Camille
When I woke up, I was at home...my home.....I inhaled deeply. His scent was everywhere. It was so sweet to smell him after all this time. Mine. My mate. My Javier. I was on our bed. In our room. I couldn't believe it.
You shouldn't... My wolf told me. It could still be a trick. I shook my head. This wasn't real? I'm not at home? Tears came to my eyes. This was whole new level of cruel. My thoughts were interrupted when I heard his voice. The most wonderful sound.
"Camille? You're awake?" Javier came in the room. Was it really him? I hadn't noticed that he stepped in.
Don't be deceived... whispered my wolf. I looked at my mate. His eyes full of hope and love as he came closer.
"Camille, I'm sorry love, I should have come sooner." He went to hold my face and I shrank away suspiciously. How could I know if this was a trick? My wolf that took over.
"You're not real, I don't know you." She made me say. Javier' face fell, making him look completely broken. A tear fell from my eye. "My wolf says you're not real. I'm not really home. This is just another cruel torture strategy."
"Javier? Cami?" Another voice called. I looked and saw the illusion of Charlie again.
"Back again?" I snarled. "Come to play tricks again? More mind games?" Charlie' eyes widened in horror, Javier watched me miserably. He got up and walked out into the hallway with Charlotte, closing the door.
Remember, I'm only doing this to protect you.... Said my wolf.
I know...
The illusions of Charlie and Javier argued outside, muttering loudly, then the door opened and Charlie came in as Javier and Trent went down the hall. Wow, this is a very detailed illusion. The illusion of Charlie sat on the bed looking at me.
"Cami, please! Snap out of it. You're safe now! Tell your wolf to let you go. You're home! Please!" Her eyes grew teary. "I want my ma back." I ignored her, staring at the wall. She sighed and watched me. Later the illusion of Javier came back to taunt me again. This Javi was calmer than the last one. The illusion of Charlie quietly kissed my head, making me flinch. That almost felt real. She got up, and walked out of the room, leaving me with the illusion of Javier. He shut the door, going up to me.
"Love, I know you don't believe this, but this is real. I'm real. Camille, please come back to me." He pleaded, reaching for me, but not touching me, as if afraid. Javier pulled back, his hand falling to his side as a tear running down his face. He turned his face away. "I'm just sorry love. So sorry I couldn't get to you fast enough. You wouldn't be like this." I looked at him curiously, my wolf told not to speak, but I ignored her.
"Save me from what?" Javier looked at me shocked I spoke so calmly. He looked confused, looking around then back at me.
"From the rogue pack that captured you Cami...We just got you back last night." I shook my head. "Camille, what do you remember?" I looked at him thoughtfully. With my wolf protesting, I spoke, shoving her to the side from my protective cage.
"I remember...being outside...I was with you...but then I ran ahead because I smelled something...Trent yelled...I felt pain in the back of my head...everything went black. Then I woke up...and the alpha of the rogues talked to me I think...I don't remember." I rubbed my head, starting to get a headache trying to remember.
"Not even a name?" pressed Javier, I shook my head again.
"Everything just went blank...Then I woke up here...Wherever this place is." I felt pain in my chest. "I'm so confused. I don't know if any of this is real!" my body shook as I tried to control my emotions. Javi watched miserably, he looked as if he was on the verge of more tears.
"I wish I knew how to convince you...Maybe my wolf can help." He looked at me desperately. Javi took a deep breath, closing his eyes. When he opened them again, his eyes were darker and he spoke with more authority now that he allowed his wolf to take over.
"Mate, release her. You are both safe. There is no need to continue your hold on her." He growled low.
"I am the only thing keeping her in one piece!" my wolf snapped back. "If I release her, the horror that she endured, the memories I have been suppressing will destroy her!"
"Do not speak to me with that tone!" Javier' wolf thundered, making my whole being tremble with fear. Tenderness filled the darkness of his eyes. "Let me help." He said softly, his eyes growing lighter as his wolf retreated. I froze as Javier came closer, being cautious, as if not to spook me like a skittish animal. His arms encircled my waist, gently pulling me to him, caressing my face, making me close my eyes and lean into his touch. His fingers stroked my mouth; soon it was replaced by his lips, giving me gentle butterfly touches. He then pressed his lips to my neck, searching for my mark. Inhaling deeply, he breathed on my skin, nuzzling gently. I couldn't hold back the shiver.
"Is this going to help heal her?" My wolf purred, enjoying his touch as much as I was.
