***Talon's POV***

I have been working hard with my therapy. I look for the good in myself just like I promised. Sometimes, it's easy. Other times, people's past words overlap my effort. I realize it's not my fault my twin didn't make it. But, people's words make deep cuts. Those words dance in your mind like little ballerinas that are hard to ignore.

I haven't purged in weeks. But, I haven't been eating at school either. I don't want my peers to see me stuffing my face like a cow. I feel their eyes on me. Maybe it's just in my head.

I look in the mirror often. Probably I look too often and for too long. I don't see what Remington sees in me. I'm gross. My hands are small. My legs are short. My arms are too long. I'm disproportioned. My stomach is huge. I'm covered in cellulite. The scale says I'm still underweight. But, scales lie.

My lips are too big for my face. I can't read without glasses. I'm short. I giggle when I'm supposed to be a man. Men don't giggle. He will figure it out. He is gonna leave me when he opens his beautiful blue eyes and sees I'm not good enough for him.

I throw myself on the bed and sigh. It doesn't matter. I knew we wouldn't last forever. That's life. You don't just wake up in a fantasy and get to stay there, happily ever after. That shit is for Wattpad.

I close my eyes and try to concentrate on anything good about myself. That's what Dr. Angela says I have to do. I guess my arms aren't too flabby. They stop flapping like wings after a few minutes. My thighs only rub together if I stand with my ankles together. My feet aren't all that fat. This is depressing.

Sigh.

Giving up on the therapy for the time being, I decide to go exercise. That always makes me feel better. As I get dressed, I think about all the pros of exercising. I find myself excited as I think about all the calories I will burn when I run.

This is just what I need. I can run for a couple hours and then I will feel better. So, I slip on my joggers and a pair of tights underneath. I throw on my long sleeve dry fit shirt and a hoodie. Then I slide on my socks and lace up my Adidas trainers.

I head to the pack borders and I start with a light jog. After a mile, I run full force into the light winds. I can feel the sweat dripping off my body, melting the disgusting fat off my chubby body.

A few more hours and I will be good.

I run until sundown. I feel lighter. My breathing is labored, signs of a successful session of burning useless weight. My heart pounds erratically and I smile knowing I'm taking care of myself.

When I get done running, I feel tired. I decide to cool down with some walking. I guess I lost track of time. I look and see the dark night blanketing the sky.

I lay in the grass and watch as my chest rises and falls with my breath. I did great. I worked off so many excess pounds. I can't wait until tomorrow after school so I can do this again.

The next few weeks I carry on with my running routine. Remi is busy with Alpha duties and I meet him at night for bed. I'm so tired from my hard work that I fall asleep immediately.

Again, on Wednesday I fall easily into my routine. I'm doing so good. I can run for hours and I feel myself getting healthier. I don't even need to eat during the day because my body is burning all the fat cells that I have stored.

On Thursday I wake up light headed. Ugh, it feels yucky. I drink some water and go about my daily schedule hoping the day goes by. I can hear my running shoes calling my name.

When school lets out, I go straight home and dress for my new favorite activity. I don't bother jogging. More running means more calories gone. I smile as I pick up speed.

When, I feel tired I let those tiny ballerinas spin beautifully in my mind. The words they sing at me give me motivation to run harder.

Bitch

Pig

Fat Ass

Obese

Fatty

Hog

Glutton

Gross

Unloveable

I run so hard that I feel like I am flying. I can't feel my feet hit the ground anymore. I'm so light. It's amazing and freeing. I gasp for breath as I enjoy the adrenaline that is coursing thru my veins.

Black dots sparkle in front of my eyes as sweat fills my layers of clothing. I smile widely as I encourage myself. I am finally in control. I can finally beat this. I can finally lose the weight.

Then I can't feel my feet or my legs at all. I smile wider. My world goes dark.

"Talon" a loud strangled voice yells.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

"Talon!" The loud voice booms thru the air.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

"He is waking, give him a few minutes." The soft voice speaks.

My eyes creek open and I am surrounded by watchful stares.

"Fuck, Talon." Remi comes in to view.

"Remi." I whisper.

"What the fuck were you doing?" My Dad's voice screeches.

"Where am I?" I croak out.

"You are at the pack hospital, sweetheart." I see Nurse Jenny.

I smile at her and my head starts pounding.

"Shhhh, just relax." Talon's mom Cass speaks.

"Luna." I reach for her hand. She gently clasps my hand and I sigh at her warmth.

"Why am I here?" I question as I look around the room.

Mom, Dad, Remi, Luna, Jenny, Dr. Angela and Alpha are here.

"Dr. Angela?" I ask incredulously.

"Talon? How long?" Dr. Angela winces.

"What?" I ask.

"How long have you been abusing your body thru exercise?" Dr. Angela demands.

"I don't understand." I sneer. I'm angry. I'm not hurting anyone. Exercise is good. Everyone agreed I should exercise.

"You are excessively exercising and it's putting a strain on your weak muscles." My mom cries.

"I'm not. I'm only running a couple hours a day. It's good for me. Look, I'm healthy. My clothes fit better. I'm doing a great job." I argue because they choose to look at everything I do negatively.

