Riley's Point of View
Pain is a fickle thing. To me it is watching my best friend go through the tortures of her life, her emotional pain. For Lucas, my pain is his pain which is the main reason why he was fighting me so hard on me taking the lead on her healing. To Maya pain is purely physical, she hardened herself emotionally for personal reasons. So Maya's pain was the 5th kiss of the whip when she finally screamed out. I could practically feel her confusion when William offered her 3 whips to save Josh.
That was the first time she felt emotional pain in… years. Probably longer if I really dove into the world of my sister Maya. She hid it well though, as soon as he mentioned no punishment for Josh she had her mind made up. She couldn't let Josh take the punishment for something she believed she caused. I love Maya almost as much as Lucas-damn mate bond-and once I found her after 6 years I never imagined we would be back here. I wipe my eyes dry and continue stitching her up, "Princess." I glance at my mate before going back to work.
"Yes?"
He sighs and I can feel what he's feeling, as soon as he marked me it was hard to separate his emotions from mine but right now he's overpowering mine. I can feel his emerald eyes burning a whole into my face while sadness washes over me. "Please let the pack doctor take over."
"Please Lucas drop it. I-I'm almost done."
I make a passing glance towards Josh and he hasn't looked away from her face since we entered this room. Aside from me confronting him about getting his attitude together. It was sweet how he didn't want anyone to touch her once he had her in his arms, stupid but sweet. "She'll be okay Alpha." I try to console him when the door opens frantically.
"Farkle, what is it?" Lucas uses his deeper Beta voice and I can't help but roll my eyes as I throw out my tools and start to wash my hands.
He bows his head in respect, "The law wants a word with Alpha."
"Tell them to take their 'word' and shove it up their ass." Josh snaps not once looking away.
Seeing as there is so much testosterone I take the chance to speak up, "Alpha if you'd prefer Lucas and I can go discuss matters with the wolves. I'm sure they'll understand considering the circumstances." I state calmly, I know that anything could set him off at this moment. I hate to say that I'm almost numb to this part of her healing but it's the truth. She may have caused a few fights when we were younger but she didn't deserve the punishments she received. About 99 percent of the time she didn't deserve punishment at all. And even though she wasn't whipped too often her father found other ways of 'disciplining' her as he called it.
Josh grits his teeth together and slowly nods his head, "Hurry. My mate may need you." I bow my head and finish drying my hands, I can tell he wants to say much more but he keeps his lips sealed. I reach out my fingertips for my mate and with a hesitant smile he grips it tightly.
He gestures for Farkle to lead the way, "I've never met with law before."
I gulp and grip his hand tighter. "I have. I can take lead if you'd prefer."
His eyes shine with adoration and love when I look up at him then it switches to confusion. "Why have you met with them?" The word 'them' is spat with so much venom I wouldn't have recognized it was from my mate had I not watched it fall out of his soft lips.
"Let's just say, the Alpha at our old pack had a few instances with them." I keep it short and sweet because I don't think Maya would want me to say 'I had my father report on the Alpha-Maya's father-for abuse'. So much good that did! I don't know how he got away with it most of the time and it was infuriating and disgusting. My father, Cory would let Maya stay at our home as much as possible but it isn't easy whenever Alpha Kermit could simply command us to do anything.
The door to Alpha's office opens and I try to appear calm and collected as I step inside the room that is colder from the chilled hearts of the 'Sepiente Wolves'. "We sent for Alpha Josh."
"Yes well, he's attending to his mate at the moment. I'm sure you can all understand the circumstances involving this situation."
Lucas grips my hand tighter as we stand behind the desk, as they eye each other using their link to communicate. "I highly suggest you give Alpha Josh we have to discuss these matters and I don't want anything to get… miscommunicated."
Lucas clears his throat and I wonder to myself how on earth that was sexy. "It will not be 'miscommunicated', but to ease your worries the room is bugged so we can play it back for him on tape." He casually takes a seat and pulls me onto his lap. I lean against his chest as he lovingly rubs my back. "If you would please continue, my mate needs to get back to the Luna."
