That same beeping awakes me some time later, my head is pounding viciously. I open my eyes slowly letting the bright lights filter into view. As my eyes adjust I look around. I have an IV in my right arm and a heart monitor to my left, which explains the constant beeping. I look next to the monitor and my jaw drops. The most attractive man I've seen was sitting in the chair, his head leaning against the back of the chair, sleeping. He had shaggy blonde hair that fell into his eyes, tan complexion, and muscles easily defined against his t-shirt. A five o'clock shadow danced across his chin and around his full lips. I don't know how comfortable he is in the tiny hospital chair, he dwarfed it, from my angle he had to be over six feet tall. Rhea was howling with joy at the sight of our mate. I couldn't comprehend that this man was our mate, but I was thrilled. He smelled very dominant and knew he had to be pretty high up in the ranks of the pack. I'm pulled away from my admiration when the doctor walks in.
"I'm glad to see you awake. How are you feeling?" he asks, coming over and checking the IV then feeling my forehead for a temp.
"Iermm…" I try to speak but my throat hurts too much to speak.
"Here this will help," the doctor hands me a glass of water and I take it happily. Just as I take a refreshing swallow of the iced cold water, I hear a stirring to my left. I glanced over and the man had woken up. His eyes brighten as he sees I'm awake, straightening up in the chair he leans closer to my bed.
"Are you okay?" His soothing voice is like music to my ears, setting the glass down. I try speaking again.
"I'm okay… where am I?" I ask hoarsely, fearing the worst answer, thinking they reached out to my old pack.
"It's okay, you're safe now," he tries reaching for my hand and I flinch away from him out of habit, his face falls slightly and he pulls his hand away, "You're at the Silver Moon Pack." I relax slightly, looking from him to the doctor. The doctor and the man exchange a look and I know they're communicating through their bond.
"Do you mind telling us what happened to you? You are safe, nothing bad will happen to you." the doctor asks in a reassuring voice, trying to help relax me.
"Or at least who you are?" the man asks softly, definitely treading lightly trying not to spook me.
"My name is Ella, a former member of the Blood Moon Pack. Please don't send me back. I can't go back, I… I won't survive." I whimper not making eye contact with any of them. My dad had always told me I'd grow up to be a dominant wolf, but right now I didn't want to be, nor did I want to show that to them. I knew they could smell it on me, but I didn't want to show it.
"Don't worry. We're not going to send you back. I can smell your dominance which could help out our pack in the future." The man to my left said I wasn't sure but I saw something flash behind his eyes. Adoration? Care? I wasn't sure. I visibly relax and look back at the doctor.
"I've been abused since I was seven years old. The pack didn't care, I don't know if they knew or not, but they didn't show it if they did. My best friend gave me a nickname in middle school… Cinderella, because that was my life. I was my stepmother's personal punching bag physically, mentally, and emotionally. I was never fed if I did eat it was scraps from nights prior." I stopped there as the tears welled up in my eyes and my throat clogged with emotion. I bite my lip to keep a sob escaping. I've never laid out my life like that and never realized how badly it had messed me up. A deep growl rips from the man's throat and he balls his hands into fists.
"Lucian calm down. You'll scare her more." the doctor chastises the man next to me. Lucian? Rhea purrs with pride at his name
He has a strong name. Fitting for a strong man. Rhea says joyfully. I shush her and look between the two men before me.
"What happened to your wrist?" the doctor questions shooting a glance to my left wrist. On instinct I cover it under the hospital blanket.
"I… I was chained in my garage for a day by a silver chain…" I whisper I could tell they barely heard it, but they did. Lucian's knuckles go white from clenching his fists so tight.
"You're never going back to that pack if I have anything to do about it. Where were you heading when we found you?" Lucian asks, trying to calm himself.
"I was heading here actually, my best friend Mary said I should try to be accepted here, because of my state I wouldn't have made it any longer as a rogue. Yesterday was the fourth time I've shifted since I was twelve. I turned eighteen yesterday, and had planned that if I didn't meet my mate in my pack I was leaving." I glance at Lucian then back to the doctor.
"So you will know when you have found your mate?" the doctor replies glancing briefly to Lucian then back at me like they had some sort of inside questions.
"So you know?" Lucian whispers barely glancing up, not wanting to spook me too much.
I didn't think he knew… Rhea murmurs proudly. Before anyone can respond Lucian's eyes go cloudy as someone reaches through the mindlink to him.
"I'll be back in the morning, my father wants to speak to me. Are you going to be okay here?" Lucian looks at me with an apologetic look and I nod my head letting him know I'll be okay. He stands up and heads to the doorway, he was definitely over six feet. His head was past the doorway and he had to duck underneath to clear through it.
"If anything happens you tell me right away," he says, glancing at the doctor.
"Of course." he responds and with that Lucian disappears down the hallway.
"You need to rest, I'll be back to check on you in an hour to make sure your IV's are full and make sure your vitals stay stable." The doctor looks over at me, and glances at the IV bags behind me making sure they're good before he also leaves the room. The tears finally brim over my eyes with the weight of my experiences, and knowing I'm free. Curling up into the fetal position I silently cry myself to sleep.