Chapter 4
Ben's P.O.V.
I closed Mal's door and leaned against the wall. I wanted to scream, cry, let out a roar...anything to make the pain go away. It hurt to see her like that. To know that I caused that, I caused her pain. She went through that torment that torcher all because I was a fool. I banged my fist against my bedroom door before rubbing my chest to ease the aching, my head started to hurt just thinking about everything she went through. A tear dropped from my left eye before others kept coming.
How could I hurt her like that?
She's my mate.
My soulmate.
I'm supposed to protect her. But I caused her more pain than anyone. I feel like she gave me the one thing she knew could hurt her, her heart, her love and instead of taking care of it, I stepped on it and tossed it to the trash in front of her. Squeezed it until she felt heartache until it hurt her.
I broke her heart.
I failed her.
As a mate.
And a king.
Taking a deep breath I walked slowly to my office taking a look every now and then a glance back at Mal's room.
Looking at the grandfather clock tick loudly indicating it was midnight, I let out a stressful sigh and dropped my pen.
How could I focus?
I shook my head trying to clear my mind but I kept going back to the conversation I had with everyone about Mal a few hours ago.
Opening the door of my office slowly and honestly emotionally drained I saw the Gang (Lonnie, Jane, Doug, Evie, Carlos, and Jay) and my parents inside. They were all doing different things Carlos and Jay were inside pacing around, Evie was sitting on a chair with her head supported by her hands being comforted by her boyfriend, Doug, Lonnie and Jane were talking quietly but close to tears while my parents only stood by the open view of the glass wall comforting each other while staring at the Isle. Lonnie and Jane were the first to notice me come in before everyone else did. I moved to sit on my chair and let out a sigh as soon as I closed the door.
Evie quickly stood up and wiped her eyes, "Is she okay?"
"How is she doing?" Jane asked biting her nails.
"Is she okay?" my mom asked lacing her fingers together in front of her.
"She's...fine."
"You don't seem too sure," Jay said placing his hand on my desk.
I rested my head on my hands, "I'm not sure...yet"
"What do you mean?" Carlos asked
"She...She doesn't trust anyone." I said looking up
Jay scoffed, "But she seems to trust you?"
"No." I sigh while running my fingers through my hair. "She really doesn't" That hurt to say. Mal didn't trust me. The ache in my heart got stronger.
"What the hell do you mean she doesn't" Evie voiced, "She didn't get frightened by you! She looked at you to protect her!"
Jay and Carlos looked equally mad and Doug, Lonnie, and Jane looked shocked at her language while my parents look at each other worriedly.
I rolled my eyes, "She really doesn't"
"What the fuck do you mean by that?" Jay yelled, Lonnie moved and placed her hand on Jay's arm trying to calm him down.
"Look." I stared at all of them while putting a hand down on my desk, "The only reason she feels a bit of comfort is because of the mate bond."
"The what?"
"The mate bond. It's like a string that connects two mates and causes them to feel closer together" Doug explained
"That's why she feels safe with you" Lonnie uttered in awe.
"Yeah...She's not really comfortable with me" I uttered "It's more of a feeling an instinct"
"But she also trusts you of all people," Carlos said, "Even after all the shit we put her through"
Everyone turned to glare at Carlos. Lonnie and Jane because it was rude and mean. Doug glare was more like I-can't-believe you just said that while the rest were more like dude be quiet.
"What it's true!" Carlos said trying to defend himself which ended up with Jane slapping his arm.
"No, it's not because it seems like she doesn't remember," I said, turning to face the Isle, "All she has to rely on is her instincts."
"What do you mean doesn't remember?" my mom asked, "what doesn't Mal remember?"
I turned my chair around, "Did the Doctor not tell you?"
Everyone exchanged looks.
"Tell us what?" Evie asked taking a step closer to me.
"What is wrong with Mal?" Jay questioned me.
"What did you mean by doesn't remember?" Carlos asked
"Ben answer the questions!" my dad said, raising his voice when I stayed quiet "What's wrong with Mal?"
How am I supposed to tell them?
What am I supposed to say?
Oh, you know how Mal was in the Isle for 6 months well during that time she might have hit her head on something and know there might be a possibility that she doesn't remember any of us.
I looked at all their desperate faces and took a deep breath in before talking "The doctor, Dr. Jason explained that Mal might not remember us"
"Mean!?" Evie said holding in her tears, "She lost her memory?"
"But she might remember us right?" Doug asked
I felt a lump in my throat as I thought about what the doctor explained, "Dr. Jason explained that because she went through a lot in the Isle she as a defense mechanism blocked it all"
Evie looked heartbroken, tear after tear fell before a sob slipped her lips and she fell on the floor sobbing for her best friend. Lonnie and Jane followed behind Evie and their perspective boyfriends tried to comfort them while also trying to control their own feelings. Carlos was holding back tears, Jay was clenching his fist and Doug was blinking back his tears. My parents found comfort in each other holding each other.
Everyone after that looked defeated.
They don't know what to do now and I didn't know what to do either.
How can I help Mal?
Turning off my desk lamp, I decided to call it a night. I walked through the quiet halls of the castle to get to my room. Holding my doorknob, I looked at Mal's door feeling a cold bad feeling before opening my door.
"AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!"
Looking back at Mal's door, I felt my heart stop.
MAL!
thank you for reading!
