HEATHEN

18.

Aries.

"Tell me what I just saw didn't happen." I sat down on the stool by the breakfast bar, what I had seen was horrific, the screams, the agony, the pain, and the blood, it took all my will power not to scream.

It was a nightmare I never wanted to have, my eyes stung with tears looking at Heathen from where he now stood, he was in the lounge reading and suddenly I was pulled in to see that painful and awful memory.

I knew it wasn't mine because the mind link was open therefore it was Heathen. His eyes were deadset on me and I rushed over to him from where I was and hugged him, he didn't make a sound he just held me, I knew nightmares kept him up at night sometimes but I never thought it would be like that.

The vivid images of torn apart clothes, the sneers and blood, the pain in those muffled screams and tears it was so heartbreaking. I couldn't hold back my tears anymore, I cried, cried so hard for the first time in my life that I needed Heathen to support my foothold.

"Please tell me it didn't happen, please tell me it didn't Heathen, it was so awful, why you why?" My tears stained his shirt, I wondered how long he had carried this pain inside him, it broke my heart knowing something that horrific happened to him.

"Heathen, oh goddess, why?" I didn't know who to turn to anymore, my tears flowed, trailing down my cheeks like a neverending masquerade of pain and suffering. "T-Tell me it didn't happen." My voice broke because of all that I felt from one single memory.

"How could anyone do that to —." I broke down further, how could anyone do that to a child, to someone else's gift, to someone else who lived and breathed, it was horrible.

Heathen was strong, not physically but mentally, I realized it took a lot to shoulder the pain and the burden of what kept him up at night, he endured so much to be who he is, I knew his pain first hand and it was unpleasant, it hurt deep down knowing that also happened to him.

It was unfair to do what they did to him, the cruelty of it all hurts to think about, the pool of blood that surrounded his body and legs, it was hard to ever get rid of the lingering pain.

"I'm sorry." He spoke through the link but I didn't want him to be sorry, I wanted him to be okay, not sorry. "Heathen tell you're okay, babe tell me you're fine." His smile reassured me he was okay but it still hurt to even think about.

I finally settled down after another round of tears, Heathen carried me to the lounge and placed me on his lap, I clung to him like a child, I wanted to comfort him but also bathe in the comfort he gave me.

"I didn't mean to show you, I was just thinking about it and that I needed to tell you and I didn't realize I pushed the memory forward, I'm sorry." His words made me realize that he kept this from me this whole time yet I wasn't angry, how could I be.

Yes I had told him about my own past and I did it because I knew I could never find the courage to tell him again as long as I lived if I didn't tell him then, so I did, his past and the memories I saw I never wanted to see it again.

"Don't apologize, it's alright." I hugged him tightly hoping I could make him feel some sort of comfort. "Just tell me you're alright." He nods faintly. "I am now, with you." I nod laying my head on his chest.

"I was afraid of how you would react when I told you, afraid that I wasn't the same person and that you wouldn't think of me the same." He mumbled his truth but all I saw was a brave man, a strong alpha, and a survivor.

"Never." I replied placing a kiss on his cheek. "I would never see you any differently than the survivor and a man who gave me a place to belong and a home." I added closing my eyes to feel his embrace around me.

I wanted to know what led to it, what happened. "My brother Daxom got involved with the local gang in town, they had come from Harwood Central City and saught asylum in Lake Field where the Cold lake Pack is found, they killed several people and he wanted out because he didn't want to be arrested, we were both sixteen back then but due to werewolf growth we seemed older." I began to put puzzle pieces together.

"One night I stayed late at school because I had to study, I got out late from school that day and tried to hurry home but the gang was doing their usual prowl of the street to scare people that night, I had a run in with them and so because Daxom and I looked identical they thought I was him, he obviously hadn't told them I existed." I knew what happened next and it made my insides clench.

"They ganged up on me, shot me four times in the leg, cut my arm and stabbed me twice, my body couldn't heal the bullet wounds with the metal inside so I was bleeding out and they—." I placed my hand on his mouth because I didn't want to hear it, I had already seen the memory of them taking turns and it made me sick.

"Don't say it." I mumbled and he sighed. "Later that night a pack member found me almost dead in the woods near the school, they rushed me over to the ER in time to pull out the bullets and help me heal, I was taken home and never told my father only that I had a run in with a car." He sighed then inhaled my scent, I knew it calmed him down as his did with me.

"Daxom the only good thing he did for me in this life, helped me find the men who did it and I killed them in wolf form." I gasped remembering what I had read one time. The Lake Field Massacre. "Yeap that was me." I chuckled looking at Heathen as he invaded my thoughts.

"Then I turned 22, Daxom found our mate, since we were twins it was obvious we would get the same mate it rarely happens when you don't, he mated with him of course and." I interrupted by gasping in realization.

"But that would break the bond, it has to be done by both wolves." I asserted and he nods. "Yeah it does." He adds and somehow I was glad Daxom did what he did, I was angry about his actions and what they did to Heathen but not about his mate, they could be with each other for all I care but I had my alpha now.

"You're not mad?" Heathen asks. "No I'm not, it was their loss to not want you, it was my gain having you and you're the best mate a wolf could want, I hate Daxom for everything so much so that if I see him I will beat the living lights out of him, but now because of all that happened we are here, a huge pack, our own home and a wedding in a few months, so Alpha I'm not mad, I love you." He roughly grabbed me and kissed me.

"I love you, Aries Heathen, it sounds exquisite don't you think?" I chuckled and poked him making him groan. "I will pound you into the mattress little wolf if you don't stop." He growled and I placed a kiss on his cheek.

"I now know the biggest part of your past and why you're here and alpha it doesn't matter to me, I'm happy, we are happy the rest doesn't matter, it's our life and we get to live it and heal in the process." I was sure knowing what happened to Heathen helped me too.

No one was perfect, everyone had flaws even my 7ft beast but that didn't matter, I loved him anyway.

+++

Now you know what happened, I cried writing the first parts of this chapter but it got better as I went further xo.

Follow - Vote - Comment

LMJ