I heard the door being opened. I tensed from my position on the chair next to Zeiden's bed. I had fallen asleep my head on my arm.
I heard footsteps walking across the floor. I gripped the knife in my pocket. My heart speeded up and my hearing got sharper. Adrenaline.
I could hear the footsteps stop behind me. I gripped the knife tighter in my hand. It helped me sleep knowing that I wasn't entirely defenseless if an attack were to happen.
I could hear breathing behind me. I tried to catch a scent but couldn't.
I quickly stood up holding the knife out of sight but ready to strike.
I heard a gasp from the person then, "Rue what the hell! I thought you were asleep!" Mason whispered loudly.
"I should be the one asking you that! What are you doing here at dawn, Mason. You startled me." I yelled at him flipping on the lamp besides me.
He held up a small plastic bag. "I was going for a run and Dr.Robert ordered me to bring some medicine for Zeiden. And you? We agreed you would at least take the couch." He scolded me.
I sat back down tried now that the adrenaline left my body. "Don't worry I just fell asleep." I waved off his scoldings yawning.
"Rue," he sighed tired himself, "would you stop this nonsense. You have everyone worried. You haven't come out of this room in days. You can't keep staying here forever. Thomas won't tell you but he is overwork and tired. He is taking on so much. He needs your help. We all do." He informed me. My heart did yearn to go see my pack. Wants to help them but....my mate.
These pass days I wouldn't let anyone in the room if I wasn't here. I didn't want for him to even have the slightest possibility of getting hurt.
"Can't you at least come downstairs? Your migraines have been getting worse since you locked yourself in here." I looked down at my sleeping mate. He had shown no signs of waking up which just got my wolf on edge.
I sighed not wanting to worry the pack I agreed, nodding. "I'll go down for breakfast in a bit." I didn't feel anything. The logical part of my brain moving me deciding it was the best way to take care of my pack.
"Okay!" Mason excitedly set down the bag and left with a small bounce in his step. Sometimes I forget how easy it is to please them.
I spent the rest of the few hours working on some new blue prints. Just because I didn't come out of the room didn't mean I wouldn't do work.
I saw the clock and noticed that breakfast would begin.
I changed into something a bit more presentable than sweats. Some jeans and a grey tank. I slipped on some white converse. After I brushed my teeth and hair I headed down.
I could hear the laughter from the dining room from the stairs. I smiled to myself.
As I walked into the room, it went quiet. I walked to the chair at the head of the table knowing all the attention was on me.
Thomas sat on my right and the left seat was unoccupied. For my mate.
Thomas looked surprised to see me just like everyone else in the room. I sat on my chair and Laura one of the helpers in the kitchen quickly set some waffles for me. I thanked her and began to eat.
After a few seconds the rest of the table began to eat to. Thomas informed me on the things I missed which weren't much.
Over the days I began to return to my somewhat normal routine but did the regular rounds to check on my mate myself. I continued to sleep there. I denied the business trips staying in the pack.
I also switched Zeiden to my own house away from the pack house. I thought that then there would be less chances of a stranger walking in among my pack mates. I had also assigned guards to the houses during the day.
I spent most of my time in the guest room next to my room to check in. I wasn't able to move him into the room connected to mine even though it would have been more convenient because it was too small to hold all the medical tubes and other stuff he needed plus it wasn't really ready. I slept on the couch and spent most of the day working in the guest room.
I was drawing out the design my current client agreed on when I heard a knock. "Come in." I was facing the window away from the door.
I turned to see Kyle. I frowned, "What are you doing here?" I had been avoiding him since the blood message in my mate's bathroom.
I knew that when he heard about my brother he would come right away. And I didn't want that. I wanted to be the one to protect my mate and pack. I didn't need Kyle to come to my rescue like last time. I had grown strong enough to fight my brother.
I had made Mason and Thomas to keep the whole incident a secret from Kyle. Seems like they told him.
Kyle stood looking furious. I called it. "You didn't tell me! Ruedan!" He scolded me.
"They weren't supposed to tell you." I muttered under my breath but he heard which only got him angrier.
"Seriously! You avoid me for days after the warning about those rogue. Then I heard this and all you say is 'they weren't supposed to tell' me!" He stormed up to me ranting on.
"I told them not to tell you because I knew you would react like this!" I snapped back equally furious. He looked surprised I snapped back at him. I took a deep breath calming myself before continuing.
"I am handling it, okay?" I turned my back to him so he wouldn't see that I was trying to keep it together too. "He won't get in again. I have my patrol around the clock and if does come again this time I can take him." I claimed taking a deep breath. I heard silence behind me.
