Chapter Trauma
Trigger Warning: Please be aware there is slight mention of rape in this chapter.
[Arissa's POV]
I couldn't stop my body from reacting to Ivan's touches. It all felt amazing and sent a burst of energy surging through me. It was almost like an exquisite drug, and I wanted more.
Closing my eyes, I let the feeling of pleasure rush through me. This was fine, he wasn't going further than messing with my chest. As long as things didn't progress further, then...
"What are you doing?"
My eyes flew open just as Ivan easily undid my pants. With that single movement, fear rushed through me.
It was almost as if I was floating outside of my body. I could see myself arguing with Ivan and him responding, but I couldn't hear a thing over the ringing in my ears.
I don't know why, but something in me snapped in that moment, and images of that night with Gillians future beta began to overcome me.
Maybe it was because I was currently weakened from overusing my abilities, or maybe it was from being in heat a few days ago. Either way, the images were sucking me into my head and I couldn't make it stop.
When I opened my eyes, I was back in that damn room with the chains tied tightly around my bleeding and raw wrists. There was no window or light, allowing me to know what time of day it was or how long I had been there. Time ceased to exist when I was in this room.
"Wake up.” I murmured, squeezing my eyes shut and then opening them. "Please, wake up."
I didn't want to relive this again. I didn't want to see what was to come and remain hopeless while it happened.
My heart began to thrum in my chest as the sound knob on my door rattled. I knew what was coming and I prayed that I would wake up before it happened.
I relived this moment far too many times.The moment I truly stopped caring about whether I lived or died, the moment my innocence was snatched from me.
I helplessly watched while the door opened and Tristan sauntered in. His green eyes glowed an otherworldly silver and a smile played on his lips.
"Please..." I whimpered. "Don’t come here."
I remembered that when we were younger, he had threatened to take my first time. At the time, I had thought that I would escape before that happened, but when I came of age, I was still trapped in this damn pack.
"Go away!" I said more forcefully, beginning to struggle.
"Don't be like that, sweetheart.” Tristan murmured, stepping closer to me. "lI won't hurt you as long as you obey me."
I didn't want to obey him. I didn't want him to touch me. I wanted to escape, but my strength was gone and he knew it. Only Gillian and Tristan knew about my circumstances. They knew once I used my abilities, I would become useless. I hadn't meant for them to find out, but after a fight when we were younger, it was revealed.
"Stay away from me." I begged, feeling tears beginning to stream down my cheeks. "I don't want it!" Instead of feeling sympathy, Tristan simply laughed. He was thrilled to see me like this. He knew that I hated coming across as weak, and he was taking pleasure in seeing me in this state. It was rare, and if I could help it, it would never happen again.
"If you keep struggling, you're going to break something.” Tristan pointed out, reaching out a hand and touching my cheek.
A shiver of fear rushed through me as I tried to pull away. I didn't want to be touched by a scumbag like him
All the talk stopped as his breathing hitched and he leaned in close enough to nibble at my ear, leading right to the part that ruined me for life.
[lvan's POV]
I looked around in the darkness, quickly finding Arissa. She was chained to a bed, and some asshole was kissing her neck while she begged him not to.
What the fuck was this? Was this an actual memory or some type of dream? And if it was real, I would be sure to find this asshole and kill him.
As I continued to watch, things grew increasingly worse, and I found myself wanting to help her. However, I knew that nothing I did would help. This most likely had already happened, and there was no saving her.
Closing my eyes, I broke the connection and found myself sitting on the floor of my bathroom with her in my arms. Whimpers of pain and sorrow escaped her, sending stabbing pain straight through my heart.
"Wake up.” I murmured, beginning to shake her. "You need to wake up!"
If I could at least wake her, then I could at least spare her from going through that trauma again. "Arissa, wake your ass up." I continued to push. "If you don't, I'm going to spank you."
I wasn't sure if this threat would work, but I needed to try it. Anything that she hated or found repulsive should do the trick.
"Don't..." She panted, her eyes fluttering.
Was it working? Did this mean that she was reacting to my words?
"I will if you don’t wake up right now." I continued to push.
For a moment, I held my breath as her eyes fluttered some more. Before long, they opened and immediately narrowed. She watched me with fear and disgust, but at least she was awake and no longer experiencing that experience.
"If you try it, I will break your hands.” She growled, starting to try to fight her way out of my hold. Though she tried to seem unphased, I knew she was still shaken from the memory that she had just relived.
"Why are you clinging to me?" She asked. Let go. "
"I refuse.”
Now that she was awake and seemed to be recovering, I wanted to question her about what I saw. I didn't care if she found me invasive again. I needed to know who that man was and how to find him. He wouldn't be allowed to live for doing something so disgusting.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" She asked hesitantly. I could tell by the darkening of her eyes that she was about to go on defense and needed to try to keep her relaxed.
"Arissa,” I began, deciding to just jump into it. "I saw something just now.”
I watched as all the color drained from her face and her eyes widened. Her pink lips pressed into a thin line, and her beautiful eyes seemed to glaze over.
"What did I tell you about prying last time?" She hissed, beginning to try to fight herself free again. "My past has nothing to do with you!"
"I don't care if it does or not.” I responded easily. "However, what does have something to do with me is someone forcing themselves on a woman who clearly isn't wanting them."
I understood that Arissa was an omega, and as one, she was basically no longer a person, but a thing for reproduction. Although I understood that, that didn't mean that I approved of something as vile as rape. Especially when it wasn't the blood moon.
"Please just forget what you saw.” She said quietly, taking me by surprise.
Since meeting her again, I had never heard such vulnerability in her. But here she was showing her weak side, as her wide eyes met mine pleadingly.
"I can't forget something like that." I responded. "I'm sorry. Whoever that bastard was needs to be killed and made an example of, he can't continue to walk this earth.”