(Alright people, quick note. One, to make this story make sense, I'm pretending Ulric has stepfather. I know that sucks, but please roll with it. Also, anyone who is very sensitive to abuse, don't read.)

Ulric's POV

"ULRIC! Get your ass out of bed!" My step dad roared downstairs. I yelped and fell out of bed in surprise, wincing at the bruises my step dad gave me yesterday. I groaned and stood up. "ULRIC!" he roared. "I'm up I'm up!" I called. I went to the bathroom, put on a black tank top and black jeans, and brushed my hair and teeth. Then my supplies together for school.

I went downstairs to be met by my step father. He was a werewolf like me, grey fur and no hair. And he certainly wasn't a little guy. He was a big guy. I was fine in the orphanage for a long while, but when I was thirteen he adopted just to have someone buy his beer and cigars. I hated him so much and would gladly leave, but the last time I ran away he found me and beat my ass like there was no tomorrow.

And he wouldn't allow me to get a job, because he wanted to be in control. My step dad glared at me. "What? I'm here. I had to get-" I was interrupted by a hard slap across the face. I winced and placed a hand on my cheek. "When I say get your ass down here, you better damn well do it!" he snapped. I growled lowly. "I was getting ready for school!" I snapped. That earned me a punch in the face.

"Don't you talk back at me boy!" he snapped. I felt the blood leak from my lip, and I felt the bruise forming. "Whatever, look after school I need you to pick up some more beer." my step dad said. "But its gonna rain-"  he raised a fist, ready to swing it. I glared at him. "Fine, I'll pick them up." I said through gritted teeth. "Good, now get out of here." my step dad said. I walked past him. "Sure thing Roger." I mumbled. Roger was his real name.

I quickly left the house and went to the bus stop. I sighed and felt the bruise on my face. Great, another one to add to the collection. What excuse can I use this time? What am I gonna tell my girlfriend, Gabby? She keeps asking about my bruises and I have to say stuff like "fell off my bike" or "got hit with a soccer ball" or one time "I fell out of a tree" or something else.

I didn't want to tell anyone about Roger because I didn't want to have people deal with my problem. That doesn't mean I don't want to tell anyone, I just......can't. Besides, I need to be tough about this. Need to be a man.

Gabby's POV

It was lunch time at school, and I was waiting for Ulric at our usual table. We don't have any classes together, so we mostly hung out either at lunch, after school, or during weekends. I adjusted my tank top and ate a fry from my tray. Finally Ulric came and sat next to me. "Ulric!" I chimed. He smiled and kissed my cheek. "Hey baby." he said. I noticed the dark bruise on his cheek. "Ulric your cheek! What happened?" I asked. "Oh uh.........I accidentally smacked into a wall? Uh, oops?" Ulric said. I frowned and crossed my arms.

"Ulric." I said. "Relax sweetheart, its nothing really." Ulric said. He started to eat his meal. I sighed and ate as well. Later we got our stuff at our lockers. Ulric was about to leave for his next class but I grabbed his wrist. "Can we talk after school?" I asked. "Sorry Gabby, I have to go run an errand after school and-" "Please?" I begged, interrupting him. He sighed. "Fine." he said.

Later after school we met up by the main entrance. "What did you want to talk about?" Ulric asked. I frowned. "Ulric I'm really worried about you. Every day you have at least one new bruise or wound. And you lie about how you feet every single one, I can tell." I said. Ulric frowned. "I do not." he stated. "Ulric.....can you please tell me what's really going on? I want to help." I said. "There's nothing wrong. Look I gotta go." Ulric said. He started to walk away but I grabbed his wrist.

"Ulric please, tell me the truth." I said. Ulric was silent. "Is someone hurting you? Are you being bullied? Its not self harm is it?" I said. Ulric growled lowly. "Please tell me-" "I can't!" Ulric roared. I flinched and stepped back. Ulric's face changed from angry to guilty in a matter of seconds. "Gabby I...I'm sorry." he said. He clenched his fists. "Ulric...." I said. "I-I should go." Ulric said.

