THE TATTOO

SAGE

The trees blurred past me in shades of ash and dusk. I didn’t feel my feet crashing against the earth, didn’t feel the twigs slicing into my skin or the branches clawing my arms like angry ghosts. I only ran… like something wild and hunted.

My breath came in broken bursts, trying to force myself to make a noise but nothing was coming. My voice… it was gone. Like everything else.

My legs finally gave way, buckling under the storm of it all. I collapsed in the middle of the woods, knees digging into the wet moss as the skies cracked open above me.

I don't even know where I am and also don't want to be there, the pain I am feeling in my body couldn't be compared to the betrayal.

Without batting an eyelid, he banished me, not listening to my words and then he ended the life of my baby.

The embarrassment has been borne into my skin, I never cheated but those pictures which stand as evidence couldn't help me deny it.

The rain came fast sheets of silver needles stabbing into the ground, into me.

I didn't move hoping the rain dripping from the heavens could wash away what had been done.

I opened my mouth to scream, but nothing came out, it was just silence and pain.

My hands fisted into the dirt, nails curling into the mud as I dragged in a ragged breath.

My throat burned, my chest ached, I was eager to speak… and oh goodness that pain.

It ripped through me again like it was new like my body was still breaking apart from the inside.

I don't know how many hours I sat right there, but the rain had stopped. It was like I was waiting for death to take me.

Still, deep in my thoughts I felt a presence behind me, I didn't bother to check what or who it would be.

I just prefer death right now, after all, everything that matters to me is gone now.

“It's been five hours…” I heard a familiar voice, it was Knight he found me.

I didn't know what I was thinking when I tricked Tracy into helping me get something and just left, only to not move far away from the weird pack I knew nothing about.

But did he just say give hours? Like he had been watching me kneel here for five hours?

“I have never been so calm or patient in my life until today..” he added but still that didn't make me look his way.

Then I felt him very close to me, “I don't know what you are going through, but I believe it would be best if you don't let it get in your way.”

I smacked his hands off and stood from the ground now dripping from head to toe.

I began walking and then heard him scoff, “Where are you going? Are you trying to push away the remaining patience I have left?” I still didn't respond and just continued walking so numb to pain.

Just then I fell past me and then stopped right in front of me, it was him giving me a look of impatience.

“You cheated on him… Why feeling regret now?” I stopped on my track, hearing this from him.

Then a bitter smile played on my face, I wasn't in my pack and someone else already knew about the whole incident.

“Then leave me alone,” I mouthed still without the voice, he scoffed and just shook his head.

“Well, that is too bad because..” he leaned closer to me. “I can't leave you alone.” he mouthed back to me and before I could push him away he lifted me from the ground, and I wondered widely.

If he had been in the rain with me for hours how come his clothes dried and his body at a high temperature?

“I will let this go because I can tell you are going through the pain you had caused for yourself, but the next time you leave the pack without my notice… I will have you killed.” I gave him the look and said of course I will do it if that will kill me.

Like he knew he replied, “Well don’t think that the date is going to come easily.” hearing that I rolled my eyes and the next thing I felt was he speeding through the woods, and for a few minutes we were back to the so-called pack again.

Again, he dropped me onto the same bed I had once run away from.

“You should clean up,” he muttered, voice rough, but I just sat there staring at him like a fool.

My mind refused to process anything past the heat in his gaze and the ache burning through my heart.

“I honestly don’t know where I am getting the patience to deal with you,” he grumbled, already turning his back to me.

I rolled my eyes, folding my arms across my chest in silence. The silence stretched until a sudden sneeze betrayed me.

Then I felt him beside me again in an instant like he had never walked away.

“See what staying out in the rain has done to you?” he sighed, his voice softer now, tinged with something that almost sounded like worry.

Then he pulled off his jacket and he held it out to me, arm extended… but I just stared at him, expression blank, refusing to take it.

Why? Because I recalled him? My mind still can't get over the hurt I was feeling right now. He also used to care for me the same way Knight is doing right now.

He sighed again, longer this time, and then grabbed me with unceremonious roughness, wrapping the jacket around my shoulders without waiting for permission. His scent clung to the fabric spice, pine, and rain.

“The maids will come to take care of you,” he said gruffly, already halfway out the door.

But when I saw it, the hem of his shirt had ridden up just slightly enough to reveal a mark on the small of his back.

A tattoo.

My breath caught.

That tattoo… It was the same one. The same one I had seen on the back of the man, I was accused of cheating with.