JADE COLLINS

I laughed at the guy sitting in front of me. I laughed so hard till he looked at me like I was the crazy one, not him.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Hades said putting his palms on my forehead, probably trying to get my temperature. I huffed and pushed his hand off my forehead. "Hades, you're crazy. Werewolves aren't real" I snapped at him, while trying to massage my headache away with my hands.

"You're so not okay" Hades said. "I'm getting the doctor " He said again getting up. I quickly grabbed his hand to stop him from going for the doctor after dropping a time bomb like that on me."Hades, werewolves aren't real" I repeated quietly trying to convince myself this time I think. "Jade, you know deep down and within that what I'm saying is true" Hades told me gently.

"That means..... that mea..... that ..." I started sobbing. I cried because my parents died and I didn't even know the real reason they died until now. I cried because I was angry and I don't know what to do. I cried because no matter how you look at it, it was my fault Aunt May died, little wonder Uncle John hates me.

"There there" Hades patted me awkwardly.

"Everything's going to be fine" he said hugging me. Minutes passed before we discovered we were embracing each other. I moved away in shock. Pushing Hades by surprise."Ummm, thank you" I told him grudgingly, wiping my tears. I heard a knock on the door and the doctor walked in bowing to Hades first before stating I should remain in the hospital for bed rest. I frowned wondering why he had to bow to Hades like he's a god or something..... Oh, I forgot he's an Alpha.

"So you're like a god or something around here" I asked Hades. "No, I'm not a god Jade. I'm just me who is fortunate to lead my pack" he said with a stern face. Thinking about it, this is the first time I can see Hades being serious about something. He must really care for his pack. Clearing my throat, "I would like to go back home. Uncle John is going to kill me " I said, thinking about how I ran from home. Ughhhhh, I was going to get an earful. I'm already tired in advance of what's coming to me in the next few minutes or should I say hours? I don't know how far this place is from home. "You heard what the doctor said Jade, you need bed rest and I'm not letting you go out till you get it" Hades said to me sharply.

I was kind of stunned at first then angry. Who is he to tell me what I can and can't do? "Hades, move away from the bed. I'm going home and there's nothing you can do about it" I told him trying to make my point. "Oh, I'm calling John Black right now. Telling him you're staying here due to unforeseen circumstances " he went on like he didn't hear what I said. I tried sitting up but lay back down when I discovered my head was too heavy for me to carry. Maybe Hades is right. I just want to sleep. I yawned. "Maybe you're right" I frowned over at him. He smirked at me "I'm always right". "Whatever". I waved at him tiredly.

"Hades"

"Hmm"

"You have to tell me the full story of all that is going on" I told him, looking at him with all seriousness. "I deserve to know the truth" I told him. After several beats, he answered like he thought about it. "Yes I will Jade. Now go to sleep, you need your rest". He stroked my curly hair and I got drowsy and went into a deep sleep. A very deep sleep I had indeed.

I dreamt of the past and what could've been.

I dreamt about my parents, there was laughter and joy. I dreamt about Aunt May and Uncle John, happy with Jeanine. Strangely, I also dreamt about Hades, he was also happy with a girl he loved very much. She was really pretty, at least I could tell from what I saw of her back view. I was jealous though which was really surprising because I don't like Hades, at least not in a romantic way. I noticed one thing though. Everyone was happy without me. I wasn't there to partake in any joy or happiness. In fact, I was a stranger. I saw my friends from school, all with their families and I was still a stranger, no one recognized or looked my way twice.

Tears began to well up in my eyes and I began to cry bitterly. I must've really cried a lot because all of a sudden, I felt someone hug me, waking me up from my dream or nightmare.

"Its okay Jade, its okay" The person kept patting my head and my back. Slowly, I came back to reality. I immediately pulled back from Hades angrily. "What are you doing here?" I shouted at him.

Smirking, he replied "I would just pretend I didn't hear that silly ass question".

"Then get out!!!" I shouted at him again. I don't even know why I'm angry. "What?!" Hades exclaimed.

"Please just get out!!!" I screamed crying again this time. "I'm not leaving you no matter what" Hades suddenly spoke softly after I calmed down from my hysteria. I looked at him thinking of what to say to make him leave. I hate being seen when I'm at my lowest. "When did the nightmares start?" He asked sitting on the chair beside my bed.

