Three weeks. 

It's been three weeks since I had the pleasure of meeting Colton Myers. 

Pleasure my ass. says Ailith with a sneer. 

Okay, definitely not pleasure. Sorry. I reply. 

It's been three weeks since Colton Myers stole me away from my perfectly, boring life to bring me to this nightmare of pain and fear. Three long weeks. 

Luckily, he has been gone for the past four days visiting the other districts of his pack. 

Districts. Such a funny word. Ailith comments. 

You are so weird. 

You were thinking it too! She huffs. 

I shut her out as I look out the window of the living room. The air in the pack house is lighter without Colton here. You see more children playing outside in the courtyard. I swear there is finally sun over this gloomy place, something I haven't seen in weeks. 

Beta Larson is in charge while Colton is gone. He is quite different than Colton. He holds the pack's respect, not their fear. He is truly an amazing man. Plus, he stood true to his word and has been helping me train every day for an hour. I have never been worked so hard in my life, but it feels great learning something that could potentially help me in the future. 

My only worry is what would happen if I were to ever stand up against Colton or another member of the pack. I just don't know what would happen. 

A light cough knocks me out of my thoughts, causing me to jump and turn around. 

"Sorry, Skylar." Theo chuckles. "I was just checking in on you."

"I am fine Theo, thank you. Just watching the pack play in the sun. I swear it's the first time the sun has appeared since I came here." I sigh. 

"Or maybe it's the first time you noticed." He offers with a small smile. 

I giggle. "Yes, you are right. I haven't had a day to just enjoy the sun in a while."

"Well, that brings me to what I wanted to ask you." Theo starts. He looks nervous as he shoves his hands into his jean pockets. "I've noticed you haven't shifted since...the event. I was wondering if you wanted to go for a run. With me."

I take a second to look at him, worried that he was just joking. When I see he wasn't, I jump from my spot at the window and hop into his arms, wrapping my arms around his neck in a tight embrace. "Of course! I would absolutely love that Theo, thank you!" I exclaim. I can feel my wolf dance around in excitement at the opportunity to finally be free. 

"Great! Did you want to leave now? I just have to let Lars know." He says, pointing in the direction of Colton's office that Beta Larson was using in his absence. 

"Yes. Let me just grab a bag to put our clothes into." I say with a smile. 

"I already have one. Come on, let's go tell him." Theo says, grabbing my hand and pulling me towards the office. 

"Slow down, Theo. He isn't going anywhere." I laugh, practically running behind him trying to keep up. 

We make it to the office in no time and Theo swings the door open without even knocking. "Lars, I'm-" He starts, freezing suddenly with his eyes wide. 

I quickly step inside the office to see what he is looking at, only to see Beta Larson struggling to pull his pants up while a half-naked girl scurries around the room grabbing her clothes. "Oh shit," I mumble under my breath. 

For a moment, all you can hear is their movement, but then Theo starts howling in laughter. "Oh my Goddess Lars, you waste no time! Imagine what the Boss would do if he caught you right now!" Theo shouts between laughter. 

Beta Larson growls. "Theo..."

"I mean you could have at least locked the door or something. Like, I really didn't want to see that today." He says point towards Beta Larson's crotch. 

"Fuck Theo, shut up." Beta Larson groans, his hand hitting his face in frustration. His naked torso is dripping in sweat. He is fucken gorgeous. 

I agree, hums Ailith. 

Finally, the girl finishes getting dressed and starts to head toward the office door. "Excuse me, Luna. I am sorry about that." She says softly before rushing past me. Her face red in embarrassment. 

"Aww Charlotte, I'm sorry. You didn't have to leave. Skylar and I will gladly get out of here so you can finish playing the flute." Theo hollers at the girl as she jogs down the hall. I quickly smack his chest and send him a playful glare. 

"If you are done?" Beta Larson asks. "I have things that need to get done."

"Certainly looks like it," Theo says sarcastically earning himself a glare from the Beta. 

"Enough, Theo. Now, what did you want?" 

"I just wanted to let you know that I am going to take Skylar for a run. She hasn't been able to shift since that day. I am sure I don't need to tell you the importance of shifting, right Lars?" Theo replies. 

"Just go, and watch out for her. The last thing I need is for something to happen to her. Colton would have my fucken neck." He states. 

"Thanks, man. And uh, sorry for the blue balls!" Theo yells before grabbing my hand and pulling me down the hall. I heard something hit the door as we left, but I am not sure what. 

"Theo, that was so mean!" I say with a giggle. 

"Oh come on, that was funny." 

