"What's the matter? Are you okay? What's wrong?" Collin asked rushing to my side, alarm and concern etched in his features.
"I remember." I said, knowing he would know what I was talking about. Then he wrapped me into his warm arms as I shivered in fear.
"I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry." Collin repeated as tears watered in my eyes. When I looked up at him, I noticed that everyone had quietly left the room in my peripheral vision.
"Why are you apologizing?" I asked tearfully. Collin looked down ashamed.
"It's not your fault Collin. It's Brady's. I'm scared of him, Collin, terrified. Why did he do this to me?" I said breaking into full blown sobs now.
"Megan, it's my fault. Those marks on your side are mine. Those are my claw marks. I was just trying to get him off of you and then I slipped and my foot hit your side then there was so much blood. I had to fight him though to keep him off of you and then Sam came to get Brady calmed down but I didn't have any clothes to see if you were okay. The blood, your blood, was everywhere. It just kept coming. I couldn't do anything to help you and it was my fault. Then you started screaming my name and I'd never felt more helpless. I wanted to help you, to comfort you, to take you to the hospital and then it took all my self control to stay wolf. It physically pained me to run away from you back to the nearest wolf house to get clothes then I followed the ambulance that took you here where I stayed, freaking out and successfully getting on everybody's nerves. Carlisle wouldn't let me see you for fear that you would wake up and be scared of me." Collin explained on the verge of tears.
"How could I possibly be scared of you? I love you too much for that to even be a possibility. These scratches on my side will fade and go away." I said, the last part was a lie but I could only think of things to make him feel better. "Whatever you do, I do NOT want you to blame yourself for my big mouth that caused this whole mistake. I shouldn't have gone to that stupid party and this whole time it wasn't about going to the stupid party it was about doing something different, new, interesting. I shouldn't have taken that out on you. I'm sorry."
"But.." Collin started before I cut him off with a kiss. He moaned in protest but I wrapped my good arm around his neck pulling him in for a deeper kiss.
"Now," I said after we pulled apart, "You were saying how right your beautiful girlfriend was and not going to blame yourself anymore for anything involving last night."
"You know that you always win." Collin complained giving me a chaste peck on the lips.
"Sometimes I like that." I smiled then heard the door open and Collin hovered protectively over me, growls ripping through him at whoever was at the door. I couldn't see because Collin's back was in my way.
Cautiously I peaked around Collin to see a very ashamed, rugged-looking Brady, involuntarily I cringed into Collin hiding myself from view again.
"Megan…" Brady started but his voice broke. I squeezed my eyes shut tight but all I saw was a massive brown wolf towering over me with feral growls coming from it.
Gasping I opened my eyes again then heard Collin's questions, "Megan? What's wrong? Are you okay?"
Nervously biting my lip I nodded to signal to him that I was fine. When he'd twisted to check on me, I saw Brady move forward slowly. Then saw the healing scars that ran crisscross across Brady's face and arms and I cringed again.
"Stay away from her." Collin threatened, turning to face Brady again.
"I wanted to apologize for last night. My anger got the best of me but that's no excuse." Brady said as Collin started trembling in front of me. I put a calming hand on his shoulder because I didn't want any more scars from an angry wolf.
"I've heard your apology but I think its best that you leave now." I replied diplomatically still half hidden by Collin's trembling form.
"Please forgive me." Brady pleaded not making any move to follow my advice.
"Collin," I said, "let me get up."
Slowly Collin let me get up so I was sitting then when I moved to stand as Brady begged me not to,
"You ask for forgiveness but don't even want to see what you've done to me." I snapped, standing up slightly woozy.
Brady's eyes went as round as saucers as he took in my arm and waist. Collin and I hadn't seen the full extent of the damage until I stood up. I saw the bandage on my right start just below my jaw and then curve around towards my elbow then down the outer part of my arm and ended at my knuckles. On my waist the gauze started at the middle of my rib cage dropped quickly down to the backside of my ribs then across my stomach stopping shortly before my belly button. I could tell Collin had slipped.
"Now you know why I won't forgive you. I have to live with these forever and every time I close my eyes, I see a giant wolf snarling at me. Do you think I wanted this?" I asked angrily. Collin was shaking viciously at my words, I hadn't exactly told him about the flashbacks. Brady looked down at the floor again when Collin helped me back into bed so I wouldn't rip my stitches open.
"I think I'll go now." Brady said softly, speaking to the ground.
"I think that would be best." I agreed settling back into the bed.
Once he was gone Collin was shaking again, "I'll kill him. I'll kill him for what he did to you."
"No you aren't," I sighed, "That would do no good besides he's your best friend. You are physically incapable of killing him. In fact, I'm surprised you hurt him as much as you did."
Collin sighed and I could tell that he knew I was right.
"Besides," I continued, "I don't want you to hurt him."
It was Collin's turn to look surprised.
"You don't want to hurt him after everything you told him?"
"I said that I didn't want YOU to hurt him. I'd be too worried about you getting hurt. I'll forgive him with some time. I liked Brady and he's your best friend. I can't and won't come in between that." I explained to him then attempted to stifle a couple yawns.
"Meg, go to sleep. You're clearly tired." Collin offered. I was going to protest but my eyelids drifted closed and before they did Collin kissed me on the forehead.
Sleepily, I mumbled shifting over on the bed to make room for him, "Don't go. I'm cold."
I felt warmth cover my right side and smiled drifting off into a deep sleep.
