Sinful Praise

5. S U N R I S E

Our babes Tatum^

A N A I A H 

*FLASHBACK*

9 years ago

"Zayaaa!" Singing out behind the bushes I watch as she inspects the neighbouring shrubbery in front of me.

"Naiah I give up! Where are you?"  Zay kicks the dust in defeat and throws her head back.

I quickly rush behind her as the clouds hold her attention and stealthily climb the tree behind me. Watching her from the branch, I mask myself behind the leaves.

"Come on Zay! Don't give up! It's easy!" Quietly giggling to myself she groans her way past the tree. I hold back the screaming need to burst out in laughter as she walks right under me! Zay continues walking until she begins peering behind the Dayles' fence.

"Hey freak!" Turning around instantly to the recognised voice, I gasp in horror as a familiar pair of green eyes meet mine, his usual crooked smile etched on his demeanour. 

"G-go away Leo!" 

"Why? So you can kill my dad too! No, I'm going to stay right here."  He runs beneath me and tries to reach for my legs wrapped along the branch.

"Leave me alone Leo! Please!" Beginning to feel the all too familiar burning sensation scratching its way up my throat, I stifle the need to cry as he frantically tries clawing for an inch of my leg. 

"GET DOWN HERE YOU FREAK! I WANT TO SEE WHAT YOU REALLY ARE!"  Reaching for a stick he whacks my right leg and I feel a new wound sting in confirmation. Inching my leg up closer he strikes a second time.

"P-please L-Leo, I'm sorry." The tears now running down my face joined with whimpers as he adds stones to his artillery.

With a fifth strike my leg gives way and his hands finally claim their reward, digging into the raw wounds. 

My balance is forcefully taken and suddenly I find myself reaching for the aid of green leaves and the sun they secluded. 

Warmth. The stars are warm. Feeling the rise and deflation of what seems like a chest I open my eyes. They were cold, his eyes. His smooth complexion but knotted between his furrowed brows, his mouth agape. Zion. 

"Alpha Zion?" He really caught me.

Immediately placing me down he clears his throat.

"You need to stop falling." His unchanging eyes bore into mine.

"Well, you need to stop catching me." His brows returning to its furrowed state whilst he examines my refreshed complexion. I slightly blush at the skin tight clothes I decided to wear realising the emphasis it made to my figure. Seeing that we're both standing here like silent fools I clear my throat.

"Thank you for catching me Alpha Zion, I believe this is the last time we shall cross paths seeing that I leave in a few hours, I should get some sleep." Ignoring the internal protests to stay and plead for him to give me a chance, I turn to walk back to my room.

"Zion." Halting in my tracks I turn back to him.

"You can call me Zion." His features lighten, releasing his shoulders from a tensed state as he runs his hand through his hair. I give him a curt nod to show my appreciation. Well unless he gave me something before my departure.

Turning back to the large doors I head back to my room.

"Uh, Wait!" He runs up behind me, standing in front of the doors.