Chapter 22: Rivers
***WARNING***

The following chapter contains a scene with self harm and abuse.

Reader discretion is advised, I will place (*) asterisk when the abuse self-harm begins for those of you who wish to Skip.

** ***Zane***

What are you so nervous about? Grayson mutters as we walk over to the main pack house, my legs barely able to drag me to our destination.

We need this training! What use is our gift if we can’t use it? I know he’s right but that doesn’t stop the fear somersaulting in my belly.

My father always said I was weak.

What if my power truly is weak and worthless? Then what? Then we learn to fight like any other f****”g mutt! Grayson growls in annoyance.

Talia and Agnes walk silently behind me, both equally nervous for our first day in our new assignments.

Kota appears to be the only one excited to visit the River Moon wolves.

To keep herself calm, Agnes holds her butterfly in her hand, the beautiful creature crawling along her finger and fluttering its wings.

She had kept it in her room since we arrived in River Moon and it seemed to give her comfort.

I would have to thank Salvador again for Talia fidgets with the sack lunch that I prepared for her this morning, wrinkling the paper bag with her fingers.

To my surprise, she took the lunch willingly and my heart only soared higher when I noticed she was still wearing the gold bracelet I gave her.

I just hope she will still be okay with me when she reads my note today.

Quit worrying.

We were smooth, Grayson grins We finally approach the pack house, Rosalie already waiting for us with her young pup cradled in her arms.

“Come with me Agnes,” She smiles warmly at her before turning to Talia and I.

“Aurora is in the entertainment room waiting for you.”

Talia and I exchange nervous glances and make our way to the entertainment room where we find Aurora sitting on the floor with her eyes closed, Oliver combing through her hair with tenderness, as if her hair were made of silk.

Evan sits on the couch, watching the two with friendly disgust while Rio sits lazily at his feet.

Oliver leans in close to his mate and kisses her temples, murmuring soothing words in her ears.

The Queen looks completely relaxed in his lap as he begins to gently braid her hair into one long french braid, her breaths slow and steady.

It almost feels wrong to watch such an intimate moment between two loving mates and I feel a pain in my heart.

Would Talia ever trust me enough to let me care for her as the Rio jumps up to greet Kota and the two roll around the floor playfully.

“Please sit,” Aurora says, her eyes fluttering open as Oliver ties up the braid.

Kota stops his play for a moment and we bow our heads in reverence to the timid Queen.

“My sister will be here soon for you, Talia.You can wait here while I take Zane to the training grounds.Kota can stay at the daycare or here with Rosalie and Agnes.It’s up to you and what you feel most comfortable with.”

“Here,” Talia replies almost immediately.

“H-here, please.” The Queen smiles brilliantly at her as she rises to her feet with Oliver’s help.

“Then it shall be so.” Oliver grabs his coat and car keys from the coffee table and prepares to take off.

“Be safe,” Oliver murmurs as he kisses his Queen on the cheek before he glares at me.

“If you hurt her, I will kill you.Understand?” he threatens, his voice a low growl.

I nod obediently, swallowing the lump in my throat.

Aurora rolls her eyes at her mate and pacifies him with a kiss.

“No you will not,” she chuckles.

“You cannot heal on your own,” he argues.

“If he hurts you during training-”

“Then I will heal her,” a woman’s voice calls out from behind us.

“So go huff and puff somewhere else and let my sister train in. We all turn around to the source of the voice and find a small woman identical to Queen Aurora standing by the door.

The only difference between the two appears to be their eyes, with this woman’s eyes being silvery grey while Aurora’s are a golden honey color.

Aurora wastes no time running towards the woman, embracing her in a tight hug.

“You literally see each other every f*****g day,”

Evan exasperates, Oliver rolling his eyes at the gamma wolf.

The small woman lifts her middle finger up at Evan, Aurora giggling hysterically.

She says as she steps back

is more

sticking her tongue

I’m Satan’s spawn, then what are

Talia snorting as she tries to hold back her

chick? I’m running late, so

Celina looks her up and down as if assessing her.She then exchanges looks with her sister and

says, stepping closer to

worked

irises as she scowls and points an accusing

your f*****g attitude,” she

away from them or look at them like they’re maggots.They’re broken and they need help.I’m not taking you anywhere until you promise

over Celina’s face as she

nods, never once flinching from the

to catch any hesitation but Talia remains unfazed, as if used to being scrutinized by

to her sister and

Aurora shakes her head

“She didn’t mean that.”

shrugs with an innocent smile on her

go.We have a long day ahead of

grabs Talia’s hand and before I even blink an eye, the two women vanish

be back later

getting down on her knees and speaking in a soothing tone to

can stay here and play with Rio.Would you like that?” Kota

Kota upstairs to Rosalie’s office before the three of us

my gifts so I shove them in my pockets, willing myself to calm

Aurora reassures as we arrive to

your ability and helping you figure out exactly

of the equipment stored away

the grounds cleared for us to work in peace,” she smiles sheepishly as

figured you wouldn’t want an audience today.”

“Evan can leave too.”

he replies, sitting down on

sigh

can do.” I remain frozen in place, unsure what to do with myself but Aurora

“Telepathy can be a little scary at first.It’s a lot of voices in your

in front of

did you know I was a telepath?” I ask as I take a

she says, her eyes scanning me

and their memories without them noticing but it wasn’t so easy getting into your head.It was like there

you felt me enter your memories …didn’t you?” I nod, remembering the pinch in my temples when she entered

help you with

No, Grayson snarls.

wasn’t until Talia came into the picture that the bastard finally

you didn’t

didn’t trust me!

both need to learn to

I already

“No, she chuckles softly.”

made our connection.I’m inside your head.Now I want you to

nervous with hurting her as I remember all the failed

into a catatonic state for hours after my attempts of reading her mind

moment and I fear she has already cut our connection and is now expecting me to make contact but she only smiles at me,

of fire forms inside her palm and she cradles the flame

have a lot of

anger make you irrational….they

demonstrate, the flames in her palm grow bigger until they engulf her

letting your fears get

control.My flames are fueled by my emotions and if I let them get

to control your gift.You need to learn to let go of your fears and trust in your

don’t know if I

you don’t give him a chance to show you his

seek a connection with your mate, Grayson seeks a

He’s an i**”t.

Aurora frowns at me.

by belittling him, “she says sternly, Grayson rolling his eyes at

him fear more ashamed of himself than he already is, Wolf You know his pain better than anyone.”

years what Dad did to us and did he ever let me in to help? No! He put me in a corner and forced me to watch

even like myself…” I

to help…so I thought it was better to put

wallowing in his

the eyes but she suddenly moves closer to me and

is your other half and he will never leave your side…no matter how much you hurt him.He is part of your soul.” I pull at the mat on the ground before I finally speak to

sorry I locked you out.I didn’t know what else to do ….I whisper.I’m sorry too, hesighs.I should have

is good,

work together to enter my head.I’ll put my walls down

your mind? ” I ask, looking over at Evan who looks bored by

purpose, I hurt them. ” Aurora nods as she

of thoughts

flowing at different speeds and currents and unfortunately, they

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