I shake my head and continue to follow him to the forest. 

"Go shift. Just bring your clothes out and I will shove them in the bag for you. Okay, Skylar?" 

I nod my head before going behind a large tree. I remove my clothes and begin thinking of my brown wolf. Once I shift, I grab my clothes in my mouth gently and bring them out to Theo who is waiting for me. He takes them, putting them in his backpack as he walks behind another tree. I hear the sound of bones breaking and then he hops out. His wolf is a gorgeous golden colour, like his hair. He is roughly the same size as me, which is small for a male wolf. However, he is short so it is to be expected. He nods at me to follow him and then starts sprinting north through the forest. I quickly follow him. 

"Where are we going?" I ask through our link.

"You will see, just try to keep up."

I followed him through the bushes and trees, hopping over fallen branches and mud puddles. Our feet pounded on the ground as we ran as fast as we could to where ever he was taking us. Eventually, Theo begins to slow down to a light jog until he comes to a stop at a beautiful lake. He walks over to the crystal clear water and has a drink. I instantly repeat his actions. 

I feel him step back a bit and the sound of bones cracking fill the air again. 

"Here, take the bag and get changed. I promise I won't look." Theo says. 

I turn from the lake and quickly take the bag from him to shift. He looks away as I get dressed and I let out a soft 'okay' when I finish. 

"I come out here a lot when I just need to think or get away from it all." He says quietly while looking out at the body of water. 

"It's beautiful and so calm," I comment. 

He nods his head then slowly turns to me. "I figured you could use a place like this."

I smile at him before linking my arm around his and leaning against him. "Thank you, Theo. For everything."

We stand in perfect silence for a few minutes before he lets go. He walks over to his bag and pulls a small blanket out of it and lay it on the ground. He motions for me to sit with him and I happily oblige. 

I hear him take a deep breath in and out before he starts his next sentence. "It wasn't always this way." He says, pain evident in his voice. "With Colton, I mean."

"What?" I ask him, unsure of what he is getting at. 

"Skylar, I am going to tell you a story. I don't think Colton will ever tell you, so I guess I will have to. Maybe, it will offer you some insight as to why Colton is the way he is. Or maybe it will just be nothing. Either way, I will let you decide how you want to handle this information. As you probably know, Colton's parents are dead. His mom committed suicide when he was a boy and his father...well his father..." He stops, closing his eyes for a minute. I slowly take his hand in mine, letting him know he can continue whenever he wants to.

"His father was an abusive and drunken asshole, but he wasn't always that way. When Colton was a young child, his family was the picture perfect, Alpha family. They were happy, healthy, loving and great. Everyone adored them. They didn't use fear to gain respect. They didn't need to, they just had it. But not everything is perfect behind closed doors. 

"When Colton was four, his mother was pregnant. Everyone was happy because it was going to be another boy. It's rare for Alpha's to have two boys in their family. When Colton turned eight and his brother turned three, rumours surfaced of infidelity in the Alpha family. You see, Colton's brother didn't have the traditional black hair and blue eyes of all the previous Myer men. The second boy was different. He looked more like the Beta than the Alpha. 

"It didn't take long for Colton's father to discover why though. And when he did, everything changed. The Alpha became angry. He started beating his wife regularly. She would be locked in the cellar for weeks on end with no food and dirty water. The things he did to her were despicable. 

"He started demanding respect and that is when people began to fear him and the pack. Colton started his training too, facing hours of torment and abuse in an attempt to get him ready for his future role. His brother was the Alpha's punching bag. It was awful, Skylar." I quickly wrapped my arms around his waist and laid my head on his chest. I could feel all his pain and I just wanted to help him. 

"One day, Colton's mom had enough. She couldn't take it any longer and slit her wrists with a silver knife. She died in Colton's arms. It was that day Colton changed. He started training more. He would pick fights constantly, beating men twice his age. He created punishments for people who disobeyed. He became what he did today.

Colton was pretty much the Alpha as soon as he turned fifteen. His dad was always hammered and just wasn't in the right frame of mind to be in control of the pack. However, Colton didn't formally take over the pack until he was eighteen." He finished. He brought me closer to him and put his face in my hair. 

We sat there looking at the water for a while. Theo let me take in all the words he said in silence. I wasn't too sure what to say to everything, but I did know one thing. This didn't excuse anything that Colton did. 

After a small eternity, Theo pulled away slightly. He placed his hand on my chin and gently made me look at him. "Skylar, it is important that you know that I am not making excuses for him. There is nothing in this world to excuse his behaviour towards you. I didn't tell you this to make you feel sorry for him or to forgive him. I just wanted you to know Colton's story."