William smirks and glances at me, his eyes roam over my body that causes me to shiver. "IF you would refrain yourself William from eyeing my mate, I would prefer not to do something I'd regret." He growls and grips me tighter.
"Possessive males." He scoffs and that causes a laugh from the rest of the cold hearted wolves. "Back to business, we will be keeping a close eye on this pack from now on since the Alpha can't punish when necessary."
"Punishment is given when punishment is needed." I snap and sit up straighter on his lap, I've not been in this pack long but everyone is so well behaved and respectful so it is obvious that discipline and rules are enforced. "Just because we do not surrender to medieval tactics does not mean that the Alpha does not enforce punishment. Unlike Alpha Kermit who took any chance he took to abuse his daughter and you did nothing!" I scream the last part and instantly regret my words.
A toothy grin invades William's face and I feel Lucas' entire body tense. "I thought I recognized you." Oh Goddess, he's going to find out about Maya. He's going to break it down and figure out that the woman he whipped is Alpha Kermit's missing daughter. "How is the she-wolf?"
Oh thank goodness, he's dense. "I left that pack 2 years ago." I snap, "We will inform the Alpha of your ever watching eyes." I have got to get my mouth in check.
'Princess you need to calm down. I would die for you in an instant but I just found you I'd prefer not to.'
'Yes beta Lucas.'
His wolf howls, for whatever reason he loves it when I call him that. "Forgive me, I'm a bit shaken up from recent events." I bow my head respectfully and look back up.
"Is there anything else?"
Eric steps forward and smirks, "You may also inform him that there will be fines for his defiance towards me." Basically he provoked him to get money, instead of fighting back. Coward. "Also, Katie along with her parents are under our protection and will have no repercussions for following law." I attempt to contain my wolf who is trying to get out of her cage and I instantly look away from law. Lucas felt my anger and instantly took action.
"Very well." My mate says and gestures towards the door, "Farkle and Zay please escort them off of our land." Neither one of us speak until we see their cars disappear into the woods. It's not an uncomfortable silence but I know he's about to ask me-"Alpha Kermit is Maya's father." That. And he didn't even ask me, he already knows he's just getting confirmation. I nod my head and toy with my fingers, "Maya was abused." Again I agree and feel a few warm tears run down my cheek, "You reported him and they did nothing." Goddess he's too smart for his own damn good.
"Y-yes."
He lifts my chin and softly brushes the tears off my cheek with his thumb. Sparks dance across my skin and I lovingly fall into his embrace. "Is she first born?"
"Yeah."
"So she's future Alpha of the Crescent Moon pack." He smiles widely knowing that the future Luna of our pack isn't only a rogue. "I knew she was powerful, I knew it! We need to go tell-"
"NO!" I yell and stand up from his lap, "Do not tell Alpha! This is not our information to share!"
He furrows his brows and rises from the chair slowly, "Princes he deserves to know."
I run my hands through my hair, Maya would never forgive me. "Lucas there is a lot you don't understand. Yes she's supposed to be future Alpha of the pack, b-but-"
"Tell me." He says calmly too calmly.
"Please don't make me." I cry out.
He tugs me into his chest and kisses the top of my head, "I would never make you princess. Please don't think so lowly of me." That was never my intention, I love this man with every fiber of my being. "I would never do that to you princess, I love you so much. And I will respect the fact you don't want to betray your best friend. But I highly, highly recommend you convince her to tell Josh before he finds out on his own."
"I'm aware, she thinks she's protecting him."
He sighs and places light butterfly kisses against my collarbone. "Protecting him from what?"
"The serious reality and consequences of her actions should she not tread carefully."
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A painful scream bounces off the cool walls of the sterilized hospital room startling everyone awake. I had fallen asleep in Lucas' lap and threw myself out of his arms. Josh was already up and crying trying to wake her up. "MAYA! Baby girl please wake up! You're hurting yourself."
