The Protectors Trial

21. Intruder

Chelsea POV

I slowly integrated myself back into my team it took a few weeks, and it was rocky at the start I was having terrible sweat inducing nightmares, and let's not even talk about the sudden ... breakdowns. I tried to push them away, push away their help I should be able to do this myself. Loey started to ignore my rejections, climbing into my bed she would rub circles my back until I calmed down or fell back asleep. I was so grateful to her putting up with my mood swing.

Seralina tried to lecture me on grief well more like the stages of grief, I think I was so far into the stage of denial that I just ignored most of it. Which went mostly unnoticed.

Aria longed for her mate and I felt her slowly weaken since Marcels passing, however since the intervention, we agreed that we had to pull ourselves together. Be it for the Protectorate, the reason why we are here, but mostly for ourselves.

By the second week into fall my nightmares had dissolved and the new Protectorate leader would finally be taking over today. I wasn't sure how we were going to handle it and it bother me.

Aria perked up full of energy, I felt my heart pound in my chest like heart palpitations waking me up.

Blinking the sleep away I squinted at the clock, must have been atleast 2am in the morning, What are you doing?

Run! Let's go for a Run!

I really wanted to sleep more my muscles were fatigued but it had been a few days since we went for a run, raking the back of my forearm across my eyes stretching contemplating my next move.

I wasn't going to be able to get back to sleep with her energy bursting through me, anyway.

Groaning lightly I got up, sliding off the bunk tiptoeing my way to the bathroom. Yawning softly I pulled on some tights, a sweater, and my shoes.

Skipping down the steps two at a time making my way through the cafeteria I grabbed a coffee and some water. My brain paused as I poured my coffee with the energy blasting through me I probably didn't need it, but I wanted it, the aroma was exhilarating. There were a few others in the cafeteria reading, eating, talking.

Softly sipping on my coffee I made my way to the Protectorate changerooms. I stale humid air clung to my lungs as I made my way across the field. Slipping into a change room I set down my personal items and stripped out of my clothes.

Shifting wasn't usually painful. However today was different, even before my shirt slid off, Aria surged forward taking over quickly I couldn't brace myself. Busting through she showed no remorse as my bones broke and bent into place.

A searing pain ricocheted down my spine as it snapped and popped shifting. I let go, I had to let her take the ropes and I slowly fell into the back of her mind, exhaling deeply I drifted off into a restless sleep as she took full control.

A breeze on my bare skin jolted me awake, a man was covering me with a blanket. Probably in his late 30s he had bright kind eyes with small crows feet starting to form on the outer edges, short blonde styled hair which made him look very military. Protectorate.

I groaned looking around realising I was in the change rooms, at least Aria got us back here, I wrapped the blanket further around my body.

Werewolves aren't usually body conscious but after losing Marcel I didn't want anyone seeing my skin, his mark was still darkly imprinted on my skin, if anyone saw... I don't want to think of the consequences.

"Thank you," I spoke pushing myself to my feet bunching the blanket tighter.

He smiled, "all good, happens to the best of us every now and then," I gave a light smirk and an awkward wave as I headed to get dressed.