Photo : Riley Hayes

Song : Everything Has Changed by Taylor Swift

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Radiance Collins' POV

Nine years ago

"Come here. I'll protect you." I immediately hugged Tyler, seeking comfort from him.

"Why does mama and papa keep hitting me? And the words they tell me. It breaks my heart." I muffled.

"I'll be your protector. Then, no one else will hurt you. Can I be your protector?" He asked me ever so gently. I nodded, clutching onto him tighter. I felt something itch my shoulder blade, but after awhile the itching stopped.

"Now, no one will hurt you ever again. I promise."

seven years ago

I screamed in surprise as papa whipped me with his belt. But that was all that I felt. Just surprised, and no other emotions.

"Stop f*cking screaming, you bitch!" He pulled my hair and I stopped screaming. He started punching me in the face. I could hear the sickening cracks, yet I felt no pain.

"Why aren't you f*cking screaming, huh?!" He kicked me in my abdomen. Oh no. My ribs were slowly breaking and I screamed. Tyler, why aren't you here yet? I thought you said you would protect me.

"I'm done with you. Good luck standing up." He spat on my face before walking away. I cautiously stood up, not wanting to further provoke my new bruises and broken ribs. I walked slowly outside, and saw kids of my age running around, playing with other kids of their age.

I cried, wondering why I was so different from them. They looked so happy while I looked so... Broken. Well that's how I look whenever I look into the mirror. I hate looking in the mirror, because I see a girl who's alive, yet not alive.

Then suddenly, it was as if my emotions were switched off. I felt no pain, no feelings, no nothing.

I looked around emotionlessly, only to find my heart yelling into nothingness.

Tyler was in the car. He did not look back. The car moved, most likely driving to another city.

F*ck you Tyler. I hate you. Don't ever come back.

***

"Radiance, I hope you can hear me." Is that Bentley? I wanted to say 'yes', and to open my heavy eyelids just to see his beautiful face.

"I just want to tell you that I love you too. I don't know how long it will take for you to be awake. But I'll wait. No matter how long it takes. I will wait. Alex and I will wait." My heart fluttered hearing him say that. I love you too Bentley. So much that it hurts.

"And I want to tell you that your birth mother is here. She still is. I told her who you are. She'll visit you after I go. Please don't give up the fight that you're fighting. I love you." He pressed a lingering kiss on my forehead, wanting to savor the moment.

He pulled away too soon for my liking, but I couldn't do anything about it. I heard him walking away. I wanted very much to pull him back, not wanting him to leave me. But someone else had already entered the room.

"Mum, is that Ashlyn?" I heard a boy ask.

"Yes Mic, she's your sister."

"Is she in coma?" The boy sounded so serious. Too serious.

"Yeah. Look, she has my hair. She looks so much like me." She chuckled, and I wanted to force my eyes open, to see the woman who had indirectly claimed to be my mother.

"Micah can you leave the room? I want to talk to Ashlyn about things."

"But, I've just met her. You always talk about her." I could feel him frown. I wanted to chuckle, he should be fifteen, turning sixteen now. "But okay." He kissed me on the forehead and I could almost see him running out of the door to God knows where.

He's such a sweetheart.

"I missed you so much, Ashlyn. I thought I'd never be able to find you again. I wish Logan was here." Doesn't take a dumb ass person to realize who Logan was. He was definitely my father, her mate.

"I still remembered how we met. He wanted to kill me." She chuckled. "I was drawn to him. He was the most handsome guy I'd ever seen. I miss him."

I'd wanted to wake up to comfort her. It took everything I had to try. But sadly I still couldn't. I was getting tired, and whatever she said next, I didn't bother listening and went to sleep.

Bentley Cole POV

"Alpha, Stacey escaped." I clenched my fist and unclenched them.

"Get another 2 trackers to track her down." She was not getting away that easily. That bitch.

"Yes Alpha." He bowed his head and left. Alex was snapping at little things, like when Riley accidentally spilled water all over me. If I hadn't controlled him, I don't know what will become of Riley.

It had been two weeks since Radiance... Harmed herself. Two weeks since I discovered she had a wolf. Two weeks since Stacey escaped.

