The Human In The Wolf Pack
Chapter 17

“Vera, you need to take your medicine,” Rider growled, frustrated, while holding me in his lap.

I was currently watched Supernatural on his TV. It was the time that it was Tuesday every day and Dean kept dying over and over again. I didn’t like this episode it made me sad. Dean was my favorite character and he was really attractive. Like, almost as hot as Rider. Very very close.

“Vera,” Rider sighed, demanding my attention.

I gave him my puppy dog eyes, the ones that always seemed to work on Ripley and Rose.

“I don’t like medicine,” I said softly.

He closed his eyes. I pouted, as he tried to escape my puppy eyes, before tugging on his shirt. His grey eyes met mine once more, much softer than they were a moment ago as I upped my game, leaning into his shoulder as I looked at him pitifully.

“I feel fine as long as you’re here. Please don’t make me take it,” I asked in my sweetest voice.

He g*****d, falling backward on the bed, seeming to give up. I giggled lightly as I looked down at him. Rider had been extremely attentive for the last two days. We were able to just spend time together. He made me some canned chicken noodle soup, which was salty, but he was extremely sweet. We had a movie marathon, while he just took care of me. It was nice, and I realized how much fun it was to hang out with Rider. When I spoke, he listened attentively. He seemed genuinely interested in my reactions, and the things I had to say. He was also much gentler whenever he touched me now. I think he was really shocked that he had bruised me before. I can tell he actively checks his strength around me.

“I can’t always be here. I have pack duties to attend to,” Rider confessed, a guilty look on his face as he sat up reluctantly.

That did make me feel bad. Sometimes it was easy to forget that Rider was the Alpha of this pack. I’m sure a lot of work has piled up while he was taking care of me. I felt I had been too selfish. Rider had hundreds of other people he had to take care of every day as the leader of this pack. It wasn’t fair for me to monopolize him.

“Oh. I’m sorry,” I said softly.

I took the medicine, on the nightstand then took a deep breath.

“You can go. I’ll stay here and watch the show,” I said, smiling apologetically.

He sighed and thought about it.

“I’ll be back in 2 hours. Don’t get up,” he commanded, and then, surprising me, he placed a tender k**s on my forehead. I watched him, a bit stunned as he left the room. Instantly, my headache returned, the throbbing pain beating at my skull.

I winced, laying down as I let out a cough. My throat felt like it was burning. I buried under the thick covers and sipped on my water through a straw. Two hours, that’s how long he said he’s be gone for. I sighed, feeling as if my illness made two hours much too long, but I understood that he had other priorities. I couldn’t be selfish.

A good Luna wouldn’t keep an alpha from his pack for something as small as a cold. I got up after a few minutes, the light in the room making everything so much worse. I drew the curtain and shut the bathroom door, then shut off all the lights. Then I crawled back in bed, shivering slightly.

I closed my eyes and counted my breaths. One… Two… Three…. Four… Five. Soon I fell into a blissful sleep.

Vera… Vera…

I was in a desert. All around me was beige sand, and the sky was growing dark, the sun had just set. A river was flowing a few yards away. I could see it from where I stood. A few shrubs grew here and there. But otherwise, I was alone.

“Vera…Vera…” A voice called.

A woman’s voice. Her voice was sweet, melodic. Like a song or the whisper of a violin.

“Hello?” I called out.

“Look up, child.”

And so I did. There was the moon, round and fat in the sky. Full.

“Vera, you can call me Nya. I’m here to guide you,”

“Are you… The moon?” I asked, puzzled.

A chuckle ran out in the air.

“I represent it right now,” was all she said.

“I’m giving you a gift,” she stated.

“What kind of gift?” I wondered.

“A powerful one. You’re going to play a big part in your world and will be up against things that a regular human couldn’t handle. So I’ll give you a gift. One that will protect you,” she said, soothingly.

“I’m fine being human though. I don’t want to be anything else,” I said, slightly panicked.

She laughed and it almost sounded like the chiming of bells.

“Oh don’t worry, dear. You will still be as you are. A gift doesn’t change you. It is but a gift, afterall,” she claimed.

Then, something like a tiny star dropped from the navy sky. I watched, fascinated as it drifted towards me. It shined and sparked like nothing else, sending off its own light.

Then it landed on me and I felt myself warm and shine for a second then, it dulled inside of me, becoming a part of me.

“But beware. With your gift, you will have to sacrifice to survive. But you are not alone, and you will thrive,” she said.

I slowly nodded then, the sky emptied of its blues and turned black.

“Our time is up, Vera. Good night,” she said, then it was I felt more than heard a popping noise,like the altitude had suddenly changed and it was all gone.

I opened my eyes. I was back in Rider’s room. Was that all just a dream? But it had felt so real… I sat up and noticed something. My pain was gone. No headache, no cough, no shivers. Looking around, I noticed that Rider wasn’t there either.

I got up and drew back the blinds again, allowing light into the dark room. I felt… Great actually. My wrist itched slightly, so I scratched it thoughtlessly before glancing down. What…. Is that?

A small, white mark in the shape if a star was branded into my skin. It reminded me off…. Oh my god that wasn’t a dream. I looked at the bed. Looking at it closely, I could see sand on the sheets, a familiar beige like that of the desert. Shock was replacing apprehension, as I stood over the proof of something impossible.

“Oh my god oh my god oh my god,” I chanted, feeling as if I was losing my mind.

Calm down.

I yelped loudly, almost falling over. What was that?

I’m part of your gift. My name is Terran. It said.

“Oh my god I’m hearing voices.” I whispered, panicked.

It’s ok, Vera. I’m a part of you. Sort of like a subconscious.

I whimpered and stared at my wrist. What the hell happened? My gift?

“What is my gift?” I asked aloud.

It will develop. Right now, you’ll be able to see auras. Colors, moods. I will guide you through it. The voice, Terran, claimed.

“What does that even mean?” I asked, rubbing my head.

“Vera?” A voice asked.

I jumped and spun around. It was Rider.

“Geez, don’t scare me like that!” I said, putting a hand to my heart as it beat violently in my chest.

“You’re not supposed to be out of bed,” he said, disapproving.

“I feel better,” I said, honestly.

He eyed me then picked me up, carrying me to the bed.

“What the hell…” He trailed off, noticing the sand.

“Did you go down to the lake?” He asked, frustration creeping in his voice, as his brows furrowed.

“No,” I shook my head adamantly.

He looked at me, obviously not believing me.

“Then why is all this sand here?” He asked, gesturing to the bed.

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” I grumbled, eyes caste downward.

He set me down and yanked off the sheets, throwing them in the hamper.

“Go sit down,” he told me, stiffly.

I pouted as he began mindlinking someone, a bit hurt that he didn’t believe me, but I couldn’t really blame him. I would think he was lying too if the roles were reversed.

Focus on the space around him Terran said.

I hesitantly did. First it was just a few shades, then it was an explosion of pigmentation. Colors swarmed around Rider’s figure. Maroons, golds, dark purples. I gasped, observing them all.

The maroon means he’s angry. The purple is anxiety and the gold is love. Terran explained, sounding just as in awe as I was.

Love? Maybe for me? I turned my attention back to Rider as he came over to the bed and pulled me into him. How could I tell him about this?