Nathan pov
It had been a week since we took our mate to the pack hospital. She just lies there. No movement or response of any kind. The machines breathe for her and pump her blood. The doctor says she needs to rest. He is keeping her sedated, so her body has the best chance to heal. My gamma, Kane, can feel her wolf but she is weak. She doesn’t have the strength to heal her person. The doctor is talking about maybe giving her some of my blood. Since we are fated mates, it should help her to heal. But without knowing what else has been done to her and other treatments she may have received, we don’t know if my blood will hurt her in the long run.
“Where are you little mate? Can you hear me?” I wondered, sitting next to her holding her hand. She is gorgeous even with all her scars and injuries. They show that she is strong and a fighter. What made her finally give up on life? She had to feel so alone and afraid to make the decision to end her life as well as her wolf’s life. Her wolf, that is another thought, that floats around in my head with no answers. For her wolf to be willing to end their lives, it must have been bad. She is so tiny and adorable. Although she had the machines hooked to her and the beeping, whirling, air-pushing sounds they make, they don’t take from her beauty and the fact that I just want to hold her. I want her to feel the love I have in my heart for her. Not because she is my mate, but because she is another being deserving of love, compassion, and happiness. I do want her to feel the bond we can have as mates, but I want her to want that as much as I. Let me show her how she should be treated and taken care of.
All I can do is sit beside her bed holding and stroking her hand. I have decided to tell her about my daydreams involving her and how I want to care for her. Love her. Get to know her. “You are so beautiful my tiny mate. I see a future day lazing away in bed while you sit between my thighs with your back to me. You are relaxing against me as I brush that gloriously long black hair of yours. It is so soft. I know because I could not resist brushing it behind your ear while you lay there deciding if you will come back to me.” I remain sitting, stoking her hand, trying to make sure she can feel my touch in some way. I can feel the sparks tingle along my skin when we are touching. I wonder if she can too.
I stood and reached to smooth the blanket down her small form. The doctors and nurses make me leave when they sponge her off. They say I am not ready to see the damage done to the rest of her body. Just seeing the scar across her neck makes me tremble with anger. I want to kill whoever did that to her. My sweet angel just lies there. My wolf, Kalen, is quietly curled up in the back of my mind. He can sense her wolf also, but she is not responding to him, and he is scared. The two are so weak and have made the decision to leave this world together. What would make them want to come back now? Neither have any idea they were rescued from the bottom of the waterfall and that they are now in a hospital. Surrounded by a pack and people who want her.
Caressing her face, I placed a chaste kiss on her forehead. Her skin is so pale it is almost translucent. She had an ethereal look to her. “There is much more to that daydream little one. How about you open those beautiful eyes and let me see their color. Then you can find out how that daydream continues in person.”
No reaction, I continued to speak quietly to her. Telling her about the pack and trying to describe each individual wolf and how much they already love her. How all of us have been waiting forever for her. Not only am I going to spoil her rotten, but the rest of the pack will also. She would never have to worry about anyone hurting her again or not having enough food. My sister has already started getting the things together that a young woman would need. I link my sister to make sure she understands whatever she thinks the Luna will need when she wakes up. “Dalia, make sure you get your Luna whatever she will need and make sure you get her soft comfortable things to wear. I don’t want anything that may irritate her scars. I don’t care what it costs.”
“Oh, my goddess, Nathan, okay! I know you have told me this five times now. Calm down, it is under control. I am back from the stores and washing some of the sleepwear I got her. I spoke to one of the nurses and she is going to change her into one tonight when they bathe her.” Dalia retorted back. I could hear the snorting sound she probably made at my telling her what to do and buy.
“You deserve the best little one. I want nothing against your precious body that may make you uncomfortable or cause you pain. If anyone causes you discomfort, it will be me and I will never do it purposely.” I know I sound like an idiot holding a one-sided conversation with her. I don’t know what else to do. So, I go back to uttering nonsense and wondering for the thousandth time, where is her pack? What happened to her? Why would someone do this to her? Then it is back to the litany of prayers to the moon goddess. “Selene, please don’t take her from me. I know she and her wolf made a choice. I don’t know why they made the choice they made, but give me a chance with her. I swear I want her. I will love her until I draw my last breath. Why would you give me someone who didn’t want to live and then have them take their life right in front of me? Is it a test?” I wonder if the goddess is listening. “Please my lady, I am worthy of your gift. I promise my pack and I will worship the ground she walks on. Let us show her, and you, we are worthy.”
With another breath, I reminded Selene, “I have taken care of Kane and shown we are worthy of your moon-touched family. Kane says she is special to us. He can feel it. He says he also feels another gamma connected to her. Whatever your plan is, I promise to do my best and bring it about. I know you want what is right and just for your people.”
Kane came rushing into the hospital room breathing hard, “Alpha, there is a group of people at the waterfall. Our patrol came across them camping there. They say they have tracked their Alpha Luna to our waterfall and lost the scent.”
Standing as quietly as I could, I shot Kane a dirty look and held my finger in front of my lips for him to quiet down. “If it's people who know her, I don’t want her to be scared they have found her if they are the ones who tortured her.”
I stroked the back of her hand once more and linked Dalia again. “Dal, could you come sit with my little one? There is something that needs my attention.”
She immediately replied, “On my way. I heard already and figured you would want someone there with her if she awakens.”
Turning back to Kane, “They said they were tracking her? What the fuck is an Alpha Luna? Is there something wrong with them?”
Kane, the goddess love him, looks thoroughly confused, “I don’t know Alpha. But I think they are talking about your Luna. One of them is a gamma and keeps telling me he knows I know their little ghost.”
I cannot help the look of surprise when I faced him, “What? Maybe they are looking for someone else.”
My sister came rushing carrying a bag full of stuff, “Go Nathan. Find out what is going on. I will stay with her until you return. We will make her nice and comfy.”
Smiling at Dalia, I leaned down and pecked my little one on the forehead. “I’ll be back. You be a good girl and wake up so I can see the color of those beautiful eyes.”
I motioned for Kane to follow and headed out the door.