I watched my younger self as my mother shoved me into the closest. The terrifying howls outside piercing through the night like claps of thunder. My mom’s eyes were clouded with fear, “Elena. Listen to mommy. Don’t come out of here no matter what you see or hear.” I watch as the younger me  nodded her head as my mother gave my hand a hard squeeze, “That’s a good girl. Mommy loves you very much.” She backed away and closed the door on the younger me. 

“Wait!” I called out to her as she left the room. I tried to follow after her but there was an invisible wall keeping me in the room, “No! No!” I yelled as I pounded my fists against it. I heard the horrible sound and I back away from the doorway knowing what was coming. My mother came stumbling quickly back through the door bloody and beaten. She fell on the ground in front of me trying to drag herself forward, she was trying to escape. 

A wolf came to the door with a snarl. I felt my legs go weak underneath me and I fell to the floor. I covered my ears and squeezed my eyes shut, “Not again. Not again. Not again.” I mutter to myself praying that I would wake up from this horrible nightmare. 

“Please…” I heard my mom’s muffled plea for mercy. “You were supposed to protect us.” Her statement had me opening eyes. The wolf is no longer a wolf but a man looming over my mother. I had always woken up before this part of the dream. I watched in horror as I looked up at the man. He smiled down at her flashing his canines, “I got a better offer. No hard feelings doll it’s strictly business.” He slashed down at her with his claws hands slashing her across the throat. Blood splashing against the white wall. “MOM!” I screamed covering my mouth with my hand. My body shaking violently as I looked up to see the man standing in front of me, “You are next princess…” I stared up into the eyes of the Alpha. 

“NOOOOOOOOO!” I screamed. 

“Elena…” Someone called my name. 

“No! Stop it!” I yelled thrashing in my captors arms. 

“Elena! Wake up!” Mikhail yelled. My eye popped open and I found him standing over me holding onto my shoulders. I blinked a couple times realizing it was just a nightmare. I couldn’t stop my reaction even if I had wanted too. A sob burst out pass my lips and I closed my eyes wanting to disappear into the bed, “There was so much blood! So much!” 

Mikhail exhaled slowly and then he sat down on the edge of the bed pulling me up into his arms, “It’s okay now. I’m here Elena, I’m here.” He whispered into my ear as he held me close to him, “It was only a dream, baby.” I sobbed into his chest my arms wrapping around him tightly, “It’s my fault…” I sobbed over and over again, “I watched them die…” I say muffled by his chest. 

“Elena” He says my name gently, “It’s not your fault. If you had tried to help them you would have died too.” I knew what he was saying made sense and it was something I had told myself over and over to take away my guilt but still I felt like I should have done more. I pushed my face harder into his chest breathing in deeply. His scent seemed to help me relax and his arms made me feel safe. I didn’t want to need him but I couldn’t deny the fact that I felt a little more whole and a lot less lonely when he was close to me like this. 

“Are you okay now?” he asks with a strained voice. I nod my head against him. He pulled back and looked down at me as if to make sure I was being honest with him. I must have passed his little test because he let out a tiny breath, “You should get back to sleep then since you have an early morning.” He lets go of me and pushes up off of the bed. I reach out quickly and grab onto his hand. He pauses and looks back over his shoulder at me. I bite my lip and keep my eyes trained on our hands, “Could you stay with me?” I ask. 

“Elena—“He says as if he’s going to deny me but I look up into his eyes, “I don’t want to be alone. Please…” His eyes soften as he looks down at me. He comes back to me and I scoot over in the bed to make room for him. He lies down next to me his body pretty tense. I don’t give him time to think to hard about it. I curl up right next to him keep my hand in his and holding onto his arm with my other hand. He stiffens up even more for a moment before relaxing. I feel sheltered by his body heat and I snuggle in a bit deeper, “Goodnight” I whisper as my eyes flutter shut.

When I wake up again I’m extremely warm and I frown trying to throw of the heavy blanket. When it doesn’t budge I open my eyes and find myself staring into Mikhail’s sleeping face. His arm was draped over my body as well as his leg. I was like his own person body pillow. I tried to ignore the butterflies in my stomach at his nearness and the fact that he looked totally edible in his sleeping state. I blew on his face and I watched his muscles twitch a little. I blew some more and he wiggled his nose which made me giggle a little. I took in a deep breath and blew really hard one last time. His eyebrows furrowed before his eyes came open. I gave him a bright playful smile, “Good morning sunshine.” I say overly cheerful on purpose. 

He continues to stare at me for a minute as if trying to figure out why I was right in front of his face. “I really enjoy watching you sleep but has anyone ever told you that you talk in your sleep?” I lie to him and watch is eyes widen a bit so I decide to keep going with it, “Elena. Elena. Elena.” I say my name with a tiny bit of sexual innuendo behind it. I watched a tiny tint of pink rush to his cheeks. Oh that’s funny, he’s totally blushing which means he totally did have a hot dream about me. I feel my own cheeks get a little hot, “…Just Kidding!” I say in his face with a bit of laughter, He slowly untangled himself from me as if I was a ticking time bomb and I tried not roll my eyes at his reaction, “I promise I didn’t take advantage of you while you were sleeping. Scouts honor.” I say holding up three fingers. 

“Are you always like this in the morning?” he grumbles as he get up out of the bed rubbing his hand over his face. I sit up, “No usually I’m grumpy and totally unsociable.” He gives me a look and I smile up at him knowing I’m pushing his buttons already. I don’t know what it is but I do feel unusually great even after having that terrible nightmare. I frown a little, is there something wrong with me? I start to move my arms and then legs to makes sure everything is working correctly. 

“What are you doing?” Mikhail ask me as he raises his eyebrows. I start to probe my body for any signs of aches and pains from my fight with Sasha yesterday but there are none. I’ve never healed this quick before in my life, something is definitely wrong. “Will you stop doing that? You’re starting make me feel like I should be concerned.” Mikhail says with irritation. I look up to him with wide eyes, “I’m totally fine.” I proclaim. 

“Uh-huh and?” He questions crossing his arms over his chest. 

“I mean like I’m really, really fine. No, I’m better than fine. I feel amazing. I feel like I could bungee jump without the bungee and be totally fine.” I’m now standing up on the bed. Mikhail is looking at me like I’ve lost my mind. I motion to myself, “I mean look at me. Do I look any different to you?” He heaves a sigh but then let’s his eyes drift over my body inspecting me. 

“You look like you Elena.” He responds. 

“Yeah but I should have bruises or something left over from my fight with Sasha yesterday but I’m crystal clear.It’s like nothing ever happened.” I continue to rant. 

“So you healed, you’re a werewolf.” He reminds me. I shake my head, “No. I mean yes I am but I don’t heal that fast usually. This is ungodly fast. I mean I’m one hundred percent healed after only a couple of hours. That doesn’t seem odd to you?” 

He stands there silently staring at me like I’m a complete loon. I realize he isn’t going to say anything one way or another even if he does find it odd. I sigh and let my body fall back onto the bed with a bounce, “Nevermind, just ignore the ranting of crazy Elena…” I say dryly, “But I know that it’s not normal.” I mutter under my breath. 

“Take a quick shower and meet me outside in thirty. Don't be late.” Mikhail says before leaving the room without anything else being said.