Chapter Ten

Her head spun and her vision was blurry. Azure blinked a few times trying to prise her eyes further open, but they refused to co-operate. She sighed, and instead concentrated on the noises around her. She could hear the beep beep of machine. A scattering of voices nearby caught her attention, but they were too far away for her to actually hear what they were saying. Shifting her head slightly, wincing at the pain she felt, she also heard the deep breathing of someone sat next to her. Azure tried to roll her shoulders, but they were too stiff. She tried again, ignoring the slight pain she felt and was presently surprised when they began to loosen up. She did the same with all her limbs, lightly stretching them into the dull ache disappeared.

Azure willed her eyes to open, and slowly the room around her came into focus. The bright lights were hard on her eyes, and she gave herself a few seconds to get used to them before continuing to look round. She noticed that there was medical equipment around her. The beeping noise she could hear came from a heart monitor machine that was now attached to her. Attempting to sit up, to get more comfortable, she groaned loudly causing the quiet voices to become louder as people surrounded her.

"Azure, thank goodness you're awake."

"Sit still for now, we'll get you a drink."

"How do you feel? Any soreness, a headache?"

"What the hell were you doing out there?"

She winced as everyone tried to talk at once, her head pounding.

"Enough." The familiar voice of Hawke sounded over everyone, effectively shutting them up. "There are too many people in here. Lara and Lucy can stay but everyone else out for now." They others protested, but Azure saw Hawke's stern stare, and suppressed a giggle. Lara started examining her, asking her all sorts of medical questions which she tried to answer, but she was too self-conscious of the man next to her, who hadn't been woken by the commotion a few minutes ago.

"He was the one that rescued you."

Azure lifted her gaze for a mere second to look at Hawke before dropping her eyes back at Matthias. "He'll be ok. He just tired himself out trying to get you here."

She didn't trust herself to speak. She raised her hand and lightly rested it on Matthias's arm. He didn't stir.

"What were you doing out that far anyway? You must have heard the weather warning we put out?" Azure saw the softness in Hawke's blue eyes, even though his words were stern.

She rolled her shoulders. "I was taking some pictures. I did want to paint that area, but because of the weather I thought it would be easier to take photos. I was planning on painting as soon as I got back, but the embankment fell away."

Hawke nodded. "May I suggest next time, that you take someone with you? My Lieutenants been asleep for as long as you have, and I needed his help"

Azure paled, not used to being told off. She hadn't rebelled since her early teen years. It was sobering effects of the Psy attacking the pack, that had made her mature so quickly. She had been one of the lucky ones. Her family had survived, but she had seen the effect it had on her friends.

Matthias awoke to see Hawke telling off Azure and saw red. Standing up quickly he knocked Hawke off his balance with a snarl. "Hijo de puta! She needs to rest and you stand there telling her off like a child."

Hawke growled back at him. "I'd do the same to anyone else. Just because you've got blue balls over her doesn't mean I'll give her special treatment." He made to move out of the infirmary. "Get your shit sorted out, Matthias." The door banged loudly behind them, leaving them in stunned silence.

Lara and Lucy soon made their excuses and they were left alone, un-comfortable in each other's company.

Matthias felt shy. He'd held her whilst he'd been naked. The sickness he had felt in his stomach hadn't vanished until she'd been safe; and even then he had refused to leave her side.

He reached out, tucking a long un-brushed strand of her hair behind her ear, pausing to lightly caress her cheek. "You had me worried, Vida mia."

She leant into the caress, taking his breath away. It was the first time she had yielded to him, and although it was a small action it didn't take away the meaning of it. "I'm sorry." She lifted her eyes to meet his deep chocolate ones, clouded with concern. "Thank you for rescuing me."

Matthias said nothing. His wolf was preening its self for her. He made to sit back down in his chair, but Azure made room on the bed for him. He raised an eyebrow at the gesture, but didn't say anything. He settled down gently, careful not to jostle her.

Azure was unsure of what she was doing, but she knew it felt right. Pulling on his arm, she made him lie down next to her on top of the blanket. She felt him tense, but she was too consumed of enjoying the feel of him against her. Ignoring the overwhelming feeling he always ignited in her she rested her head on his shoulder, one hand resting lightly on his arm, letting sleep wash over her again.

Hawke watched from outside, his eyes flickering with a lethal edge. Lara placed a kiss on his cheek. "You were a little harsh on them." He shrugged.

"She made a stupid decision and he put his life in danger." He turned to face her. "And he called me a 'son of a bitch'."

Lara giggled and smoother her hands over her dress, a nervous gesture Hawke had seen her do on countless occasions. "Date night with walker?"

She nodded. "I've left Lucy in charge tonight, but Walker and I both have out phones."

"Whose got the little ones?" Toby was old enough to leave on his own, but Marlee was still young, and the two cousins hated being separated. A wicked smile spread over Lara's face. "Oh, don't you know? Sienna offered your babysitting services." His growl followed her laughing back down the corridor.

Undoing his shirt, leaving himself wearing paled faded jeans and a white t-shirt, Hawke pulled a beer from the fridge, taking a big gulp. He was wondering over going to the workout room, when a barrel of a little girl walked straight into his legs refusing to let go. He picked her up. "What's up, Marlee?"

The little girl buried her face into his neck, and he felt the wetness of her tears. He placed down his beer, kissing her gently on top of her curls. He sat them both down on the sofa, pulled a soft blanket round them and put on a film that he knew she loved, although he'd seen it so many times the dialogue tended to blend to a dull humming. Slowly the tension loosened from her shoulders and she turned round to see the colourful characters. "Where's Sienna and Toby?" The little girl shrugged, too engrossed in the film. Hawke pulled out his phone, and rang for pizza, fizzy drinks and chocolate pudding. They pigged out, leaving only the crusts on the pizza. Hawke picked up Marlee, when she fell asleep and tucked her into bed. He rang Riley and Mercy to look after her, aware she was close to the Lieutenant and Sentinel. Then he went looking for his mate, his rage coming to the surface.

He followed Sienna's darkly tempting scent down to the edges of the white zone. He heard the fury in her voice, as she rebuffed a very shamefaced looking Toby. "What the fuck is going on?" Sienna whipped round, her ruby coloured hair fanning over her shoulders. She squared her shoulders.

"Toby decided he didn't want to look after Marlee whilst I went to get food, and seeing as you were late, there was no one else." Accusation filtered through her voice. "As I was coming back from the kitchen I noticed him coming out of one of his friend's rooms."

Hawke narrowed his eyes. "Sienna, go back to Marlee. Tell Riley what happened, then send him down to me." He hated giving her orders, but now it wasn't about them being mated. It was about pack, and Toby had broken pack rules.

The boy shrunk away from the Alpha. Hawke's dominance was overwhelming even to his Lieutenants. "We need to have a talk, Toby."