Monsters in Memory

The cellar door slams behind me, and I take off like something is chasing me—maybe it is. The corridor stretches ahead, dim and endless, my breath ragged as I fight the tremble in my legs. My heart is pounding so loud it drowns out thought, each beat echoing in my ears like a war drum. The ache in my wrist is sharp now, pulsing like it’s alive. Cole said I wouldn’t heal fast—not until my wolf awakens—and right now, that makes me feel helpless. Fragile.

My vision blurs with unshed tears. Lloyd. I should’ve known. He hadn’t changed—he couldn’t. He fed off our pain, mine especially. I had seen it, clear as day, in the way he provoked Cole. That was no accident. He wanted that reaction. He wanted to see me hurt.

“Scarlet?" Beta Rowan’s voice breaks through my spiral as I slam into him around the hallway bend. He steadies me quickly, his hand catching my elbow and the other patting my head like I was a child again.

"You alright?" he asks, eyebrows furrowed with concern. "Where’ve you been? The toast is about to start—Alpha Jackson’s looking for the wine. You got it?"

I flinch, eyes flicking to my empty hands. No, I didn’t have the wine. I left it—forgot it. I can’t go back down there. I can’t.

Before I can open my mouth to lie, a voice calls out behind us.

"I’ve got it, Beta," Cole says, appearing as if from nowhere, a wooden crate in his arms and a warm smile painted on his face like always. I don’t have to turn—I know the cold feel of his presence, the weight it lifts from my shoulders.

Rowan nods in thanks and disappears down the hallway, leaving us alone. I try to walk past, to vanish into the safety of the crowd—but his hand finds my shoulder. I freeze.

Cole turns me gently to face him, his gaze soft and full of remorse. "I’m sorry, nugget," he says, his voice low and broken like he’s the one hurting. He lifts my wrist, the one he gripped too tightly earlier, and presses feather-light kisses along the bruises. My breath catches in my throat.

"It’s okay," I whisper, barely audible, unsure if I believe it yet—but wanting to. Because it’s him. It’s Cole. The one who’s always looked out for me. The one who holds me like I matter.

He pulls me into a hug, and I melt into him. Around us, the soft murmurs and glances of the pack don't matter. They know we belong together—everyone does.

Then, a sharp tink of glass rings out across the hall.

"To my eldest son," Alpha Jackson announces from the center of the room, his voice booming over the crowd. "May this return bring an era of healing and understanding. We are one pack—the Red Sun Pack."

Lloyd stands beside him. I don’t even try to hide my fear as I look away. I don’t want to meet his eyes. I don’t want to remember.

Alpha Jackson nudges him forward to speak. Lloyd seems hesitant at first, like he’s not used to being seen—like he’s not used to being welcomed. But he straightens, clearing his throat.

"I’ve come back to right my wrongs," he says, tone unreadable. "I know my list is long, but I’m willing to give it my all to change the view on me. I hope future Alpha Cole and future Luna Scarlet will be the first to accept my sincere apologies. With that said, let us toast to a prosperous year."

Cheers erupt. Cole raises his glass high and downs it in one go, the smile on his face never faltering. I don’t touch mine. I just cling to him tighter, burying my face against his chest.

The rest of the night passes in a blur of music and light. I let myself be swept along in the rhythm of laughter and celebration, as long as Cole is beside me. He doesn’t leave my side once, his hand always on my back, his eyes always searching mine, making sure I’m okay.

Later, as we return to my room, Cole’s steps are uneven, a faint wobble in his gait from too many drinks. I reach out to steady him, and he smiles down at me with that same lopsided charm.

"Guess I’m not as smooth as usual," he chuckles.

But all I can think is: I’m safe. Because he’s here. I set him onto my bed only to yelp as he tugs me down with him. I blush, eyes wide. It is rare and extremely hard to get a wolf drunk. However, with some silver of the lowest quality weakens us enough to feel the effects. Cole stares up at me before he claims my lips, hungrily. I know that I should stop him, force him to rest but it wasn’t offer that Cole would touch me.

