Chapter 39: Taking Shelter
Trishelle
"So over here is the Alpha’s study, his room is at the end of the hall, and this will be your room." With that, their guide, a bubbly she-wolf named Stacy, deposited Trishelle’s small suitcase just inside the door to one of the guest rooms before closing it. A quick knock and she popped her head back in to add, "Dinner is usually around seven, so you can relax until then. Your friend is in the room across from you. See you then." Then she was gone, her footsteps echoing softly down the hall.
Sighing, Trishelle took a deep breath, the air smelling of fresh linen and something woodsy and clean. She sat on the edge of the luxurious bed, the mattress dipping softly beneath her, and covered her face with her hands. The weight of everything that had happened pressed down on her shoulders. It was still hard to believe that she had actually rejected her pack and left, taking refuge in a place she’d never heard of with an Alpha who claimed her as his mate, no less. The enormity of that decision threatened to overwhelm her. Falling back against the mountain of pillows, she crossed one arm over her face, blocking out the light. "I wish you were here, Rosie," she whispered to the empty room. "I really need you right now. Tell me what I should do?"
Since the ceiling held no answers, she turned to her side and let her mind go blank. It was a strange feeling, this profound quiet. There was no constant, low-grade anxiety about who was going to say or do something to her next. Here, there were no demands on her, no expectations weighing her down. For the first time in what felt like forever, she could simply exist. Allowing her body to relax for the first time in years, she wasn’t aware that she’d drifted off until a shadow blocked the setting sun streaming through her partially opened window. Frowning at the interruption, she turned and grabbed a pillow, cuddling it with the hopes of drifting back into the blessed state of nothingness she had been gently rocking in.
The bed dipped as someone sat next to her. Moving the hair out of her face, Alexa looked at the sleeping girl with a mixture of curiosity and concern. Her grandmother had asked her to fetch Trishelle so they could all head down for dinner. There was still time, though, and Alexa desperately wanted to question the girl about her friend. As soon as they had arrived, Beta Sam had dragged Samuel toward their gym for a sparring session. All she got was an awkward, distracted wave from him, which left her feeling oddly disappointed. There was so much that she wanted to know, she felt the questions would overtake her very reason. Why was she so drawn to him? What was it about this stranger that made her heart race?
Trishelle felt a hand on her shoulder and another on her hip. Her pleasant state of nothingness warped into a dark night, the shift so sudden it stole her breath. She felt the sound of harsh breathing, and it felt like something was pawing at her, removing her clothes. The sensation was visceral, terrifyingly real. She wasn’t sure who it was, but she knew that she didn’t want it. Panic clawed at her chest as she tried to move, to scream, to do anything. She felt a hand press over her mouth as an all too familiar voice whispered in her ear that she was asking for it before a searing pain tore through her. The memory crashed over her like a tidal wave, drowning her in its horror. She jolted up with a scream, a raw, desperate sound that tore from her throat and frightened the younger woman who was only trying to wake her.
Alexa jumped back at Trishelle’s cry, her heart hammering in her chest. Thinking quickly, she grabbed her shoulders, shaking her firmly, trying to snap her back to reality. "Trishelle! Wake up! You’re safe!" she said urgently, her voice cutting through the nightmare. Trishelle stopped screaming as Alexa’s voice covered the one of Alpha James in her head. With tears rolling down her face, Trishelle only had a few seconds to realize it was Alexa before she leaned over the side of the bed and puked. Alexa rubbed her back as she held her hair out of the way, murmuring soft, soothing words. When she was finished, Alexa wiped her mouth with the edge of the blanket, her movements gentle and careful.
"Trish, are you alright? What happened?" Alexa asked softly, searching her face. "What made you scream like that?"
Hugging herself, Trishelle’s voice was a broken whisper, each word seeming to cost her something. "I remember when James raped me." The confession hung in the air between them, heavy and terrible.
Bradley
Bradley was in his office, going over what had taken place in his absence. It had been a quiet affair; however, there was a problem with some of the medical equipment they’d ordered for their sick bay. He was going over the details with the pack’s head doctor, Lorenzo, and his mate and assistant, Nicole, when he felt something shiver down his spine, a cold premonition of dread that made his blood run cold. The sensation was so strong it nearly knocked the breath from his lungs. Immediately, his wolf snarled in his head, thinking of their mate being in peril. Without a word to the others, he dashed out of the office, heading for her room, his heart pounding with each step.
He got there and found it locked. Banging on the door, he called her name, his voice rough with worry. "Trishelle! Trishelle, are you okay?" But it was Alexa who answered. Stepping out, she quickly closed the door behind her, her expression carefully neutral, though he could see the tension in her shoulders.
