Chapter Two

Lyrica

"You think you can hide from me?" Hands slide around my hips, fingers digging into my skin. I'm pulled back into a hard body. My whole body goes rigid as I take short, shallow breaths. 'Don't react,' I tell myself. 'It only makes it worse.'

A nose trails along my neck up into my hair. "Hmm so sweet smelling." His hands start to slide around me till they are flat on my stomach. He moves them till they are resting just under my breast, making me pull in a deep breath and hold it. 

One hand comes up, gripping my chin, turning my head to look at him over my shoulder.

"I told you that you would be mine, and mine alone." A low growl comes from him just before his teeth sink into the skin of my neck. I sit up as a scream leaves me. My hands go to my neck frantically, feeling all over searching for blood. When I don't feel any, I lower my hand, looking at them. 

My eyes scan the room, taking in what's around me. I let out a breath when I see I'm in my room. 

"God it was just a dream," I whisper. However, it is one that never goes away. Sometimes it's his yellow eyes haunting my dreams. I swear that sometimes I can feel his breath on my neck.

"Lyrica!" Mom's worried voice comes from outside my door. "Are you alright?" The handle wiggles but I had locked it when I came in. It was a new habit I formed. Knowing full well that a locked door wouldn't keep him out. But it gave me a sense of safety, even if it would only break in the end. 

"Lyrica!" Her voice is raised now cause I have not answered her. But then there was a hard knock, 

"Ly." My dad's voice comes, worry laced in it. This makes me move. Swinging my legs over the side of the bed, I hurry to the door, knowing full well he will bust it in. Pulling it open, I see both my parents standing there, worry filling their faces. 

"Hi." I croak out.

Both of them raise their brows at me. "Hi?" Mom says. "We thought something had happened. We heard you screaming."

"Oh." I rub the back of my neck. "Sorry for that. Must have been a bad dream. I guess."

"Bad dream?" Dad steps closer, searching my face. I quickly nod, making sure to school my face. I can't tell them. I pull in a deep breath, 

"Yeah, sorry my roommates watched some scary movies earlier this week and I guess it kinda freaked me out." They know I hate those kinds of movies. I was never one to watch those; they always scared the life out of me. 

Mom is the first to chuckle, "Oh you silly girl." She steps forward, pulling me into a hug. But my Dad just stands there, eyes on me, watching me. Crap, does he know I'm lying?"

Mom lets me go and moves to the side. I step closer to my dad, 

"Hi Daddy." I know that's what would soften him. I'm a momma's girl but I'm also a Daddy's girl just as much, and I know how to make my dad soften. I see that faint smile appear before he reaches out, grabbing me, pulling me into him as he hugs me. I have to fight the urge to cry as his arms hold me tightly to him. 

Safe, I'm safe here in his arms. No one can touch me here. 

He pulls back, placing a kiss on my cheek. "How's my favorite daughter?"

Rolling my eyes, "I'm your only daughter."

"Yep and that makes you my favorite."

That makes me laugh as I slap his arm. "I'm fine Daddy."

"How long are you staying?" 

"Well, we have the whole week off, and since all my roommates left for home, I figured I would visit."

I couldn't tell him I didn't want to stay alone in that house. 

"That's good. You need a break once in a while too. You work so hard at your studies."

Smiling at him. Dad has always told me how proud he is of me. 

"Crap, I got dinner going. I need to get back to it." Mom says as she wheels around, hurrying back down the hall. 

I frown. "Dinner? What time is it?" I turned my head, getting a glance out the window. It was dark out already, 

"It's late in the evening. You slept most of the day, but your momma said you looked tired, so we didn't want to bother you. We wanted you to rest up."

I know I was feeling wiped out during the drive here, but I usually do not sleep like that. But with everything going on, I get run down, trying to stay on my toes.

"Hey, why don't you get washed up and come down?" Dad says as he rubs his hands up and down my upper arms. He places a quick kiss on my temple, then turns, walking back down the hall. 

Shutting my door, I lean back against it, letting out a sigh. I know I'm lying to them, and it's killing me, but I do not want to worry them, and it's not like they can do anything. 

Pushing off the door, I move to my bathroom. Washing my face, I double check my neck, making sure there really aren't any marks there. When I don't see any, I hang my head, letting out a small breath. 

"It wasn't real, Lyrica," I say to myself.

Turning to grab the towel, I dry my hands, then pull my sleeves back down. My fingers graze the rough skin, making my hand freeze. My eyes wander to my arm; they stop on the scars there. I can feel the burn of tears in my eyes, 

I run my fingertips along the mark; it's paler, not faded just a bit, but I do not think it will ever go completely away. 

Jerking my sleeve the rest of the way down, I focus on getting my emotions under control. I can't let them pick up on them, and Dad will if I'm not settled. Lifting my head, I walk out of my room and down to the kitchen. I can hear my parents in there. I stop at the doorway. A smile crosses my face as I watch them. 

Dad is making a mess as Mom is scolding him. But he steals a kiss as she moves to clean it up, and then he pinches her butt, making her squeal, swatting at him with the towel. 

My heart warms seeing them. That's the kind of love; not someone who only wants to possess me and control me, but who truly loves me for me. I do not want to be someone's property or have to obey every command he says cause he thinks he owns me. Just because I'm a human. I want to be someone equal. 

Shaking the thoughts from my head, I step in. My movement makes them break apart. Mom's face is beet red. I don't say anything, just move to grab the plates. I'll go set the table and leave them two at it. 

This is what I needed, my parnets and and no one else. 

We chat as we eat. I tell them about my classes and the rotations. Everything, except one thing. 

Dad tells me about the patrols and how there seems to be more attacks happening; more rogues seem to be showing up each day; how they seem to be getting smarter or braver. 

"Oh, I almost forgot. The Alpha wants everyone in the meeting hall tomorrow." 

"Why, what's going on?" Mom asks.

"Do not know. He said something about an announcement. It's in the evening so I will come get you two after my patrol."

Something settles deep within me, a restless washing over me. 

"I'm going to go up and get some homework done," I tell them as I stand, picking up my plate to put it in the sink. I need to get out of there. My heart seems to suddenly beat like it is going to jump out of my chest. 

"Sure sweety," Mom calls out, but I'm already moving, dropping my plate in the sink and making a dash for my room.