I am not starving for it, but he is my first and only. I want him to desire me in every way. The scar on my hip make me insecure. Thanks to Lloyd when he shoved me into a river. Cole had dived in after me suffering hyperthermia. I snap out of it as Cole slips his hands down my back, dipping lower to tug my dress.

“Scarlet do you want this?” Cole asks, almost a demand. His voice is hoarse with desire. I nibble on my lip before nodding my head, gripping his shirt as I mentally prepare myself for what is to come. Cole is a rough lover, not exactly my favorite. I still want to please him and begin to give gentle whimpers, just how he likes it. The dress sheds off quickly. It’s followed by his pants. I don’t look back, not wanting to see the bulge.

Cole grabs my hips, eyeing my panties with disdain. I stifle the giggle as he looks as if they offended him. He slides me down until I am sitting on him fully. I feel my face go hot, still not used to this. I do as I am expected and push back. Cole instantly lets out a strained groan. I begin to lose myself in the pleasure. Cole snaps his hips up, harsh. It catches me off guard making me whimper. This drives him wild. He flips us, possessive domineering. I feel as if his presence alone is suffocating me.

“Such a good girl,” Cole purrs, next to my ear as his hips crash down into mine. My breath hitches and I grip his shirt before he leans back to tug it off. I soon begin to feel my core begin to drip. Cole grins, removing my panties. I cover my face in embarrassment as he leans down to my bra. He unclasp it and hungrily captures one of my nipples. I let out a soft surprised moan. He always moves with instinct and with baseline feral desire. He grounds his hips into mine as he dislodges from my nipple with a pop and latches on the other.

“A-ah!” I moan as he sucks and swirl his tongue around my nipple. He slips a hand down, finger circling my entrance. I bit my lip right as he plunges a finger in, with no warning. I bit hard on my lip, allowing my body to relax. He pumps me quickly trying to get to his prize quickly. I attempt to relish in the feeling as he adds another finger. He has no real time to stretch me.

He instantly pulls his boxers down, pumping his member once and twice allowing the Pre-Cut to dribble down. He lines up and rams in. A loud whimper escapes me. This drives his hunger beginning a bruising pace. I can only grip his back, tears welling in my eyes as the pain outweighs the pleasure quickly. Cole thrusts hard and brutal, like a savage animal chasing prey. I allow this release as I know the day was hard. I know he’s close as he gives loud harsh growls and starts to grow harder. As he slams into my once more he shakes and pulls out releasing on my bed.

He falls beside me, panting. He looks at me, a shadow of a smile on his lips. He kisses my lips and pulls me close. I can only close my eyes even as my hips ache terribly. My core throbbed from the rough treatment and my nipple sting from the hard suction. I lay awake for a while before finally closing eyes.

I stand in a field behind the pack house, confusion. I remember how much I loved it here, just to be alone. The little space in the fence was big enough for me to squeeze through. I settle on the grass, watching the sky. Sometimes even while older I would come here and watch the serenity.

“Scarlet! Come out it was just a joke!” Cole calls, I jerk as I hear this. I desperately look around realizing this is a memory. This day was when Lloyd cut my hair, so Alpha Jackson had to buzz cut it. I frown, heavily.

I remain quiet and soon Cole leaves, growling about how I was useless. This wasn't how it happened. I stayed there before looking up and seeing Lloyd standing a few feet away. He stares at me, hair gelled back and his dangle earring blows in the wind. I panick.

This is not the memory that I could recall. Lloyd approaches me and slowly lowers to my level. He touches my face, ignoring my flinch and leans closer to me.

“Come back to me,” Lloyd whispers, no anger just a bitter sadness. He pulls me up to my feet, pulling me into his chest pressing a kiss to my head, sighing.

“Always so gullible,” Lloyd suddenly chuckles.  I can barely scream as he grabs my throat and lifts me off the ground. There is the boy I desperately try to run from. His eyes stare into me like a puppet. I kick and choke as my air depletes. He smiles, and as I slowly fade into nothing I knew that once a monster always one.