was gifted. I don't believe, but there was nothing wrong with polishing it by meditation. I had been practicing meditation for my PTSD, but also enhancing my senses to the fullest, until it was a piece of cake.
But I groaned, hearing a familiar rushed footsteps coming to my room, and in a second, my door fully swung open, revealing no other than Talia, demanding mischievously, "Change. We're going out."
"Hello to you too, Talia, and no. I'm not leaving the house, I'm meditating." I replied nonchalantly, trying to ignore her presence, and continued my meditation.
"Meditate later and come with me now." Talia demanded, and before I could say any rejection, she wickedly added, saying, "With ice cream tickets."
My meditation act dropped immediately, making me groan, curse, "Dammit."
"Meet me in five downstairs." She giggled, leaving my room as she won again.
"I hate when she uses that excuse to bring me out." I groaned, rolling my eyes, but I did stand up and changed my clothes before sighing, "Like I can do something about it."
In just a few minutes, Talia and I went out of the pack and spent our time at the mall watching movies, which we both agreed not to pick a movie blindly. We didn't like it. And to ease out annoyance, Talia took me shopping – she got her new clothes while I got new books, then we headed to the arcade. However, we didn't play much because Talia was being hit on and almost started a fight. Luckily, I dragged her out before she snapped, and now, here we are at the garden area of the mall, having my favorite, ice cream.
"I'm glad I took you out." Talia smiled genuinely at me.
"And I thank you that you do." I thanked her, smiling before showing my ice cream that I was devouring, saying, "I've got this."
"You really love ice creams, don't you?" Amused, she chuckled teasingly.
"Obviously." I replied proudly, licking my ice cream before wondering, "But Tali, why drag me here?"
Her smile softened, and she started apologizing to me, "To apologize for not being with you when…"
"Talia, it's done, and I survived the fall. It was still hazy, but I'm here." I told her, assuring her because I could sense her guilt.
She smiled, nodding before thanking whoever saved me, "Whoever saved you there, I'll be forever grateful to that person, whatever creature it is."
"I hope to remember what happened there one day…" I hoped, sighing heavily, and nudging my side.
"Maybe in time." She smiled encouragingly before getting up, "Let's go home. It's getting dark."
After our afternoon date, the dinner was filled with warmth and teasing among the siblings until I excused myself. I felt exhausted, and my body felt heavy. Before I could even finish cleaning myself, I don't remember changing my clothes or even lying on the bed. I even thought I was sleepwalking until I heard a humming voice from the same woman who had been with me lately every nightfall. I smiled sleepily, and I knew our bond was growing deeper every night we spent together.
"You're here," I said softly before yawning and sitting up on the bed.
"I told you I'll come whenever you need me the most." She said coldly but gently, making me frown, thinking a little.
"I didn't…oh, maybe I did…" I said, recalling the moment I was in the bathroom when I thought of her before adding my concern, "My body felt exhausted than before…"
"Your body is changing." She answered calmly as she sat on my bed, beside me.
"Meaning?" I wondered, leaning on her shoulder. I don't know why, but I felt more relaxed doing it, and I'm glad she doesn't mind.
"Adjusting to a new life that is about to begin." She answered briefly, taking my hands with hers, caressing them gently.
That gesture alone made sleep come easily, making me yawn, saying, "I hope it's a good change."
"It will." She said, kissing my head before ushering me to rest, "Rest. I'll be here."
"Till dawn?" With eyes closed, I asked like a hopeful kid, making her smile sweetly.
She kissed my temple before answering, "Till dawn."
I still had the same repeated dream and its loop, but with my savior's presence beside me every night, securing me in her arms, I didn't flinch, tremble, or wake up. Instead, subconsciously, I snuggled deeply into the crook of her neck, resting peacefully.
I didn't know I could sleep this peaceful, and it's thanks to my savior until I whispered, "Mate."
I hate that word, but if it's my savior, I don't mind at all.