Dream Reality

By Kimberly Mays

Facing a fate worse than death, AvaLynn floats in an extended coma, unable to communicate with the outside world. The only relief from the isolation is that she is alive and well-and healthy-in the Dream Realm.

* * *

Forced to leave Luke, Tannah and Cayden behind, AvaLynn's body lies motionless in t

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mays Realm Escapes LLC
• Release date: Aug 19, 2021
• ISBN: 9781735796833

Kimberly Mays

Kimberly Mays lives in Washington State with her husband Larry (who not only encourages her to chase her dreams but helps her fulfill them), along with their two dogs, three cats and two cockatoos. She enjoys spending time with her large family, which includes seven children, ten grandchildren and her awe-inspiring mother. In addition to being an author, Kimberly is a health care aid and a psychic medium. She also enjoys artistry and wood burning.

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Prologue

Evangeline

Offut Lake

There's a legend of a spirit that haunts Offut Lake. The story goes that in nineteen-sixty a couple went to a winter ball. She wore white on that majestic December night; a long, beautiful dress with a plunging neckline.

A silver locket adorned her neck and a beautiful pair of diamond earrings dangled from her earlobes, glistening in the crisp winter chill. High-heeled white stilettos finished her ensemble. The woman's blonde hair cascaded down her back in curls. She was a sight to behold.

The gentleman had black hair and dark brown eyes. Over a sharply pressed white shirt, he wore a red tuxedo jacket with a black lapel that accented his bow tie, pants and shoes. Silver cufflinks matched the locket of the lady whose arm was entwined with his.

On that night of celebration the gentleman had consumed far too many martinis, before and during dinner. The leisurely stroll to the car seemed to clear his head, and he opened the passenger door for his beautiful companion. After she was seated, he slid behind the wheel of his 1958 Coupe Deville. The car roared to life at the turn of the key and he didn't think twice as he pushed the gas pedal, perhaps a little too roughly, and made his way to the road.

Not far from the ballroom he hit a patch of ice and the beautiful Coupe Deville spun out of control, hurling over the bank into the lake. There was no time for thought, for his reflexes were slow due to the alcohol in his system.

As the story goes, they both drowned on that dark, cold night. The legend says that if you look through the fog over the lake, you'll see a silhouette of her shape gliding over the water; that if you're quiet and listen to the night, you'll hear her quiet sobs.

The legend speaks very little of the man behind the wheel, focusing mostly on what became of the woman. The legend is almost accurate. Nobody knew of the argument raging between them in the front seat of that car, over his drinking and driving. No one knew that he backhanded her to make her quiet as he drove. Nobody but those two knew; there were no witnesses to the tragic ending that took their lives.

Nobody, just Zavier and me. You see, I am that woman. I am the legend. What no one knows is that he's my brother. Zavier still wanders this lake, blaming me for our deaths, trying to attack me every chance he gets, trying to drown anyone brave enough to swim at night.

Nobody knows the true and entire reason I'm still here, the unfinished business that holds my heart. I am the spirit of the lake. Zavier is the evil one, completely unhappy with what became of his life, swearing vengeance on anybody in his path.

I've searched for decades to find a way to release him from this place. To this day, I am unsure what grounds him here. I can control the waters, everything in the depths of the lake. Unfortunately, he has powers, too. Where I use my powers for good, he uses his for evil. I will continue searching for a way to release him, so one day I can move on, too. I cannot allow myself to leave if he is still here to torment the living.

Chapter 1

AvaLynn

Dear Diary,

It's been three months since that fateful night. I've missed my friends so much since then. My body in the real realm seems perfectly healthy, except that I can't return to it. There's a barrier over it blocking all contact from the dream realm and I've been afraid to touch it.

Yes, three long months since I fell in the shower, resulting in multiple injuries, including broken bones and a head injury. It hadn't felt like a fall at all, more like a push, almost like the red water shoved me in the shower. It all happened so quickly that it was over by the time it took to say fall. It took a month to heal my body in the real realm, even with an induced coma to alleviate the pain and physical therapy to slow the onset of atrophy.

