I woke up to find myself on a bed, but it was not my bed. The sound of steady beeping came from near me and it felt like someone was holding onto my hand. Based on the sparks shooting up and down my arm, I guessed it was that scary guy— why didn't his name stick with me?!

It took maybe four or five tries, but I finally got my eyes open. The person next to me squeezed my hand when they noticed.

"Eirenae?" He asked me.

I flicked my eyes over to find I'd been correct: it was the boy with changing eyes. And so I started to panic.

I felt my heartbeat speed up, making the beeping next to me speed up as well. I ripped my hand away from Scary Guy, ignoring the flash of pain that shot up my arm in the process.

"Hey!" He called out gently. "Eirenae, it's okay. Relax, you're safe."

Safe? I didn't know where I was, who he was, and how I got here. How could that be safe?

The distinct sound of feet running on the hard floor made my head turn. I saw a lady in blue scrubs and a white coat hurrying towards us. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a braided bun.

"Holly, she woke up." Scary Guy told the lady.

Holly smiled. "I can see that." She turned to me with gentle eyes. "Luna," Luna? "Can I look you over so I can help you?"

I widened my eyes. This was a doctor. I haven't been to a doctor since before. . . Jack wouldn't allow it, making me heal slowly on my own. He didn't want the doctors to get suspicious.

With my eyes still wide, I sat up and scooted backwards, doing my best to ignore the fire igniting in my wrist. My back pressed against the wall and I realized I was stuck. Machines blocked my escape to the left, Scary Guy was in the way on the right, and the doctor was at the foot of the bed.

I looked down to see I was still in my clothes from school, which brought me relief, but an IV was sticking out of my arm. I took a deep breath and ripped the needle out, wincing a little.

"No! Eirenae, stop." The doctor called out, but I ignored her.

Scary Guy got up, reaching out for me and I took the opportunity to run. I raced past him, hopping off the cot-like bed and down the aisle.

I didn't really know where to go, so I just ran, because honestly it's the only solution I know when my brain freezes up. Reaching a solid wall, I scanned the length of it, but I found no door along it, meaning I'd gone the wrong way.

Tears leaked out of my eyes and I leaned against the wall in defeat. With my eyes closed, I turned around and slid down. I rested my head against me knees, trying not to cry any more than I already was.

"Luna," I heard Holly say quietly. Why does she keep saying that? Who's Luna?

I peeked up through the tears to find her crouched in front of me. "Luna, why don't we go back to the bed?"

I shook my head and whimpered.

She gave me a soft smile. "Would it help to know I sent the Alpha away?" What's with all the strange words? Can't she just speak English for me? So I just shrugged. "The boy from earlier, I sent him out."

I blinked. Scary Guy was gone? She extended her hand and I hesitated. She was still going to want to know what happened. But wait, wasn't I to expect that? With a lot of persuasion, I ultimately made the choice to accept their help after school today. Or maybe yesterday. How long was I out?

I needed her help. I needed to allow myself to be okay with that. Slowly, after taking a long deep breath, I reached up and put my hand in hers. She squeezed it gently and pulled me up. I winced as my wrist and face began to throb now that the adrenaline had left. Concerned flooded her eyes.

"Come sit down, dear." She said, leading me carefully to the same bed I was at before.

I sunk down to the mattress and eyed the woman with wide eyes. She wasn't going to hurt me, right? She typed something into the computer next to the bed before turning back to me, a small smile on her face.

"Why don't we start over. I'm Holly, the Pack Doctor."

Pack? What's a pack? I mean, I've read about wolves in the wild living in packs and I was sure other animals call their group packs as well. But humans? I was so confused.

We kind of just stared at each for a few moments before she realized I wasn't going to respond. She cleared her throat.

"Alright, how about I check you over. Is that okay? Let me know where it hurts."

Her hands moved slowly, and my eyes focused on them, wide like an owl's. I didn't know what was going to happen when she touched me, looked at how damaged I was. When I looked in her eyes was I going to see pain? Sympathy? Judgement? I stiffened and held my breath.

Holly paused. "You alright?"