"Kyle say something." I said turning to look at him only to see a seething looking Kyle.
"WHAT?!" He roared. I froze realizing that he didn't know about my brother.
"Kyle calm down it was nothing." I said trying to calm Kyle down. Kyle going all wolf mode on me began to shift. I stepped back as Kyle shifted when I heard a gasp come from behind me.
I whipped my head around to the bed to see Zeiden wide awake. He was looking at Kyle, eyes wide in fear.
His lips chapped and his light hair messy tousled. Those dark brown eyes clouded by fear and still I couldn't look away lost in them.
"Zeiden?" I called out softly trying to not scare him as I walked to him. His wide eyes flicked to mine confused.
He narrowed his eyes for a second forgetting about Kyle. Those unforgettable brown eyes looked at me. They seemed to search for something.
How I missed seeing his clear yet brewing eyes. They were usually clear hues of a molted dark brown liquid. But they currently seemed to site a battle right now. They showed the conflict that brewed inside his mind.
His brows pulled together forming a small crest between them. It looked adorable. He seemed confused as he looked at me.
I was about to reach towards him when I heard a creaking sound of the floor boards behind me. The sound made Zeiden's eyes move to the person-wolf behind me.
"Zeiden?" I called again trying to get his attention, but he kept staring at Kyle tense ready for an attack to come.
I turned to Kyle who looked at Zeiden, startled. His eyes moved to mine.
Rue? What do I do? He asked through mind link.
"Get out. I will deal with this." I told him and he walked over to the door. I opened it as he looked back at Zeiden. He apologized once more through link then walked out.
I sighed. This wasn't at all how I wanted him to find out at all. I took a deep breathe hoping he would understand.
I turned to Zeiden who was staring at me stunned and open-mouthed. I bit my lip trying to decide how to tell him.
"Zeiden." I called out softly reaching his bed side. He stared at me confusion overtaking his eyes.
I reached to him only to have him flinch back from my movement towards him. I froze, hurt. I quickly hide how much it hurt me and masked my emotions.
"Zeiden-'' I called out only for him to pull his brows together in confusion again.
"How do you know my name?" He asked confusedly.
"What?" I asked stepping back when he kept looking at me in confusion.
"And where am I?" He asked looking around. "Who are you?" He looked at me pulling his lip in concentration.
I gulped before asking him softly, "You don't recognize me?" I could feel my heart stop beating just to hear his response.
"Should I?" He asked pulling his lip.
I clenched my jaw trying to keep down the sudden anger that surged through me at that moment. I could feel the rising of my wolf mixed with the awakening of my flame.
I heard him gasp at my eyes flashing from my normal green to the blue flames it did when the hot fire tried to take control. I turn away from him hiding myself.
My wolf's rage add to the fuel. I could felt them both trying to take control of me in my head. I clenched my fists trying to get a grip on it.
I could feel it starting to take over. "What do you remember?" I asked him trying not to gasp at the strength it took to not grip my head.
I didn't hear him say anything so I turned to him. He closed him eye in concentration pulling his brows together.
I could feel my internal fight dispersing at the sight of my mate. I stopped clenching my fist as I saw him trying to remember.
Then he suddenly gasped clutching his head tightly. I hurried to his side any internal fight in me gone, "Zeiden what's going on are you-?" I placed my hand over his arm feeling the tingling electrical shock flow through my body.
He let out a sound like a gasp and groan. He snapped his head to me looking surprised at the feeling. He moved his arm away from my touch flinching. He groaned then clutching his head. "Wolves...wolves," he mumbled in a half groan half strangled voice, "you." He moved further away from me eyes wide and wild in fear.
I bit my lip to keep myself from reaching to him again. He closed him eyes again letting out a scream at the pain in his head.
"Zeiden! Please let me help you!" I said desperately as he screamed in pain again. He laid on the bed clinching his head.
I ran to the door and swung it open. "Kyle! Kyle! Kyle!" I shouted out the door looking back at my hurt mate. I didn't know what else to do.
I ran to my mate as he let out another scream. He looked at me then and mumbled, "werewolf." I got in the bed as he flinched from my touch when I reached for him but this time I ignored it and grabbed his shoulders.
Kyle burst into the room his eyes landing on my mate. He asked, "What?! What happened!?"
My mate screamed again louder. "Get Dr.Robert!" I ordered him seeing his eyes glaze instantly.
My mate suddenly stopped moving. He stopped screaming. "Zeiden? Hey Zeiden!? Baby, look at me!?" I shouted gripping my mates cheeks as his hands fell to his side.
I checked his pulse letting out a sigh when I felt the small movement under my finger tips. He was just unconscious. I shouted at Kyle to get the doctor here faster.