It all is still very strange to me and the only thing I want is to wake up in my body.

I could see my friends from the real realm, I just couldn't feel them. I could hear them; they couldn't hear me. I'd be very lonely here if it weren't for Dean and Evangeline. They're my friends and even though it made me feel selfish, I was glad that Evangeline chose to stay tethered here.

Dean tries occasionally to cheer me up, and even succeeded for a little while. Inevitably though the depression crept back in; it's been a never-ending struggle. Every night we went to the lake and I'd jump in and try to wake, resulting in failure every time.

Jayden and Tannah are doing great. Jayden moved in with Cayden, but they're brothers and nobody wants to roommate with family for long. He's continued helping Cayden in the art gallery and decided to postpone expanding his private investigator business to Washington until I'm back.

It's impossible to run one's business from a different realm; I went to the gallery and could see them, just couldn't help them. They said it's going well, but if it weren't, I don't think they'd tell me.

I'm surprised Luke hasn't moved on; he's so dedicated to me and it's crazy since we're not committed to one another. Edward, my chocolate Labrador, could still hear me, see me and I think feel me. He lays next to my unconscious body in the real realm, but when I call for him in the dream realm, he comes to me.

I know I'm loved, wanted and needed in the real realm; I'm trapped here though. A few times I even thought about giving up, maybe accepting this life in the dream realm and adopting it as real. At least when I slept in this realm, nothing happened.

There's been no nightmares or danger in a dream for me in three months, therefore, it's been quite peaceful and has left me feeling rested. Being a werewolf now, I've been practicing the things Dean's taught me about hunting and embraced my werewolf side. I've been learning how to take advantage of my weight, strength, claws and teeth. With my newfound skills, maybe I could take down a bear now if needed; I'd love to try.

It was depressing not having a choice between realms. I just wanted to hug my friends, I miss them, even though they're here every day.

I never kept a diary 'til now, I was always afraid who'd get their hands on it but here I only have two people to worry about and one is a spirit. Luke talks to me, even though he doesn't know I hear him and it's endearing. Once, he told me a journal would be a good idea and he was right. It helps to have an outlet for my feelings.

Just a lost girl, confused in a dream,

AvaLynn

I put my journal under the couch in my room and trusted that Dean would respect my privacy. He'd been a perfect houseguest and a great swimming partner. I looked up and saw Tannah sitting on the chair next to my bed talking to me.

As soon as you wake up, we'll have a hot tub session and barbecue; we all miss you so much. I hate seeing Cayden so worried, I don't know how much he's told you but I suppose it won't hurt to tell you now. He's had feelings for you for years now and he just knew that you didn't feel the same; so, he's pushed them aside. She took a deep breath as if she felt relief from telling me.

"As far as Luke goes, he only leaves for work and the grocery store and I remember you saying you two were something. Last I knew though, that was to be determined later; no definition yet. I won't lie to you, he's attached to you and has no life; you're it.

If you're interested in him, that's great and if you're not, well I'm not sure what'll happen then. Is Dean doing well with you? I know you said he's your protector there and I hope he was telling the truth about that. If you could talk back to me, well that'd be awesome because I miss your voice and our conversations.

Tannah, are you hungry? Luke was at the door.

Yes, would you like me to cook?

No, I got it. How does spaghetti and garlic bread sound?

Sounds great, Jayden will be over in a little while.

Yep, he texted me; I'll be downstairs.

Okay, I'll meet you down there in a minute. Luke left and Tannah continued to talk with me.

"I also wanted to tell you about Callie; she's doing well. The guys outfitted her with everything, except your easel. We visited yesterday; her family is so good with her.

They're kind to us, letting us visit when they're home. What you did for her still astounds me. To find somebody wheelchair bound and offer up all your things; way to pay it forward. I'm going to go down and help make dinner. I love you, bestie, but you knew that, right? she asked, then got up and left.

