Rhaegar,
I rushed to wrap my arms around her. Nalya was shaking as she cried. I wanted badly to take away her pain. I just held her until she calmed down. We were silent for a long time, me trying to control the rage inside my chest.
" Where is he?" her voice was still scratchy, and I could tell it hurt to speak. She didn't need to say his name for me to know whom she was talking about.
" Dead, I ripped him apart,"
" Good," she muttered. She inhaled and wrapped her arms around me. She was still trembling. We stayed in the hospital, and I ordered food to eat. Nalya didn't want so I forced her, but she only had liquids. She was deep in thought when the door opened, and Azura and Kiyana rushed in. I was pleased to see them because they would distract Nalya from her dark thoughts at least. They hugged her, making her wince, and I growled at them. They pulled away and smiled tightly before all spoke at once, telling her what had been going on in the pack and with everyone.
" Uria and Bithia are pregnant by the same man!" Azura exclaimed, and Nalya gasped, holding her pretty lips.
" That's not even the most shocking," Kiyana added. My mate's eyes widen, urging them to tell her more.
" The man is married, and his chosen mate beat them up so bad!"
" It was drama!"
" Tell her about Cat, please," Kiyana begged Azura, excited.
They were giggling, and talking fast. I couldn't keep up anymore. I checked my emails on my phone and only looked up when Nate came in. He exchanged pleasantries with Nalya and kissed her head.
" I'm glad you're doing better, Kiddo,"
Nalya glared at him at the term. She hated it and mouthed Old Man to Nate. If it were a cartoon smoke would come from my beta's ears.
We spent the day with our friends, it was tranquil. Nalya needed this, the distraction from what happened.
She was even happier when her sister and mother came to the room. My mate couldn't talk as much because of her throat, but I was happy to see her smile.
Nalya' s pov
images of what happened with Arlon appeared in my head, the way they treated me, his assault, and I cried. I couldn't control my sobs. Rhaegar held me, and it took everything in me not to repel him. It would crash him if I did as he already blamed himself for what happened.
With our friends there, I tried to smile and not let them see my hurt. I was trying not to panic when I felt his hands on me. It was disgusting, and I felt dirty after what happened.
My mom and Kaley entered the room with a staff of chefs carrying food trays. I smiled at them, and they hugged me.
After they all left, Rhaegar stayed, getting in bed with me. His arms around my body made me warm. A rush of tingles exploded on my skin.
" I'm sorry, Nalya, I'm sorry for not protecting you," His breath was warm on my neck.
" Don't- Not your fault," I said. He kissed my neck.
" I should have listened to my wolf, he warned me against Juliana, Ella did too,"
Juliana, what happened to her? Was she in the dungeons, or did he let her go?
' Where is she?' I asked through the mind link as my wolf was able to now.
' Dungeons, she's not coming out. What she did was treason,'
Juliana worked with rogues to kidnap me and mistreat me. She won't be coming out anytime soon despite her grandfather's alpha position.
' What about the Fall Moon Pack? Won't they break any goodwill between our two packs?' I asked. I could feel his smile against my skin. Why was he beaming about? I elbowed him in his stomach, and he hissed, biting my neck lightly.
' I like it when you say our,' he whispered.
' It is,' I was confident.
' Speaking of the Fall Moon, they have been trying to get our attention, but I refused to meet the alpha, at least not now. What Juliana did was unforgivable,' Anger was rising from his chest, and again, that dark atmosphere was back.
' They might demand she is punished in the Fall pack, but they'll release her when they can,'
I didn't want Juliana to go unpunished. She had to pay.
' She is a member of this pack. She has been since her eighteenth birthday, so they have no right over her,' he explained, and I nodded. They have no way to claim her then. Would they consider breaking the alliance between the two packs? War? Even though the Autumn Moon Pack was stronger and larger, war is war, and there are always losses on both ends. I didn't want to think about it any longer.
I closed my eyes, enjoying his gentle fingers on my skin.
I woke up alone in bed. I carefully sat up and removed the needle in my arm. It hurt. My eyes caught fresh flowers on the table and a note.
" Gone to check on Khai, will be back soon. I love you," I smiled.
The room I was in was huge, yet I still felt suffocated. I opened the door and went upstairs to the beautiful garden. I sat on the black bench. I was trying to connect with my wolf. She was getting stronger.
I raised my head when I noticed someone approaching me. It was Tonia, I hadn't seen her in months. She cut most of her hair, and it suited her face. She was wearing a long white coat over a jumpsuit.
Tonia smiled once she neared me, but I didn't smile back at her, " Luna Nalya," she breathed.
" May I take a seat next to you?" she asked. I only nodded, and she did.
" I'm glad to see you're doing well," My gaze ran up and down, " I work in the psychology department. I'm a therapist," she answered my unspoken question.
" What do you want from me?" I forced the words out. She seemed a little awkward now at my adversarial tone, opening and closing her mouth before she smiled firmly.
" Luna, I know you and I haven't had the best history, and I'm sorry for that," she started. I sent her a small smile to ease her.
" I know what you went through, and I was hoping to organize time for us to talk about what happened. I'm professionally trained to provide treatment and rehabilitation,"
It would be good to talk to someone about what I was going through. I didn't want to discuss such matters with my friends or mates. I nodded, and she beamed.
" Brilliant! I'll make a schedule and send it over. You'll inform me what works for you. Thank you," She seemed genuinely delighted about my acceptance. I got to my feet and went back to my room. Surprisingly, Tonia followed me there. I was about to enter the room when my mate came in the other direction. His eyes flashed when he saw Tonia next to me. I squinted my eyes, since when are they solemn towards each other? I didn't mind it.
" What are you doing here? Didn't I warn you to stay away from us?" he growled, making Tonia's neck hang low.
" I'm here as a therapist alpha," she answered seriously. Rhaegar eyed her suspiciously before his hand extended to me, I took it with a smile, and he kissed me deeply.
" Thanks, Tonia," I said as I went inside.
" You want Tonia to be your therapist?" he asked.
" I don't mind," I shrugged.
" Hmm, breakfast?" I didn't feel like eating, but he was already ordering it.
" I'll take a shower first," I murmured. His lips curled into a smirk, and he grabbed my waist, pulling me closer to him. His eyes were dark with lust, and he bent down to kiss me most sensually. His lips trailed down to my mark, and a moan escaped me, however, he pulled away.
" I know it's not the right time, but damn, I want you so much," his voice was so attractive. He went back to nibble my neck, and I clenched my thighs together. I was getting wet, but I knew I wasn't ready to be with him that way.
" I'll be back," I whispered.
I took off my clothes once I reached the bathroom, and looked into the mirror. I wasn't pleased with my appearance. I was too skinny, and my skin was paler.
I don't know how long I have been under the hot shower. I wanted to stay there, scouring my body until I could erase the feel of Arlon's hands on me. I hated feeling this way. Every time I closed my eyes, I could see his ugly face close to me, his grin as he touched me, his punches, his hand choking me, and his fingers into my folds. I scrabbed faster while grunting. My body was in pain, and I was red, but I didn't stop. I sat on the floor, hot sobs escaping my eyes and tears as I scrubbed harder. The door flew open, and my mate hurriedly rushed under the shower,
" Stop, you're hurting yourself," he took away the body scrub sponge and threw it against the floor before picking me up in his arms, rocking me gently as I cried.