"Show me your broken heart and all your scars. I'll take you as you are."
ALENA:
It was like she had been repeatedly hit, thrown against the wall, punched down to the ground where she became a puddle of flesh. Nothing could quite fit the description of how she felt upon opening her eyes.
The room was musty, it was dark too. Her eyes blinked over and over until the image became clearer. A breath. She needed one, maybe two. Her ribs ached, her lungs felt almost too stiff to function normally.
Was it a nightmare? Had a werewolf really appeared to her and her friends that night? Had he charged at her? Why did she call him 'Remus'? Why had she put the name of her beloved Remus on a monster that almost killed her? Had she not come to Hogwarts, she knew for a fact she would be dead by now. The blessing that was magic, she thought.
The doors opened and she saw a group of guys appear carrying one of their friends. She sighed softly. This was reality. She tilted her head wincing at the sore, aching pain slithering down her spine now, "Ow," she whispered shutting her eyes again. Perhaps it was best if she didn't move.
"There she is," she heard a voice so faint, but she could recognize it anywhere. Her lids opened to reveal Remus standing at the the door approaching her with a clear plastic bag in hand. Merlin, she probably looked like a battered mess, but he still managed to be the most beautiful boy in her life.
She smiled. She missed him. It was like she'd been away for months, had she? She remembered the last time she saw him, he was in pain, bothered. His skin was moist with sweat, his voice loud and hoarse. Remus set down the bag by her frail hand, "Hi," she smiled.
Remus bent over her and she shivered at the feel of his warm lips on her forehead, "I brought you some candy - chocolate frogs, all of them were for you." he chuckled a bit.
Alena nodded her head thankfully. She took the bag carefully and then she remembered. Her head tilted back up to scan his face. It was soft, flushed and his eyes were the most beautiful shade of brown - not green and yellow.
"What's wrong love?" Remus asked her.
"N-Nothing... " she disregarded it, "Thank you love, I am hungry. I feel like I have not eaten. I swear, I am so lucky to be here right now." she saw his face harden and she frowned.
'I'm okay, Remus. Nothing happened-"
"Everything could have gone wrong, Alena," he sighed before grabbing her hand and placing it to his warm lips, "I was so scared."
Alena felt her stomach flip. It was dancing inside of her. All of this affection couldn't feel better from anyone else. Remus Lupin had her wrapped around his finger and he knew it, "I'm sorry.. I should have stayed with you. I know I should have, but I was scared. Confused," she looked at him with eyes that begged for truth, "What happened?"
Remus froze.
"James, Sirius, even Lily were warning me about you. I saw no reason to be scared until you yelled at me - more like growled at me," she sniffed, "What was wrong, Remus?"
Remus looked at her completely puzzled. How had she remembered all of that after being thrown down a hill?
"How long have I been gone for? I feel like absolute scheisse," she frowned.
Remus chuckled a bit, his shoulders relaxing, "A week, love. They were worried you had sustained more damage and therefore keeping you away for longer. I don't know how I'd be able to survive without you. Knowing what I do."
Alena shook her head. This time it was her squeezing his hand. Giving him some strength to perhaps talk to him. She knew that he kept a lot to himself. He was always so guarded and perhaps afraid of people hurting him, she didn't blame him.
"Tell me what was wrong with you, Remus."
Remus took a look at her, this time she saw hesitation, "Please." she begged.
Remus' dark eyes lowered to their hands. She felt all of his blood rush down to his feet, or perhaps his head because his hand was now ice cold.
He shifted in his seat before he raised his lids to let his deep irises drop on her own, "I guess I'm the one with the secret now," he feigned a smile.
Alena shifted on her seat trying to sit up straight, "Remus, love, we're a couple. Whatever it is, I can handle it - I mean, you handled my muggle parents just fine. You put up with James and Sirius. You're pretty strong," she smiled.
Remus sniffed. Perhaps he was, but could she handle the thought that he could have killed her and a few other girls?
"It's hard for me to say this. Not many know this except James, Sirius and Lily - and Professor Dumbledore."
Alena nodded, "Of course, don't worry. It won't leave my lips. What is it? You make it seem like a suspense novel, Remus."
Remus sighed, "I'm cursed."
Alena furrowed her brows, "What?"
Remus knew she was already disappointed, perhaps falling out of love with him already, "I have a curse that turns me into a monster - every month, every full moon."
Alena tilted her head, "Remus? What are you talking about?"
Remus sighed, "I'm - how do I say this," he sighed, "Alena, every full moon I become a whole different person. What you saw in my room? Those were the beginning phases.."
"I turn into a whole different creature. One that howls up at the moon, craves blood and only lives for destruction. I have a potion which I take that controls those drives, it stops me from phasing," he paused. Alena's face was frozen with wide brown eyes and a straight line for lips.
"I'm a werewolf," he lowered his gaze leaving Alena to just see. No words escaping her lips, however the scenes in her mind were like one of a movie. A horror movie.
"It was me you saw that night," he mumbled.
Alena's jaw dropped. She felt her skin crawl, soft, cold sweats kissed her skin making her cold. She had expected everything, but this? This she would never even dream of.
"That night... There was a full moon," she whispered.
Remus nodded ashamed, "Yes, and that's why I hadn't been seeing you for days. I had to prepare."
Alena frowned. Her heart ached. Remus had a secret which put him inside a cage, one that made him feel like he didn't belong. As if he couldn't be loved because of it, "Why didn't you tell me?"
Remus sighed a chuckle, "Because you'd run away from me. No one can handle the thought of having a werewolf for a boyfriend. I mean, you should be calling for the nurses right now. You should be angry, you should hate me- I could have killed you."
Alena felt her heart break. It hurt deep inside her chest making her bleed internally, "How could you think such a thing? Remus, you could not control yourself."
Remus shook his head, "It's no excuse..."
"It's the truth. Had you taken your potion it wouldn't have happened - you didn't kill me. It could have gone worse but it stopped. Remus, look at me," she frowned. When his brown eyes lifted to show the saddest sparkle her world turned dark, "You're not evil. You're not that monster."
Remus swallowed the knot in his throat, "And how do you know that?"
"Because the Remus that I love is the most courageous, righteous boy. You would never let the monster inside of you take over. You would never let yourself get so far as killing someone, I know this."
Remus just blankly stared at her.
"I know that I'm here, and you got to me. You lost control, but that won't make me love you any less. If anything, it makes me love you more. You're so beautiful, you're even more beautiful than what I thought," she smiled.
She saw how bright Remus shun. His shoulders rose, his lips lifted from the thin line they had become, "You're perfect. You have a secret, we all do. You lost control of your demons, but I will help you conquer them," she reached for his hand. When she found his fingers, she laced her own with his much longer ones.
"Alena..." he whispered.
"Remus, let me fini-"
"No," he searched her eyes for something more. He wasn't done speaking, "I love you."
Alena gasped. Her chest cavity rose, her stomach contracted making her freeze in time, "Remus.."
He didn't bother letting her reply. His back bent and he towered over her. His warm lips planted life inside of her body the second they met. Warm flesh, loving flesh touched her own as they kissed, "I love you too," she smiled against his lips. Her hand reached up to his cheek where a scar now rested, "I love you so much, Remus Lupin.."
He looked down at her and snickered, "Call me Moony," he winked.
Alena giggled, "Moony it is."
- And here's another update loves! This book is almost done - 3 more chapters to go and it's goodbye to this beautiful love story. Hope you guys have been enjoying yourselves thus far. Let me know! See you next time. xx