"Your family was next on my list, but I believe they will fall during my next assault on their packs. If you help me get the dagger, this will all stop." The images of my parents laying next to Rylands dead body infiltrating my mind against my will. This isn't real. This isn't real. This isn't real. I felt my fingers graze the cold cement. I let my fingertips tap in a steady rhythm to center myself.

"The dagger will save everyone, do you understand? You are hurting those you love Octavia. You are weak and they all know it." I'm failing them all. They will never forgive me if I give in. If he wants it, it's bad. I kept reminding myself. If he wants it will hurt people. I can't hurt anyone else, I have too much blood on my hands now. Rylands blood was on my hands. I tried to ignore the voice infiltrating my mind trying to convince me these images flashing through my brain were real.

Suddenly everything seemed to fade away in a serious of clouded swirls, as new scenery took place. I was at my old pack, with James and Lydia. We were all hiding in Lydias room for a "sleepover" without mom and dad knowing.

"Who wants to go first." Lydia giggled as she sorted out the game pieces.

"Me!" I called out immediately at the same time as James. We turned to each other with menacing glares. Lydia claimed going first didn't actually help anyone win but what does she know. James squinted his eyes at me as he angrily held his arm out for rock, paper, scissor shoot. I won! Like always. I laughed evilly and moved my piece on the board to where I wanted it. Before I could realize what was happening, a pillow connected with my face knocking me over.

"You sore loser!" Lydia yelled lifting her hand and motioning for every pillow on her bed to get flung towards James. His eyes widened in shock, but it was too late. Pillow after pillow smacked into him knocking him flat against the floor. Lydia and I couldn't contain our laughs as we watched him get smacked with the pillows over and over again.

"What on earth?" Moms head peaked into the room. Dads head was above here and he was laughing at James too.

"Make it stop!" James whined at mom.

"Lydia." Mom spoke firmly. She sighed but lifted her hand stopping the assault of pillows.

"Why aren't you three in your own rooms?" She asked us with a raised brow.

"Why aren't you in your room?" Lydia huffed crossing her arms over her chest.

"She got us there, sweetheart. Why don't we head back to our room, we were busy." He sighed.

She just shook her head telling us all to go to sleep before quietly shutting the door. We all erupted in laughter and continued playing our game.

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I could hear the faint beeping of a monitor or several. I couldn't make out anything else. My eyes felt like they were glued shut. I could hear breathing near me, that was odd. Was I still in the cell? No one was in there with me.

I was finally able to crack my eyes open, the room was blurry. But there was light, it wasn't dark anymore. I blinked a few more times and I could finally make out where I was. Was this Cade? Was I really home? I tried to turn my head but everything hurt. I cried out softly trying to move anything. There was a raging pain in my arm. That's when I noticed the massive splint lining it.

I finally turned my head to the right and saw Ryland asleep. His hair was disheveled and he looked exhausted. It took me a minute to notice his left hand was holding onto mine and his right was placed softly on my stomach. I tried my best to scoot closer to Ryland. I laid my head on his chest listening to his heart beat and feeling the warmth emanating from his body. I felt so cold all the time, now was the warmest I've felt. I don't even care if this is a trick. This was better than never seeing or feeling him again.

"Baby?" Ryland yawned looking at me with wide eyes. "You're awake." He smiled the look of shock not leaving his face. He leaned down pressing a kiss to my head. I smiled nuzzling into his chest.

"What hurts?" He asked his eyes running up and down my body rapidly.

I looked up at him blinking before resting my head back against his chest. I just needed him to hold me. I just needed him.

"Octavia, I need you to tell me what hurts. I won't ever leave you again, I promise." He sighed holding me tighter against his body.

"Promise?" My voice broken and gravelly.

"I promise." He smiled. That's when I noticed the tears filling his eyes. I tried to sit up but crashed into him.

"Easy." He spoke holding onto my waist to keep me from falling.

"Luna." I heard a voice from the door. I immediately tried to scoot away to get further back. What was this person going to do? Were they going to whip me like they did? Were they going to lock me in a dark room?  Ryland growled gripping onto my hips softly and pulling me against his chest.

"You're safe now, love." He breathed holding onto me tight. I didn't believe him.

