"Its alright sweetheart, it is only a small booboo. We can clear that up when we get home"

I sniffled

"But mommy... it hurts"

"Ofcourse it does, my little fighter can take anything can't you. What does mommy always say... when things get bad we don't give in.. we stand up and fight"?

I nodded and laughed as she picked me up and twirled me around. I had just finished school and my mommy was walking us home. I had been playing tag with a few of my friends when I had fallen upon the gravel which opened up the wound on my knee.

Mommy tickled me and I forgot all about the pain.

Mommy was there and she would keep me safe.

I was happy, there were colours everywhere and mommy's chocolate brown hair blew in the wind and brushed against my face. I could smell her shampoo..

my favourite which was strawberries and cream.

I missed that smell.

Then.. mommy's face transformed.

Her face changed into something evil.

Her once pretty eyes turning scornful and her form went from light to darkness. This darkness closed in around me and I could feel it everywhere.. the pain, the screaming... the voice.

***

I squirmed and my stomach hurt. My head hurt too but not as much as the other pain did.

I tried to open my eyes but I was afraid of what I would see.

Or WHO I would see.

I could feel something or someone holding my arm. The touch felt warm and safe, not like the other touch did from the bad man.

"It's okay sweetheart, you're safe now. I'm here and I'm not leaving you".

The voice sounded like mommy's did. Like they cared for me.

I slowly opened my eyes and noticed I was lying on the floor and in a dark room. I started to shake as I remembered what had happened to me before I fell as sleep. The hand holding mine was light and not hard or painful but it sent comfort to me. Like my favourite teddy bear 'Trixie' used to do.

I gulped a sob and looked into the eyes of someone new.

Someone I had never seen before.

Their eyes were blue, like my favourite dress mommy had made for me... his hair was brown just like my favourite teddy and he wore a pretty smile like my dolly's always did.

But he looked kind.

In an instant I pulled my hand away from him. Not knowing why he was touching me.

I don't like to be touched.

Not anymore.

"Sh.. I won't hurt you and I didn't mean to frighten you, I'm sorry. My name is Kieron.

Look, there is Alpha Dimitri.. you remember him don't you"?

I looked towards Dimitri and saw his face was very close to some bars. Everyone around me was sitting in cages and I shook again with fear. It was dark and I could still smell 'HIM'.

I sobbed when I saw how my pretty dress was full of blood.

I wanted mommy.

"Its ok Peggy, he wont hurt you.. none of us will" said Alpha Dimitri.

He was safe. A nice wolf.

I looked to him for reassurance and he nodded towards the man with blue eyes in front of me.

He still had his arm stretching out to me through the bars but I was too scared to reach for it.

What if he hurts me?

I shook with fear even though I tried to stop it.

"Will you tell me your name, I would really like to know your name and hear you say it".

His voice was soft and soothing, like how my mother spoke when she sang lullabies or read bed time stories.

I opened my mouth but nothing came out. A few tears escaped and I brushed them away sharply.

"When things get tough we fight" I thought.

His eyes were pleading with me and I tried again..

Nothing.

"She can't speak" said Dimitri

The wolf named Kieron looked towards Dimitri in panic.

"What do you mean she can speak!"?

He looked back to me and smiled again.

"You can trust me sweetheart, I'll never hurt you"

He outstretched his hand to me and this time I took it. I crawled over to him and felt sore. I tried not to show him my pain. He already looked very very sad and I didn't want to make him upset anymore.

"Speak to me sweetheart, tell me your name" he whispered.

His hand pulsed mine to encourage me and I opened my mouth wide to show him why I could not.

His face turned away sharply his movement startling me as I flinched. He turned away from me and I looked at his back, all I saw was his shoulders shake slightly.

A few of the other male wolves started to sniffle but I didn't know why. All I wanted to know was why I could not see the pretty blue eyes of my wolf friend anymore.

"Are you in any pain"...?

The voice was small and so unlike the strong one I had heard before. This one seemed really upset. The other wolves started crying quietly and it confused me.

Did they all miss their mommy's too?

Were they in pain like me?

He turned back to me slowly when I pulsed his hand like he did with mine a few moments beforehand.

He struggled to make eye contact with me but when he did I saw him cry.

I reached toward his face and cupped his cheek. He leaning into my touch and closed his eyes.

I leant forward and surprised him by rubbing my nose against his. Mommy and I used to do this when one of us would be sad and we would shout..

"Eskimo's!".

But my face dropped when I realised I couldnt say that anymore.

His eyes widened and he searched my own as I shook my head in answer to his question. I did hurt, I hurt very much but I didn't want him to hurt too.

He seemed too nice to feel as bad as I did.

"Your name is Peggy, isnt that right"? Said Alpha Dimitri. He offered me a smile and I returned it. I missed his hugs. My face lit up when he said my name and I nodded to my blue eyed wolf.

"Such a beautiful name for a very brave young girl" he said.

My chest rose when he praised me and I looked down to our hands shyly.

"Can I be your friend Peggy"? He asked.

His eyes were really hopeful as he waited for my response.

I smiled.

I liked my blue eyed wolf.

I hoped he would keep me safe, just like my mommy did.