Predator

04.

"Everyone, start clearing out please," Damien lifted his hands and begun shooing everyone out except Ryan's friends.

Ryan was still in shock, he just stared at Neela with blank eyes and his mouth slightly agape. All of the boys were shocked, even Ryan's friends; they, as everyone else, knew that demons are to not harm their mate. However, Ryan just did that, badly. Demon's were supposed to love their mate and protect them from whichever harm came their way, a security blanket.

"What the fuck," Wesley asked to himself, his brown eyes still wide in shock. "Has this happened before?" He then spoke to Ryan's family who, in turn, kept quiet.

"We should all go home," Damien spoke after a few minutes of silence. "Sean," he motioned towards Neela so he could pick her up. "We'll come get the cars sometime. For now, Landon, teleport us home."

No questions asked, Landon grabbed put his family in a circle and teleported them all home.

~~

Neela scrambled awake and threw her arms around. She sat up in bed and saw that she was alone, she wheezed and tried to make sense of everything that just happened. Her throat burned, some parts of skin on her neck was sensitive to touch, she felt sick and dizzy.

Ryan was helping make breakfast, he heard Neela's quickened heartbeat and started immediately upstairs.

Ryan begun opening the bedroom door, he was going to say good morning to her with a bright smile, but with what he was greeted with was anything but bright. Neela looked at Ryan just like how she did when she first arrived, her eyes were full of fear and hatred. It was difficult to earn her trust during that time, but he's done nothing to cross her recently. What happened?

"Go away, please," Neela spoke with a hoarse voice. Ryan tilted his head and squinted his eyes in confusion, "what? Why?" He took a few steps into the room and noticed that certain areas on Neela's neck were darker with a purple hue. "Just let me be, okay?" Her eyes peered back down to her lap.

"Neela, what hap—"

"Stay away! I want out of this mess!" Neela screamed despite the pain she felt in her throat, Ryan could just imagine the tears already forming in Neela's eyes.

"Angel, let's calm down," he spoke gently and sat on the rug in the middle of their room. The tan rug was far away enough from Neela so she could have her space, but still close for Ryan to see.

Neela leaned her head back in frustration, which also allowed her fresh bruises to be seen. "This always happens," Neela complained and allowed her eyes to be exposed to the white light coming from he chandelier just above Ryan's head. "You hurt me, you apologize, and I have no choice but to forgive you because I'm stuck here! I can't go home anymore!" Neela sighed and leaned against the wall, "it's an endless cycle of abuse and manipulation."

"What happened? I did nothing to you," Ryan still spoke with a calm voice despite those filthy bruises just lying on her untouched skin. "You have to tell me. Did someone come in while I was gone?"

Frazzled, Neela screamed again, "it was you! It's always you!" Neela forcibly slammed her head against the wall behind her in frustration. "Stop that!" Ryan yelled and stood up, easily spooking Neela, "what did I do? I've been training, I've been doing nothing to harm you lately."

"Of course you wouldn't remember," Neela scoffed. "The ball. My birthday. You picked me up by my throat and threw me across the room." Neela made the motions with her hands as if she were choking someone and also made a throwing motion.

"Today's your birthday! I was making you breakfast! Father and everyone left so we could have a date!" Ryan took a deep breath once he realized her was raising his voice and turned away with his hands up. Once pacified, he turned back around and sat on his knees in front of Neela, "Angel, did you purposely give yourself those bruises?"

Neela narrowed her eyes at Ryan, "Do you really think I'd do something like this to myself? After how much physical pain I've already been through," Ryan's eyes softened at her truthful words.

"I know, but the bruises are there." He whispered and slowly guided Neela's chin to face the ceiling once again, "there's three and they're freshly formed. They need attended to," he grabbed Neela's hand with his gloved one and guided her to the bathroom.

After making sure the radiator was off, Ryan patted the top of it, signaling Neela to sit on it. He went over to the medicine cabinet to rummage for first aid items, "can that happen? Injuries that happen in dreams come out into the real world?"

Ryan shrugged while grabbing ice spray, "I didn't think so, but I guess everything is possible nowadays," he sighed while closing the door, "aww, you got curious." Ryan pointed out Neela lifting her chin to see the bruises for herself, "I really have to see if my aunt can help with this. She knows potions and spells. Hopefully she can reverse what my uncle did."

"Why'd he do it to you?" Neela gasped as she felt the cooling spray hit the injured targets on her neck. "He was jealous of father and mothers relationship. No infidelity, no abuse, a bunch of children, happy family. He killed his mate, not believing it was actually her. He's been envious of the family ever since, especially father because he brags about us too much." Ryan chuckled while rolling his eyes.

"Shouldn't we tell Damien about this?"

"I will, don't worry about it," Ryan put the medical stuff away and went right back over to Neela, "happy birthday, my angel." He smiled and kissed the top of her head.