Broken Halves

Chapter Nine

POV: Cole (4 months later)

I grit my teeth and clench my hands into fists. I try to ignore the feeling of sweat pouring down my face as I fight to ignore the mental images Ellen is throwing my way. "They're fake Cole." I remind myself. "She is just trying to throw you off; don't lose it." I continue to mentally talk myself up as I face today's daily torture... or as Ellen calls it my "mental training."

"Though hatred you might see, don't let it fool you, be who she'd want you to be. Fights you might face, But don't get caught up. Never forget this is a test." Parts of the Moon Goddesses' prophecy float through my head once again reminding me that I can survive this; these images aren't real. They are illusions that Ellen has conjured to throw me off my path.

Dani, my love, my Dani would never. She would never kiss another, let alone my best friend, my brother. Dani knows better. She knows how her tasty, luscious, pink lips that swell after I kiss them are meant for my enjoyment only. Dani loves me, she would never break my heart this way; she would never betray me this way.

"What d'ye see Alpha." Ellen's voice carries through the air and into my ears. Biting down on my tongue hard enough to draw blood I contemplate telling her. She wants me to see it, say it, and admit it. But there is nothing to admit; she is planting lies in my head. My sweet Dani, my mate, she wouldn't be doing these things. This is fake, nothing more than mind games. Ellen is trying to mess with me, make me snap, and cause me to lose it. But she won't. I know better. I know the truth. I know she is just using my weakness against me; making me stronger by forcing me to deal with what scares me most in this moment.

"Well done." Those two simple words end my torture and I am thrown from the illusions of training and back into reality. Sucking in deep gulps of air, I try to calm my racing heart. Still a sweating mess, I turn to Ellen as I pant, completely exhausted. She stares back at me with a large smile on her face. "4 hours and 32 minutes Alpha. Ye're ready lad." Smiling I lay down on the cool grass rewarding my victory with a moment to recover.

Licking my lips I taste the metallic of blood, no doubt from the force of biting down on my tongue to keep from screaming out. Ellen sits down beside me, but masks her gaze when she senses me staring into her grey eyes. "Ye'll be off 'morrow lad," Ellen begins with deep reluctance in her tone. "Ye've done well lad; aye, verra well indeed." Ellen pauses her speech to stare out at the rising sun over the tips of the forest trees.

"Not long now, och, tis just a wee trip to where ye'll end up." Ellen turns away from the tree line and refocuses her attention on my brown orbs. "I wish ye well laddie." Ellen lays a tender hand on my forehead and smiles. "I'll miss ye Alpha." With those parting words, she stands up and walks off down the hill toward her cottage; the cottage in which I have called home these past months.

Upon Ellen's departure, I continue to lay on the hill staring up at the sky above me, thinking about the time I've spent here at the rustic cottage in the woods. I'll never forget Ellen. She has taught me more and trained me harder these past few months than anyone else has ever in my life.

Because of the old Scots woman, I have a new outlook on life. But, Ellen said it herself, my time here has come to an end and tomorrow, I will leave and continue my journey. Tomorrow, is my time to truly begin this quest. So far, there have been ups and downs, and I know for a fact that there will be plenty more challenges. However, nothing a little hope, grit, and determination can't help me through. 

Closing my eyes, I picture my green eyed beauty asleep in my arms at home, in our bed. She is wearing nothing more than her sleep clothes and I am holding her close to my chest where I lightly run the pad of my thumb over the scar that calls her arm home. The scar that holds my love back from wearing the clothes she finds desirable. Anger floods within me but I fight it back. Her father is dead and no one will ruin this moment for us. Bringing my head down, I bury my nose in her soft dark locks and breathe in her natural scent of citrus. Stifling back my growl of approval, I try to control myself. No need to wake up my sleeping beauty.

Opening my eyes I frown as I realize it was once again just a memory of her; nothing more than a daydream. Clenching my fist, I breathe in hoping that maybe, just maybe, I will be able to smell her. Like always I am met with the stench of the clean fresh air and natural scent of the forest that I have grown to associate with the hill by Ellen's cottage. Holding back my tears, I speak to the wind as if it can carry my message to her. "I'm coming home baby, just hang in there. I'm fighting for you, for us; I will always love you Dani."

Question of the Day: What do you think the second phase of Cole's quest will be?

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