•~Chapter 5~•

Eyes fluttered open, a bit disoriented.

I tried getting up but the pain that shot through my body caused me to yelp then I remembered.

'Dylan and his goons.'

I groaned again and made another attempt to stand by holding onto the armrest of the couch which I succeeded. Upon glancing down, I noticed something dark red in color on the carpet and it felt dry.

It was blood........my blood. 

Sighing, I limped all the way to my room. Taking a bit longer as I slowly climbed down the stairs putting extra care on my right ankle. 

'I think one of them deliberately stepped on it.'

Pushing the door open, I let it shut close as I trudged towards the bathroom.

Making my way to my cracked mirror, I used the sink as leverage to balance myself before looking up.

I growled in anger upon seeing what they had done.

'They really did a number this time'

I have bruises all over my face, a busted lip and a headache. I tried to take off my shirt, key word: tried.

And after eight minutes.

Finally I was able to remove it and what I saw made me grimace. New dark blue and violet bruises decorated my whole body, even my back.

You'd think I'm a Dalmatian because of these spots. But instead of black spots, the colors were blue and violet. There was so much dry blood on the side of my mouth that I could barely move or even twitch my lips.

Wincing in pain, I discarded the rest of my clothes and stepped into the shower.

Flinching at first contact, but slowly relaxed later on. I took my time in the shower- being gentle and light with my bruises -and when I was done, I wrapped a towel around my waist then brushed my teeth.

Hissing when the toothpaste came in contact with the cut.

"Zannicus?"

Axar hesitantly called out.

"Hey, are you okay?"

I replied back.

"Are you serious?"

"What?"

"You're the one who's hurt yet you are asking me if I'M okay?"

Chuckling softly,

"Sorry, I just wanted to check on you"

He sighs quietly.

"I tried healing you as much as I could, but I got tired. If only you'd seen yourself before you woke up. You were way worse than you are now."

"Really??"

He nods in reply.

"Its ok, I can feel you're exhausted. That's why I asked if you were okay and don't worry about healing me, don't push yourself. I'm sure by tomorrow all of the pain will subside."

He nods again.

"OK. C'mon get dressed and rest up. Its a good thing the Alpha isn't here."

Snorting softly in agreement.

"Yeah, good thing."

Finishing up, I walked out of the bathroom and flocked the lights off. But my heart almost jumped out of my throat upon seeing a figure looking like the Grinch sitting on my bed.

"SWEET MOTHER OF NATURE!! Veronica!!"

She smiled apologetically. She sat at the very edge of the bed with my blood-stained shirt in her hand.

"(Smiling sheepishly) sorry Z."

"Jeez you scared me."

I glanced to left only to scream again and I swear, this time, I think my soul left me for a minute.

"Damn it Nicholai!!"

I exclaimed. He smiled sheepishly while rubbing the back of his neck.

"Sorry.".

"Why are you guys suddenly apparating out of nowhere? Do you want me to die of a heart attack?"

Nicholas laughed while Veronica fake gasped and held a hand to her chest.

"We would NEVER kill our best friend. Besides, If we did want to, we would've kidnapped you and carry you deep into the woods then bury you alive."

Both NIc and I stared owlishly at her fpt a while then we all burst laughing.

'Ah, I'm glad they're here'

"What brought you guys here?"

"Well, we were about to ask you something when we smelled blood upstairs and followed it down here. Only to find this."

Nica finished while holding up my shirt. I looked away while muttering.

"...Oh..."

"Oh? That's it?"

She replied back while cocking an eyebrow.

"What happened?"

Nic asked while he was looking at my bruises. I was about to ask how they knew I had bruises when I remembered that I was still in my towel.

Both them stared at me waiting for my answer. I was about to open my mouth when.

"And don't you dare tell us you ran into a pole! Cause there are no poles here, only trees."

Nica said while pointing a finger at me, daring me to lie. I sighed,

'This is gonna be a long night....'

When I was done telling them everything they missed while training, I looked up to see blank expressions on their faces and was silent for a minute.

3....2.....1...

"Are you freaking kidding me?!!

