Poisoned Ivy

Chapter 25

My eyes open slowly in the dim light of my room. The sun is rising over the hills, beginning to illuminate the features around me. I feel a warmth emanating from my back, so I lift my head and am shocked to see Wren curled up against me. His face is so peaceful that it soothes me. Any trouble that that mysterious wolf had given him is gone, consoling me that she is surely gone from my head for now.

I lay there for a few moments snuggled up with Wren before I decide I need to relieve my bladder. As I pull myself out of bed, I feel Wren confusedly groan and place an arm around me to keep me there, so I whisper gently, "I need to pee." He sighs and turns over, releasing me.

I scurry out of my bedroom as quietly as possible, and make my way to the bathroom. In the hallway upstairs, I decide to get some fresh air and make my way down the carpeted stairs. I slide open the porch door and place my toes on the dewy wooden deck. I take a few paces towards the steps and sit down, listening as the birds begin to chirp in the mild weather. The cotton candy skies above slowly awaken as another day begins.

Another day. Has it been less than a week? It seems difficult to imagine that it's only been that long.

"Time seems so much slower for humans than wolves." A voice interrupts my thoughts.

I turn my head and see Roman standing in his pajamas behind the sliding door. He pulls it open, making it softly squeak as he joins me.

"What happened to staying out of my head?" I frown.

Roman shrugs as he sits to my left, "It'd kinda hard to stay away if you're needing our help."

I fidget my hands and furrow my brow, "I'm not needy."

"You're just working through some things." Roman sighs, "We get it. It can be a lot to process."

"What am I even processing Roman?" I pout.

Roman's bronze eyes capture me, allowing his words to sink in, "You're grieving, Ivy. You're grieving the family you've lost."

"But I was fine a few weeks ago." I exhale, "So why is it bothering me now?"

"Ivy, have you been a wolf so long that you've forgotten what it's like to be human?" He twists his body to face me. I shrug my response, and he continues, "Look, you know what makes a shifter savage, right?"

"They're shifters whose wolves have completely taken over their minds. They typically have yellow eyes like normal wolves, and have abandoned their humanity. They can't willfully shift back unless their human side regains some control over their minds." I reply.

"But do you know how shifters become savage?" Roman asks. I shake my head and he continues, "Sometimes it happens when a shifter can't handle emotional trauma. They take on their wolf form as a way to cope with their emotions. But what really happens is that the wolf doesn't process the emotions, they just shove it aside and completely take over, allowing for that shifter to abandon their humanity." Roman sighs, "Some savage wolves are able to come back to their senses, but others aren't so lucky. Savage wolves will most likely remain savage for the rest of their lives. Since savage wolves can't be reasoned with, they're usually executed by the Council's hunters. Hayes is one of those hunters."

"Is that why he's staying nearby?" I ask, "In case I go savage?"

Roman nods, "But that's only if you go savage. He can't touch you otherwise. If he did, the Council would have him executed."

"Why's that?" I quiz.

"Traumatizing a luna is punishable by death since it could cause not just the luna, but an entire pack, to go savage." Roman explains.

I open my mouth to speak, but I hesitate, unsure if it's a good idea to bring the topic up. Roman raises a brow to me, prompting me to ask. "Then how did you guys manage with Grace's death?"

Roman looks out at the pink horizon, "The key to overcoming that kind of pain isn't to rely on your wolf, it's to rely on your humanity. You have to feel it, process it, and heal before you let your instincts take over." He turns to me, "Though I suppose it's easier said than done."

"Why do you say that?" I gaze up at him, seeing the sadness etched into his face at the thought of his mother.

"When my mother died, I went savage." Roman admits. "My dad found Wren and had him coach me out of it. After that Dad let Wren into the pack."

My eyes widen with the truth, "I-I don't know what to say."

Roman sighs, "It's ok." He puts his right arm around my shoulder and pulls me into a hug, "But the point that I'm getting to is that in those times of grief, it's ok to lean onto your family for help."

Am I really a part of the family though?

"Don't be so dense." Roman pesters.

I lay my head on him and watch as the sun warms the world around us. It's peaceful in it's own way, and for the first time I realize how many restless sunrises I had until the Pierces came into my life. Maybe this is how things were meant to be.

I stiffen when I realize how odd it is for Roman to be up this early. I recall my first impression of him was that he was a ginger grouch in the morning, "Hey Roman, why are you up so early?"

Roman sighs, "I've been up all night."

"What? Why?" I gape.

"Not having a luna's presence in my head makes me restless. It probably makes all of us anxious. I couldn't sleep because of that." He yawns and rests his head on my head.

"Sorry." I offer. I wish I had known sooner how much my role as luna impacted them, maybe then...

"Enough with the regrets." Roman cuts me off as he pulls himself up and heads back to bed.

I stay out on the porch, watching the sun rise on another day in a new life, a life with a pack and a family I hope to call my own.  After all, if Roman can turn a page, why can't I?

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Author's Note
Sorry, this one was a bit of a filler since I have a tendency to write myself into a corner. Let me know your thoughts/reactions in the comments! It helps to hear other opinions so I can get better ideas on where to go with this. :)