I could hear voices muttering in the background. My eyes felt so heavy. I didn't want to open them.
"She turned?!" Exclaimed a voice. My head pounded at he sudden loud sound.
"Shhh," I heard a softer voice say, "yes but that's not the point. She was able to regain control. You should have seen it was like a switch. I think...I think she could really learn to control it."
"Thomas, you know what it can do to her. It could destroy her." Said the loud voice referring to my strange fire strength.
The fire power strength in me had been passed down my family for decades. I didn't know much about it other than the eldest child inherits it. I never really got to know much about it because my father didn't get to explain it to me.
All I knew was that it was hidden from others because it was hard to control and not really meant to be out in the world. That much I knew was true so I never really searched for more information.
"It has already destroyed her. We should at least try. I think she could do it." The voice claimed determined. That's it they won't talk about that in front of me anymore.
With that I slowly opened my eyes the light blinding me for a second. I heard footsteps more closer to me.
"Rue? Rue! Are you okay? How many fingers am I holding? Who am I? Do you know who I am? Rue? Can you even hear me?" I blinked to see Thomas hovering over me practically yelling in my ear with three fingers shoved in my face.
"Shut up, Thomas. And three." I said groaning as my head pounded at the sound of my voice. I heard a chuckle come from Mason I think.
"Water." I said and immediately Thomas gave me a glass of water that was on the side table. I pushed myself of the bed to a sitting position.
I closed my eyes still blinking as I felt a small migraine coming. "Turn off the fucking lights. Would you?" I told them closing my eyes until the lights were off. I grabbed the water as the soft artificial glow was the only thing in the room. I gulped it down feeling the cool fresh water down my dry throat.
"How long was I out?" I asked moving my neck.
"Just a day." Mason informed me.
I looked at the wall in front of me trying to remember what happened momentarily confused. My eyes widen when I remembered how Zeiden was that night.
I turned to Mason. "And Zeiden? How is he? Is he awake? Where is he?" I asked him worried.
He looked a bit surprised, "he is okay. In the guest room in front of your room." I sighed in relief glad he was okay.
"What happened? Why was his car like that?" I asked both of them. "Was it a car accident?"
"No..um..we found that the rouges jumped in front of the car causing the accident. We took care of the police and his guardian." Mason informed me as I processed the information finding the overwhelming urge to go to my mate. Ugh is it always going to be like this. I swear I am turning into one of those clingy love stuck puppies.
I removed the covers from my legs when they suddenly both stood in my way blocking the door.
I could see how worried they looked yet they didn't say anything. "What?" I asked confused again worried it was about Zeiden.
They didn't say anything looking at each other. "Guys. Spit it out." I commanded them.
Thomas gulped looking in my eyes sadly as he held my hands, "Rue Zeiden...he's..he's in a coma."
I froze in shock. I could feel myself closing up. The familiar numbing feeling like a blanket covering my pain. Trying to fool me into letting go of the pain.
Then I thought of Zeiden. His eyes. The feeling he gave me. I slowly pushed the feeling inside down. With him in mind I realized my name was being called by frantic Mason and Thomas.
I removed my hands from Thomas's. I gripped the bed for support as I stood up my head feeling a bit dizzy. I started to fall, losing focus. Thomas immediately held my elbow trying to steady me. I shook him off regaining myself before walking to the door. I walked across the hall with them at my heels.
I gripped the knob hesitating. I didn't know what I was doing. There was a part of me that was restless, worried, and even afraid because of him. Then there was another part of me that didn't feel anything.
I guess that's where some of that fear comes into action. Fear of the indifference in me. I had hoped that when I meet my mate he would make that part go away. And he has but only part of it.
I fear that I am to gone to be fixed. I fear I will not be able to find the happy outgoing me I once was. And something tells me I might not ever find her.
It was more than just my family that left me. Yes I know others lose much more than me, but I still had my pack. And even with them I still lost myself.
I don't know how I have to act for him to keep him with me. I don't want to make the wrong move and have him leave. It would break me to have him leave me. Not in those snappy love story kind of break but literal soul break kind of thing. And if scares me that he can break me so easily.
I have thought of this ever since I meet him. The thought haunts me at night. Or it did.
That was before I began the fear more the thought of him not in this world at all.
