Eyes were as golden as the sun but it was a fearsome contrast to the piercing black fur and carnivorous canines. They were as sharp as the edge of a knife. The beast growled and roared, clawing at my body, bringing onset pain that I was unable to stop. Fruitless pleas died on my lips as I gaze into the eyes of an unmerciful beast. Although its eyes were as golden as the sun, it offered me no warmth or emotion. It was cold and ruthless. It bared its canine at me sinisterly before it lunged for my throat.

I screamed and fought the body. Hands wrapped around my wrists. Voices infiltrated my mind. I clawed and punched whatever body that was in front of me.

"Sage!" my dad shouted my name in a panic.

My eyes flew opened and I freeze for a minute while I took in my surrounding. Blinking several times, I find myself at home.

It has been days since the incident. I have long sense healed but the fear that filled me---the nightmare never left me. My parents have tried speaking to me, asking me about it but I refuse to speak about anything. I haven't talked to anyone. They were worried about me.

"It is just a bad dream," my dad replied.

"You are safe, Sage. We are here," my mom soothed from behind him. She moved closer and smoothed my hair back from my sweaty face.

They can see the terror that was gripping my body. My body was still shaking, and I can't seem to put a stop to it.

"You need to tell us what happened," my mom urged.

I shook my head and pulled myself up into a sitting position. I brought my knees closer and hugged them tightly to my chest. My heart was still pounding erratically.

"Liam brought to the packhouse late at night. You had deep claw wounds in your stomach, your back, and arms. Did he hurt you? Was it him?" My dad grew angrier as he spoke.

"No!" I shouted.

"You're lying," my dad's dark brooding eyebrows wrinkled in anger. "Tell me! You don't have to be afraid. I will protect you."

"No," I replied.

"After he brought you to the packhouse, he left. He hasn't returned since then," my dad growled.

"Stop!" I covered my ears. I can't hear about him. I can't hear about any of this. I don't want to.

My mom's hands wrapped around my wrists once again. She tried to remove them. They wanted to understand but I was not ready to talk. I don't even know where to begin. I wanted everyone to leave me alone.

A part of me was frightened of Liam but after not seeing him for a few days now, I feel anxious and afraid. I wanted him close, yet I am afraid of him. I don't know what to do.

My parents finally left me alone. I got up and dressed for school. When I entered the school ground, Ellie and Tommy were waiting for me. They quickly came to my side. I knew what they were going to ask. It was what everyone kept asking me. The same questions and I don't want to answer them.

"Sage, you look terrible. Your skin and lips are pale. Are you sure you are ready to come back to school?" Ellie asked.

"I'm worried about you, Sage. Tell us what happened," Tommy urged.

"I'm fine," I grumbled before pushing them away, but it was useless because their hands flew back to my arm again as if they are afraid I'll collapse any second.

"Did you eat yet? Are you eating?" Ellie fretted over me.

"Stop, guys. I just want to have a normal day. Can we not talk about this?"

They both exchanged uncertain glances before nodding their heads reluctantly. Ellie was leaving tomorrow. The school principal has approved her early graduation. However, my heart and mind were not in unity. It felt like I was all over the place and didn't know where to begin or end.

Most of everybody have heard about me getting attacked. The concerned looks that everyone kept passing my way was becoming glaringly impossible to avoid. I continued like this for another four periods before I finally couldn't take it any longer.

Slamming my hand onto my desk, I earned the attention of every individual including the teacher. They were all werewolves in this room and knew my position within the pack.

"I am fine," I growled. "Stop looking at me like I am a wounded dog because I am fine!"

They averted their eyes immediately but I no longer felt the secretive glances they were throwing my way. My wounds on my arms have healed with minimal scarring but the injuries on my stomach and back left a few jagged scars. I don't mind the scars. It was just that every time I looked in the mirror, I am reminded of Liam's beast.

Liam.

I missed him even when I was afraid of him.

After my sixth period, I needed some air. Stepping outside of the school ground, I closed my eyes and inhale deeply but was taken aback when I smelled a hint of Liam's scent. My eyes flew open and I looked to locate him. My eyes found him walking in the parking lot.

He looked tired. His onyx colored hair was a strewn mess like he had run his hands in them too many times. Those brown eyes seemed lost and filled with despair. His eyes scanned the school ground and fear strikes within me. He must have felt me staring at him.