I listened to every word when I was in the room and loved that they talked to me. There were things I needed to do, yet I didn't want to leave the comfort of this room. Begrudgingly, I got up to go find Dean.

Making my way downstairs, I found Dean on the back deck. What's up my friend?

Nothing, just thinking about how you've hardly left the house and how I should be training you with the time we do have together. I'm starting to think that this time is being wasted. Disappointment clouded his otherwise handsome face.

Not wasted, you've taught me a lot already. I'm getting better at hand-to-hand and I can hunt really well.

You are a werewolf now, capable of so much more than hunting. You've barely scratched the surface of what you're able to do.

Like what?

See that tree over there Ava? He pointed to an evergreen at least fifteen feet high.

Yes.

Go to the backside of it so nobody will see you and climb it. I started laughing so hard and ended up on the deck crying. I'm sorry Ava, is there something funny about what I asked?

As I pulled myself together and wiped the tears from my cheeks it struck me that he was serious. Dean, it's a minimum of fifteen feet high and there's no way anything other than a bird or squirrel will climb that high without falling on their face; you can't be serious.

Come on, he walked toward the tree that towered over us and stripped off his clothes; I didn't look away as he transformed into a beautiful beast. Why was I thinking that way, he's your friend Ava, knock it off. Fuck it—if you can't beat them, join them; I too, stripped and shifted right there.

What are you doing Dean?

I'm teaching you, I turned you and it's my job to teach you, watch.

He wrapped his large legs, all four around the tree and used his claws like spikes on the bottom of boots and quite literally climbed to the top easily. Once he'd reached the top he sat on a sturdy branch and waited.

Your turn.

You don't know what you're asking Dean, that's too high and I'll fall.

Oh well, if you do, you'll heal by morning.

Seriously, that's your solution, I'll heal by morning? What happened to my all-loving-and-encouraging friend? Have a heart. I heard a chuckle run through my mind; he was laughing at me.

Ava, you are a werewolf now, you can do anything; you'll see. I have faith in you, and you will not fall.

Nope—sorry—can't do it, you must be thinking of another werewolf.

AvaLynn, the sun is setting and the view is gorgeous; trust me. There was something in the way he said the words trust me that convinced me. So, I extended my claws and used them like spikes and climbed. I wasn't as fast as Dean and took my time but when I got to the limb where he sat waiting, it was safe. Dean was right there, I nestled against the one who bit me and closed my eyes afraid to look down.

AvaLynn, open your eyes and look at the scene before you, I promise it was worth it.

My right eye opened slowly and then the left. I thought my grandfather's view off the deck was beautiful, but this was magnificent. Pinks, oranges and lavenders spread out in front of me and I couldn't take it all in at once; no, this needed time to appreciate.

Dean—it's stunning, I did it, climbed all the way to you.

I told you that you could do it. Ava, you need training; there's so much you could do if you were just taught and I need the right setting for that.

What's your solution Dean?

I think we should leave.

Where do you want to go? I don't know when I'll wake up in the other realm and do you think it's smart to go far from the house?

I don't think it'll hurt if you wake up and wouldn't matter where you are in the dream realm. I want to take you home, he stated adamantly.

Home? You still haven't told me about home.

I'm still not going to, I just think you need to see what it's like to be around a pack.

We are a pack, a pack is two or more and we are a pack.

No Ava, even though technically you're correct, I want you to experience a large pack.

Okay, but how do we let everyone know we're leaving? I don't want them talking to me if I'm not there. I feel like it takes too much out of Evangeline to materialize in the house.

Yes, you're right and we'll be gone for a while.

Then a thought hit me. I want to try something. I read once that there was a dog that would disappear every day and the owners wouldn't know where he went. One day he came home with a note attached to his collar. I readjusted and held on to Dean a little tighter, still a bit afraid of the fall.

They read it and somebody wrote that the dog went to their farm every day. That they enjoyed his company and just wanted the owners to know where he'd been.