Now you must think I am weak, right? Scared of so many things when I shouldn't. Well that comes from being a wolf. Having to care.
It's in my nature to care. It forces me to care. I do wish it didn't have to.
The door opens without a sound. My eye immediately land on him. It takes my breath away.
The room had the simple furniture that other guest rooms in the top floor have. A queen size bed, two bedside tables, in front of the bed is a space with a couch, seats, a tv, and a small fireplace. There is a bathroom and a walk in closet. The wall that faces the forest is wall to floor glass.
I frown his scent is mixed with a strange smell. I take a moment to identify it my still half asleep brain. Then....
Rogue.
I turn to Thomas and Mason as they wait at the door. "Get the doctor, now." I commanded as I moved to Zeiden. I checked his pulse. Still beating. Thankfully.
"Have we had any breaches in the border?" I asked now searching the closest in case they were still in here.
"No, Rue. What going on?" Thomas asked sounding worried as he stood by the door of the closet looking at me as I searched the closet.
"A rogue was here. That's what's going on." I growled lowly. How could a rogue get in here without a breach. "Get the list of people that have gone in and out of this house. I want you to ask them if they saw anything strange. If there is the smallest thing, I want it to be reported to me immediately." I ranted walking to the bathroom overwhelmed by the scent of rouge in the room.
I clenched my jaw seeing the mirror. It had blood on it writing:
This pack is mine, sis
All of it
- Alpha Jackson
I was shaking at the fact that my psycho of a brother got into the same room as my mate.
I turned to Thomas, "Get the guards to start doing round checks around the house." I stated going back to my mate. I sat besides him in a chair that was put there grinding my teeth.
"Rue?" Thomas put a hand on my shoulder gently.
"Fucking hell! He was in here! He got close enough to him to write a damn message on that mirror!" I gripped the edge of the bed trying to calm myself. My breathing coming out fast and harsh. "If he even puts a finger on him I will kill him." I growled out through my clenched teeth.
Thomas gripped my shoulders tighter turning me around. "Rue! Listen this is what he wants. He wants you to lose it and turn. Focus!" He order me looking into my eyes as I tried to control my breathe.
I shook him off turning back to my mate. I gripped his hand tingles flying over my fingers. I brought it to my lips making them tingle. I breathed in his scent. The peppermint and rain. Now I noticed how it seemed to have a sweet smell too. Like honey but not quite. It was sweeter.
I finally take him in. He now wore a white California hoodie that I had bought for Thomas weeks ago. His usually light brown hair was now dark with the lack of sunlight from outside. The cloudy sky drizzled rain outside.
His eyelashes coal black against his still pale white skin but his lips were no longer blue. They were chapped and his face had the small cuts over it. The left side of his jaw had the biggest cut.
My heart physically ached at the pain he went through. I lifted my hand to the cut lightly touching it. I ran it over the cut then up his sharp cheekbones that seemed to have gotten sharper over a day.
I pulled my hand back when I heard the footsteps outside on the hall. I looked down at him. I can't believe someone can be this beautiful. It takes my breath away.
I heard a knock. I told them to come in. I stood up from my seat turning to the door as Mason and Dr. Robert walked in.
Dr. Robert had been one of our best doctors for years. He had tended my injured these pass years of battles probably did last night too.
He was a man in his early 50s but look like he was in his late 60s. He had brown hair with wisps of grey and white mixed in. His face traced with lines of hard work and stress.
His warm blue eyes meet mine softening. He held a brown bag in one hand filled with his things. For as long as I can remember he always carried it around. It seemed to be magical having everything he needed.
He walked over to me standing before me. He was one of the few people that could see through the mask I put up.
I stepped aside indicating to my mate. "He had a concussion, two broken ribs, and a broken arm. The glass didn't hit anything vital but he did lose a lot of blood. We did a blood transfusion with the help of one of the pack mates." He had his back to me informing me of his condition without me asking.
"Why hasn't he woken up?" I asked as calm as I could feeling my hands shake slightly. I crossed my arms to hide them.
"He was exposed to a harsh weather. He got a very high fever that thankfully he overcame but there is still the risk of him getting another fever until he awakens and it could be dangerous," he turned to look at me continuing, "He is exhausted and the fever took lots of his energy. Other than that he is fine. But the coma is because of the head injury he experienced." I looked down at Zeiden.
