《Alpha's Choice, Beta's Bane》Prologue
Advertisement
He keeps me immobile, one arm trapping my arms to my side, the other keeping my head locked against his chest.
“Don’t look away,” he murmurs in my ear, sounding like he's sorry for me. The last thing I want is his pity.
There’s nowhere else to look but ahead. The man on the platform holds the woman in his arms close as she writhes on top of him. His hands trail down her back before settling on her hips, speeding up the pace as she squeals in delight.
He sits up fully and she looks dwarfed against his chest. As he leans down, his lips ghost over her neck. Our eyes meet and I see anguish and passion there, or maybe that's what I want to see. He closes his eyes and I watch as his teeth sank into her flesh. I wish I could melt into the grass and disappear.
A chorus of howls erupts around us as the pack cheers for the newly mated couple. There’s joy all around us but all I feel is hollow inside.
How did I let it go this far...?
“Ama?”
“Hmmm?” I look up from my book to see my mom walking into the living room with a food tray. She gingerly sets it down next to me and hits me with a stare that was both hopeful and questioning. She is silently asking permission to move the small table next to my chair closer to me but also clearly hoping that I’ll move over to the table to get in some walking.
I manage a smile and say, “I think I’ll sit at the table today. Could you bring the tray over for me?”
Her face instantly lights up. Her hopes are a constant weight on my chest but I feel like I need to reassure her. I lock up all my doubts and frustrations and fears, and only open up that box when I am alone at night with what I affectionately refer to as my moral support pillow - a stuffed animal Pikachu.
Advertisement
I just make it to the table and pick up my spoon, the smell of the chicken soup making my stomach rumble, when my sister Nia bounces into the dining room holding Mom’s iPad.
“Ama! You’re not going to believe this!” She shoves the tablet between my bowl and spoon.
With a sigh, Mom walks back into the kitchen. As she disappears around the corner, she calls over her shoulder to me, “Don’t let her run your ragged, hon.”
“Too late,” I yell back.
To Nia, she adds “And let your sister eat!”
Nia huffs and whines, “This is too important!”
I stare at her wide-eyed for a long moment until she looks like she is about to burst. Then, I peer at the screen and smile. Nia’s Acorn Troop, a derivative of the Girl/Boy Scouts, has won their wilderness preparedness competition and are going on a camping trip. It’s all she’s talked about for weeks, though personally, I fail to see the appeal.
She takes the tablet back and hugs it to her chest. “Can you believe it? I didn’t think it’d happen! And the best part is that everyone gets to bring one adult with them.” She looks at me, her eyes hopeful.
I set my spoon down, hunger forgotten. In the months since the crash, Nia has had a hard time understanding my limitations. It’s gotten harder and harder to let her down with each time a reminder that I can't go swimming at the town pool, or drive her to the mall, or in this case, go camping.
My permanent prosthesis should be arriving in the next week but even with that, I’ve still got a ways to go. I want to be mobile and independent so I am a model patient, doing everything the physical therapist and doctors ask of me. I was never a very active person before the accident but my fear of not keeping up with Nia, of not swimming in the lake at dad’s house, or not ice skating come next winter, is enough to keep me going.
Advertisement
But, I haven’t learned what my limits are yet and I can’t risk putting us in another bad situation because I got ahead of myself.
This time, however, she seems to know that I’m about to object, and her smile grows even wider. “The campsite is friendly for everyone! Remember Betina?” she asks, clearly thinking that I should. I definitely don’t but I nod for her to continue.
“Well she is in my troop and she uses crutches and the Acorn Troop makes sure everyone can participate so you can come too!” Her words are a jumble as she trips over them, trying to get it all out as quickly as possible. She clearly thinks that I am going to interrupt her to say no.
A million thoughts race through my head at that information. Friendly; does that mean I won’t have to hobble around in the dark looking for the bathrooms? Do I even want to go? I’ve never been much of a camping person before this and I’m even less inclined now. As I sit there having an internal debate, her lip protrudes further and further out until I feel my will to resist dwindle to nothing. But, before I can respond she offers a compromise.
“You coming can be my birthday present,” she suggests in a rush and it breaks my heart. Her 10th birthday present can not be her sister putting on some big girl pants and doing something with her, like I should be doing in the first place.
I flap a hand at her and smile. “Well, how can I say no to that?”
And that’s how I find myself at Happy Lakes Campgrounds, two states away, and in the middle of nowhere Pennsylvania.
Advertisement
Her Eternal Mr.Right
The famous Bai family's fourth youngest in North City was slept with by a dumb little white rabbit? The fourth young man forcibly married the person home in a fit of rage, "Little thing, how dare you run away after messing with me?" "You are the big bad guy, I don't want to marry!" "Master wants to marry, you dare to say no?" Four young peach blossom eyes narrowed, wolf light, directly pounced on the little white rabbit, eat dry.
8 545Insanity
A curious 15-year-old tries to unravel the mysteries behind the asylum, Blackthorn Veil Mental Institution, where her dad was locked up. She knew everything was not right in that place, but what happens if she meets one of the mysteries in that asylum? Will that person help her unravel the truth or bring her into . . . Insanity?"If you have never lost your sanity, then you have never been in love." •poopinghinsil•©Copyright 2013-2014All Rights Reserved•THIS FAN FICTION WAS WRITTEN WHEN I WAS LIKE 13-14 YEARS OLD SO BEWARE. THIS IS VERY BADLY WRITTEN••NOT EDITED AND WILL FOREVER STAY THAT WAY: UNEDITED•
8 141Beyond the Sinister (COMPLETE)
"𝐀𝐡, 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐈 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭, 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡, 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐲."The death of her best friend, the man whom she adores compels Seraphina Hearts to head back home to attend the funeral. Yet, how can the school chit properly mourn if her late best friend's creepy older brother whom she avoids won't stop obsessing over her? His predatory eyes always watching her every move, even up to her sleep.
8 143Rescue Ladybug
Marinette can't stop thinking about what happened when Chat Noir becomes Chat Blanc. Worried about reapeating the future she takes the dangerous path to to prevent it. Her self sacrifice and heroism however will lead to a darker path and only Chat Noir can save her.Also check Start overBefore the Miraculous 🌠 who is he kissing,💋 Miraculous Curses of the Mermaid Treasure🐬, Miraculous curses of the Mermaid Treasure 2🐳Saving Chat Noir🐞Saving LadybugSinful Nap
8 72The Sleeping Prince
Most stories start at the beginning. There's an understandable logic to that.This story, however, begins at the end.The Prince is dead, or sleeping. The armor is magic, or haunted. The castle is abandoned, or cursed. The faeries are sleeping, or mourning.Time stands still, but only there.
8 192SAINT VALS 2021 [Closed]
Welcome to the 4th edition of the Saint Vals Contest!2021 is here and we are bringing all the love! Can you feel it? So can we! That's why we're bringing to you a contest that has everything the community has grown to know and love, with a little extra... It's all about you, and what loves means to you. Express it as only writers, poets and graphic artists can! Write about love, for love, with love in the language you adore. Be it English, Spanish , Italian, Arabic, French, Portuguese, Mandarin, Danish, Turkish, Romanian or Sinhala!
8 76