Mae POV
I swallow hard in Kieran's arms. I don't know how to let him down gently. The two doctors explained everything to me. Kieran is some important member of the werewolf society, and I am meant to sit by his side as a leader of the community. That isn't something that I think I am capable of doing.
The doctors warned me that Kieran might have strong feelings for me when he awoke, but I didn't realize just how protective he would be. He has growled at every man who has walked into this room-even his father.
I push against Kieran's chest and try to wiggle my way out of his arms. Finally, he loosens his grip around me, and I break free. I jump from his arms and step several feet away from the bed so he cannot reach out and grab me again.
"Kieran," I try to sound firm. "We need to talk."
The smile on Kieran's face is slowly fading the farther I back away from him.
"What's wrong, my little mate?" Kieran asks worriedly.
"Please don't call me that," I sigh. "I don't even know what that is."
"I thought it was explained to you," Kieran says quietly.
"Right," I say as I smooth the wrinkles out of my scrubs. "About that…"
Kieran climbs to his knees on the bed and gestures for me to come closer to him. "I can explain it better."
"I don't need to know more," I say as sweetly as possible. "I think I understand the gist of it."
"Then what is wrong?" Kieran asks. His eyes are large and round as he looks at me.
"I just can't jump into a relationship with someone I don't know," I spit the words out. "It isn't how it is done where I come from."
Kieran stands up, walks across the room, and tries to take me into his arms again. I twist to the side to avoid him, but his fingers graze across my skin, causing those weird tingles to erupt all over me. I swear those tingles have a direct line to my female parts because I have to clench my legs together every time we touch.
Kieran frowns deeply as I keep myself out of his reach. "How are things done where you come from?"
"People, humans, get to know one another before jumping into a relationship with each other," I try to explain. "Sometimes it can take months or years to get to know someone."
"But the Moon Goddess made you for me," Kieran frowns.
"I know you believe that," I sigh. "But I don't believe in the Moon Goddess or whatever it is."
Kieran's chest erupts with a low growl when I say I don't believe in his deity. Fear rushes through my body, and I can feel the blood rush from my face. I stumble backward, and my back hits the wall.
Kieran is stalking me like I am his prey. There is a wild look in his eyes, and I know I won't be getting out of this hospital room easily. My shift was already over an hour ago, but Kieran refuses to let me out of his sight.
"I have to go home," I stutter out of fear. "My roommate will be wondering where I am. She worries."
"I am coming with you," Kieran says. He grabs his clothes from the bag beside his bed and gets dressed.
"You can't just come with me," I shout in exasperation. "I have a roommate. She will ask questions, and what am I supposed to tell her."
"Tell her you met your soul mate and you are going to get married," Kieran smiles as he pulls on his bloodied shirt.
"I already told you," I rub my eyes in frustration. "This isn't how it works on my side of the world."
"When can I see you again," Kieran whispers sadly.
"I don't see how this is going to work between us," I tell him. "We are from two different worlds."
I open the door to the hospital room and slide out before Kieran can stop me. I have tears in my eyes as I run from the room and down the hallway. I don't dare to look behind me because I know that Kieran is right behind me. It is like I can feel when he is near. His presence is plaguing my every move.
I turn the corner a little too quickly and run into something hard. Looking up from the ground, I see I ran into Kieran's father. I shake my head several times because I must be seeing triple. Three identical men are looking down at me.
The one in the middle holds out his hand for me and helps me to my feet. "Brothers, this is the woman I was telling you about. This is our son's mate."
I shake my head again. I know I must be hearing things. How can Kieran be the son of all three of them? I step away from them, and they all wear identical frowns on their face.
"Can't you see that you are confusing the poor girl," the one on the left says. "We can explain the logistics later. I am Bryce. You have already met Ace, and this is Chris."
I glance over my shoulder and see Kieran storming around the corner. He looks angry, probably because I ran from him.
I slip behind his fathers, hoping they will shield me from his wrath.
Chris steps forward and stops his son from coming any closer to me. "Kieran," he says sternly. "You need to let her go. She has had a lot of information dropped on her in one day. She needs time to process."
"But she belongs to me," Kieran whines.
Bryce steps forward and clasps his son on the shoulder. "Let her go."
I take the opportunity to slip away from the four men. I run down the hall towards the door service door of the hospital. As soon as I reach the door, I look behind me to make sure that none of the men are following me.
By the time I make it to my car my hands are shaking too badly to put the key in the ignition. I cry the whole way home, but for what I don't understand. I check the rearview mirror to ensure no one is following me.
I pull into the parking lot of my apartment and sit in my car, trying to catch my breath. I know I haven't seen the last of Kieran, but for now, I am safe.