Lume-McMain Estate
Noah was running - more like limping through the Forbidden Mountains. His heart pounded in his chest as he made his way through the fog.
He had one hand wrapped around his leg to stench the bleeding and the other hand held out in front of him blindly to catch branches.
Noah's cheek was also bleeding heavily, dripping down his face onto his clothes.
In his wake, he left a bloody trail.
Behind him, he could hear Myron gaining on him. Branches were snapping and he could see wisps of his shadows slithering between trees.
His body pumping with adrenaline - his only thought was to get away as fast as he could.
No matter how far or fast he though he was moving, Myron kept coming closer and closer.
Noah cried out when he tripped over a tree root landing on his side. He tried to push himself up but he couldn't move, his head was throbbing and his legs were refusing to cooperate.
Myron burst into the clearing brandishing his weapons. Instead of stooping to stab him in the chest, he pressed the tip of the blade to his neck.
Noah opened his mouth to cry out or scream but Myron covered his mouth to prevent any sound from escaping.
All Noah could do was let tears stream down his face as Myron's blade moved against his neck. Warm blood flowed from the wounds soaking his shirt.
Stars danced across Noah's vision and he could hardly keep his eyes open. I must be dying.
Then Myron leaned closer, his warm breath sending chills up Noah's spine.
"I'm sorry."
Darkness.
....
Noah startled awake expecting to see Myron leaning over him, instead he saw his mother and sister.
His mom looked as though she aged ten years, she had more frown lines around her mouth and more wrinkles in the corners of her eyes. Her hair was pulled into a messy bun and her dress was wrinkled.
A smile lit up her face. "N-Noah?" she wrapped her arms around his neck. "I was so worried! I thought we'd lost you like your father!"
Noah opened his mouth to answer but a stinging pain bloomed on his neck, he yelped.
His mom pulled away startled, her eyes scanning him. "is something wrong? Did I reopen a cut?" she covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face. "Oh, my goodness. I'm horrible. I'll go fetch Shay and Stan - they're waiting for you to wake - Stan will fix you!"
Then his mom raced from the room. His little sister climbed onto the bed with a stuffed bear tucked under one arm.
She frowned at him. "You're not bleeding - are you?"
At ten, Prim was too observant for her own good. She sat beside him placing her teddy bear in her lap. Her hair that she dyed blue had been cut shorter than he remembered, nearly reaching her shoulders.
Prim caught him looking and pursed her lips. "Does my hair look that bad?" she tugged nervously on a curl. "I tried to get a pixie cut but Mother forbade it - taking care of this hair is exhausting."
"You know we have maids, right?" Noah chuckled.
"Pfft. So they can pull my hair out by the roots?! No thanks." Prim adjusted her teddy's blue bow. "But, enough about me and my bad hair days - what happened?"
Noah swallowed. "I-"
"Don't tell me you don't remember. I understand it was traumatic," her tone softened and she continued. "Shay was also injured and suffered a concussion. So if you have to pull memories from your butt - I don't care. We need to know who was behind this." Prim held out her bear. "You can hold Mr.Stuffy if you need to."
Noah reached up to take the bear and the blanket fell back revealing his neck.
Had Stan been able to fix that?
Was there a mark?
Based on Prim's livid expression there was something. Her cheeks were flushed a bright crimson and her chest was rising and falling rapidly.
"P-Prim?"
"Who the hell is Myron?!" she seethed, "Why would he carve his name on you?"
Oh, so that hadn't been a dream.
Why did Myron say, "I'm sorry."
Noah kept his gaze on the teddy trying to calm his racing heart.
Prim sounded worried. "N-Noah?"
Sweat was beading on his forehead and his heart refused to slow. The hands holding the teddy bear were shaking horribly.
"Noah!" Prim choked on a cry. "Noah!"
The teddy fell from his hands.
The room tilted.
Double Prim races out of the room shouting for their mom.
The last thing he heard was Myron's voice whispering,
"I'm sorry."
...
When Noah came to the sun had fallen and a candle lit the room.
Instead of his family waiting to greet him it was Shay. He looked exhausted but strong.
"Hey."
"Hey." Shay smiled. "Your mom and sister are asleep. Stan had to go home - but he told you to take it easy. You had a panic attack."
"O-Oh." Noah slowly pushed himself into a sitting position.
Shay's smile wavered when his gaze landed on the brand Myron gave him. Noah flicked up the collar of his shirt.
"Would you happen to know if there's any dinner?"
"I'll...uh..go look."
Shay hurried from the room.
Noah hated the distance between them - it felt odd and stiff. When he thought about going after Shay to apologize and kiss him passionately - the brand on his neck began to burn.
Then it clicked- this wasn't any normal brand.
It's known that when Wolverine's find a mate they brand them. This prevents them from falling in love with anyone but them.
Myron didn't just brand him - the Shadow Prince claimed him.