He again tried to walk away but I hugged him from behind, causing him to tense up. "No I'm sorry, I guess I shouldn't meddle. Just......be careful okay." I said. I let go of him and he looked at me surprised. I smiled. "You can always reach out to me." I said. Ulric looked away, and I swear I saw tears welling up in his eyes. "Ulric?" I said. He wiped his eyes and he smiled. "I'll remember that. See ya later." he said. "Love you." I said. "Love you too." Ulric said as he left.

Ulric's POV

I was finally on my way home from the store, carrying two bags filled with beer bottles. The store was packed, so it took forever to get through. Plus with the store being a half hour walk from school it added up a lot of time. Right now it was almost eight o'clock, and I was almost home. And of course, the whole way home it rained. So yeah, I'm exhausted and drenched. I couldn't stop thinking about what happened earlier.

God what is wrong with me?! I shouldn't have yelled at her like that! She was just trying to help. On top of that, was I really about to cry?! What the hell is wrong with me?! This whole situation isn't a big deal......right? I can deal with Roger on my own. I sighed. It was so late, Roger is gonna be pissed. I got to my house and went inside. I was immediantly face to face with an angry Roger.

"I can explain." I said. "Where the hell have you been?! I've been waiting for my beer for hours!" Roger snapped. "The store was packed with people! There was nothing I could-" again I was interrupted with a slap in the face. Roger took his beer out of my hand and glared at me. "What did I say about talking back at me boy?!" he said. That did it. I snapped.

"THAT'S IT!" I roared. Roger looked at me surprised. "I'm sick of being your god damn errand boy and punching bag! Everyday you sit around, smoke, and drink while I do all the hard work! Like cleaning cooking, I even paid the bills for you that one time! On top of that I have school! You know what, I'm done! I'm gonna pack up, leave this hell hole, and report to the police for abuse! How does that sound you BASTARD!" I roared. Then I gave him a hard punch in the face, causing him to drop and break all the beer bottles.

The first expression on my step dad's face was shock. Then it was anger. "Why you little...." he said. He punched me in the face twice, then kneed me in the gut, causing me to cough up blood. I fell to the ground coughing, then he kicked me in the chest, and I crashed into the wall. "You wanna take me kid, fine." Roger said. He used his long claws to scratch my cheek, causing me to yelp in pain.

He grabbed me by my throat and lifted me up. I gasped for air as his grip on it tightened. "I think I'm finally had enough of you. So, I'll simply get rid of the problem." Roger said. I clawed at his hands and tried to kick him. "S-Stop....(cough) let...go....." I choked out. I thought I was a goner, but then suddenly two policemen busted down the door, holding their guns at Roger. "Drop the kid!" one said. Roger looked at them shocked and dropped me. I coughed, trying to catch my breath. Roger took off to the back door, but the policemen followed him. Soon I heard a scream and they dragged out an unconscious Roger. Then a girl came in. My eyes widened. "Ulric!" Gabby cried as she knelt next to me. "Gabby....." I said.

She hugged me and I hugged back. "How did you...." I said. "I'll explain later, but let's get you to the hospital." Gabby said. I nodded. She helped me to my feet and helped me outside.

Time Skip

I rested on Gabby's couch, exhausted. The doctor at the hospital said that I was fine except for the bruises on my body. Gabby's parents decided to have me stay at there house from now on. Apparently Gabby was walking by my house while I was yelling at Roger and overheard everything, so she called the police.

I laid there silently, thinking of all the pain Roger brought me for four years. I hated it, every bit of it. Honestly, I've never been so scared before. Remembering all this made a weight on my chest. I tried to sleep but I couldn't. "Ulric?" Gabby said, coming downstairs. I didn't move, keeping my gaze to the ground. Gabby walked over to me and knelt down so my eyes met hers. "Baby, you okay?" she asked. I nodded.

