I lifted my head to meet his gaze. "Will you tell me a bit about you?" I asked.
He was the last person for me to get to know. I hadn't gotten the opportunity to learn more about him and judging from all the information I'd gathered from the others, Orion was a mystery book ready to be opened.
"Sure. What would you like to know?" he asked, a smile formed on his delicate lips.
I didn't want to ask him the question that had been poking at my curiosity for weeks, unsure if Orion was in a position where could safely share that information.
"Anything you're comfortable with sharing," I replied.
He nodded, looking deep in thought. "Remember when we were around the campfire?" he asked.
"Yes," I replied.
"And you talked about your past and how you reached a point where you wanted to end it all?" Orion pressed.
I nodded.
"I...endured the same thing. Actually...I tried to end it all. My family...we were always on the run for as long as I remember. My mother, father, and older sister. We never got to settle in a place for long. My family told me I shouldn't share what we were, but I didn't listen. I wanted to make friends and meet new people. I was tired of always having to move the moment a person even remembered my name," Orion explained.
Staring at his grief-stricken expression made my heart clench for him, afraid to hear the next part of the story. He continued.
"We were on our way to another town, hoping to find a place to call home. My parents knew a good friend there who could give us shelter and we wouldn't have to run and hide anymore. I was playing with the town children and wanted to be their friends. They said if I told them what I was, they would ask their parents to find a place for us to stay so I wouldn't need to move again. I was ecstatic to finally have a home and that we wouldn't have to travel miles to reach it."
I noticed the slight tremble in his lip as he gathered the strength to keep speaking.
"I wished them goodbye, thanking them for helping me and my family and I made my way back to where my family was staying. When I got there..." he trailed off, looking away.
"Orion," I whispered; I reached up to brush his cheek, wiping away the tear that had escaped his glossy eyes.
He didn't have to finish the story for me to piece everything together. I could already imagine a small little boy who wanted a group of people to play with and feel safe around. He wanted to feel accepted and know that regardless of the distance, he'd have a friend or two who'd remember him.
But his desire to be accepted and remembered ended up leading to his family's demise. He took a shaky breath, continuing.
"By the time I got there, they were about to slice my sister's throat while she was in her shifter form. I witnessed the whole thing...and watched them discard her head next to my mother's and father's. There was my family, on the cold wet ground...dead, because of me. And I was next. I ran and hid for many nights. I grew up on what the forest could provide me and sometimes got food from travelers passing through. But I vowed to not trust anyone ever again. When I turned twenty-five, I had no purpose. I was tired of running and hiding. I slept on an empty stomach the majority of the week and had grown so weak, my resolve to live faded to nothing. Why did I deserve to live for so long, when my family had died because of my stupidity? But whenever I tried to kill myself or jump off a cliff...I couldn't. I was afraid. Afraid to face death and meet their disappointed expressions. How cowardly would it be to die because I was in pain? I should live in their honor. But every day was a battle and I'd end up at the same crossroads. Should I live for my family's legacy or die to escape the pain I suffered at every waking moment?"
I let the tears I'd been holding back fall as I stared at him in shock. My Orion had experienced such a tragic past; words couldn't describe all the feelings that flooded my heart.
He swallowed, taking a few moments to compose himself before he went on.
"I tried to fight and survive. I really did...but I couldn't take the hunger pains and lack of sleep. That was when the hunters found me. I ran as fast as I could, but got hit by an arrow and tripped. I rolled down a hill and straight off a cliff. Those six seconds of falling were the scariest moments of my entire life. Not because I knew I was going to die, but because in that moment, I regretted not trying harder. Not fighting to survive or prove to my family that their sacrifice was worth it. I blacked out when I reached the water below," Orion admitted.
I remained silent, taking in everything he'd said.
"When I woke up, I was in Finn's home. He and Hunter had been training and found me on the shore, barely breathing. They took care of me and that's when I met Cairus, Caio, and Theo. I didn't talk. I just nodded for yes and shook my head for no. I was scared to speak to them because that was what got my family killed. They would do the same too. It took me six months before I started talking to them. They didn't ask questions or wonder why I was alone. They welcomed me into their group and when I realized that, I finally knew what acceptance felt like. Even though I'd gone through so many hardships, I'd found happiness with this group. I can't change the past to how it used to be, and I know some people think I'm antisocial, but as long as I have my friends who are like family to me, that's all that matters," he finished.
I gave him a smile, tears rolling down my cheeks.
"Orion. Thank you," I whispered.
He returned my smile, pulling me into a hug. "I should be thanking you, Celestia. Since I met you, I’ve felt connected with you. I've never shared my history with anyone, but with you, my heart tells me that it’s okay and that this one time, I can let my walls down and tell my story. I don't know what our future holds, but I hope we can share more moments together. Happier ones that don't involve me making you cry," he whispered the last sentence.
I laughed through tears, tightening my hold around him.
"I'll always be here, Orion. And your story is safe with me," I vowed.
We pulled apart, staring into one another's eyes. I felt even more connected to Orion and with each passing second, I realized my growing attraction for him. I didn't know if it was affection or an early form of love, but in this moment, I didn't want my mind to control my actions. My body begged to be closer to him as my eyes took in his perfection.
He was a man who'd been through so much heartache, but always cared about others, even if he didn't show it. I analyzed his lilac eyes, while my fingers reached out to feel his silky white length of hair.