Life After the Storm
Chapter 56

I don't know what to think, as I'm waiting for him to barge into the bathroom. He never comes. I turn the water on. I let it warm as I feel the heat of the water on my hand, it feels so good. I step into the shower, let the hot water pour over my body. I am shocked how satisfying it feels. As I look down, I see the water turn brown as it is cleaning all the dirt off my body.

As I reach for the soap, it smells of coconut, loving the smell it is incredible. As I fill my hands with soap and rub it all over my body, god, how good it is making me feel. I haven't been this relaxed in a long time. and I don't want to get out of the shower. I could stay in here forever, loving the feeling. Of the heat on my body.

I then hear a door close. It makes me jump, thinking that he is coming in here. I open the shower curtain as my hands are shaking. I am trying to control my shaking hands, but I can't. Fuck I hate how I react to him, he frightens me so badly. I can't help but react this way. I shut the shower off, and I try to listen. To see if I hear anything but its dead silence.

I then go to step out of the shower and search for a towel. Once I replace one, I wrap it around my body. When I go to open the door, I become scared, not sure what is happening. I don't want to open it, but I know I need to be strong. So, I make myself turn the handle to walk out of the bathroom. But when I walk out of the bathroom to the bedroom, no one is there. I'm surprised. Did he just leave really, is this all for real or is it a bad dream? I then open the closet and look for something to wear. I grab a pair of black leggings and an oversized sweatshirt.

As I look around the room, I wonder where the hell he went. I'm so confused by what is happening. I need to figure out what is going on with Ivan. Before when I looked into his eyes, all I saw was darkness and evil, but not this time I saw empathy and love. I have never seen that side of him. I want to go replace him just to see where he has gone.

I'm scared to leave the bedroom, wondering if this is a test to see if I would escape? I hate being so unsure and weak, I need not to be afraid and try to replace a way to fight. I can't live a life in fear of my mate. I need to figure this shit out. Star has been quiet, I'm not sure why, but she isn't talking to me. I know that she is hurt by what our mate has done to us.

My mom would always say, "Lilly, the past is gone, soon to be forgotten. You need to live your life to the fullest. That every minute is precious."

I don't want to live in the past but damn how do I move forward? Every time when I think of my life is finally on track, something explodes and throws it off track. What I do know is I can't stay here. I have to get out of this room. I'm not sure where to go, the only place that I know is Landon.

I rush out the door, hoping he doesn't come back and see me leaving. He seems so different, but it has to be an act. I'm so confused as I'm running to Landon's house, I don't even know if he'll let me in. He is so afraid of Ivan. Everybody is. Maybe if we would all stand up to him, he would finally lose the power he has over all of us.

As I get to Landon's house, I frantically knock, waiting for him to answer. Hoping he doesn't ignore me and opens the door. As I hear the door knob turn and I watch it open, I'm so thankful when I see Landon. "Lilly, what are you doing here, you shouldn't be here?"

"I'm sorry I didn't know where else to go when I got back to check on Ivan. It was like he was a different person, a kind person."

"What are you talking about, people just don't change?"

"When Jayden came to help me, Ivan grabbed hold of Jayden. I panicked and, not thinking, I bit him on the neck in my human form, then realizing I marked him as mine. When He fell to the ground I took off with Jayden, I'm afraid of what he would do. I brought him to you so you could protect him. When I got back to Ivan, he was different; he wasn't the cold person who he was before. All the hate in his eyes seemed like it disappeared. Then he did the unthinkable and left me free."

"Lilly, your tests are complete. You wanted to replace out if you were a healer now you have the answer."

Tests what is he talking about, I'm confused by his words. Does he think that I'm making all this up? That I'm just trying to test him. Why would he think that I would never endanger him? Even though I'm angry with him, I still would never want anything to happen to him. Jayden needs his father. "Landon, what are you talking about, we need to figure this out. I'm not testing you. I swear I would never put you in any kind of danger, not on purpose, anyway."

"Lilly, you weren't the one testing me."

"Okay, Landon, what is going on, You're confusing me."

"Lilly, you wanted to replace out what you were you are indeed a healer it has all been proven with the last test being completed."☐☐