77. Darkness

77. Darkness
Raelyn’s pov

It’s hard to describe what I was thinking, maybe because it wasn’t so much a thought as a feeling.

I always imagined once Torin and I took this next step, there would be moments where I felt hesitant or moments where I would be reminded of what happened with Dylan and I would need Torin to keep me grounded.

But I knew he’d be there for me. That he would be patient with me.

But I never imagined this.

It almost felt like I was unable to think. There was this instinctual gut feeling inside of me. This need to be as close as possible to Torin; this need to have him inside of me. His teeth in my neck, his seed inside me.

It felt almost animalistic, and once I decided to just let this feeling take over, I experienced more pleasure than I ever had.

To be in control of my own body, to have permission to use Torin’s body… It gave me a sense of confidence and a feeling of power that made everything more intense.

And when Torin bit into my neck, I didn’t experience pain. Instead I experienced another orgasm, one that made my eyes roll to the back of my head and made me feel dizzy.

So dizzy that everything turned black.

Strangely enough, I didn’t panic. I just felt peace all around me.

I did panic, however, when I suddenly heard Grandma’s voice.

“Raelyn, my child, you’ve grown into such a beautiful woman. You look so much like your mother.”

The darkness was all around me. Was I dreaming? Why did it feel like I wasn’t in the woods anymore?

“Grandma?” I asked, feeling like I was losing my mind. I knew sex could be good, but I didn’t think I’d go crazy because of it.

“I am here, Rae. You’re alright.”

What was dark before now began to change. As if my eyes were adjusting to the darkness. And then I saw her.

My grandma was walking towards me…

“What is going on, Grandma?” I didn’t like this. Where was Torin?

She chuckled, “I’m still dead. And no, you’re not dead. I’m just here to explain a few things. I volunteered, actually.”

“Grandma, I love you, but could you get to the point, because I am freaking out!”

Grandma came closer and placed her hand on my arm. I am sorry for everything you’ve endured while I was gone. I always kept an eye on you.”

“From heaven?”

She shook her head, “no… Normally when witches die, their souls become part of the earth’s magic. But because of my bond to you and your parents, your Goddess allowed me to stay on the moon.”

“On the literal moon? Like as an astronaut?”

Grandma laughed, “there is a lot you can’t see, my child. But no, not as an astronaut. My spirit traveled there. Just as your spirit traveled here to speak to me.” She paused as if she wasn’t sure how to explain it. “I am here to help, and once I am finished, I will go join my sisters and children.”

“So you’ll be gone? For good?” I felt a tear slide across my cheek. How am I able to cry?

“It’s where I was meant to be. I’m a witch, honey, not a wolf. I belong here on earth.”

Your Goddess… She said…

“Am I…?”

“A werewolf, yes.” Grandma replied. “A very special werewolf.”

“That’s why you hid me?”

She nodded, “only with your mate would you be able to tap into your full strength. You will need to mark Torin, and then you need to head home.”

“Home?”

She smiled at me and sat down on the ground, motioning for me to do the same. “I wish I could tell you everything, but you have to go on this journey yourself. Your wolf will explain the rest.”

“My wolf…” I sat there feeling dazed. My wolf… what the hell… I have a wolf.

“Yes, Rae. Your wolf. You needed to be marked before she could come out.”

“Why? Who is after me?”

She sighed, “not all alphas are as kind as your mate. Many crave power more than anything.” She looked at me as she took both my hands in hers. “There would have been wars to fight for the chance to mark you. Without guidance and protection from your parents, I wasn’t sure how you would be able to fight everyone off. I…” My grandma wept, “I have seen so much suffering, Rae. So many women who have suffered because of men. And yet, despite all my power, I still couldn’t protect you from getting hurt.”

“I’m okay,” I tried to reassure her.

“I protected you from your own species, and you were harmed by a human.” She scoffed. “If you would have had your full strength…”

I stopped my grandma from blaming herself, “it wasn’t your fault. It wasn’t mine either. The only one to blame is Dylan. And I am safe now. And happy with Torin. Is he okay, by the way?”

She wiped the tears from her face, “he’s freaking out, but okay.”

“Did you see all that too?” I asked, feeling mortified.

She chuckled and winked at me, “you deserve your privacy. Besides, I’m not Willow.”

That made me laugh and feel more at ease.

“I’ve missed your laugh.”

“I’ve missed you,” I admitted. “Thank you for caring for me. For keeping me safe. For giving me your years. You could have lived for much longer.”

She shrugged, “I had lived long enough. It was worth it to keep you safe. I love you, Raelyn. Blood or no blood.”

“I love you too, Grandma.” I wanted to say more. So much more, but she was gone. She sat right next to me, and then she was gone, and everything was black again.

But I had no time to call for her or be sad, because seconds later I had left that dark place as well and was in Torin’s arms, who was shaking me, trying to wake me up.

I felt this anxiety through my body, this fear that I might lose him.

“Tor?”

“Oh, Goddess… Thank you, thank you.” He held me close and then let me go to study my face for signs of I don’t know what. “Are you okay? I’m so sorry.”

“I’m okay,” I smiled.

I looked around to see we were still outside. And I was still naked.

“How long was I gone?”

“A minute?” Torin replied. “Maybe longer.”

To me it had felt like I had been gone thirty minutes at least. It had to be a dream. I mean, if I had a wolf, I would feel something, right? I'd feel different.

Besides, the whole thing was crazy. Talking to my grandma?

“What is it?” Torin asked.

I shook my head, “no, just, -“ And just when I wanted to tell him about my crazy dream, I felt something snap inside my wrist.

I screamed out in pain, unable to even tell Torin what was going on when another bone began to break inside of me. I had broken enough bones to know what it felt like, but had never broken on their own.

I felt this insane amount of fear, unsure of what was going on.

Another bone broke, and then my skin began to itch as if I had been rolling around in nettles.

“It…. hurts.” It took so much effort to speak.

More bones were breaking, and I was too scared to even look at my body. I imagined it looked like something out of a horror movie.

I felt relief, which was crazy, because I was pretty sure I was dying. But I had no time to think about any of it, because it felt like my jaw was breaking.