"Baby." I whispered, suddenly scared for my child's safety. I couldn't feel her anymore either, she couldn't be gone. She just couldn't be. My frantic eyes scanned the room as Dr. Mae walked in. She slowly walked over and pulled a chair over by the bed.

"Hi Octavia. Do you remember who I am?" She asked softly. I nodded hesitantly trying to push back further against Ryland.

"Would you be okay with me checking your injuries? Then we can do an ultrasound for the baby." She suggested. I nodded hesitantly again. Ryland helped me sit up on my own, which I didn't like in the slightest. I tried to get back to him the second I lost contact with his warm body.

"I'm right here, okay?" He reassured me.

She slowly went to touch my arm that was wrapped and in a splint. I could see bruises covering my arm emerging from below the bandages. When I felt her cold fingers brush against my arm I quickly jumped back, groaning out in pain.

I felt my body get shifted and onto Rylands lap. His arm firmly wrapped around my waist as he whispered sweet nothings into my ear. I closed my eyes tightly trying to fight the urge to flinch at someone else's touch.

Pain shot through my arm as she touched the purple bruises. I knew better than to react though. I stared at the ground avoiding her eyes.

"I will see if your mother is willing to attempt healing your injuries again. Maybe it will work more properly now that you are awake." She spoke softly. "This will be difficult to talk about, but I need to know where else your injured."

I looked at Ryland hesitantly, he just nodded reassuringly.

"Back." I breathed. They both looked at me with sad eyes.

"Is it alright if Ryland helps you take off your shirt?" I just nodded in response. I felt the shirt get pulled up. He growled and gently tore the fabric, letting it fall next to me. I felt Rylands body tense at the sight, I don't think I ever want to see what it looks like now. I wanted to cover my breasts, suddenly feeling too vulnerable. Ryland seemed to notice and quickly grabbed a pillow and helped me situate it in front of my chest comfortably.

"I need to clean these, okay?" She spoke calmly. I felt her now gloved hands touch the bad parts. I tried to jump away when she pressed slightly too hard.

"This is going to sting slightly." I felt a cold liquid make contact with my skin followed by a burning sensation, but I refuse to react. A few minutes passed  until she was done. Rylands eyes were glazed over, they didn't want to talk in front of me.

"Let's do the ultrasound and I'll leave you to rest for a little while." She rolled a machine over and placed a few items on the bed next to me. Ryland carefully had me lay down on my bandaged back and Dr. Mae squeezed a cold gel on my stomach.

She moved a probe over my swollen and slightly bruised stomach.

"Octavia, when they hurt you, did they avoid your abdomen?" She asked softly.

I just shook my head in response.

"The bruising is a lot less severe across your stomach compared to your other injuries, it doesn't make sense." She spoke confused.

"Shadows."I breathed looking at Ryland.

"She protected the baby?" He asked concern littered across his face. I nodded hesitantly.

"Everything seems fine." She spoke, surprise lacing her voice as she double and triple checked the screen.

She excused herself after cleaning off my stomach and organizing her supplies.

"Whenever you are ready to talk about what happened, I'm here." Ryland spoke quietly, cupping my face with his hands.

"Real?" I breathed.

"Real." I couldn't help the tears that fell from my eyes as he kissed my head.

"Real."I repeated he laid down next to me, his arm gently laying against my stomach as I listened to the sounds of his even breathing.

——————————————————————

Ryland carried me into the bathroom gently and placed me onto the closed toilet seat. He began running a bath and helped me completely undress. He carried me and gently placed me into the warm water. I sighed in relief as the warmth raced through my endlessly cold body. He grabbed the shampoo and and began rubbing it into my hair softly. For the first time in months I felt relaxed and the safest I've been.

After he finished with my hair he handed me body wash and a washcloth. As he carefully cleaned my injured arm. That's when I really noticed how destroyed my body was. I stared at the extensive scars lining my ankles and wrists. I didn't even realize what I was doing before Ryland gently stopped my wrists. I was scrubbing my ankle raw.

"You're safe now." He spoke softly pulling me against him as sobs wracked through my body. I tried to stop them but I couldn't, I felt broken and helpless.

"You're safe." He breathed holding my shaking body as I cried into his chest.