Made in Moonlight

Eighteen

I wake up screaming.

My throat is already raw before I start to scream, but once I do, it really starts to burn.

My whole body burns.

My muscles, my skin, my organs.

I feel paralyzed with pain. Even when I do try to move, my muscles refuse to obey.

"Shh," a voice says. Hands hold down my arms. I hadn't even realized I was thrashing, but now I fight against the grip.

"Leave me alone!" I scream, ripping my arms away and kicking as hard as I can.

"Clover, it's me!" Blake's voice. He leans over me, and I see his face. His eyes are wide and filled with worry. It stabs me right through my chest.

Immediately, my moment of clarity vanishes, burned to ashes by the fire that rips through my body.

"It burns!" I shout, fighting against his grip. I don't even try to, but my body's not listening to me right now.

All my brain knows is, I'm on fire, and I have to get out.

His fingers dig into my wrists. Usually, his touch would soothe me, but right now, I feel nothing but the pain in my limbs.

"I know," he says. "I know. Just relax, please."

"No!" I scream as another burst of pain rips through me.

"Stay still!" he shouts.

I don't listen to him. His words barely register. I'm too busy kicking and screaming over him.

"Please don't make me use my Alpha voice," he says. "Please. Just stay still. You need medicine."

I turn away, shoving my face into the pillow that lays under my head. I scream into it, my entire body shaking. Despite it all, I still thrash under his grip, my body fighting against him.

Above me, Blake sighs.

"Clover," he murmurs. "Please."

Something about the way he says his name pulls my consciousness to the surface. It's like emerging from a fog, a fog that threatens to pull me back under, but I try my hardest to keep above it.

"Blake," I grit out, wincing at the rough sound of my own voice. Now that I'm not thrashing around so much, I can feel the burning in my throat, especially when I speak.

I look at him, blinking the tears out of my eyes.

"Clover, I need you to drink this." The mattress shifts as he moves to the side and grabs a cup from the table.

My body twitches as I fight against the urge to thrash against him and kick my way to freedom. I'm not sure how much longer I can hold it.

"This will make you feel better," he explains.

I frown at him, but nod. He lifts the cup to my lips and tilts it. The liquid is thin like water but tastes sweet, like honey, with something earthy underneath.

Instantly, my throat feels soothed. My muscles ache a little less, and the burning dulls.

"Blake," I whimper, the fog in my brain starting to clear. "It hurts."

"I know." He places the cup back on the table and frowns at me, gesturing towards the bed. "Can I?"

I nod. Blake leans closer until he's lying on the bed next to me.

"You almost used your Alpha voice on me," I accuse, my voice croaky. I can't speak louder than a whisper after all that screaming.

"I wouldn't have. I promise," he says. "I just really needed you to stop fighting me so you could take your medicine."