the phoenix

CHAPTER 2

"That is exactly what I said!" Sebastian shouted, once again making me flinch.

"Will you stop scaring the poor girl." The other girl in the room insisted passing Sebastian and standing next to the red head by the bed.

This girl must've been 5ft6, she had a caramel, curvy, hourglass body. she had beautiful ebony eyes and long wavy clearly dyed, dark blue hair. She was wearing black leather pants that accentuated her long legs and a sleeveless opened sides grey shirt.

"I apologize on his behalf; Sebastian doesn't have any volume control. I'm Lilianna, but you can call me Lilli or Anna."

I looked at them cautiously not being used to this much kindness and wondering why they were being so nice. Amethyst told me to thrust them, but it was hard. I was never treated nicely by a werewolf before, other than my brother.

"I wanna offer you something." The Alpha piped up, sitting next to me. By instinct I scooted back and kept my gaze down. "I know you had a hard past with your old pack and I am very sorry about that. You did not deserve that treatment; especially what that boy did to you. And I know my apology won't change the past, but I wanna offer you a place in this pack. I know that with your very difficult past with your own pack, you might have some difficulties trusting other people and that's fair. But I want to give you a chance to see that not all packs are like that. I wanna help you put down the walls you've build around in your mind. Help you get rid of the fear that is ruling your life. I wanna help you reach the full potential that I can feel inside of you. I know I can help you be the person you were destined to be, if you'll have me that is."

I felt something inside of me tugging at my heart and tears filling my eyes, but not with sadness. This was different, it was a light sensation, warming my heart.

~It's happiness. ~Amethyst told me.

~Can I really trust them? ~ I asked my wolf, since she was the only one I trusted.

~I think you should. I know it may seem like the scariest thing you'll ever do, but I have a good feeling about this pack. ~ she responded.

She was right, for as long as I can remember I have never felt this warm feeling in my chest. I can't even remember the last time I smiled, if I ever did.

"I would like to join." I whispered, looking at the Alpha for the first time.

"Great! Let's get the introduction going then. You already know who I am, the guy with the glasses is Nikita, he doesn't speak much. The guy next to him with the red hair is Drew, don't let his appearance fool you, he is a real softie. This beauty next to me is Irene and unlike her fiery hair she is very serene. You know the twins and don't be fooled by this loud exterior they are actually way worse." She introduced each of them, the twins protesting. "And lastly, Quenton. I know that he looks intimidating but he is a real teddy bear once you get to know him."

Alpha Jones gave me a kind smile, which made him look ten times younger. He reached his hand slowly towards me, to not scare me, and softly wiped my cheeks. The twins cheered loudly making me flinch yet again. I heard Drew mutter 'would you stop scaring the girl already.' They kept on bickering back and forth playfully.

"Talia." I whispered softly.

Everyone stopped talking and turned to looked at me.

"My name is Talia." I piped up slightly louder.

"Ok, lets make it official. I, Alpha Alastair Jones, accepts Talia..." Alpha Jones started, but then paused waiting for my last name.

"Hawkins." I responded.

"Talia Hawkins into the crimson shadow pack as an official member." He finished.

I felt like a click in my mind and I knew it was the bond of the pack forming.

He was walking towards me his evil smirk looking even more evil in the darkness of the room, a single light shining through. I could see the glint of the knife, threatening. I kept crawling, not seeming able to move a single muscle. I screamed for help as he stood right in front of me, laughing evilly as he started stabbing me relentlessly. I kept screaming, the fear, the pain all coming through me in a wave.

"Just kill me! Let me die! Kill me!" I kept screaming, trashing around.

"Talia, Talia you're okay, you're safe. Its okay, shhh, it was just a dream." Alpha Alastair stood next to my bed shaking me gently awake.

I sit up quickly, looking at my surroundings before it all came back to me again. I started crying muttering the same thing again and again.

"He should've just let me die." As I muttered that, Alpha Alastair sat by my side and held me until I calmed down and fell back asleep.

I had the same nightmare every night, Logan coming into my room to finish the job, which scared me to death every time. But every time I would wake up Alpha Jones was there to comfort me. It had been a few days now since I became a member of the crimson shadow pack. The girls always made sure I was eating and helped increase my portions slowly. The boys tried to get me to talk more or at least smile or laugh. Mostly I had been keeping to myself and didn't speak much. I was still cautious and scared around everyone. I was outside watching them train; Alpha Jones told me that he wanted me to be completely healed and get my eating intake under control before he started training me. Sebastian was currently sparring with Quenton, they were training in their human forms and joking around. Sebastian was trying to get my attention and he somehow ended up sucker punching himself in the face. The bewildered look on his face is what made me lose it. A bubbling sound came from deep within me that caused them all to look at me. I was actually genuinely laughing for the first time in a very long time. I couldn't stop laughing and it felt so good. They didn't know what to do, so they just kept looking at me, happily confused.

"Yes! I made her laugh! Hell yeah!" Sebastian screamed in joy, making me flinch.

Irene rubbed my back in a comforting manner to get me to relax again. Everyone was simply laughing at Sebastian's antics.

"At your own expense, dumbass." Drew teased, sitting down next to me.

I couldn't help but smile while everyone was laughing. I never felt like this before. Happy. I was being cautious about them, but they haven't stopped trying to make me laugh. To actually make me feel happy and safe. No one ever did that before and I thought that maybe it would be good to start opening up to them.