What if I attached a note to Edward's collar? It might work; it might not but it can't hurt to try.

Sure, give it a shot.

By the end of our conversation the sun had set and twilight was rapidly fading.

Dean, I'm ready to get down now, I said as if it were a few stairs.

Okay, let's jump. The laughter that erupted from my mouth sounded like a jumbled howl but in our minds, he knew what it really sounded like.

Oh okay, yeah let's jump into the water that's ten feet across and fifteen feet down or onto the ground? Still, I couldn't help the laughter.

Ava, stop laughing, the water is your best shot and the route I'm gonna take. It's pitch black and if you jump there nobody will see you and I can't see any humans in sight right now. Pretend that there's a deer in the water and pounce. He did point out a safe spot, but he was crazy.

He flew through the air like a predator hawk as he set the example and I wanted to follow but there had to be a better way. When he landed in the water he went under like a dart and stayed down for a bit but then I saw his eyes glowing when he surfaced and knew he was safe.

Your turn my friend, he encouraged.

I grabbed the tree, tried to aim myself and pushed off that limb using my back haunches with all my might in Dean's direction. It felt like I were flying and it was glorious but as I looked down, I knew the chances that I'd make it to the safe spot were slim and was scared to say the least.

My tail was the only thing that hit the dock and everything else landed in the depths of the lake, safe. The sinking feeling was great, after all, and I knew that I'd rise to the surface. At least that's what I thought would happen; I was wrong.

The water quickly felt like it was boiling in its depths around me, as if it were sucking the life right out of me. I was scared and in pain, a pain that I'd only felt once before and all at once the water lit up white then cooled simultaneously and my wolf form was pushed to the top of the lake.

Get out of the water you two, now. Evangeline's voice shot through my mind and I swam to the bank of the river as quickly as my paws would take me; Dean was waiting for me and his teeth grabbed me by the neck to help pull me out.

I'm fine Dean, really, I'm fine. I shook my coat and was glad once again to be alive.

It's not fine AvaLynn, I felt the heat from the surface of the lake, and I know it had to be worse for you.

True, it was probably hotter, and I'm surprised my fur didn't fry off. Where's Evangeline?

I'm here but can't form, are you two okay?

Yes, we're fine, I'm sorry; I shouldn't have jumped.

That's not the problem child, stay out of the water for now. It's just not safe for you here; do as Dean asked and leave for a while. I wish I could promise that when you come to that you'll be in the waking realm, at least that's my hope. I can't help anymore tonight; I'm depleted and have to rejuvenate. Dean, please protect her. Then silence.

Okay Dean, I don't argue with Evangeline; spirits don't lie. Which means that I'm no longer safe here and we have to leave as soon as humanly possible.

He nuzzled my neck with his. Finally, we agree; let's go.

Once we were dry and clothed, I went to the bedroom, took a piece of paper and pen and began to write.

Dear Luke,

I don't know if this will work but I need to let you all know that Dean and I are leaving for a little while in this realm. He wants me to meet his pack; says I need to train more and even though I think I'm tough as hell; he doesn't agree. It's no longer safe here for me, and I face peril if I stay. I need for you all to trust that I'll be better off there for a bit.

This realm is just like the real realm and I have access to everything, except for you. Luke, there's cash in the wood box in the bedroom closet and you should use it for things in the house. You don't have to worry about my bills, they're on auto pay and there's more than enough in the bank to cover me for a little while longer. I miss you, more than you know, you should ask Lexi to stay with me for a few days. I think you all could use some time off and I'm not there anyways baby. I can call you guys if I wake and Luke, I love you.

Your,

not-quite-girlfriend,

AvaLynn

When I called for Edward, he came running. I rolled my note up and slipped it into the ring on his collar; the one where I'd normally attach the leash. I told him, heel, and off we went to the kitchen. At the table were all my friends and I found myself wishing once more that they could just see me.