"The night my parents died" I told him surprising us both. They started the night my parents died. I guess my subconscious adds people I care about to the list in my nightmares. Hades is the only person that knows about my nightmares now. Nodding his head, he asked another question "Do you want to talk about it?" I strangely nodded. He has seen me at my worst, what else is there to lose? Besides I'm scared to go back to sleep. I told him everything that happened in the dream except seeing him. He sighed, playing with the blanket covering me. "Jade, you need to stop blaming yourself for their deaths" Hades said."Infact, if someone was to be blamed, it was me. I was too careless". I looked at him confused and he nodded.

"That day, my father also died and I managed to escape with my life" I looked at him in shock. I guess my memories of that incident wasn't too good and it didn't help that I was told lies surrounding the incident.

I didn't know when Hades dad died, I guess I just didn't want to know because I was caught up in my world. "On that day, I was in the woods stewing off after an argument I had with my dad. I was meant to be in school but I just wanted to get my anger to dissipate before going to school. I was so preoccupied with myself I didn't hear the rogue that sneaked up behind me" I gasped, it would've been so shocking and scary. "That day was my first time warding off an unexpected attack and all the trainings my father and John gave me flew out the window, I suddenly understood why they were always strict during trainings. I fought for my life though and managed to kill the rogue" He took another deep sigh and I squeezed his hand.

"15 rogues came out of the trees and I was going to be dead within minutes. These ones were obviously trained rogues because they were very vicious. They all jumped to attack me at once but a werewolf took the force of the hit and fought them viciously too. That was my dad. I also tried to help but I couldn't do much."

"My dad couldn't fight them alone too because he was trying to protect me and himself from them. All of a sudden a chunk of my back was bitten off by one of the rogues and I fell hard from the pain, in a split second that my dad got distracted, one of the rogues slashed his face and tore his neck" I squeezed his hand again. It must have been very traumatic to see that happen to his father.

"There were 8 rogues left. They were about finishing me off when I heard a noise in the background and I saw your father get out of the car he parked by the border. Oh did I forget to tell you my stupid self went to sulk at the border? Your father was a great warrior before he left the pack. He came and attacked the rogues"

"But they were too many, 2 of the rogues sneaked to the car and that was when I knew your mum and aunt were there. They were trying to drag them out, in the struggle they got them out but they were severely injured due to the struggle, your dad got distracted, he wanted to go save your mum but got killed immediately" I flinched and Hades squeezed my hand. "Your mother screamed as they also killed Aunt May. She really fought off the rogues as best as she could for a human but she was bleeding too much. I guess the remaining 3 rogues heard a noise or their leader or something called them back but they left all of a sudden"

"After about 30minutes when I was so sure I was going to die, Uncle John came to the border devastated, he tried waking your mum up but she was already dead. I called out to him and he took me to the pack hospital " He sighed.

I didn't know what to say after hearing the real story. "But why weren't there guards at the border" I asked him. He shrugged "Beats me because the border is the most protected part of the pack. After studying the rogues for the past few months though, we suspect there's someone working with them. So someone that could give the guards instructions made them leave the post that day and we know it couldn't have been my dad"

So my parents and Aunt May and Uncle Max (Hades father) were brutally murdered. "Why was everyone keeping this from me?"

"Trust me, it's better to live in ignorance of our world, your parents wanted it that way. After they died, your uncle also wanted it that way especially because you didn't exhibit the signs of a werewolf or hybrid werewolf." I looked at him all confused, what stupid signs?

"You didn't have super speed, or sensitive hearing. Infact anytime you got very angry, you didn't shift partially. The only thing I've noticed about you is fast healing" He said looking at me. "Wooooow, this is an eye opener" I sighed looking at Hades. "What about your friend that got stabbed?" I asked.

"Lucas is one of the members of the pack and he's fine. You shouldn't worry about him" Hades told me.I suddenly started feeling sleepy "Okay, I would leave you to sleep Jade. Good night" Hades said standing up."Hades wait!!!" I shouted, grabbing his hand. Wooooow, his hand is strong. What is actually wrong with me?

"What?" Hades cut me off my thoughts. "Can you stay with me?" I asked. I'm really scared of my nightmares coming back."You can lie down on my blanket, not inside" I told him. The bed was big enough to fit 3 people. Hades laughed "are you seriously giving me conditions on the favour you're asking from me?"

"Please? " I said trying to give a puppy dog face. "That doesn't work on me but I'm trying to be nice here so I would stay" he said with a smile. Immediately Hades lay on the bed by my side, I slipped into a peaceful and dreamless sleep.