I swallowed as she pulled gloves on, slowly so she wouldn't startle me. She took a step towards me and I flinched, making her stop again. I heard her mumble something and she looked at me worriedly. I just stared, calculating her every move as she started to inch closer and closer.

"It's okay," she told me. "I'm not going to hurt you. I want to make sure you are alright." I became perfectly still as she halted right next to me.

I felt my eyes well with unnecessary tears, but I prevented them from falling. I carefully scooted forwards and laid on my back, keeping my wrist off the bed, maneuvering myself using that elbow.

"Can you tell me what happened?" She asked me gently as she started. The gloves felt strange but not necessarily unpleasant. At least her hands weren't cold or anything.

I shook my head, willing myself not to cry.

Holly frowned. "Can you talk at all?"

I shook my head again and then gasped as her fingers touched the bruises from my broken ribs. I curled away from her and refused to look her way.

She tapped my arm, her voice soft as silk. "Eirenae, please let me look. I want to help you."

I shook my head. Underneath the clothes I wore, my skin was covered in bruises, scars, angry red marks, and dried blood. I was disgusting and nothing she said or did would change that. I knew when she saw them she'd freak out and go tell the boy from before. It'll become a cycle. A circle I can't escape from.

I tried to fight against her as she turned me onto my back, but I was weak. She paused and lifted her hands, letting me curl back up into my ball. She let out a sigh, but I could hear it was more out of concern than annoyance.

"Eirenae," she whispered gently, "please let me help."

I was shaking, my anxiety, fear, and pain coming together. But she was patient, gentle, as she let me work it out with myself and coax me to return to my back. I exhaled long, focusing not on the stabbing through my rib cage but instead the color of Holly's eyes.

They were brown, but they almost seemed to glow. Not like in a creepy way, but in a genuine way that let you know she really cared about you, and how you were doing inside as well as outside.

I blinked slow, reminding myself again that I decided to let them help. I was here to get away from Jack and every problem I had living there.

Holly waited patient as ever until I finally relaxed a little more.

"I need to check everything, to make sure I don't miss anywhere so we can start to fix you up, but if you're ever uncomfortable, don't hesitate to tell me. Touch my arm, raise a hand, whatever you want. I'll pause and we'll go from there, okay?" After a moment, and a few more deep breaths, I nodded, giving her permission to continue.

She gently grabbed the hem of my shirt, sliding it up a bit. If I flinched, winced, or even sucked in a breath, she stopped, letting me make the rules for how far and how fast. She'd wait until I nodded before she continued. The entire time, I watched her movements carefully, but when she got far enough for the marks — new and old, faded and red, bruised and scabbed — to be visible, I averted my eyes. I didn't want to watch her expression change when she saw the story of my life displayed on and under my skin.

I heard Holly inhale sharply, but she tried to cover her shock. "This is more than some childhood clumsiness." I look her in the eye and I finally admit it to someone. While not spoken out loud, it's enough to wet her eyes.

After we both take a breath, she continues her check. She gently lifts my to my side to see my back, which has got to be just as bad, if not worse, than my stomach and chest. I've never really seen that part of me clearly.

Lying me back down, she moves on to my limbs. When she reaches my wrist, I hiss the second a gloved finger makes contact. She pulls back and I lift the arm for her.

"Oh, Luna." She breathed, and I brushed off the name this time. "Who did all of this? Who's been hurting you?"

I wanted to tell her but no words came out of my mouth. Words hadn't been on my side in so long, and I felt helpless. Instead, I burst into tears. I was so angry and so upset at everything. I was angry at Jack for ruining my life. I was angry at him for beating me and making me move so much. I was angry at Scary Guy and his friends for persuading me to get help. But I was also upset that most of my life had been ruined. I was upset that I had to carry the burden of the scars that covered my body. I was angry and sad and helpless. All I could do was cry.

"It's going to be okay," Holly said gently. She placed a hand on my shoulder. I forgot about the pain that I felt all over my body and threw my arms around her (although I kept my left arm from touching her back).

Holly didn't pull me away. She didn't speak. She didn't even move. She just let me be as I cried on her shoulder.