I smiled at him. "Thank you. It's a lot to think about, but I am glad you told me. Colton told me a shorter version a week or so ago." 

"Yeah. He tries to make it seem like nothing affects him, but the full story definitely does something to him."

"So, Theo?" 

"Yes, Skylar."

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Of course, anything." He answers. 

"I was wondering - I mean if you want to tell me. It isn't overly important or anything, so don't feel obligated to explain anything. I just wanted to know-" 

He laughs, interrupting me. "Don't worry, ask away."

"Well, I was wondering what your story is," I ask him softly.

"Yes, well, my story is similar, I suppose. My parents are dead. I faced abuse as a child that no kid should ever face. It's why I am so small today, my father beat me every day. Sometimes he would starve me for days. I was eighty-three pounds when I was fourteen years old and finally got out of his grasp. I didn't have a good childhood." He answers solemnly. 

"It amazes me that you are as kind as you are then. I mean, it seems like Colton and you both shared similar childhoods, yet you both are on opposite ends of the spectrum." 

"I wasn't always like this. There was a time when I was angry and did things that I still regret to this day. The difference between our tales is that I had a mate that I fully gave my heart to and she taught me how to live again. She taught me how to love and be a half decent person." He says, turning back to the lake. His eyes are sad at a memory.

"Had?" I whisper nervously, already knowing the answer. 

He sighs. "Yeah, had." He pulls away from me, lifting his knees and wrapping his arms around them. "Her name was Kiara. She was so beautiful, Skylar, just like you. She had long, brown hair that sorta flipped at the ends. Her eyes were hazel but would flash gold when her wolf was present. She had pale skin with freckles across her nose. She was on the smaller side - five foot three to be exact. The thing I loved the most about her is her smile. Her smile would light up anyone's day." 

"What happened?" 

Tears start forming in his eyes as I take a deep breath. "She died on one of Colton's conquests. I couldn't save her. The wound was too large."

"Oh my Goddess, I am so very sorry Theo. You of all people didn't deserve that. Your mate didn't deserve that." I tell him, placing my hand on his shoulder. 

"I wish I could believe that, Skylar. I mean, it seems like it is karma for all the wrong I did in this world. It feels like the Moon Goddess herself is punishing me for what I did. I just wish she didn't have to take one of the greatest females I have ever met away from me." 

I sit on my knees so I can hug him to me. There are no words I can say to make him feel better. Nothing in this world can take his guilt away. I feel terrible for him. 

"You remind me of her." He whispers. "You are so much like her. It kills me to watch what he does to you and have to standby. I feel like I am losing her all over again. I feel like I am going to lose you. I can't do it again."

I put my hands on his cheeks and forced him to look at me in the eyes, wiping his tears away with my thumbs. "You won't ever lose me, Theo. I will always be there for you. I won't ever leave you. I promise."

"Don't make promises you can't keep, Skylar." 

We look at each other for a few minutes. It's like neither of us knows what to say to the other. Or maybe our eyes are talking, who knows. All I know is that something sparks in me and I find myself leaning towards him slowly. It isn't long before our lips meet - moving soft and slow at first, but quickly becoming harder and needier. I need him and he needs me right now. It's the perfect kiss. It is filled with so many emotions, the most predominant is the care we have for one another. 

But all good things come to a close. 

Something clicks in me and I quickly pull away in fear. "Oh my Goddess, I am so sorry Theo. I shouldn't have done that. I am so sorry." I stand up. "I have to go, thank you for everything." I quickly start walking back towards the pack house, tears stinging my eyes.

"Skylar, it is okay. I wanted it to. You don't have to apologize." He calls after me. I can hear him rushing to stand up.

"No, I am sorry. I shouldn't have done that. What if he finds out?" I turn back to him. "What if he finds out, Theo? I - I can't do that to you. He would torture you, beat you, humiliate you or worse, kill you! I would lose you." I cry out, my tears falling freely. 

"That won't happen, Skylar. He wouldn't do that. I will always be there for you. I promise Sky-"

"No, Theo." I interrupt. "Don't make promises you can't keep." I turn around and shift. My clothes shred and are left behind me on the ground as a takeoff, leaving Theo standing there. 

Three weeks, I have been here. 

Three weeks of absolute hell. 

Three weeks and I found the man I want to be with. 

But I can't have him. 

~~~

Author's Note:

This was a hard chapter to write. Let me know what you think. My heart was hurting for Theo. I have a soft spot for him. He reminds me of my husband.