Another Secret

My consciousness returns. I feel a gentle hand shake my shoulder slowly at the same time. Opening my eyes, I expected bright sun but instead was greeted by darkness and the droning voice of a woman.

"Taylor," the voice says.

My feet feel soft on the ground as soon as I get up. It feels as though I am floating and I look out again. After adjusting my eyes to the darkness, I can now see a tall figure standing before me.

“Taylor. We don't have much time left. Come on”. Grabbing my hand, the figure runs off into the distance. I urge myself back but my legs seem to run involuntarily to where she is leading me.

Sudden panic sits with me as I run my hand across my face and head, looking for any swelling.

Could Gilbert be wrong?

What if I was concussed and died after passing out?

He said everything was fine. This seriously looks like hell to me. I neither see light nor angels. Instead, a tall woman is dragging me to goddess knows where.

“Lilly” I call out to my wolf, but she does not respond. It's as if she's not there at all. “Lilly” I whisper once again. The tall woman looks back at me with a smile and we suddenly come to a stop.

“You brought her”. As a loud, thick voice rings in the area, I stiffen. It's that voice.

“Roman?” I say looking around. The tall woman vanishes into thin air, and I gape at the smoke that forms.

“You think you can be happy without me?” Suddenly he is before me. I whip my head so fast that it hurts. His green eyes stare at me from top to bottom.

This is hell. I am sure.

"What is going on? Who is she? What are you doing here?” I ramble, unable to grasp all of the events that are happening.

“Did I tell you that you ask too many questions?”, he snorts and wraps his arm around my throat. I longed to be caged in with love around those arms, but what do I get instead?

“Didn’t I reject you? In. your. face?” He squeezes his hand tight, blocking my airflow. I claw at his hands while his expression remains fixed. Motionless.

“Roman, stop. You are hurting me”, I gasp out.

“Aren't you hurting me enough?” A single tear slides down my cheek. My heart breaks when he says the next sentence.

"What matters to us isn't you," he says, his eyes turning black.

I feel pain shooting up my body and my hand reaches to my neck. I touch my face to realize that I was crying.

That was a dream. Another nightmare. Again. I've had two of them since Roman rejected me. Gone are the panic attacks and now I am burdened with the constant pain of my mate’s rejection. Fuck you, Roman.

“Princess” I scramble back in shock. All the men crouch around me, staring at me intently. It's obvious the men have been training since I fell unconscious. They are glistening from the hot sun. Based on this, I have to assume it's afternoon.

“You were crying,” Angelo slowly says. Oh yes. I forgot about that. I rub my face to get rid of the tears.

“And screaming”, Valerio adds. I look at him, my eyes wide. I never wanted any of them to see me this low.

As I stand up, I murmur, "A bad dream". I want to be alone right now. Away from everyone. Away from their prying eyes for answers.

“How is your head?” Gilbert quickly changes the topic and inspects my head. How? By taking my face in his large hands and moving it as he pleases. “I feel fine. No pain”. The lie passes through my teeth.

Casper catches my lie so easily from a distance as his eyes narrow. “What are you dreaming about?” he asks daring me to lie again.

Julian joins him and motions for me to speak. Trying to muster a not so fake smile, I say, "It's nothing."

The ground reverberates with growls and the hair on my neck stands on alert.

“You were shaking and screaming. That sure doesn't sound like nothing.” Nicolas roars as he takes large steps towards me. The sight of him close, his greens, matched with the olive skin of his, brings me back to Roman again.

I blink at him, trying my best not to cry. Luciano steps in between us and beckons the men aside. He gently approaches me. “Is it a memory?” he asks without hesitation.

Frustration fills my head as I walk away. “It is”, Luciano amused voice snaps me back to place.

“Princess, who hurt you?”. All the men look like they are ready to murder. It is hard for me to walk away, now that Ren and Zico have blocked my way, looking all serious. Standing in front of these hulking muscle men is giving me a headache.

“We'll patrol at 4 p.m. After lunch” I try to leave.

“You are not leaving until you tell us who hurt you”. Casper growls at me furiously.

“Guys, it is nothing. Just a bad memory”

“What bad memory causes you to scream and cry in your dream?” Nicolas presses.

“This is really uncomfortable for me. Is it not obvious that I don't want to answer?” I snap.

“We do not want to press. But you were screaming *Stop, Roman*” Zico says. Anger and tears well up in my eyes at the mere mention of his name, the memory.

"Would you mind telling us who Roman is?" Ren gently squeezes my shoulder, as if he is assuring me that I can trust them. I look down and shake my head hiding my pathetic face.

“Taylor”

Right now, I can feel Greyson shooting daggers towards me. As he walks towards me, I keep my head down. Not the flurtatious love, but my name. Hearing my name come out of his mouth in this distasteful manner hurts me more. His hand lifts my chin to look him in the eyes. His cold and stern eyes.

“He is your mate, isn't he? The doctor.”

My heart stops.

“And he is very much alive and here”

He spits out the words like they burned him.