I take one glance at her back and notice she's arching her body uncontrollably. I move to stand beside Josh and cup her face while I begin to sing. Her mother would sing to her to help soothe her. So when her mother passed away she'd come to me. It was our secret because she didn't want to look weak in front of Alpha Kermit but it helped nonetheless. "Forgive me, I wanna go home. And she heard a voice, somewhere deep inside. It said I know you've murdered and, I know you've lied. And I have watched you suffer, all of your life. And now that you're listening I'll, I'll tell you that I, I will love you for you. Not for what you have done or what you will become, I will love you for you. I will give you the love the love that you never knew."
"What are you doing?"
I ignore the Alpha and continue noticing she isn't convulsing as much, I gave her a lot of medication to keep her asleep. She won't wake up. "Love you for you. Not for what you have done or what you will become. I will love you for you. I will give you the love a love that you never knew."
Her pained face slowly dissipates as I continue to hum the melody of the song her mother loved. Now that she quit thrashing I notice her back is bloodied again. "Dang it." I huff and start to wash my hands.
Josh is shaking and crying but there isn't a lot I can do for him. "W-why?"
I freeze at the question, in fact so does my mate. "Why what Alpha?" I put on some gloves and slowly remove the bandages from her torn skin. I don't know how this doesn't give me a queasy stomach.
"Why is she having nightmares? Why would someone hurt her?" He rests his forehead next to her and cries quietly. The sounds of a broken male fill the room and it hurts everyone, I openly cry to myself and Lucas' eyes glisten with unshed tears. "Riley?"
"Yes Alpha?"
"Will you teach me that song?"
I inhale deeply and release a shaky exhale, "Yes Alpha, that's very nice of you. Maya is very lucky. I don't know why she's fighting it." I try to distract his mind away from his female's pain.
'I'm just saying this to keep Josh calm baby.' I give my mate a small wink and the green face of jealousy goes back to hide.
"Really?"
And it works, "Yes."
The last half of my sentence catches his attention, "does she n-not want me?"
I should have been more careful with my tongue. I curse myself while vehemently shake my head. "That's not what I meant Alpha I apologize. Before she met you she didn't want a mate. If she didn't care for you she would not have taken the lashes for you." His tense shoulders relax and he begins to kiss her sweetly. I swear to the Moon Goddess he's kissed her entire face besides her lips.
I watch them, it's a nice distraction from her mangled back. "I can't imagine my life without her." I'm aware that the Alpha bond is stronger than a bond like Lucas and I, and I couldn't think about my life without Lucas in it the first second I was in his arms. I can only imagine how he's feeling, and he hasn't even marked her yet. Though I think it is silly for Maya to try and fight this, I know why she's doing it and I have a new found respect for Alpha Josh for patiently waiting. Though I'm aware hickeys will be prominent until he does.
"It only gets worse." Lucas whispers while gazing at me. I cautiously clean her back again and when she jolts in pain I realize the numbing medication is wearing off.
"Why is she in pain?"
I remain silent and ignore his growl while I inject more into her IV. "Why can I not feel her wolf?" Josh snaps again and I realize his sadness is turning to anger and quick.
"Alpha I just gave her some more numbing medication where she won't feel any more pain." I see Lucas walking slowly towards me as Josh's eyes begin to flicker to an amber then a black letting everyone know his wolf wants to come out and greet everyone. "Her wolf is healing her. Amber, her wolf is putting all of her energy into healing Maya so she can wake up faster. She will be away for a little while longer."
"Alpha." Lucas almost warns, he's being very cautious as he moves in between me and the terrified male. "Take a look at your mate." Her blonde hair is sprawled behind her as she steadily breathes. Her chest rises and falls with each movement and slowly we see his twitching muscles come to a halt.
"I'm sorry." My eyes widen with the immediate apology. "My anger is misplaced."
I open my mouth, we haven't told him what the wolves said seeing as he didn't ask. We felt it best that we break the news to him when his head was clear. Luckily he doesn't spring into action, he sits back down and tenderly strokes her cheek. "I will be here when you wake up." He whispers.