"Is something wrong with my Luna?" Bradley demanded, his voice tight with worry, his wolf pushing at him to get past the barrier between him and his mate.
"Actually, Alpha Bradley, Trishelle just woke up from a nap, so she was just a bit startled at the change, plus she isn’t quite presentable," Alexa said smoothly, her tone deliberately calm. "If you wouldn’t mind, could you ask Stacy to visit us, please? There is a little favour I would like to ask her to do for me before we join everyone for dinner."
Bradley was hesitant to leave, every instinct screaming at him to push past Alexa and see for himself that Trishelle was safe. But Alexa planted herself firmly in front of the door, effectively denying him entry, her stance making it clear she wouldn’t budge. "Is that all you guys need?" he asked, frustration bleeding into his voice.
Alexa nodded, meeting his gaze steadily. Without any other proof that anything was wrong, he linked Stacy to attend to his guests while he returned to his office, his wolf pacing restlessly in his mind, unsatisfied with the distance from their mate.
Trishelle
Alexa went back inside, closing the door softly behind her. Trishelle was still in the bed, hugging one of the pillows like a lifeline, her knuckles white from the force of her grip. The shock, horror, and disgust were plain on her face, as well as a deep, soul-crushing sadness and disbelief that made Alexa’s heart ache. She looked so small, so broken, curled up on that big bed. Alexa had no idea how she felt, but all she could offer her was a hug. Both women simply held each other until there was a knock on the door, finding comfort in the shared silence.
"Who is it?" Alexa asked, not loosening her hold on Trishelle.
"It’s me, miss. Stacy. The Alpha said that you requested me?"
Alexa turned to Trishelle and told her to go and take a hot shower, speaking gently as if to a frightened child. While she did that, she let Stacy in and asked her to clean the room and change the bedding without letting anybody know. The request was delicate, but Stacy seemed to understand the unspoken need for discretion.
With the professionalism of a hotel attendant, Stacy had the room cleaned and the bed remade in minutes, working with quiet efficiency. Alexa helped, and by the time Trishelle emerged from the bathroom, her skin flushed from the heat and looking a whole lot better, the room was pristine. The physical evidence of her breakdown had been erased, even if the emotional scars remained. Alexa didn’t say a word about what had happened, but simply helped her find something nice to wear from her meagre belongings and helped her dry and comb her hair, the simple acts of care seeming to soothe them both.
"Do you think you can make it to dinner?" Alexa asked gently, watching Trishelle’s reflection in the mirror.
"Honestly, I don’t know. I’m not sure that my stomach could handle anything right now, especially with all those eyes looking at me." The thought of sitting at a table surrounded by strangers made her feel sick all over again.
Alexa was thoughtful for a few minutes, considering the options. "I know this is your first night here as a guest, but I think after the day you had, I don’t think anyone would fault you for not joining them downstairs. So, I’ll tell them that you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed with today’s events and ask that a light meal be sent up to you."
Just as she was going to leave, Trishelle grabbed onto her with shaking hands, her fingers digging into Alexa’s arm. "NO! I’ll go down with you. I don’t want the Alpha to be mad at me," she said, her voice rising with panic. "Who knows what he’ll do?" The fear in her voice was palpable, a learned response from years of conditioning under Alpha James’s cruel rule.
Alexa looked at the shaking girl in front of her and knew that she was afraid the same treatment she received in her old pack would take place here. The realization made her angry at the man who had done this to her. Kneeling in front of her, she took her hands and said calmly, holding her gaze, "Trish, I know you’ve had bad experiences with Alpha James, but trust me when I say that Bradley isn’t like that. Not only is he the opposite, but he would rather cut off his own arm than see you get hurt. He may be a bit disappointed, but he will not do anything to harm you. I promise you that. Okay?"
"Okay, Alexa," Trishelle whispered, her voice small, though the fear hadn’t entirely left her eyes.
Smiling, Alexa gave Trishelle one more hug before leaving, hoping her words had provided some comfort. As she headed downstairs, she ran into Samuel. Blushing, she observed that he had just showered, judging by the drops of water still glistening in his dark hair and the warmth radiating from his skin. He smelled like pine and something uniquely him that made her pulse quicken. She would have almost forgotten about Trishelle if he hadn’t asked about her, his concern pulling her back to the present.
"Is Trishelle okay?" he asked, his voice a low rumble that sent a shiver through her, his brow furrowed with genuine worry.
Clearing her throat, Alexa tried to sound casual, though her heart was still racing from his proximity. "She’s a bit tired from the trip. She’s just resting in her room for now." The lie came easily, protecting Trishelle’s privacy while giving Samuel the reassurance he needed.
