Tormented Souls

Tormented Souls

Alpha Maximus POV

I leave her only for a moment. I need to step away from her cries. The torment in her soul, it pains me in a certain way that it should not. I cannot bear seeing her lying there in pain and crying out for my brother, but I have to do this for Kayla, my brother, and his pack. I have to be loyal to her.

One of the few wolves left here, an Omega named Char, goes into the bedroom to sit with her to give me a break. I need just a few moments to pull myself together. I need to regroup so I can be one hundred percent for her when she wakes up and wants answers. I know she was there, and I know she saw everything that happened, but the burning question is, how much does she remember? The other question is, how will I have the courage to tell her everything that she does not remember?

I take a deep breath and walk out onto the porch. I settle into a chair and look out over the vast land, surrounded by beautiful woods. I remember shifting for the first time on this porch and running as fast as possible to those woods. My father ran behind me, and we ran for miles. It is one of the few times he and I shared a moment, and then, not too long after that, I left and took my place with my pack. I have no regrets. I know I did not belong here. I never fit in with my family or my brothers. I was different. Who am I kidding? I am still different from Marcus. I will never be like them, not that it matters now.

"Alpha Maximus, she is awake and crying," Char screams as she comes through the front door.

I leap to my feet and follow her back to the bedroom. When I step into the bedroom, Kayla is screaming and crying. She is trying to move her body. She sees me and screams a blood-curdling scream. "HELP!" She screams out.

I go to her and kneel beside her bed. "I am not here to hurt you. I brought you here. Do you remember anything?" I ask her.

Her breathing is all over the place. "I ... I cannot remember. Wait, Candy? Soran? Where is my mother? Where am I?" she says as she is looking around, questioning her own sanity.

I take her hand and motion for Char to come closer. "This is Char. She is one of the only wolves left of Soran's pack. I am Alpha Maximus. I am Soran's brother," I say to her. There is so much more to tell her, but I think it is better to give her a little information at a time and not bombard her with everything that happened at once. I have a feeling the floodgates will open soon enough, and she will remember everything.

She holds the blanket against her body tightly. Char bathed her and put some clothes on her, but I am sure she is wondering many things, including who's clothes she is wearing.

Her eyes seem to be moving a million different ways. "I am not in my room," she says.

"No, this was my parent's room and the house, and this room belongs to you now," I say.

"To Soran and me, I know, but I do not remember coming here," Kayla says.

She looks down at her arms and her wrist, and she begins inspecting her body. "What is the last thing you remember?" I ask her.

A lightbulb seems to go off over her head, and she screams out. "SORAN!" she screams. She begins to make a bubbling sound and sobbing. I take her into my arms, and she screams louder. I hold her against my better judgment until she finally settles down and lays her head into me.

"He killed my Soran," she whispers. She keeps repeating his name.

"I am so sorry, Kayla," I say to her as I continue to hold her.

I motion for Char to leave us, there is much more for us to talk about, and we should probably do it in private. I had not planned to go into any details today, but since she is awake and trying to remember, maybe I should.

"He wanted me to choose between Soran and my sister, but Soran told him to let Candy live. He gave his life for hers, but it was a lie! He killed her," Kayla continues. Her heart is breaking, and so is mine, as she relives all of the horrible things that happened on her wedding day.

"I brought your sister here and buried her," I tell her. She pulls away from me. She looks into my eyes.

"Thank you for that. Soran is here?" she asks.

"Yes. We cremated my parents, Soran, and your sister together. I gathered the ashes, and they are buried here on your land," I say to her.

"Will you show me where?" Kayla asks.

"I will show you when you are better. I am staying here with you until you are on your feet, and we have everything running smoothly here for you," I say.

"What do you mean?" Kayla asks me.

"The pack land is yours. My brother, Marcus, and I want to make sure you have a place that is yours. Soran would want you to have it. I know he loved you," I say.

Kayla lays back down and sinks into the pillow. "I want to rest now if that is okay?" she asks as if I would say no to her. She needs to rest, and she needs to recover.

"I will be on the front porch. Char is in the kitchen cooking. If you need anything, we will be close by for you," I say to her.

She nods her head. I walk out of the door and start to close it. I hear her begin to cry as I go out of the room. Maybe she needs to cry alone instead of with someone on top of her. Perhaps she needs to grieve her husband, and she may just need to grieve the fact Ranon tortured her.

Char is in the kitchen, cooking as I make my way back to the front porch to give her quiet or give myself quiet. I am not sure what I need right now, but I have to find the strength to be here for her.

I sit outside for over an hour. I can smell the food Char is cooking, and I think maybe I should eat something. I get out of my chair, and Kayla is standing at the door. She is wearing a long white gown that Char brought over for Kayla.

She comes through the door to the porch and joins me. "I have been watching you for a few minutes. I did not want to disturb you," Kayla says.

"I want you to disturb me. I am here for you," I tell her. I reach for her hand and lead her into a chair next to mine. I sit back down next to her.

"Are you okay?" I ask her.

Tears begin forming in her eyes. "I am not sure. I remember everything. I remember the screams of my family and how Soran died. Ranon butchered him, and he let his wolves rape my sister. Why?" Kayla questions.

"I do not know why he did what he did, but he did pay for it," I say. I know killing Alpha Ranon is not a comfort after what Kayla has been through, but maybe it will help her heal somewhat.

"Now, here I am with what ten wolves and a pack to run, with no husband and no family. I am crushed. I have no idea what I am supposed to do now. I am lost, Alpha Max," Kayla says.

I take her hand. "I will stay as long as you need me," I say.

I look into her eyes as I hold her hand. When my wolf decides to get involved, I am only trying to comfort her and give her some peace. I can feel my wolf howling as I look into her eyes. Fuck, this cannot be happening to me now. I am here to help her, not ... NO! NO! NO! My wolf is screaming for her. MATE!

"Mate," she whispers.