{twelve}

                                    

                                          
© 2015 by Nique Joaquin. All rights reserved.
                          
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Ari takes a deep breath before chanting something barely audible. An involuntary snarl is ripped from my mouth and my eyes widen at the sound.
                          
            "Maddox... The Sentinels' markings... they're on her." Ari says and Maddox's eyes widen as he looks down at my body. I raise an eyebrow before following his gaze to my arms.
                          
            On them are etchings, similar to the ones on the children... but they're glowing underneath my skin. Line after line after line of them. Maddox reaches out for me and I flinch whilst a low growl escapes my lips.
                          
            "Elair... Calm down." Ari tells me and I feel a rush of energy course through me. A female's voice in my head suddenly speaks out.
                          
            "Elair, sit still!" I put my hands to my ears and close my eyes.
                          
            "You need to behave!" The voice in my head screams and a cold sensation runs down my spine.
                          
            "I cannot afford another disappointment..." The voice whispers into my ears. "You are my only hope my dear, dear Elair."
                          
            "You will be perfect. The best of our collection..." Another voice, this one male, says.
                          
            "Sit perfectly still..." Someone whispers and I hear the sound of childrens' screams all around me.
                          
            "Nothing else matters to us." A voice tells me and from behind me I feel a hand trace my bones. "Remember, Elair... nothing else..." A large voice tells me before I feel my entire body being shaken, I open my eyes and find Maddox with his hands gripping my shoulders and I stare into the blazing amber stones in his eyes.
                          
            Once he realizes that I can see him... Maddox takes me into his arms and I feel rigid and stiff. Almost like a stone.
                          
            "I need to run." I hear myself say and Maddox grunts, letting go of me and looking over at Ari for approval. Why? I don't know.
                          
            Ari nods her head solemnly before she speaks.
                          
            "Afterwards... we have something to discuss. I'll get to my readings right now." She says before Maddox nods and drags me out of the office.
                          
            We're out in the woods when Maddox lets go of me and turns around.
                          
            "Shift." He says simply and I fold my arms over my chest.
                          
            "I didn't mean run with my wolf." I say and Maddox whips around and looks me straight in the eyes.
                          
            "What were those things?" He asks me and I shrug.
                          
            "How the hell am I supposed to know? I am just as confused, if not more than you are that I have strange markings on my arms okay?"
                          
            "A part of you recognizes it and I can see the fear in your eyes. You're afraid of it and that means you do remember it."
                          
            "Well, of course I'm afraid, Maddox! My skin is glowing, I'm here with a man who claims to be my mate when I feel little to nothing, I have flashbacks to scenes I can't remember, and not to mention, I have been separated from the family I promised I would protect! So I'm sorry if I can't be the perfect and honest little mate you want me to be!" I shout at him. He gives me a cold look and I roll my eyes.
                          
            "I am trying everything to make you as comfortable as you can be. I called Ari to help you, I've allowed your brother to stay here, I've let you call your own mother for comfort when that in itself can track my entire pack's location down. Not many can say I've given them the leniency to do so."