Heart Of The Storm

-Chapter 11- Nightmares & Daydreams

Apollo

I jolt awake to the sound of soft crying, and I glance down to see my mate shaking in my arms, her eyes squeezed shut as tears escape from the corners. She's still asleep...then-

A nightmare.

"Sweetheart, sweetheart!" I whisper shout, trying to gently shake her awake, her nails biting into my skin as she holds onto me for dear life.

"Aella!" I say a little louder, and her eyes shoot open, her gasping harshly as she glances around, looking up at me after a moment.

"Apollo?" She says with a shaking voice, and I cup her face in my hands, wiping away her tears.

"It's okay, I'm here." I murmur, kissing her forehead. "Are you alright?"

I don't know why I asked, I know she isn't. I can feel her fear and sadness through our link, whatever she saw in that terrible dream is flickering in my head, too fast to make out anything other than muted voices and her emotions.

"I'm okay..." She whispers, sounding like she trying to convince herself more than me.

"How bad?"

She stays quiet, and I sigh.

"Sweetheart, you can tell me. There is no shame or weakness in talking about things that scare you."

No response, only the feeling of her tracing my tattoos with her fingers, her gaze locked on my chest. I suppose it's too much right now-

"It's been a long time since I've had nightmares."

She sighs, still avoiding my gaze.

"It-it hurts..."

I wrap my arms around her, and she buries her face into my chest. I rub her back as she sobs, my own heart aching. I stay quiet until her crying slows to a stop, my skin damp with her tears.

~Do you want to talk about it? Or just want me to hold you until you go back to sleep?~ I ask through our link, and she sniffs.

~Just a little...~

~Whatever you want sweetheart.~

We stay quiet as I wait for her to speak, not wanting to rush her.

~It was...It was about my brother.~

Her body tenses, and I hold her closer.

~What about him?~ I ask carefully.

~The last time I saw him...the day we were separated. He was so scared, he was screaming for me when they dragged us apart. I tried to break out of their grip, kicking, scratching, I even bit one of their hands trying to get loose. But they were bigger, and stronger, and just as I thought I was free, I felt something hit the back of head...~

Her body starts to shake again, and I try to suppress the anger bubbling in my chest, my wolf just as furious as I am.

~When I finally woke up, I was alone in a new tiny room. There were bars for a door, a collar on my neck, and most of my hair was gone.~

Those bastards. I'll kill them myself if I get the chance.

~Is that what you were...?~ I ask, and she shakes her head.

~No...I only saw flashes. But all I could hear was him screaming for me, his nickname for me echoes so damn loud...~

I'm not sure if it was on purpose, but a brief glimpse of her memory flickers through my head.