35. I got you

⚠️ READ THE NOTE AT THE END OF THE CHAPTER IT'S IMPORTANT.⚠️

Song of the chapter:- Arms by Christina Perri

EMMA'S POV

When I woke up, I was expecting to be tied to the chains, or to feel the familiar burn of hot water on my wounds, but nothing happened. When I opeaned my eyes I saw plain white walls, the bed I was lying on was also pretty comfortable compared to the cold tile I slept on. I was wearing a hospital gown, but the room was empty, making me wonder where was I?

That's when my eyes shifted to my hands where there were many bandages but what got my attention was a scar, running down from my left upper arm to my forearm. It was another huge ugly reminder of the incidents that happened, that I'll have to carry with me for the rest of my life.

I was lost in my thoughts, when the door opeaned making me look at it and become alert, even my wolf side was awake and thankfully better, but when my eyes met the familiar chocolate brown ones everything around me stopped, the fear, anxiousness, worry seemed to disappear into thin air as he ran towards me and wrapped me tightly into his arms, a moan of pain left my mouth, making his grip loosen but he didn't pull away, not that I minded.

When he finally pulled away his eyes were filled with tears, making my own eyes water as he asked, "Don't ever leave me again, please", and I could stop the traitor tear that ran down my cheek. Ethan didn't cry but I knew he wanted to. When I finally looked at him, I realised he wasn't in a too good condition either, his hair disheveled, clothes crumpled, face thinner, dark circles under his eyes making his face seem paler.

I tried to speak but I couldn't, he passed me a glass of water, as I tried to take it my hands started shaking, making me unable to even drink water by myself. After finally gulping down a whole glass of water with Ethan's help I finally spoke, "What happened?".

"I-I'll tell you later first, let me tell everyone you're okay", he said and pressed the button on the side of my bed as the doctor and nurses rushed in started checking me. That's when I noticed the IV and needles connected to me. They told me to lay down and rest as much as possible. And then my parents and Zach came in, Ethan nodded and was going to leave when a sudden rush of panic filled me, I gripped his wrist pulling him to stop.

I don't know why I just couldn't let go of him, probably he understood as he sat in the chair beside my bed. And then my parents were pulling me into a bear hug, with Zach who always complained about hugs. Donovan's word's came back to my mind, making me re-think everything, I knew he what he said was true because there was no point in lying about being my father as all he wanted were my powers.

My powers.

Suddenly the sound of beeping bought me back, making me realise it was one of the machines connected to me, everyone started to panic but I said, "I'm okay, just stressed".

"Oh sweetheart, I'm so sorry you had to go through that. But try to not think too much okay? And if something is worrying you you can tell us, you know?", My mum said looking at me lovingly.

I can't tell you.

Was my first thought but I didn't say it out loud. I was going to ask them about it, but when the timing was better than this. So I just nodded.

Everyone else was back at the pack house they wanted to visit but all of them weren't allowed to visit, as only my family was allowed, and my mate ofcourse.

I was going to stay at the hospital for one night, as I was passed out for a day but now that I was awake, the doctor would discharge me after one last check up the next morning; I had bruises, I was malnourished, but there weren't any serve injuries or internal bleedings thankfully so I can go back but I'd need to rest a lot and start eating, but not too much as my body won't be able to handle that either.

Whenever I asked any of them what happened they'd say they'll tell me later just making me more anxious and annoyed. My parents and Ethan took turn spending some time with me but I was quiet, not knowing what I was even supposed to say.

Growing up I never felt like my parents ever differentiated between me and Zach in any way. I can't even imagine anyone else being my parents other than them and to think it was all a lie. Did they even ever wanted me or they just had to keep me? Was I a burden? Am I a burden?

"Hey", Ethan's voice bought me back to reality.

I turned towards him shocked he was awake as it was around two in the morning and I wasn't able to sleep.

"Hey", I replied more like whispered.

"Everything will be okay", he said trying to convince me but even he himself didn't look convinced. Plus the fact that one moment Donovan was trying to stab me, and the next moment I wake up in a hospital room not knowing what even happened was eating me up.

How did we managed to get out? What happened to me? And most importantly what happened to Donovan? Even thinking about him gave me goosebumps. I've fought many guys but none of them were as petrifying as him. The look in his eyes, the way the wanted to take away my powers and just end me. I didn't even realise I was crying until I felt Ethan's hands on either side of my face, "hey, hey, it's okay. Let it out, let all of it out", he said.

He didn't once asked me why I was crying, he just let me sit there and let all of it out till there was nothing but emptiness. The tears stopped, but I was still shaking, my breaths uneven, as he carefully laid me down on the bed and tucked me in but he didn't leave he just pulled the chair near my bed laying his head on the side of the bed, both of his hands holding mine and with that comfort of having my mate near me, I fell asleep peacefully for the first time since forever.