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The next day wasn't much better. She keeps thrashing in her sleep and opening up her wounds again, I don't know what to do about it. They look slightly better, they aren't as wide or deep but that doesn't prevent the blood from seeping out should she move. "Dr. Packwood what do you suggest?" I sigh and try to rub the bags out from under my eyes.
"You're doing everything very well Riley." He praises and a light smile graces my face, "Cold press?"
I nod my head, "I placed one on this morning, and unfortunately with our body heat those don't last long. But it did the trick while it lasted. Do you have any herbs?"
He nods his head and gestures for me to follow him, "We have a garden you are more than welcome to take what you prefer."
A loud growl reverberates off the hall walls and I cautiously turn around. My mate pulls me into his embrace immediately, "Why are you alone with my mate?" He growls and grips me tighter.
"Stop it you possessive male." I slap his chest and pull his face into my neck, "Are you too consumed with jealousy that you can't see this is Dr. Packwood?" He stiffens and that gives me my answer, "We are going to get herbs for Maya." I pet his head and when he begins to hum I realize he has calmed down. He just doesn't say anything because he loves affection. Little mutt.
"I will come with you."
"Of course you will."
An abundance of aroma's invade my senses as soon as we step outside. Mother Nature truly is wonderful, I open my eyes and take in the beautiful colors of the garden. Faintest hues of purple to the brightest of yellows and greens. I sigh happily and instantly move for the Calendula. "Interesting choice." Dr. Packwood comments.
"Anti-Inflammatory."
He nods in agreement and says, "but why not achiote? Still an anti-inflammatory."
I smile, I actually know something he doesn't. "Calendula promotes skin regrowth. I also need aloe, and frankincense. Can someone convert these to a cream or an oil?" These herbs are gentle enough to not sting when applied and promotes healing where there is no risk for infection.
"As you wish." He bows his head in respect to his Beta Female and I continue to gather my herbs. Once I'm done I turn on my heels to Dr. Packwood and my mate speaking in hushed tones. They stop talking as soon as they notice I'm paying attention, "I will get this taken care of for you and bring it to the infirmary."
"Thank you doctor."
I stare at my mate curiously and he begins to blush, "You're hiding something from me now spill!" I smack his arm as he tries to talk himself out of the situation. "You will sleep on the couch tonight if you don't speak the truth."
He chuckles and tosses his hands up in surrender. "Princess calm down. We were talking about the possibility of you training to become a healer. Possibly taking over his position when he retires."
I squeal and jump into his arms, hastily wrapping my legs around his waist. "Oh my Goddess you are amazing!"
'RILEY!'
Shoot! "Take me to Alpha Josh… now!" In about a 45 seconds we're in the hospital room and Maya is screaming again.
"HELP HER!"
I climb out of Lucas' arms while they growl at one another and begin to stroke her hair. "Quit talking to my mate that way." Oh no.
Alpha Josh starts to shake, his wolf fighting to take control. "ALPHA! Touch your mate." At the sound of his mate he glances towards her, "pet her hair." He nods in agreement and takes over my initial job. "I will love you for you, not for what you have done or what you will become." I keep singing but notice Josh mouthing the words along with me. "I will give you a love, a love that you never knew. Love, you for you."
Her body comes to a complete halt as she collapses, that's it I am lightning the dosage on her sleeping medication, she and I need to have a small conversation. The once snow white gauze is blood red, it's fresh and it fills the room with a metallic scent. After I finish cleaning her back again, I check her pulse. I'm surprised she hasn't needed any blood but Maya was always full of surprises. "Alpha have you eaten?"
"No." He says while resting his head beside his female. "I won't eat until she does."
I sigh and shake my head, stubborn man. "And what good will that do her? When she wakes up and sees her mate hasn't been taking care of himself?"
Josh doesn't reply back to me but strokes Maya's hair. "I will love you for you."
What's funny is, I think he already does.
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