Chapter Ten

Brielle's POV

I woke up in a cold sweat, my heart pounding as if I had run a few miles. The nightmare that I had was so vivid, it felt real. I could still feel the rush of wind as I fell off the cliff, the ground rushing up to meet me. It was the same feeling I had experienced when i fled from Chase. The memory still haunted me, vivid as day.

The nightmares became more frequent and even more intense. It moved from once a week to every moment I shut my eyes. Every night, I would wake up gasping for breath, my body trembling with fear. The panic attacks began soon after. I would find myself struggling to breathe, my mind racing with images of dying. The fear and anxiety were overwhelming, and I didn't know how to cope.

Zane noticed the change in me. It could had been the worry that was always on my face. or maybe it was the way my hands shook when I thought no one was looking. I had noticed him watching me, and I instantly felt self conscious.

“Brielle, what's troubling you?”

I forced a smile, not wanting to disturb him with my nightmares.

“It's nothing. Just a little tired.”

He didn't look convinced but didn't press further.

“If you need to talk, I'm here for you.”

I nodded, appreciating his concern but I still didn’t want to open up. I feared that he might not be able to understand or be able to help me in any way.

And as the days passed, my condition worsened. The nightmares even began to invade my waking hours. I would daydream and hallucinate with my eyes wide open, seeing flashes of the cliff and feeling the terror over and over again.

It became worse on that day, I felt the impact of the wave on a bright day. The force of the water as it drowned my lungs.

I saw myself falling, and the ground below suddenly became an endless pit ready to swallow me whole . I screamed and collapsed, thinking I was falling, and the fear too much for me to bear.

“Brielle!” Zane rushed to my side. “What happened?”

My body trembled with panic as he held me close.

"Give her some space!" He yelled at the workers who around stood to watch the scene

"What happened?" Lucien asked, his tone almost sounding concerned.

"What happened, brother?"

"I don't know!" Zane shot back. She yelled and that's when I rushed to her side.

"Why do you care?"

"This is not the time for emotional dramas, Zane. Is something wrong with her?" He asked again.

"Let her be!" Zane snapped.

I turned my gaze to him as noticed how concerned he was. His eyes were like mine, hurt. I wondered why he was but no reason came to mind.

"If that's what you want," He muttered before walking away. I watched him quietly in Zane's arms, my mind aching with a devastating pain. It was like the hurt all over again.

******

Of course I couldn't bring myself to tell Zane about the nightmares. Not when I was afraid of appearing weak or burdening him with my fears.

But still, I knew that I couldn't handle this alone, and so I began to consider seeking help. But who could I trust? Who could I tell that I was running mad with trauma and nightmares?

“Maybe Zane will understand.” I thought, but doubt quickly crept back in.

The fear of been turned away by the one person that saw me normal scared me. Past month with him had been extraordinary and I couldn't help but want it to last. The last person that made me feel that way was Ken and I feared the worst that Chase might had killed him.

All those thoughts didn't make it better, my mind spinned with constant fright.

Days turned into nights, and the nightmares continued to torment me. My exhaustion grew, both physically and mentally. I knew I had to do something before it consumed me completely.

The next night, it happened again. This time even more vivid than it was. My hands reaching out to someone who stood by the edge of the cliff, crying for help but none came.

I jolted awake, sweating profusely with Zane watching me keenly by the side of the bed.

“Another panic attack. What's going on?"

He sighed, a look of deep concern in his eyes.

“I can't help if you don't let me in,

He stood up to leave but I felt there was no lying anymore.

“Zane!” I called out to him, stopping him before he took another step.

He turned to face me, a look of surprise on his face.

“Talk to me,”

"I had been having nightmares, vivid ones,"

His eyes widened with understanding.

“Nightmares? Brielle, why didn't you tell me about them sooner?”

“I was scared.” I admitted. “I didn't want to burden you or seem weak. I am still an Omega here and I couldn't be bothering you with my issues.”

Zane stepped closer, wrapping his arms around me.

“You're not a burden, Brielle. And you're certainly not weak. Tell me about them.” He said.

“I don’t know, I keep seeing myself falling down that cliff, over and over again. I can’t stop. It is like it has been engrained into my brain, and I can’t do anything but watch it— not even just watch it, I can feel if happen. It always looks so real.” I said.

“Huh. And this happens all the time?” He asked me.

“Yes, I even get flashbacks and vivid hallucinations when I’m awake. It’s always so terrible, and I didn’t want to disturb you with this.” I cried.

“Yes, well you shouldn’t have.” He responded with a strange distorted voice that had me spooked. I looked up to see his face orphing into someone else.

Chase.

I looked in shock when I noticed that I was at the edge of the cliff again with Chase holding my hands firmly.

"Did you want to escape me, mate?" He asked.

I attempted to response but I wasn't given the chance as he threw me off the cliff.

I jumped awake upon impact. I screamed when I saw Zane lying next to me. I had no idea what was real or not.

"Hey, hey, relax. I'm here," He reached out to me.

"Stay away from me, Chase. I am not with you anymore! Get away from me!" I cried out in frustration. I was drained, I couldn't take it anymore.

"Brielle, it's me. It's me, Zane. You escaped Chase, he is not here. You are free,"

"Don't lie to me!" I blurted angrily.

"I need to leave,"

I charged out and I bumped into someone by the door. I knew it was him from the scent, Lucien. A sudden rush of safety came over me as he grabbed hold of me.

“It’s okay, you’re okay, okay?” He rubbed circles into my back as I clung on to him.