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Ariels POV

Every morning Raphie is up and gone. He doesn't stay long and Mari is always making us breakfast. I don't particularly like it, but she's there of her own free will according to Raphie, she offers to be there.

The only time I really spend with Raphie is when he's doing his morning shower. I'll sit in there and talk to him, not that he says much back, before leaving to do whatever I want before he leaves for the day.

When he comes back we mostly avoid each other. Or at least, I avoid him. It's easier to talk to him when I don't have to see him.

Parker is fun though. We're always doing something. He taught me some new video games which I am now beating him in. And we've ordered food to the house before, even though we apparently weren't allowed. Ah well. Why have rules when no one breaks them?

It's been a week of the same routine, although, I finally got my stuff. The problem was unpacking it into someone else's already full room.

Raphie didn't sleep with me anymore. I took his bed and he took a guest bedroom, besides that, we did everything in the same room. I even shared his big bathroom. I'm pretty sure my things take up about ten times more space than his.

I look over at Parker who's snacking on popcorn I had made for the two of us. We're watching some movie I don't understand so I'm not really paying attention. Although, Parker loves it. I find it a little scary, there's a bunch of monsters kinda like Godzilla monsters. And they're coming out of the ocean or something and people are fighting them on big machines and... It's scary. And by scary I mean terrifying.

I hide my face behind a blanket most of the time and go on my phone.

"Oh come on Ariel, it ain't that bad." Parker says.

I move the blanket a little, right for another terrifying scene. I scream and hide myself back under the blanket, a few tears pricking my eyes of fear.

I wasn't scared of many things. But movies like Godzilla, and this one, and Jurassic Park just scared the living shit out of me. Horror movies I could even get past without being very scared, but not these ones.

"Ariel..." Parker says slowly. "It's an okay part now."

I pull the blanket down and start to watch again. One of the monstrous things is dead... I think. And people are like... Inspecting it? Ugh. This is so gross too.

"What's this movie called again?" I whisper.

"Pacific Rim." Parker replies happily.

I take out my phone and add it to my notes as a 'never watch this movie.'

"THERES A BABY!?" I shriek as the thing comes out and starts going after a guy that fell.

"It's just a movie Ariel! Now shut up and watch." Parker groans.

I watch as the umbilical cord strangles it. Some guy walks up and says a few words and then he's eaten by the what they thought was dead baby. Which results to another scream and the blanket goes right back over my head. Tears threatening to stream down my face, Raphie was working late so of course we watch this at night.

"Parker," Raphie's voice comes out of no where, it's deep, almost a growl. "Can you not see she's terrified?"

"Well... Not really. She kinda has a blanket over her face." Parker mumbles.

"Ariel?" Raphie says softly. The couch dips beside me and I shudder, my thoughts on the big creatures from the movie.

I'm pulled into is lap, his strong arms encircling me. He isn't much of one to be comforting, I know that. But for some reason now he is. He holds me close and I bury my face into the crook of his neck. I'm going to have such bad nightmares tonight.

They keep watching the movie, though I don't. I stay in Raphael's lap, on my phone, not even bothering to look when Parker says I should.

Sometimes, when I heard a sudden noise from the movie or even the house like the air coming on, I'd jump. Raphie would just hold me a little tighter in response.

The movie ends after a total of two hours of torture. That's when Parker decides to leave. I stay in Raphie's arms, immersed in my phone. I hardly notice the little movement it takes for him to pick me up.

"What are you doing?" I inquire.

"Taking you to bed." He replies simply.

"I can walk."

"I can carry you."

I simply go back to my phone. No point in arguing, I'm too tired to keep up a good one. I click my phone off when we get into Raphie's room and he sets me on the bed.

I watch as he pulls out pajamas for myself and him. He hands me mine before leaving the room, probably not coming back for the night.

***

I wake up in a black room. My heart pounding wildly from my terrifying dream. Of course that damn movie gave me nightmares. I can faintly see my arms glisten in a layer of cold sweat. The moonlight seeps through the curtains in an enchanting way, but looking outside scares me. As does all the strange shadows.

Aubrey isn't even here to help me this time.

In the back of my mind, the little voice says, 'but you have Raphael.'

And almost instantly, that's where I go. I pick up my stuffed animal and soft blanket, childish, I know. But Aubrey gave me this stuffed bear and it was so comforting to have something to hold at night that the bear became permanent.

I fearfully open the door, waiting for something to get me. But nothing happens.

So, two fears on the list. These movies. And the nightmares that I foolishly make realities later.