"Alpha, his state remains consistent." I tore my eyes from my mate and to the doctor.
I nodded. "Thank you."
I was about to turn to Thomas and Mason again when he called out to me. "Alpha." I turned to see him searching for something in his bag. Reminding me of the other thousand time he had done it before.
He took out two small white container. One looked like a container of pills and the other was different.
I looked at him confused. He extended the container of pills. "For the migraines. Take smaller doses for the rest of the week. You shouldn't take the stronger one for a while it might affect you strongly." I took the container not surprised anymore at how much he knew me. "This is cream for your skin it will heal quickly but to prevent any scars." He held the other container. I nodded at him thanking him.
I walked to Thomas and Mason who stood in the corner of the room watching me.
"Did he give this to you, too?" I asked Thomas realizing he had also been hurt.
"Yes and I am using it so you better too." He said pointing a finger at me smiling.
"Hey, I am sorry for what happened that night." I said looking at Thomas. Every time I shifted, the next day I would repeat these same words like a damn tradition or routine.
"Rue. Hey, don't worry. He is my future alpha. I would have done it either way." He said giving me a reassuring smile. I nodded.
"Can you have him move to my room and have someone wash this room. I can't stand to smell of that thing." I asked them as they agreed with me at my last comment.
"You should probably take a shower. The smell suddenly doesn't seem so bad compared to you." Thomas teased pinching his nose and swatting at the air in front of him. Mason followed in suit. I playfully growled at them making them burst out laughing.
I am thankful for how they can still make me laugh in this situation. My bones still ached from yesterday and somehow I was still very sleepy.
On the outside I held my ground but inside I could feel the bile in my throat ready to throw up. I could feel the creeping fear rising in my head. When is he going to wake up?
My lungs contracted so much it seemed they didn't want to allow me another breathe. But most of all it was my heart. It clenched yearning for my mate. Wanting him to open his beautiful eyes. I wanted to hold him.
I glanced back at Zeiden weighting my options. The guys saw I was about to protest and Mason quickly offered, "Don't worry. We will stay with him. We promise nothing will happen to him." I pressed my lips together not wanting to leave him yet. "Rue he is safe. Go." They ushered me out of the room. I thanked them heading to my room.
I went over to my closet and picked out a grey hoodie and some black guy shorts that stoped at my knee. I grabbed my underclothes and headed to my bathroom. I turned on the shower to hot water.
I let the steam cloud the mirror before slipping out of my cloth and stepping into the shower.
Now I noticed that most of my left body was covered in circles of red raw scratches. They were already starting to disappear only leaving a purple bruise.
My lower thigh had a white bandaged round it which I took off. It still had teeth prints around it. There was dry blood around the marks hiding the open skin that was healing. My stomach had also teeth marks on the side. I now noticed every time I breathed it hurt extending my skin.
I had a bunch of other scratches that had yet to disappear covering my stomach mostly.
I hissed at the contact of the hot water on the teeth marks still open. I had to warm the warm for it to hurt less.
Most of my body had dry blood covering it. I had to rub it off suppressing moans and groans of pain.
When I washed my hair, the shampoo ran over my body burning the open wounds. It took me back to the days with my brother.
"You useless bitch!" He yelled at me kicking my side. I had learned that the only way to survive these days was to numb it out.
The days I didn't spend drugged by sedation I would spend being hit by my sadistic brother.
I soon began to ignore the fact that he looked exactly like Jack. The first days it was a blow worse than the ones he repeatedly gave me.
The similarities used to break my heart and now nothing.
"You killed my father and brother. They were fools to trust you!" He shouted.
I sat up against the wall looking at the floor a million miles away. I felt a blow on the left side of my head making me fall on my side.
All I heard was a loud ring in my ear tuning out the shouts from my brother. His voice sounded muffled underwater. It began to fade.
I felt liquid flow down the left side of my eye down my cheek.
My eyes opened wide connecting with his as I felt a sharp knife enter my stomach. It pierced my skin bringing back all my senses as I felt the fire in the pit of my stomach ignite.
The mark began to burn. In seconds I had shifted and immediately been sedated again.