"Yes, she is the Luna...The Moon Goddess herself will heal her." Javi' teeth elongated and he tested the points on my skin. Without warning, he bit down, marking me over the old one. I cried out, writhing as a pain erupted from the back of my head. Suddenly I was assaulted by the most horrific memories. How I was kidnapped, when I denied the alpha rogue and how he hit me for disrespecting him. Then came the worst. Every cut me made on me came back to me, how I bled and continued to spit at him. How I blacked out and woke up to him trying to rape me, but I wouldn't let him penetrate me. The memories stopped and I screamed, breaking free of my imprisonment by my wolf, throwing her into the darkness of my mind. My breathing was heavy as I looked around to make sure that I was truly back. Tears spilled from my eyes.
"Camille?" Javier asked hesitantly, his mouth bloody. I reached for him.
"Javier!" I cried, wrapping my arms around his neck, burying my face in my arms. He held me as a tremor wracked my body, soothing me and kissing my face, holding me as I wept.
"Shh...love, I got you. You're fine...Safe at home."
"It was horrible Javi; he kept me chained up to the bed! Worse than when you did! He beat me! Every time I would deny him he would beat me. This was after he tortured me with the knives. He tried to rape me Javi!" Javier tensed, growling softly, both he and his wolf enraged that I was treated that way.
"I'll find him, I'll find him and kill him-" He started, but I gripped his neck tighter.
"No! Don't leave me! Please!" I cried harder. "Don't leave."
"I won't." he whispered, kissing my face, I sniffed, gripping his shirt.
"I'm just happy him home with you." Javi sighed, relieved, hugging me tightly.
"Praise the Moon Goddess." He murmured, licking the blood on my neck away, making me shiver.
"I'm glad to be back." I said softly, holding his face as he pulled back to look at me. "How long have I been gone?"
"Several days." I nodded sighing, laying down looking up at Javi as he watched me.
"Why don't you shift? Stretch out. How long has it been since you've shifted?"
"Since before I was captured." Javi nodded.
"Go ahead and shift right here. At least shake out your fur, we'll run later." I nodded, pulling away the shirt I had covering me and going towards the empty space in the room, shifting into my fur. It hurt a little since it had been a while, the bones cracking louder than usual, but all the same, I shook out my coat and looked back at my mate who smiled lovingly. "Come here." He whispered, patting his lap. I trotted over, hopping up onto the bed, laying myself down on his lap with a sigh. "Better?"
"Better." I mindlinked back, yawning, showing all my teeth.
"Are you hungry?" He asked, stroking my head, making me lean into his hand.
"No." I purred, making him smile. He gathered me in his arms and kissed the top of my muzzle, stripping and shifting, curling around me protectively.
"We'll stay here then?" He asked, licking my muzzle, making me whine. All of a sudden the legs of the bed creaked under the weight of both of our shifted bodies. The legs snapped off the frame, making us fall half a foot with a huge thump. I sat up looking around as Javi growled at the bed.
"Well, this is going to be interesting to explain." I mumbled, letting him tug me back down to rest my head on his neck.
"Ignore it, I'll buy a new one." I rubbed my muzzle on his.
"As you wish." I sighed, shifting back to my human form and looking at myself. The scars had barely started to fade. Javier growled low, shifting back and holding me close to his chest.
"I don't know if they'll go away or not."
"They will, it will take time, but they will." I nodded, pressing my ear to his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat.
"I love you." I whispered softly. Javier tipped my face up and kissed my forehead.
"I love you too. Thank you for coming back to me." I smiled, putting my chin on his shoulder.
"Nothing could keep me away for long. We're mates. Someone wise told me that it's what we do. Never one without the other." Javier chuckled and nuzzled my fresh mark.
"Good. I wouldn't have rested until you got here." I touched my mark out of curiosity.
"Javier why did you mark me again?" He stroked my hair.
"I had to mark you to remind your wolf that I am your true mate. Once your wolf remembered who I was, she had to release you back to back to me. She recognized my wolf and knew that you would be safe." I thought about it, absorbing the information.
"That's amazing..." I mumbled. Javier kissed my shoulder.
"You're the Luna of this pack; therefore the Moon Goddess herself healed you." I sat for a moment, humbled that our great Goddess herself saved me.
"We should thank her." I looked at Javier.
"I did." I shook my head.
"I mean really thank her." He raised an eyebrow.
"As in a full-on ritual?" I nodded.
"Alright, but we need to prepare." Javier pulled me closer. "Right now you need to rest."
"Will you be here when I wake up?" I looked up at him, his eyes went watery.
"I'm never leaving your side again." He then pulled the covers over us, fitting my body against his. We lay there quietly, listening to eachother breathe until both of us fell into the first peaceful sleep we've had in days.