I walked to Luke and stood behind his chair and Edward followed. Sit, I commanded and Edward listened as he sat obediently at Luke's side. Their plates were all empty and they were all enjoying each other's company.

Hey there buddy, do you need some food, too? When he went to pet the dog, his hand ran across the note and he pulled it out and unrolled it like a scroll. He read to himself and as I walked toward Dean, he muttered to the group, I was able to read a few lines and then the letters began fading.

What is it? Cayden asked, looking hopeful.

It looked to be a note from AvaLynn. I realized in those words it must be me and walked closer to Luke.

The letters are back, what the hell? He continued to read.

What does it say? Tannah asked, excitedly.

Luke grimaced as he began to sum up my letter, Basically, it says she's going on a trip with Dean and that she's no longer safe here. Not to worry about the bills they're on autopay and there's enough in the bank to cover the house for a little while. She says to take a few days off for all of us since she won't be here anyway. I'm supposed to talk to Lexi; ask if she'll stay with AvaLynn. That's the gist of it. He dropped the note in the center of the table in case anyone else wanted to read it.

It seemed like they were all somber as they thought about me. I might not have a family to speak of anymore, but looking at their faces I knew this was my family now.

Tannah spoke first, I don't think I need a break, I'm content to spend my evenings here, but it's up to you guys what you do.

I'll leave for work; there are patients that need me but other than that I'll be here, Luke stated firmly.

Tannah, I'm with you and whatever you choose to do is fine with me, Jayden exclaimed as he cracked his knuckles.

If we need a break, we can ask Lexi to stay an hour or two later and have a barbecue on the back deck. We could even include Lexi and check on Ava often, after all most of us do go home every night, Cayden reminded them.

Luke looked around the room and said, AvaLynn if you can hear me, I have a couple of things to say; I'm just going to say them. He stood, agitated. Not angered, but I could see the frustration over the situation on his face.

He continued speaking, I'm fine with you going to train, I understand that you must learn to be, what you've become; you know how very patient I am. Knowing you are safe and protected by a pack no less, suits me just fine but please love, be careful. If you wake, one of us will be here to tend to you and AvaLynn, I love you. Dean, please take care of her. Honestly AvaLynn I wish you'd just pull me into your realm. I know you're worried about what it'll do to me, but I was fine the last time and I miss you.

Everyone sat at the table and stared at Luke as he talked to the air. They all understood; they've done the same thing upstairs. The difference was they were talking to my body and he was talking to me. I retrieved a note pad and pen from the drawer in the kitchen.

Luke,

First off, I can't pull you here, I've tried, if only for a minute, I'd love to be in your arms. Secondly, it's dangerous and we have no idea of the side effects it could have on you to do that again. Really there's no reason to have you in the house, I won't be here and can't hear you guys when I'm away from the house.

It means so much that you all want to take care of me, but it's depressing; trust me, I know. Just feel free to leave if you all need to, I don't know how long I'll be gone, but I'll be safe.

AvaLynn

Okay, we'll be here when you come back to us, Luke said to me with slight frustration. I walked to Dean and hugged him, feeling the need for comfort.

Dean looked at me and said, Come on, let's get packed up, in a soothing tone.

Okay, but how did you get here to begin with? How will we get there? I queried.

We will not be taking the same transportation that I did and we can take your car, it's about a five-hour drive where we're going. Please Ava, pack all different weather clothes and everything you might need for a month, just to be on the safe side. He looked fine but the way he said it made me wonder just how long we'd be gone.

For fun, let's review, I said raising an eyebrow. He grinned at me, so I continued, Since meeting you in a dream, you've changed my life forever with a single bite, I'm now a werewolf and have learned to hunt; I thought pretty well, he shook his head no at me on that one and his expression made me smile as I went on.

"I've been hurt multiple times, discovered the dual realm effect and can use anything in the real realm in the dream realm with the exceptions of other people, and myself. Found a locket, that belongs to my spirit friend Evangeline, who exists in both realms. I can only see you when I'm in