The morning the doctor did the check-up, asked me how I'm feeling and then discharged me. On our way home, I looked at my surroundings, the place were I grew up, and lived in for 18 years not that I remember all of it but this is the only place I can ever call home, excluding the six months I spent away from here, and I don't even belong here. A tired sigh left my mouth I didn't even know what I was doing with my life anymore.

I had my dreams, my goals, to graduate and own a little cosy bakery, I didn't want something huge, I didn't want any of this but here I was, mated to the Alpha of the pack, being hunted by my father who I didn't even know, with some wierd powers nobody knew about.

The car came to a stop, making me look at the pack house, where probably everyone was waiting for me.

"You ready?", Ethan asked. Since I came back he was super cautious not to do something to harm me, or to not put too much load on me, we were walking on a tightrope and I didn't like it one bit but then again nothing was the same as before, so I just nodded.

Just as I stepped into the house I found almost everyone in the living room, except Jack and Luke who were back at their pack. My parents and zach were also there with Ethan's parents, Anne, Clara, Mark, Rose even her mate all of them rushed towards me but were stopped by Ethan.

"Do you wanna rest?", He asked me ignoring everyone else in the room but Rose pushed past him and engulfed me into her 'therapeutic hug' as she liked to call them, and I cant even disagree, "we were so worried Ems", she said softly. After she pulled away everyone else gave me hugs and even though I was silent most of the time it wasn't anywhere near akward. After that we finally managed to get out of there to go our room.

I realised how bad my condition was when I got tired as I reached half the stairs, but Ethan picked me up whispering a soft, "I got you", in my ears.

When we reached our room, it was still the same. An arranged pile of paper lying on the small desk on the corner of the room, the bed was made as Ethan being himself won't like one thing out of the place, but he won't mind the pile of clothes on the bed, my stuff was the same as I left it, all my clothes, my products in the bathroom, everything was the same.

He put me down on the bed moving the clothes to the side, but not putting them back in, and sitting beside me. "So, what do you want to do?", He asked wrapping his arms around me.

"Shower?", I said. I had one at the hospital but I wanted to have a long relaxing one with some candles to just relax a bit as that's something I haven't done for a while.

"Oh sure, I don't mind", he said standing up excitedly making my eyes go wide watching him practically skip towards the bathroom. He disappeared behind the door but then his head peaked out saying, "You're so gullible", and he disappeared again, making me realise he was kidding, ofcourse he was.

I too went in, when the water was at the perfect temperature, and took the most relaxing showers I had in days, I washed my body, discovering some new scars and marks, just making me more conscious and insecure about myself. When I was done, I wrapped a towel around me as I didn't have any other clothes, but when I was opeaning the door my hand stopped.

My mind thinking about what Ethan would think, yeah sure we've seen eachother naked alot of times but, what if the didn't want me anymore? These scars, on my back, my stomach, my hand, now felt like a curse, a curse that'd haunt me for the rest of my life. And just like that I was on my knees, my insecurities resurfacing, I was shaking, trembling, I couldn't even breath when there was a knock and the door opeaned revealing Ethan.

He had a concerned look on his face, his eyes searching the whole bathroom until they landed on me, within seconds he too was kneeling besides me wrapping me in his arms, trying to comfort me even though he didn't know the reason of my discomfort which just made me cry more.

When he looked at me I covered his eyes, ashamed of the way I look, I have always been self-conscious about my stretch marks, freckles, my body but now I was ashamed.

"Don't look", I said.

"Emma", he started as he removed my hands from his eyes but didn't look down instead he stared into my eyes and continued, "you don't have to shy away from me I've seen you, all of you, and you're beautiful and not just your body but your heart too. And those scars, they aren't something to be ashamed of; as they're the marks that show your bravery, your strength, the fact that you went through hell and still managed to be an angel just makes me fall deeper and harder for you.

And with that he helped me to stand up, and then softly kissed my forehead making all the insecurities go away, atleast for now.

********************

Published on:- 8 September, 2021.

Another update for y'all snowflakes.

Also for those who are confused about Emma and Ethan's age, I made some changes so basically Ethan was 18 when he found Emma being his mate and at that time Emma was 17. Then the six months they spent apart was when Emma turned 18, so right now both of them are 18.

If you have any confusion you can comment and I'll try to clear it up.

P.S THANKK YOUUU SOO MUCH FOR 1K VOTES, I  REALLY AM GRATEFUL FOR EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOUR VOTES AND COMMENTS.

Pleaseeee vote, comment and share. I really appreciate it.

Take care, spread love.

Love,

IceQueen.