In Spite Of Everything

Selene's POV

It’s a week today since Cynth told me everything that happened when she lost Kari, I’m so in awe of her she so much stronger than anyone would know, and I finally know why she is so good at what she does. I’ve spent a few more nights with her. The silver moon guys have been back every other day unfortunately that means they are here tonight so that means dinner for 2 in my room and I can’t wait!

I can’t say that I’m not still sad about Dom and Liv I’m happy for them really, I’m more embarrassed that we got so invested, and to top it off now Ash is sure that he’s not my mate he sticks to me like glue as soon as I leave my room, the creep just won’t quit. I’ve spent some time with Dot too as she lives outside the pack house it’s good for me to get away when they are all here ,it’s also been an excuse to shop for the ball in the village I manages to find some amazing sparkly black shoes to go with my birthday/ball dress ,even though I’ve told my sisters I don’t want to go it doesn’t seem like I’m getting out of it so I’m leaning into it and getting prepared to lose the fight .

I’ve been feeling more in tune with Seleste these past days it’s like the closer we get to my birthday the more we feel the same , I can see a little sharper , hear a little better all the usual stuff the best and worst thing has to be my sense of smell on one hand I can now smell it as soon as Sybil starts cooking the downside I can smell in when the warriors come back from training , although when they come in the house I always smell that same ginger cookies and honey smell I don’t mind that so much but it has confirmed to me 100% that the wolf at the waterfall was part of the silver moon pack .

I can hear all the pack outside they must have taken a break for lunch seeing this as the perfect opportunity I decide to go for a run much to Seleste’s dismay a run in human form I have to try and stay fit to and I still want to be as good a warrior as Arti and since I’ve been being made to train everyday opting for the earliest time slot I can tell I’ve gotten fitter .I mean I don’t run and feel like I’m going to die anymore so that’s a bonus . I make my way downstairs running gear on and hair tied up, opting to run nowhere near the warriors I head in the opposite direction of the arena.

I have been running for around 20 minutes when my nose is flooded with that smell I stop and look around hoping to see where it is coming from, I don’t know what I’ll do when meet them maybe tell them they smell nice? no that’s weird ill just say hi. I keep looking but I can’t see anyone maybe it was just carried in the wind, I run for another 25 minutes before my stomach starts growling so I change course and run for the kitchen instead. I chop up apple, scoop some peanut butter into a little bowl and then head to my room.
I’m sitting in my room devouring the last of my sweet and savoury treat thinking about what I’m going to eat for dinner when a wave of tiredness hits, I feel my eye lids getting heavy.

I’m running my breathing heavy my legs are tired I’m willing them to carry my further but I feel them collapsing under me , I turn around looking for what’s chasing me , I can’t remember but I know I have to keep going .I call out for Seleste but she not there I can’t feel her in my panic I being to crawl hearing the rushing behind me but never seeing the face .I reach a clearing ,it’s the waterfall .I drag myself to the water’s edge then I see it or rather I see myself .

I’m standing in the middle of the water a man stood Infront of me, I pull myself closer and we are staring at one another then I see my hand my claws are out, and I am clutching something tight, the blood dripping down into the water slowly turning it red. I’m gazing at the man, his chest still moving like he’s breathing then I lift his heart to my mouth, and I take a bite letting the blood fall down my chin. Then I stare at me my green eyes focused on me, moving towards me, I’m inches away from my own face when I speak my voice heavy.

I wake up the sweat dripping of my body drenching my bed sheets, my heart is thumping.

In rush out of my room searching for the only two people I know will calm me down, searching Cynth’s room first then heading for the stairs to go up to Arti’s, it’s like they knew as I see them both rushing down the stairs towards me, they both pull me in close and I break down, hot tears streaming down my face my hands trembling. Usually, their touch calms me down but today it’s not working.

I hear them talking to me but the words are muffled it sounds like I’m underwater my lungs feel like they are on fire struggling to take in any air , I try to speak but the words are leaving my mouth as nothing but a whimper , my fingers start to go numb and then I feel myself being scooped off the floor the voices of my sisters still around but there are new voices now I can’t make them out , I still can’t breath and then I black out .

Artemis POV

The hairs on my neck stand up I look over at Cynth and her face says the same she feels it too something is wrong. We both rush out of the room they eye of everyone on us, but I don’t care, Selene is in trouble I feel it. I feel my arm being pulled and I turn around and see Ryan he’s speaking but his words don’t matter right now I don’t have time to explain I pull away he looks hurt, but I run towards the stars to catch up with Cynth. We reach the top of the stairs and Sel is at the bottom her face pale, the sweat dripping from her and then I spot it her eyes, they are Glowing. We rush down the steps pulling her into us she breaks down and cries we hold her for a few moments then her body changes. I try to ask her what’s wrong Cynth too but it’s like she can’t hear us her breathing intensifies she take short sharp breaths.

"She’s having a panic attack Arti we need to get her to calm down "Cynth switches to doctor mode.

"How do we do that; can’t you just do the thing to help her?" Her hands are getting clammy now and she’s still trying to speak but it’s coming out as mumbles.

"I can’t, you know I can’t it won’t work on us the same way we need to get her to her room”.

"Okay whatever you need, let carry her “it’s at this point I realise we are no longer alone Ryan, Eric, Calder and Sigi have surrounded us along with other pack members.

Arti links me.

"Arti we need to move her and get her to her room we can’t risk people seeing her”.

As if he heard us Sigi beings to push the crowd back Eric and Ryan too Calder then pushes between us and scoops her up.

"Where are we taking her?" He asks his voice soft; we usher him towards Cynth's room.

"Please put her in the tub, we need to cool her down “Calder nods at Cynth and without saying a word leaves the room I hear him outside with Ryan and Sigi.

"Arti are you listening we need to take some of her clothes off she is overheating we need to calm her down " Cynth is lifting her eyelids, her eyes are still glowing. "Change of plan, we don’t have time turn on the shower”.

It’s been 45 minutes since we managed to calm her down, she woke up still confused, we managed to get her changed and now she is sleeping in Cynth’s bed. Ryan came in to check on her and to let us know Calder and Sigi left but they sent regards to our sister, neither of them have met her before now. He also bought us tea after a few minutes he leaves us alone.

We sit in silence drinking the tea and staring at Sel asleep on the other side of the room, I turn to Cynthia.

"We have to tell her tomorrow, this is happening faster than with me or you, we need to help her control this "Cynth looks at me sadness filling her eyes.

"I don’t know if she’s ready to know the truth Arti, I’m scared”.

"I know I am too but mum and dad gave us everything we need to explain and when she knows it will get easier for her " Cynth nods in agreement.

"When she wakes up ... we will tell her. We will explain to her what we are and why we are”.

In spite of everything she must face I know she’s is strong enough to understand this.