I kept calling my mate trying to get him to wake up. I felt hands on my shoulders. Kyle.
I looked up at him eyes wide. I could feel the unshed tears gathering in my eyes. "Kyle." I whispered my voice broken.
His eye were understanding as he pulled me into a hug. I let him feeling my heart break. My mate was hurting and I couldn't help him.
I wished more than anything to see his beautiful dark chestnut eyes. I hated how I could feel the anger boiling inside me because I wanted to so something to help him so desperately but couldn't.
My feeling battled between the heart break of seeing my mate so hurt and the anger for being so useless.
My wolf howled inside crying for her mate and the fire burned but differently. It burned for him.
It wasn't like the normal fire that yearned to destroy and was filled with bloodlust. This one desired my mate and was filled with worry for him.
I could feel the tears that built up inside my body but I held them back. I wouldn't break. Not now. Not if I can help it. I pushed myself from Kyle knowing if I didn't, I wouldn't be able to hold back the water gates.
I turned to my mate and sat on the chair next to him as Kyle put a hand on my shoulder for support. I gripped my mate's hand waiting for Dr.Robert.
***
After a few minutes, Robert rushed into the room with Thomas and Mason tailing behind him.
I was siting by Zeiden's side lips pressed together and jaw clenched. What took them so long?
I simply got off the bed and stood back leaving just enough space for Roberts to examine him but close enough to keep my wolf satisfied.
She had been fighting with me the whole time to shift. I was fighting the natural instinct to not let anyone even touch my mate.
Kyle thankfully got some logic into my head before the doctor got here. He helped me clear my head so I wouldn't attack Robert the second he checked my mate. I stood aside watching Robert's every movement.
Outside my face was cleared of any emotion but inside a fucking tornado was occurring. It was moved by my fears and concerns for my mate all over the place.
I could see the guys looking at me the whole time but I ignored them.
Robert sighed turning to me. "Everything's fine. It just seemed he was overwhelmed due to shock." He stated making me clench my jaw in anger.
"If he is so fine. Explain to me why he doesn't remember a thing." I spat out at him lowly. At my comment his eyes widened in bewilderment and gasps were heard from behind me.
I don't know if it was because of how angry I sounded or because of the news I just gave them.
His eyes soften giving me a pity look as if he understood what I was going through only making me angrier.
"I-I feared this would happen." He stuttered his eyes flicking to my mate.
"Feared what could happen?" I growled out at him making him shake a bit.
"Th-the imp-impact of the hit and...um the time it took to tend his wounds might have affected his brain. There is always a chance of this happening with head injuries." I growled in frustration my eyes changing into blue flames. "I-I apolog-apologize for not informing you, alpha." He stuttered as he clumsily stepped away from me as I began to shake.
"Rue?" Thomas called out to me. I shut my eyes close huffing out a deep breathe. I opened them feeling the dark slithery hands of the darkness inside me reaching out.
My eyes landing on my mate who looked so exhausted despite having slept for almost a week now. I studied him. His long dark lashes against his pale white skin. From the white soft smooth skin of his down to the movement of his chest even and rhythmical to his breathes.
I focused on the way it moved up and down finding myself calm and collected again.
I turned to see the guys talking in hushed voices with Robert in the corner of the room glancing at my direction every so often. There talk ceased when they saw me look back at them.
I walked to them looking at poor scared Robert. In all the years we have known each other I had never raised my voice at him. I had always felt so thankful to him. The wave of guilt instantly washed over me when I was him darting glances at me not holding my eye, wary as if he didn't know if I would snap at him at any second.
"I should get going," he stated still avoiding my eyes, "he should sleep till morning though." He directed this to me, "He should take it slow. Inform me when he wakes up I will check on him then."
He looked at me waiting for my dismissal. "Thanks for coming, Robert." I said dismissing him and trying to apologize through the words.
After he left, I forced myself to look at the guys. They were fidgeting not knowing what to do. "You guys should get going." I stated avoiding what had just happened.
I could see the internal fight occurring inside all of them. I knew they were worried and I hated how I couldn't hold in all the anger I had in me. It was like every time something involved my mate I couldn't hold my wolf back. It was frustrating. I could feel myself losing control.
Before they could protest I said, "I'm going to sleep I am feeling tired." I turned around walking over to my mate. They stayed for a few seconds probably linking each other.
I heard a huff and then the door slamming. The only one to get that easily mad would be Kyle.
"We...we will see you in the morning, Rue." I heard Thomas call out. When I didn't respond, I heard a sigh then door open and close silently.
They were gone.