"Oh goddess." I hear Alpha whisper as he hangs his head in his hands.

I start to sob. My eyes feel hot because tears are building faster than I can spill them. I'm never good enough. Nothing I do is right. I'm worthless.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry I'm so fat. I'm sorry I'm a loser. I'm sorry you didn't get the perfect baby, the perfect mate. I'm horrible. Don't look at me. I'm hideous. I'm sorry I can't please you all. Leave me alone. I wish I was never born." I break like fragile glass between the glassmith's gentle hands.

Someone gasps and I don't bother to acknowledge them. My head pounds and my heart feels like it's going to explode. I open my mouth to suck in oxygen, but it's too far away.

My body shakes as I cry harder than I have ever been able to. I can't breathe. I start grasping at my hair and clenching my hospital gown at my chest. Every breath is leaving and I silently beg it to come back. Those pretty black dots start swaying in the air like glistening stars.

I feel cool and relieved suddenly. I feel the pinch of rubber on my face and suck deeply until I feel breath fill my body. I relax and sigh.

"Panic attack." A new voice says.

I look around and notice Dr. Gibson standing before me.

"Talon." Dr. Gibson speaks softly.

"What happened?" I sniffle.

"You are overwhelmed." The doctor explains. "Your body is under a lot of stress. You are not eating properly. The exercise is too much for your frail heart right now."

"They said I could exercise." I whine. Why are they doing this to me? Why am I not enough?

"You did too much. It's okay. We just have to help you." Dr. Gibson promises.

"I don't want their help. They hate me. They think I'm garbage." I scream.

"Calm down please, Talon. This isn't your fault. We are going to help you." Dr. Gibson urges me. I feel sick.

I lean over and dry heave into my blankets. Bile rises and I choke it out into my lap. My throat burns.

"Get it out, son. It's okay. You're okay." Dr. Gibson rubs my back as I empty the sour acid out of my stomach.

Nurse Jenny walks in and changes my covers before giving me a glass of water.

"Drink slow baby." Jenny instructs me.

"I'm sorry." I whimper.

"This isn't your fault." Jenny coos.

"Yes, it is. I always do everything wrong. You guys hate me." I cry into my hands.

"You are wrong." Jenny accuses me.

"I don't see it that way." I quip.

"Everyone here loves you so damn much. It hurts us to watch you terrorize yourself. You are killing yourself Talon. What will we do without you? Did you think of that? Did you stop to see this thru the eyes of people who fear we will wake up one day without you? Our Luna? Do you understand how much you mean to all of us? This has to stop. We can't let you hurt yourself." Jenny weeps into my shoulder as she rubs my back and brushes my hair out of my face.

I hear her words. They are immediately silenced by the voices of the truth tellers in my life. Those people who bullied me, they did that for my own good. They tried to help me and I got them in trouble. God, I can't even take constructive criticism right. I'm a failure.

"Stop lying!" I scream.

"God damn it Talon. Please. This is ridiculous." Remington yells at me and I stiffen.

"Don't yell." I cry out.

"Please, Talon. I love you so much. Please. I can't lose you." Remington whispers.

I feel my heart yearning to comfort him.

I whimper and make grabby hands for my mate. The minute he engulfs me in a huge hug we both break down in tears.

"I'm sorry. I want to get better." I promised.

"I know." Remington sighs. His hands cup my face as he brings our lips together softly. I could taste the tears on his trembling lips. My wolf, Meka, whines loudly.

I crawl up his body and he immediately situates us in my hospital bed so he is holding me in his lap.

"Talon, how can we help?" Alpha Jamison pleads.

"I don't know." I admit.

"Don't leave me." I beg Remington.

"I'm not going anywhere." Remington stares into my eyes.

"You will. One day you will figure out I'm not enough." I squall.

"Talon, you can't be that oblivious." Remi laughs.

"I prayed for my mate everyday since I was 12. I prayed the moon goddess would give me a man who was beautiful and unique. I prayed for someone who would make me whole. Someone that would be a good Luna is what I asked for. I prayed for someone I could give all my love to. Can you imagine how surprised I was? I find you. You, who is the adorable boy who smiled at me while I poured my heart out about my mate in eighth grade. I'm blessed. You, Talon, are my blessing." Remington says with so much conviction I could not help but believe him.

"I love you Talon Edwin Williams. I thank the goddess for sending you to me. I can't wait until you are my Luna." Remington pecks my lips over and over and over again.

"I love you, Remington Marcus Mathews." I snuggle into his chest. He is warm. The bond radiates and I feel like maybe I made a mistake. Maybe these are the truth tellers in my world.

"I have a problem." I whisper.

"What is it, gorgeous?" Remi asks as he kisses my head.

"I can't control this eating disorder. It's controlling me." I confess to the room full of people. These people, my people, are here because they love me enough to want me whole.

"That's the first step." Dr. Angela smiles.

"Where do we go from here?" I ask.

"Forward, Talon. We move forward." Dr. Angela promises.

"Sounds good." I sigh.