I was furious. I was going berserk. I punched the wall till my knuckles were bleeding.

I felt empty. Without Radiance. She was mea lux. And now all I see is the darkness, without my sunshine.

I calmed my wolf down and evened my breathing. I was going to visit her after my alpha pack work.

I walked out of my office. For the first time in two days, I can see her and be with her. I was not going to let some slut dampen my mood. I'll worry about her later. But now, Radiance first.

Radiance Collins' POV

"Luna?" Is that Riley? I heard her sniffle and I immediately wanted to hug her, hush her and tell her everything's going to be fine.

"Ben scared me today." Her sobs were getting louder and louder. Oh, he is so getting it from me when I recover.

"He almost back handed me." What the actual fuck was he thinking?

"Please stop sleeping. He haven't been himself since you started to sleep." She cried.

Eyelids, I dare you to open them! Open sesame!

I mentally slapped myself. Are my eyelids honestly going to open just because I dared it to? I swear I must've gotten denser.

I forced my eyelids open, but immediately regretted with the amount of light that struck me. I groaned and blocked my eyes from it.

"Radiance? You're awake!" I heard Bentley yell.

"How are you feeling? Do you need anything?" He asked me.

"I'm fine." I was mad at him for almost back handing Riley. Speaking of Riley, where did she go?

I got a cup of water before speaking. I pushed Bentley away. I instantly regretted it because of the pain from the area between my shoulder and neck, where his mark lays. Let's not forget about the cuts on both my arms.

I completely forgotten that Mason cut my mark.

"Why are you pushing me away?"

"Care to mother fucking explain why you almost back fucking handed Riley?!" That had to be one of the most times I cuss with so much "fuck" words. He looked taken aback by how I knew, probably because I just woke up. "Will you fucking back hand our child if we ever fucking had one, huh?!" I was beyond mad. How could he?

"Let me explain, I swear I didn't mean it!"

"Can you not see how I'm mother fucking waiting for you to explain? Do you need to be fucked seven times till Sunday to tell me?" I was raising my voice, and several nurses turned in to look and quickly looked away.

"I- my wolf was insecure, alright! You were asleep for two weeks, okay! He could feel the bond almost snapping and once it does, he'll lose his mate! I didn't mean to almost backhand Riley, I was more snappy at that moment!" He yelled and I flinched.

"I- I'm sorry." I said, barely a whisper. "I didn't know I was asleep for so long. I thought at most I was out for a few days. I'm sorry for judging so quickly."

His features softened. "No, I'm sorry for snapping. You were out for two weeks and I didn't get to hear your voice for almost three weeks. I'm sorry for snapping." He apologized and I could tell that he was sincere.

"Where's my, um, you know..." I trailed off. It felt weird to call her my 'mother', I've never ever spoken to her. But I was glad that I'd be doing it soon.

"Do you want me to call her here? But before that I need to mark you again." I blushed, remembering how he marked me the first time.

"Can I change into something more comfortable? These hospital gowns are so baggy." I laughed, trying to lift the mood a little.

"Right, I'll go get you your clothes." Bentley went out, and as much as I wanted to run towards him and hug him, asking him to stay, I let him go. He was coming back anyways.

"Luna." I couldn't see her face, but she was wearing a white coat and had a motherly voice, which suggests that she was a doctor and probably in her mid thirties.

"Don't call me Luna. Makes me feel old." I tried to lift the mood and she lift her head, smiling at me. Riley looks a lot like her. Is she her mother? "Just call me Radiance."

"Okay Lu- Radiance. Can I check on you before I discharge you?" I nodded.

"So," I was making an effort to make a conversation. "How's Riley?" She looked surprised for a moment but she answered my question anyway.

"That little monkey. She keeps teleporting around the pack." She sighed as she shone a torch in my left eye and I tried my best to keep it open for her. She did the same for my right one and thank the heavens, it was finally done. "I just found out she could create fire too. She almost burned my hair off."

I laughed at that. She was adorable in so many ways.

"Do you feel any headaches?" I shook my head. "Nausea?" I shook my head again. "You're free to go." She smiled.

"Thank you, Dr..."

"Hayes. Dr Hayes."
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