Untouchable by Marii Solaria

Chapter 21 The Decisions

–

“Attitude is a choice. Happiness is a choice. Optimism is a choice. Kindness is a choice. Giving is a choice. Respect is a choice. Whatever choice you make makes you. Choose wisely.“–Roy T. Bennett

Halima

I’m now laying in my bed, looking up at the ceiling. Nightfall had made its appearance, immersing the territory in darkness. Up above, the half–moon and its twinkling stars serve as our only illumination. The distant chatter of wolves and their late–night rendezvous echoed in my eardrums, but I didn’t pay attention to it. My mind’s stuck on my therapy session today with Mayra.

1 spilled everything from my fears to my desires. It took me two months to get used to speaking to a stranger due to fear and judgment. But Mayra had been nothing but open and warm, allowing me to gradually come out of my shell. Just like the others, she, too, recommended that I make my decision on whether to attend the ceremony. That’s the power I have over the situation, and no one would judge me for it. The entire time, she reassured me I was not a walking disaster warning, if anything goes astray, I shouldn’t take the blame for it.

I roll on my side, resting my arm under my pillow. Why was this so hard? It feels like two strings were pulling me, one to the light and the other to darkness. Sometimes, the pull into the darkness was stronger. It was seductive, cloaking me in a blanket, leading me to believe I was better off dead. But in others, the light was stronger. The light was warm, but also foreign. It was something I’ve never felt before, and it was scary–but now I have people around me pushing me forward to heal.

But It’s a battle where I feel unequipped to fight.

“Are you going to go to the ceremony?” Artemis spoke through our mind–link. It was always nice to hear her voice, she helped to fight the demons in my mind since we’re both in this together.

“I want to,” I answer back, shutting my eyes to envision my beautiful wolf. Big and majestic as ever, I needed to let her out once I’m okay, “I’m scared. My mind is coming up with all these scenarios that could go wrong if I show up.”

“I know. I can see them, and they aren’t pretty.” Artemis trotted closer to me, sitting on her hind end. “I, too, wish things were easier. But, just as Mayra said, we’re dealing with many traumatic experiences, so our brain is wired differently. We expect the worst in everything and hide, hoping things go right.”

to face the problem,” I admit with a self–deprecating sigh. “I want to be strong. Artemis. I’m so sick and tired of being weak and scared of

a choice. That wasn’t our fault. But what is our responsibility is when and how we get back up. Fighting is hard. You said so yourself. But no

little, feeling the weight of Artemis’s words. “Since

on a few things during your sessions.” Artemis shrugged. “It’s a process, Halima. Taking back the power that has been stolen from us is a process. But

1/3

in the light. Not sust that, I want to live here. I want

a broken girl and nursed ber back to full health. How often does one run into a pack like

made my decision,

This was my first cell phone, and it had taken me time to get used to

want to find a dress for the ceremony.”

couple of styles in mind that would fit you! Meet me in the

see you

set my phone back down with a smile as I changed into my cherry red nightgown. Shutting off the lights, it bathes my room in comfortable darkness. Crawling underneath the covers,

you correctly? You want to join

morning when Halima entered my office. There was a small smile on her face, and she looked bealthier than I’d ev

seen her before. Her skin was clearer and her face was fuller. The beauty hidden derneath was showing. I noticed she no longer had the feeding tube. I feel relieved, it was all in the progress of her recovering. Lyra and I were developing something special for her, and all we needed was to make

risky to request for it without jeopardizing her safety. I was betting on the fact that

though I didn’t expect it to be so soon. I felt as though Halima would make a great addition to Garnet Moon,

bonding ritual that ties you to

fear. “H–How

“I promise it is not as barbaric as you think it is. I’ve done hundreds of bindings since I became Alpha. It will appear once the ritual is complete.”

more sense.” She answered with an anxious laugh, running her hand through her