I flinched slightly at Nica's tone. Her face started turning red while Nic silently seethed from beside her.

"I swear if he wasn't my Alpha I would have already strangled him to death!!"

My eyes widened at Nic's remark and she resumed her rant before I even had the chance to speak.

"They bully you every chance they get huh? Especially Dylan and his pack of filthy, skunk-smelling mutts. YA KNOW WHAT?! I'M GOING TO THEIR ROOM RIGHT NOW, CUT OFF THEIR LIMBS AND MAUL THEM TO DEATH!!"

She finished, her eyes glowed brightly and nose flaring.

I stood up to calm her down and Nic did the same. I guess even Nic didn't expect that from her as neither of us spoke for a while as our eyes were wide as saucers.

We continued to rub her back and managed to get her to sit down again while she took deep breaths. I waited for a bit more and spoke again.

"Ya good now mama bear?"

"Yeah, all good. Its just....I wish you'd stand up for yourself, fight back or something. Give a punch."

"Yeah Z, we hate seeing you like this. Not only it hurts you, it hurts us too. And knowing that we could've done something to help but instead, we just watch."

"I know, I'm sorry. I don't mean to worry you guys so much but you know I can't do anything. It will only result

in more beating and if I do fight back, I'm afraid I might slip up and expose Axar and my powers.

I didn't get to practice since that late dinner serving. Plus, we also didn't get to run."

I said while looking away.

"Why don't you run now?"

Nic asked. But before I could answer, Nica slapped him upside the head while he yelped.

"Stupid!! Can't you see him?  How can he run at this state?"

She said while Nic pouted. I chuckled a bit,

"Maybe the day after tomorrow. We're both exhausted."

After a comfortable silence, I remembered I'm still in my towel so I stood up and grabbed some clothes before going into the bathroom to change.

"By the way, what is it you were gonna ask me?

"Oh! Right...Well...umm...are you  gonna stay tomorrow?"

She asked cautiously.

I sighed knowing what she was referring to. Slipping on my shirt, I walked back out and replied.

"Yeah. I'm staying"

"You sure?" Nic asked.

"Yeah and besides, I've been waiting for it for far too long and I want to get it over with. I'd rather be mateless than spend an eternity with him."

They were silent so I looked up to find them staring at me with sympathy. I sighed and shrugged at them.

"Oh come on guys. You know I can handle it, if you're worrying about the pain when he rejects me, don't. I'm used to the pain anyway."

"Its not that... Its just, of all the wolves in the world, he's the one you've been paired with. Your own bully, the one who started it all."

Nica replied. Nic spoke as he stood up.

"Well, if he rejects you, we'll be there. He doesn't know exactly how lucky he is to have you as his mate. His loss, someone's else's gain."

"Yeah. Hell, if you were my mate, I would take you, no hesitation!" Nica said.

A smile appeared on my face. This is why these two are my best friends. They can be very protective, they have wild imaginations and are wild themselves but they care for me. And they always know what to say.

"Thanks you two. I'm so glad

to have you in my life."

I said while pulling them in for a hug.

"Yeah, without us, your life is boring!"

Nic said as he nuzzled my neck eliciting laughter from us.

"Hey Z, 3 days from now, it'll be your birthday right?  I was thinking, can the two of us run with you? Please? Its been a while since we last ran together."

Nic asked while Nica looked at me with puppy dog eyes. I sighed smiling.

"Do you guys have to ask?  Of course I would love to have you, I can't exactly spend my birthday alone can I?"

Veronica squealed while Nic was clapping rapidly like a seal. I laughed at their silliness.

"You guys must be tired from all your training. Let's call it a night yeah?"

Nic placed his hand on my shoulder.

"Yeah you're right. You should rest too. We'll be right there with you tomorrow."

I smiled and pulled them in once more for a hug. Then they quietly headed back to the rooms. Locking my door, I flopped down on my bed and stared at the chipped painting of my ceiling.

'Gotta brace myself for tomorrow'

"I'll be right there with you Zannie."

Axar said making me smile.

'Yes, we can do this, we'll get through it together.'

With that last thought, I slowly drifted off to sleep.