I quickly make my way to Raphie's room. I open the almost closed door and look at the bed where his silhouette lays. Realizing I don't want to disrupt him, I debate whether or not to go back.

"It's nearly three AM Ariel, what's wrong?" His voice says groggily. I fiddle with my bear in one hand and the other hand tightens around the blanket, keeping it on my shoulders.

"I... Had a bad dream." I whisper.

Raphie looks over and I can hardly see his face in the darkness, even though my eyes had adjusted and my wolf vision was coming into play, like it needed a warm up to work properly after I had woken up.

"Come here." Raphie says softly, outstretching an arm. I'm quick to crawl over and snuggle into a warm embrace. Look, when Aubrey can't be there, Raphie will. Even if you don't like him much, he still makes you feel safe, that's what I tell myself.

The sun doesn't shine through this window in the morning, but that doesn't stop something else from waking me up instead. This time it's people coming inside downstairs.

Though, Raphie hasn't left my side. His arms are still wrapped tightly around me.

"Are you still scared?" He asks softly.

"A little." I murmur honestly.

"It's Saturday, I don't have to work. I'll stay with you."

Being like this with him is just weird... Well, it's also very comforting. But still weird.

"Who's downstairs?"

"Parker and Liam..." He pauses for a moment. "And their mates."

"Parker has a mate?" I can't help but giggle. The thought makes me laugh, Parker having a mate.

"Yes. And Mari's already made breakfast."

I nod a little and roll out of his arms and the bed. Holding my bear and blanket around my shoulders, I walk back to Raphael's room, him following. I'm surprised he doesn't ask about my beloved objects. But then again, Raphie doesn't ask many questions, he more just answers mine.

I pull out clothes and go into the bathroom to change. My hair is an absolute mess so I throw it into a messy bun to hide it. When I walk back out, Raphael has already finished changing and is just waiting for me.

"Ready to meet our betas? And Parkers mate?"

I just nod. I'm not particularly sure if I'm ready. But I'm not going to say no. We walk downstairs and into the dining room where they are. I'm confused at first, three new people awaiting. Though... Two are guys, and only one is a girl. Before I can even be confused, the girl comes right up to me.

"Hullo Luna! I'm Anastasia! But most people call me Ana." She smiles brightly, dark brown waves stop at her shoulders and her brown eyes shine. She looks South American. "Oh, I'm beta female."

"Hi..." I lean away instinctively. I don't like meeting new people.

"You're daughter to the infamous Blaire aren't you?" She tilts her head.

"Yeah." I say quietly. Everyone knows mom and Uncle James and their story, meaning, everyone knows me. I hate it.

"You don't look much like her. You look-"

"More like my dad. I know." I interrupt. "Aubrey got mom's looks."

Ana keeps on smiling. I'd say it was contagious, but it really wasn't. I just wanted to eat. Food over people. Food over almost anything else actually. Thankfully, Raphie comes over with two plates, one for me and one for him. I take the opportunity to sit and eat my breakfast happily.

"I'm Liam, your beta, Luna Ar-"

"Don't call me Luna. I don't like it." I interrupt. "It's just Ariel."

"Ariel." He echoes, nodding his head. Brown hair flopping a little as he does. It's a weird cut, the sides shaved and the top part pushed back.

I glance at Parker expectantly and then I realize, the other guy must be Parkers mate! Parker looks shy, which is very much not like him.

"You aren't homophobic are you?" He blurts.

I giggle at his nervousness. Lil' Parker, may be older than me but acts like a six year old. Maybe that's why we get along so well, childish minds uniting forces.

"No you butt. Now introduce me to your mate!" I smile up at his mate happily. He wasn't as scary as Ana. Not that Ana looked scary, she was just very... Forward. He smiles back kindly.

"Ariel, this is Justin, Justin, our Luna, Ariel." Parker beams.

"Sorry he's stuck with me all day. I don't mind third wheeling though, you can come visit." I smile at Justin.

He chuckles in response. "I'll keep that in mind." He replies.

In contrast to Parker, Justin was the opposite. Justin is pale against Parkers tan, surfer look. His dark hair is mostly short and his eyes brown next to Parkers blue ones. Though, I say they both have a fair amount of muscle.

I finish my pancakes and look over at Raphael who's finished his. Now what are we supposed to do? I don't know what to do with these people.

"We were thinking of going out to lunch later!" Ana says happily. Why is she always happy? Life is not always happy. So stop being so... Lively. I don't want to catch some of it.

"Okay." I mumble.

"And I've arranged for us to go shopping!" Ana's eyes light up while I die a little inside. I hate shopping.

But instead, I force a little smile. "Lucky us." Then inside, I die a little more.