His Possession

18: Shadows in the Woods

"Nothing hurts more than being broken by the one person who you thought would never hurt you"
 
   - Bia Tenuta 

*** 

The forest surrounding Blake’s pack territory stretched endlessly, a tapestry of towering trees and tangled underbrush. For four days, I had been here, honing my newly acquired abilities under the watchful eyes of Blake's pack. Despite the animosity between Blake and me, the pack members were diligent, treating me as one of their own. Yet, the tension between Blake and me was a constant undercurrent, darkening every interaction.

A cool breeze rustled the leaves as I practised shifting between my forms. The transition was getting smoother, but it still drained me. I was in mid-shift when I sensed someone approaching. Blake stepped out from the trees, his face a storm of conflicting emotions.

I continued training, refusing to let his presence distract me. He jogged past me, his sweaty form glistening in the dappled sunlight. He didn't even glance my way, didn't utter a single word. It was as if I didn't exist.

"What's your problem, Blake?" I called out, my voice cutting through the silence of the forest.

Okay maybe his presence did distract me.

He halted but didn't turn around. His back was a rigid line of tension. "What are you talking about?" he replied, his voice cold and distant.

"Why do you ignore me and treat me like shit?" I demanded, stepping closer, my frustration boiling over. "What did I ever do to you?"

Blake slowly turned, his eyes hard and unyielding. "You know why," he said, his voice a low growl.

"No, I don't," I retorted, crossing my arms. "Enlighten me."

"Your kind," he spat, his eyes flashing with barely concealed rage.

"My kind?" I echoed, confusion knitting my brows together. "What do you mean because of my kind?"

"Your vampire side, it disgusts me!" Blake's words were venomous, each syllable dripping with contempt. "Of all breeds you could've had, you become a hybrid with a vampire side."

His words cut deep, like icy shards piercing my heart. "What? It disgusts you?" I asked, my voice trembling with hurt. "Why do you hate vampires so much? What have they done to you?”

"They killed my mother!" he exploded, his voice echoing through the trees. "Your kind killed my mother. Is that good enough of a reason for you?" His eyes had turned a pitch black, the rage within him turning his gaze into an abyss.

I staggered back, stunned. That was not the answer I was expecting. "What do you mean?" I whispered, my voice barely audible. "Then who is Luna Lauren?"

"She's my dad's second mate," Blake replied, his anger cooling into a cold, hard facade. The blackness in his eyes made him look empty, a hollow shell. I felt a shiver of fear run down my spine, something I never thought I'd feel towards him.

"Blake," I said softly, taking an unconscious step back, "it wasn't me though. I didn't kill her.”

It might be my imagination but as I took that step, his fist clenched and his eye seemed to twitch in anger. But a different kind of anger. The anger you feel when you are in pain. However eyes deceive and the mind plays tricks, this could be something I'm imagining. Something that's not real.

"Why must the innocent carry the burden of the guilty? Not every vampire you meet is filled with bad deeds. Why should your hate for the vampires who killed your mother be directed towards the whole vampire breed? Hate the ones who killed her, hate the ones who caused you and your family pain. Hate them, not the innocent ones! They don't deserve it." My voice cracked, and the tears I had been holding back spilled over.