49 The perfect way to unwind …
L
I threw my arms up , bracing for the impact , my heart hammering against my ribs .
I could feel the creatures ” hot breath on my skin …
And then I woke up .
My scream tore through the air , as I bolted upright in bed gasping for breath .
My clothes were soaked and stered to my trembling body like a secondyer , my heart still racing as if I hadn’t yet realized the dream was over .
I looked around wildly , looking for the stick , my chest heaving … it took me a moment to realize I was no longer in the forest .
The familiar surroundings of the guest room in Xander’s house slowly came into focus the soft glow of the bedsidemp , and the rumpled sheets tangled around my legs .
But something was wrong .
I wasn’t alone .
Sitting on a recliner in the corner of the room , watching me intently was Xander .
“ Xander ? ” my voice was hoarse and my throat was still raw from screaming .
“ What … what are you doing here ? ”
He didn’t respond .
A chill ran down my spine .
There was something … off about the way he was looking at me .
His eyes seemed to glow in the dim light , reminding me of …
“ No ! ” I cried out , scrambling backwards on the bed .
For a heartbeat , just the briefest of seconds , I saw something else in Xander’s eyes .
The eyes of that creature the one that had attacked me – the same eyes I had seen on the man that hade to my bedroom thest time I had my heat … although Nanny had said it was her .
And then I screamed … opening my mouth as wide as I could .
My scream pierced the silence and within seconds , my door flew open with a bang as someone rushed in fumbling for the light switch .
As the room flooded with sudden brightness , my screaming intensified , my eyes wide with terror when I saw it was Xander , holding a spoon .
“ L ! ” he called out , rushing to me , but I screamed louder pressing myself at the head of the
bed .
Every part of my body was trembling now .
I pointed to the now – empty recliner in the corner of the room .
“ You … you were just there ! ” I gasped , my voice hoarse and shaky .
“ You were sitting right there just now .
How did you … ? ”
Confusion clouded Xander’s features , his brows furrowing as he nced between me and the chair .
“ What ? Now ! I wasn’t in here ,” he sounded both confused and concerned .
“ I was in the kitchen , trying to make you dinner .
”
That was when I noticed he had an apron on and it was sttered with various cooking stains , flour dusting the front and the faint smell of food .
“ I came when I heard you scream .
”
40 The perfect way to unwind …
My chest heaved as I blinked rapidly , my mind struggling to process the conflicting information .
I had seen him , hadn’t I ? Sitting there , watching me with those intense eyes as that creature but Xander who was standing at the doorway , with concern on his face felt nothing like what I’d
awakened to .
“ But … I saw you … you were ,” I whispered trailing off as I rubbed my arms , trying to shake off the lingering fear .
Had it all been part of the dream ? “ You were right there .
”
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Xander shook his head and approached my bed , stepping cautiously , his hands held out in a calming gesture .
“ It’s okay , L .
You must have been dreaming .
I promise I wasn’t in here .
”
As he reached the edge of my bed , he hesitated , I could see he was trying not to scare me but something in me cravedfort and needed to feel safe .
I reached out and Xander didn’t .
hesitate to gather me into his arms .
As soon as his strong arms enveloped me , the terror that had gripped me began to subside His familiar warmth , and the steady beat of his heart beneath my ear soothed me .
I could feel myself rxing in his embrace .
I let out a shaky sigh , pressing deeper into his arms .
“ What happened ? ” he asked softly , his hand running soothing circles on my back .
“ What’s got you so spooked and , in my house , too ? Was it those Panthers ? Did you see them ? ”
“ No ! ” I murmured .
“ I had a terrible dream , it was so real … for a moment , it felt like I was back to the pack and in the Northern Forests where I was attacked by Feral wolves ,” I leaned away from him , meeting his gaze .
“ I didn’t tell you before but just before I came back to the human world , I was attacked after … ” I swallowed hard “ My mate told me to be his sex toy and live in some abandoned house by the edge of the pack .
”
“ Feral wolves ? ” he asked gently .
I nodded .
“ Not just them … they also came with a creature , d in white .
Last time , I wasn’t able to see its face but it was visible this time around and it spoke to me and said a lot of strange words .
Said I was the Moonsinger and should go back to my mother … it felt so real , ” I sighed leaning into his chest again .
“ Trinax ! ” his chest hummed as he said softly .
“ What ? ” I pulled back
“ A “ Trinax , ” he repeated , brushing the hair from my face “ I’m sorry , I wasn’t there to protect you .
I’m so mad at myself right now .
”
I chuckled , feeling light .
“ It was a dream , Xan … there is no way you coulde protect me even if you wanted to , don’t be angry .
By the way … ” I paused , a puzzled expression on my face ,
“ What’s at Tri … ”
“ A Trinax ,” he finished “ They lead a cluster of Ferals … they’re always together .
”
“ Like a shepherd leading sheep ? ” I asked .
“ Something like that ,” he nodded as he shed me a quiet smile .
“ What did it want with me though ? Ahh … ” I shook my head trying to clear the images of his
from my thoughts “ It felt on real ”
CYCS
The perfect way to unwind …
He pulled me close to himself again , his hands sliding up and down my arms as if he could .
physically rub the fear out of my body .
“ It was just a nightmare , L ,” he said softly .
“ Your mind was ying tricks on you .
The fight with Nanny must have stirred up some old emotions , maybe triggering the memories of the attack .
It’s normal after something like that .
”
I nodded slowly , wanting to believe his exnation .
But a nagging doubt lingered in the back of my mind .
It had been months since the attack and I’d never dreamed about it before .
Why now ? And what about the voice that imed to be my wolf ? It didn’t feel like a simple rey of past
events .
I closed my eyes , trying to concentrate on the voice , to see if it was really in me like it imed .
“ Are you there ? ” I murmured silently .
I waited for a few minutes , trying hard to concentrate but nothing … Wolf Indeed ! I scoffed inwardly .
It was all a ruse .
Xander was right , maybe it was my past traumas ying .
Suddenly , Xander stood up , pping his hand together .
“ I know exactly what you need ! ” he announced , a mischievous grin spreading across his face .
I eyed him warily , not sure what to make of his sudden enthusiasm .
“ What ? ” I asked staring at him with a mix of curiosity and apprehension in my voice .
Xander’s grin widened .
“ It’s a surprise , ” he said , his eyes twinkling with excitement .
“ The perfect remedy for nightmares and bad moods .
Trust me , I’ll make you forget all about that dream .
”
I raised an eyebrow , crossing my arms over my chest defensively .
“ I’m not in the mood for surprises , today , Xan ”
“ You will love this one , darling ,” he pinched my cheeks lovingly .
“ Trust me .
”
Despite my lingering unease , I found myself getting intrigued by this mysterious surprise and Xander’s enthusiasm was infectious .
“ Okay ,” I said managing a small smile .
“ What do I need to do ? ”
“ Get dressed , he instructed , already backing towards the door .
“ Something nice , butfortable and sexy … ” his eyes ran down the length of my body suggestively , causing me to take a sharp inhale of breath .
“ Meet me downstairs in twenty minutes .
”
Long after he left , I sat on my bed , still shaken by the nightmare and the lingering fear of what I’d seen – or thought I’d seen .
The idea of leaving the safety of my room , even for Xander’s so – called surprise felt daunting .
But staying here , alone with my thoughts , didn’t seem like a better option either .
Then again , I was here to live my life on my own terms , wasn’t I ? To experience new things and make my own choices ? This surprise of Xander’s , whatever it was , seemed like the perfect way
to unwind .