I jerked back and leaned against the school brick building. I was by the north entrance which was the main entrance to the school. He was in the east parking lot. If he looked my way, he wouldn't see me unless I step out onto the stairs.

My heart was beating hard against my chest. He was my mate. I felt in my heart how much I missed him and longed for him but in the pits of my stomach, I also felt a hint of fear.

Slowly, I reached for the north entrance door handle and slipped back inside the school building. I walked quickly away from the door and hid in the nearest girl's bathroom. I don't know why I was hiding from him. I shouldn't be afraid of him but I was.

When I felt it was safe again, I came out of the girls' bathroom to see Liam talking to my dad down the hall. Straining my ears, I listened to their conversation while hiding down a hidden corridor.

"I realize what I have done is inexcusable, Gamma Judah." Even his voice produced sweet shivers down my body. I missed him so much.

"You hurt my daughter," my dad growled angrily.

"I couldn't control my actions. I didn't know what was going on until it was too late. I am not trying to find an excuse for my actions. I am guilty. A mate should never hurt what is theirs. I hurt her badly. I am here for you to punish me as you see fit," Liam replied and my body stiffened.

Was he crazy? Why was he asking my dad to punish him?

It was silent for a while and I thought my dad had gone and killed him. Risking a peek, I see that they were just looking at each other.

"She's afraid of you," my dad said finally. I turned away and stared at the opposite wall from me. I don't want to be afraid of him. This was Liam, we were talking about.

There was another pause but I knew they were still standing in the hallway. Then the school bell ring and the hallways began filling with people. It drowned out my dad and Liam's voice. I turned again to look back at them and found them still conversing before turning away and walking back down the opposite corridor.

I went through the rest of the school day, almost avoiding everybody once again. Ellie sent me a text asking to see me before she left and because she was my best friend, I had agreed.

I made my way up the black asphalt driveway to the packhouse before making my way up to Ellie's bedroom. She was on her laptop when she saw me. Popping out of bed, she walked over and pulled me into a very tight, long hug.

"I'm going to miss you so much, Sage. I wish you can come with me but I know that is near impossible with you gaining your Gamma title soon. You need to stay and watch over the Alpha and Luna," she replied.

"I am going to miss you too," I murmured.

She pulled back a few seconds later and wrapped her hands through mine.

"Tommy was so nice to offer us some treats while we binge eat and watch dramas all night long," Ellie revealed a bag of gummies and chips. I arched an eyebrow at her in silent question.

"Oh alright! I stole it from his bedroom but I am sure he will be fine with it," she grumbled.

I laughed before crawling into bed with her. We snuggled under the warm comforter and turned on a romantic drama that we have watched for almost the hundredth time on her laptop.

Halfway through the drama and I turned to Ellie was completely immerse in the drama at this point. The male lead had to choose between his childhood friend and his new lover. He could only save one. We both know who he was going to save but I can see Ellie's eyes were already filling with tears once again.

"You have seen this drama more than I have," I told her.

She shoved me. "Oh, stop it. Let me cry. I need a good heartache."

"You know who he is going to choose," I replied.

"That's what is so sad about this drama. Even after watching it so many times, I can't figure out if I hate him or love him," she sobbed.

I laughed at her tear streaked face before returning my attention back to the drama. In the end, he chose his new lover and his childhood friend gave her life to save him. It was a bittersweet ending. I turned off the drama and turned to look at Ellie was fast asleep in bed already. A bunch of tissues strewn around her. She had cried herself to sleep.

I turned off the lights and was about to sleep next to her when I heard a knock at the door. Wondering who it was, I stuck my feet back out from the comforter and onto the cool marble flooring. Padding my way towards the door, I opened it to see Luna Katya standing on the other side.

I looked down her body to see that she has on a sleeping gown but I can see the slight bump of her pregnancy already. Her long black hair was down her back. She looked like she had just snuck out of bed.

"May I have a word with you, Sage?" she asked.

I nodded before stepping outside of Ellie's bedroom and closing the door behind me to not wake her. I followed Luna Katya down the hallway and we disappeared inside an empty guest bedroom. She turned on her feet to look at me.

"I heard about your injuries. Are you healed?" she asked, looking up and down my body. I had pulled on one of Ellie's long sleeping t-shirt. My legs were exposed.

I nodded. "I'm feeling better."

She gnawed at her bottom lip hesitantly and wrung her fingers in front of her.

"I have something to tell you," she replied. 

*que my readers falling off my cliff of cliffhangers*