Dr. Luna
Chapter 13

"Lilly are you alright? Damn girl you are trembling. What's wrong?" Avery stopped the movie and looked up at Lilly with concern. "Lilly you are shutting down, you've gotta talk to me girl."

Lilly was having a hard time breathing. She was panicking. "P-p-please g-g-get the l-l-licorice out of here. I can't ..." This had only happened a couple times back at home. Once Aaron realized that the smell of black licorice was a trigger, he made sure it was never in the house and kept her away from the scent. Aaron had calmed her down when she was upset and during storms. Her two triggers were storms and the scent of licorice. They reminded her of the night her mother was killed.

Avery grabbed the box and launched it out of the room before returning back to Lilly's side. "Lilly you gotta breath babe. Slow your breathing down and focus. Everything is okay."

Lilly's body was trembling, and she was doing her best to shut out the visions in her head. She pulled her knees up to her body and hugged her arms around them protectively.

"What's the big idea..." Kade waltzed in rubbing his head. He had been hit by a flying box of licorice. He noticed Lilly and rushed over to her side. "What's wrong? What happened?" Kade turned to Avery who shook her head. "I don't know. It had something to do with the licorice." Avery felt horrible.

Tyler, you better get in here. Something is wrong with Lilly. Kade mind-linked Tyler. If anything could calm her down it would be the scent of her mate.

A split second later the door swung open in a panic. Tyler's eyes were wide with worry and he looked down immediately at Lilly curled up on the floor. He was at her side instantly and he pulled her into his chest, wrapping his arms around her.

I'm sorry Tyler, I don't know what happened. It has something to do with the licorice I was eating. I didn't know. Avery apologized telepathically to Tyler.

"Everything is okay, Lilly. I'm here. You're safe." Tyler cooed into Lilly's ear. He rubbed her back soothingly as he worked on calming her down.

Being in Tyler's arms was like taking a Valium she felt her body immediately begin to relax. She had never been able to recover so quickly before. She leaned into his chest and slowed down her breathing. The vivid flashbacks rippled in her mind; the vision was clearer than ever.

Lilly was eight years old as she walked in the forest with her mother. The evening sun flickered through the trees and she was holding her mother's hand as they walked side by side. The two were giggling and talking. It seemed like they were talking to someone else too, but it was not clear.

Suddenly, Lilly's mother threw a cloak over her daughter and sat her down near a tree. She ordered her to stay still and not to make a sound. She never knew it then, but now she understood that the cloak was shielding her. Somehow the cloak had hidden her. The memory was fuzzy.

A group of wolves suddenly made their appearance and snarled angrily towards her mother. Then a large wolf made his way to the front. He was all black with white ticking along his back. He smelled like black licorice. A scent that Lilly would never forget. He was communicating with her mother telepathically. She did not know how, but he was.

It was hard to make it out, the memory was muffled. "Look how pathetic you have become. I cannot give you what you desire. You will not ever mix with my bloodline. You will never gain entry." Lilly's mother stood unwavering in front of the wolf. The wolf snarled loudly seemingly disgusted. The thunder cracked loudly as the rain pelted down. As the lightning flashed the pack of wolves pounced on her mother, ripping her apart in front of Lilly's eyes.

As the vision began to blur out, Lilly looked to her side. She was holding someone's hand. She never remembered that before, but she was being held and then holding this child's other hand. She couldn't see the face and the vision faded away.

Lilly began to stir; she had drifted into unconsciousness. Her body was being cradled gently in Tyler's arms. She could feel that she was being held preciously and she felt her heart flutter in response. She opened her eyes and tilted her head up. She saw Kade and Avery sitting in front of her and Tyler was looking down at her.

"Hey hun, are you okay?" Avery asked quietly as she saw Lilly's eyes open.

Lilly felt a bit embarrassed. She felt like a child at times like these. Every thunderstorm she felt like a helpless little kid, though this was the first time she ever went unconscious.

"How long was I out?" Lilly half sat up but stayed leaning back in Tyler's chest. His arms hung around her and she felt safe in his embrace.

"Not long, maybe twenty minutes." Kade answered her his eyes still looking over her with concern.

"Sorry for causing trouble." Lilly frowned. She had ruined their fun evening.

"You're no trouble at all. Don't you even think that." Avery said with a smile.

Lilly reached out and grabbed Tyler's hand in front of her. She began to play with his fingers nervously as she prepared to explain what happened.

"When I was eight years old my mother was ripped apart right in front of me by a pack of wolves. One of the wolves... he smelled of black licorice. Ever since then, I have had panic attacks if I smell it. I only have two triggers for them, and it is storms and licorice. I never thought to mention it because when my brother found out about it, he practically banned it in the pack. He can be a bit overprotective." Lilly giggled at the extremes he went to.

"Doesn't sound extreme to me. I never liked black licorice anyways. Sounds like an easy ban. Make sure it happens." Tyler looked at Kade leaving the task up to him.

"On it." Kade jumped up and out the door before Lilly could say a word.

"You don't have to do that. I just need to desensitize to it. I think I can work on doing that. Especially having you with me." Lilly looked up at Tyler. The way that being with him calmed her down, she felt like she would be able to finally work past her issues. Tyler smiled and pulled her into him tighter. "We can work on that with storms first. For now, I am getting rid of all the licorice. I don't want you to be uncomfortable. Avery is the only one who really likes that stuff anyways."

"And I will gladly give it up." Avery smiled at Lilly. "Caleb will be happy about that anyways; he hates it when I eat it." Avery hopped up to her feet. "Speaking of Caleb, he should be back any minute since it is getting late. I'll see you in the morning toots." Avery left Lilly's room. Giving Lilly and Tyler some time together.

Tyler rested his head on Lilly's and gently placed a kiss on her head. His poor mate had a horrible childhood experience and had been ostracized by her pack. He wanted to keep her tucked away and hidden from the world where he could protect her. He began to kiss the side of her head and traced his kisses down to her neck that she willingly extended to him. When he got to the marking spot he paused. He then kissed the spot, that would one day be marked by him, tenderly causing her to purr in response. "Soon Lilly, not now, but soon. Very soon because I don't think I can wait much longer." Tyler whispered into the crook of her neck.

His hot breath sent tingles through Lilly's body. She wanted him to mark her, but she wanted to tell him about herself first. She did not want to go into that tonight. She was tired and wanted to sleep. But she agreed with him. She wanted it to be soon too. "If I promise to behave myself, can I stay with you tonight?" Tyler's voice sounded insecure and vulnerable.

Lilly smiled at how the mighty alpha was suddenly weak sounding as he asked for something he wanted. She respected how he was asking instead of just taking. Besides, she also wanted him to sleep with her tonight. She did not want to be away from his embrace. She did not have to be happy about him taking Jessica tomorrow, but she could still enjoy being comforted in his arms tonight.

Lilly looked up and nodded to him and he shot her a white toothy smile. He was like a child who just got his way and Lilly could not help but feel her heart pang at his adorable reaction. He stood up lifting her body with him and carried her over to the bed. He climbed into the bed while holding her not letting her separate from his contact. He then laid down on his side and settled her body into his side beside him. He kept both of his arms around her. He tucked her head under his chin and rested comfortably into her warmth.

For now, he was happy with this. He needed at least this much from her, his mate. He kissed her temple one last time. "Get some rest Lilly."

"Mmmmhmmm." Lilly quietly acknowledged him as she inhaled his scent, her own personal drug.