She stroked my head. "You wanna talk?" she asked. I shook my head. I felt a lump form in my throat. "Listen, I know what you went through was rough for you, but maybe talking about it will help." Gabby said. Tears welled up in my eyes. I wanted her comfort really badly, but I didn't want her to worry about me. "Ulric?" Gabby said. I turned over so she wouldn't see me cry.

Tears streamed down my cheeks. I covered my face, wishing that I was stronger than this. I felt Gabby climb onto the couch next to me. She turned me over so that I was looking at her. She smiled at me. "Its okay to cry." she said softly. I shut my eyes tight and whimpered. Gabby wrapped her arms around me and held me close. I quickly wrapped my arms around her and buried my face into her chest, sobbing softly.

Gabby stroked my hair and kissed the top of my head. "Shh, its okay. I'm right here." she said softly. I tried to stop crying so that I could speak. "It hurt...all of it.......it hurt so bad...." I said weakly. My tears streamed even faster. I don't even remember the last time I cried. "Oh sweetheart, I know. But everything is gonna be okay now. No more pain, no more fear. Its all over." Gabby said softly.

I couldn't help but cry a little harder against her chest, gripping onto the back of her shirt. Gabby hushed me softly, whispering sweet things into my ear, never letting me go. I never realized how badly I wanted this feeling. To be comforted. To be held close. To feel safe. I'm not sure how long we laid there hugging,but soon Gabby tried to pull back. My eyes widened and I hugged her tighter, not wanting her to leave.

I looked up at her with scared eyes and whimpered. Gabby smiled and stroked my damp cheek. "Don't worry, I'm just going to get a blanket for you. Okay?" she said softly. I looked at her unsure and nodded. I let her go and she stood up. "Stay here, I'll be right back." she said. She went upstairs. I looked at the clock. It was midnight. I frowned. I was crying for fifteen minutes. How pathetic can I be?

I huddled my body close, feeling cold without Gabby's warmth. Soon I felt a blanket cover me and Gabby smiled at me. "There, is that better?" she asked. I nodded. "Gabby, I'm sorry...." I said weakly. She gave me a confused look and knelt down to my level. "What do you mean?" she said. I sniffled. "I-I shouldn't be crying like a baby.......I should be tougher......but I just...I can't stop." I said weakly. I whimpered and covered my tear stained face with the blanket. "Ulric.....look at me." Gabby said softly.

I shook my head. "Please..." she said softly. I took the blanket off my head and looked at her. She still had that kind smile on her face. She pulled me up so that I was sitting up. "Ulric, nobody is tough all the time. That's a part of life, so don't be sorry about it. Especially after all that you went through." Gabby stated. She cupped my face and wiped some tears away. "Sometimes, we just gotta let it out." she said. She smiled again. "And reach out to others." She said softly.

I shut my eyes tight as I slowly started to break down crying again. Gabby wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged me tight. I hugged back and cried against her shoulder, not being able to hold back my tears and sobs any longer. Gabby hushed me softly and rubbed my back with her palm. I sobbed louder than before, my tears getting her shirt wet. Gabby swayed us side to side a little. The slow movement helped calm me down.

Soon we pulled back and I wiped my eyes. "Ulric? You gonna be okay?" Gabby asked. I nodded. "Y-Yeah, I just.....really needed that." I said. Gabby smiled and laid me back down. "You should get some sleep." She said softly. I gave her a pleading look. "Can you stay down here...with me......just for tonight?" I said. Gabby smiled and crawled next to me on the couch. She made sure we were both covered with the blanket, then I huddled close to her.

Gabby pulled my head onto her chest and stroked my hair. "Gabby." I said. "Hmm?" she said. "Thank you.....thank you so much." I said. Gabby smiled. "Of course, anything for you." she said. She kissed the top of my head. My eyes felt heavy. "Good night Ulric." Gabby said. "Goodnight......" I said, falling fast asleep.

(There it is. I'm sorry if this story and any of the other stories are really sappy and/or sad. But these stories are my favorite, especially ones with a happy end. Hope you liked it!)