Dark red blood stained the multicolored leaves that were scattered across the grass. The harsh whispers filled the once silent air as all eyes were glued to the 12-year-old. Her heart pounded against her rib cage. Her insides burned as if there was acid on the loose.
Her eyes moved down to her hand. They were covered in a dark red liquid. It was horrifying, yet she couldn't move. Her eyes followed the line of the blood that began to trail down her forearm, dripping onto the ground underneath her once it arrived at her elbow. Tears welled in her eyes as bile built up in her throat. Blood was on her hands.
Blood.
She couldn't focus on anything else. Their blood was on her hands. She moved to stand up but her legs refused to hold the weight of her trembling body making her knees collide with the hard pavement underneath her. Tears left stains on her cheeks as they continued to flow out of her eyes and down her face.
The harsh whispers soon started to sound like screams. Mocking her. Laughing at her. Her head began to spin. The thoughts in her mind running a million miles per second.
She opened her mouth, trying to scream. To release the emotional build-up that she so desperately needed to. But she couldn't. She dropped her hands so that they fell into her lap, staining her light blue jeans.
The puddle of blood that was underneath the body was slowing inching to towards her. Yet she couldn't move. She could run. She was frozen solid. Her eyes watched as puddle got closer and closer eventually meeting her.
"Maya?"
Charlie's voice called out to her making her snap out of her thoughts and smile up at him. Out of habit, Maya rubbed her hands on her jeans, ensuring herself that it wasn't real, that it wasn't happening again. Charlie smiled down at her. "You sure that you're okay staying here for a while?" He asked.
Maya sighed before standing up from off the couch, making her way towards Charlie. Her hands cupped his cheeks. She stood on her tippytoes so that she could place a soft kiss on his forehead. "Yes. For the billionth time, yes, I'm fine with living here."
Charlie smiled at the reassurance. "So. Are we going to talk about it?" Charlie asked with a smirk. Maya blushed as she turned away from him. "Hey! Don't do that! I want to know!" He chuckled as she uncovered her face. '
Maya refused to look Charlie in the eyes. "It-" She started but before she could finish, Charlie's lips were on her fresh mate marking. Her entire body trembled against him as that same unfamiliar heat filled her body. His mouth was open, sucking on the extremely delicate skin. "Char." Maya whispered as her hands tangled themselves in Charlie's hair.
He hummed before continuing his pleasurable torture on her. "Yes, princess?" A pet name he only used when he was teasing her. Her fingers tugged on his hair as his cold fingers slipped under her shirt. They danced across her heated skin leaving a burning sensation behind. His hands moved down her sides and to her thighs.
Charlie's hands wrapped around her thighs, hoisting her up. Her legs wrapped around his waist as his hands moved to be back under her shirt. Maya's back was soon pressed against the wall. Charlie moved his lips from her neck to her lips. He captured them with his own, moving them slowly, but his kiss was forceful and full of hunger.
Maya matched his energy, kissing his back just as hard, with just as much force. Charlie pulled away leaving Maya flustered. "I'm hungry," Charlie stated as he placed Maya back on her own two feet.
She stops there dumbfounded. Not knowing what just happened. "What the hell was that, Charlie?" Maya asked.
"What?" He asked with a slight smirk. "I just wanted to know." Maya stared at Charlie's back in irritation. "You coming or you gonna starve?" Maya mumbled under her breath before following Charlie out the door.
Hazel's face was buried in Zac's thigh, sleeping peacefully. Lucas was sitting on the floor, munching on a bowl of cereal as he watched the morning cartoons. Lucas and Zac have been staying with Hazel ever since the day they visited Ivy. When the two returned back to the packhouse, Ace started a fight with Zac. So, to prevent something from breaking out again, Lucas asked Hazel if they could stay with her for a little while, to which she gladly agreed.
Hazel wiggled around when her alarm on her phone went off. "Damn alarm." She mumbled against Zac's clothed thigh. Sighing, Hazel forced herself up. "Alright, let me get ready. I'll be home late tonight." She announced.
Zac nodded as he leaned over to quickly peck her lips. Lucas pouted up at her. "Again?"
Hazel giggled at the little boy with a wide smile. "I promise, I'll try to be home as soon as possible, but I have to stop by Charlie's. Maya says she needs to give me something but Charlie refused to let her leave the house when he isn't home." Hazel rolled her eyes before running upstairs to change.
Lucas turns his head to look at his older brother. "I want to see Maya!" He exclaimed with wide eyes.
Zac deadpanned Lucas, annoyed. "Why?"
"Because I haven't seen her since the last time she was at the packhouse and I miss her." Lucas's soft voice came out in a whine. When Hazel walked back down the stairs, Lucas nearly jumped on her. "Hazy! Can I come with you to see Maya, please?"
"If your brother doesn't mind, then of course. I'll come to get you before I head over there." She nodded her head while glancing at Zac, asking for permission. Zac nodded his head with an irritated look. Lucas smiled widely while he clung on to Hazel in pure happiness.
Zac's phone went off, his ringtone blaring throughout Hazel's apartment. He looked at the number, it was unfamiliar. He slid the answer button across the screen with hesitation. "Hello?" He asked as he held the phone against his ear.
"Zac, it's Ivy." Zac's back stiffened as he registered her voice. "After thinking about what you said these past few days and I've come to my decision." Ivy's voice was rushed as if she was nervous to be talking about this.
Zac nodded his head, "What's that?"
Ivy released a shaky breath before responding. "I'll do it, on one condition."
"Which is?" He questioned. Curious about what she would want out of all of this.
"Let me meet his mate."