Chapter 9 - 8

I grab a pair of comfortable sweats I outgrew a few years ago and hope that they'll fit her; then grab a random shirt.

I unfortunately have no undergarments for her so this'll have to do.

I go to the hall closet and I grab the biggest, fluffiest towel we have and then I make my way to the bathroom.

I let out a sad sigh as I know I can't hide Helang much longer.

The boys by now should have some inkling of knowledge we're at my dads place.

I can already imagine Jessie furiously knocking at the front door; him angrily demanding Helangs whereabouts.

I shake my head and turn the bathroom doorknob, blindly waltzing into a bathing girl.

She lets out a horrified choking noise as she disappears beneath the water.

"Gaaah! I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" I exclaim in panick. I quickly cover my eyes and run towards what I'm assuming is the counter to put the towel and clothes down so I can escape quickly.

However, a bunch of water splashes to the floor in Helangs panicked state causing me to slip and fall.

My head hits the marble floor hard and I see stars for a brief moment.

"Ah fuck!" I groan feeling disoriented; cradling my head with my eyes squeezed shut.

"I'm sorry! Oh my goodness, are you ok?!" Helangs panicked voice floods my ears.

She sounds like an angel.

"You're bleeding!" She exclaims.

I let out a giggle that I'm sure is inappropriate for the moment.

"Why are you laughing!" She exclaims in frustration and panic.

I open my eyes and look up at her concerned face.

She's crying.

I reach up and try to dry her tears while I still lay on the ground; head throbbing.

"Don't cry little mate. " I coo out in comfort.

She sniffles and shakes her head violently.

"I'll be ok. I'll be healed in a few moments." I say softly to her.

She sobs out loud and starts blaming herself but even then I can already feel the throbbing turn to a dull ache.

Still a bit disoriented, I calmly sit up and pull her into my lap while she cries.

"Sssshhh." I coo rocking her back and forth.

"I'm ok. See?" I coax to her.

She starts to dry her tears and looks up at me.

She gently pulls my head down to examine the back of my head and when she doesn't see any wound she starts to calm down.

She burrows her head into me and cries again with relief.

Maybe she does feel our bond after all?

I contemplate to myself.

I let out a deep breath and stroke the top of her head while she cries.

Then I notice her and stiffen.

She's naked.

I breath in and try to keep myself calm and collected to her.

Shit!

"Ahem!" I clear my throat and start looking anywhere but at her so I don't lose control over myself.

"Uum...Helang, while I feel touched that you're worried for me..." I pause to calm down again and breath.

"You're completely naked and-"

She goes quiet and stiffens up if not more than me and remains as still as a statue on my lap.

I breath as well as her in this tense silence.

Neither of us moving an inch.

I then realize my hands resting at her bare hips and instantly feel my cheeks heat up in embarrassment.

"I'm so sorry." I whisper out to her.

She continues to sit still, with a huge amount of courage; I look down at her.

She's staring intently at my shirt and nowhere else.

"Helang..." I wearily start.

She looks up at me with teary eyes, her lower lip puckered out and in that moment I just say fuck it.

I gently place my hand at the side of her face and stroke away her tears.

She looks into my eyes with just as much intensity as me and I lean in slowly but still making sure it's ok before proceeding.

Her breath catches so I don't go any further than where I am. I just allow our foreheads to connect and I close my eyes and breath deeply.

This was a bad idea.

I need to control myself.

I feel her fingertips brush against my face with hesitant curiosity. I don't move so as not to startle her courage.

I feel her nose brush against mine and I open my eyes a bit and she's looking at me through hooded eyes.

She wants to kiss me too.

I reach up and cup her face and just as our lips are about to connect, a furious knocking comes from the front door followed by unintelligible yelling.

She jerks away from me and again realizing she's naked I close my eyes and she makes a mad dash for the water in the tub.

I sigh in relief and then feel pissed for being cockblocked.

So close.

"I... here are the towels and clothe!" I say messing up my words.

I swiftly exit the bathroom.

The pounding on the door continues so I slowly make my way to the door.

I open it with a tired expression only to see the boys standing outside looking either pissed, annoyed, or bored.

"Hmm." I humm out feigning disinterest.

"Where is she?!" Jessie says through his clenched jaw.

I cock an eyebrow at him.

"You mean that girl you forged paperwork for and kidnapped?" I ask purposefully pissing him off.

He lets out a snarl.

"I can smell her in here! So don't play dumb." He retorts.

"She's taking a bath. She woke up this morning feeling dirty." I say with a suggestive smirk on my face.

Jessie lunges at me but the boys hold him back.

"I'll fucking kill you!" He bellows out struggling against the boys grips.

"How about we all come inside and wait for her to come out of the bathroom? She's having a hard time adjusting to everything and needs space to herself." I say calmly.

"Oh yea! I bet you gave her plenty of space last night!" I hear Jessie snap out accusations.

No. Not really.

But he doesn't need to know that.

"Enough!" One of them yells at him.

He begrudgingly shuts up and they all walk to the living space to sit down.

I walk to the kitchen and grab myself some water in attempt to "cool off" as they say.

I finally relax just a bit until I hear Helangs ear piercing scream; I take off towards her.

"Let go of me!" She screams out.

When I make it to where I heard her, I find her struggling in the grip of Jessie.

"I looked for you all night! Do you have any idea just how fuckin worried I was about you?!" He yells.

The panicked look on her face makes me see red and I'm ready to fight when I see tears start welling up in her eyes.

"Get your hands off her!" I roar out hurriedly stalking towards them.

Hands grab me and I feel a rage within my chest that I've never felt before.

"You're hurting her!" I yell at Jessie.

A look of horror crossed his features when he looks down at how tight his grip is on her and the bruises that are starting to form at her wrist.

He lets go and she frantically slinks away trying to find somewhere to hide while clutching at her necklace.

Her neck is littered with bruises from Antoninos attack when she got here a couple days ago and now the bruises from Jessie. Not even that tho...she's dealing with so much.

"Why are you being so aggressive with her? You realize that she's been abused all her life right?" I state to Jessie and I watch as a lightbulb flicks off in his head and all the guilt in the world floods his face.

"How..." he starts off but i quickly cut him off.

"Yea, while you were making accusations; I was actually trying to understand the reason why she reacts the way she's been." I snap at him with a low growl.

"Me and her spoke all night and this morning. She was just starting to open up!" I rant furiously.

Shame crosses his features and he bows his head.

"What is all this commotion?!" I hear our alpha say.

All our heads snap up and over to the front door where the alpha and luna stand holding luggage.

He's back from his business trip.

"Father, Luna " I say bowing my head respectfully to them.

"Oh thank goodness! You have to help me get out of here!" Helang says dashing towards the Luna.

I widen my eyes in panic because only a fool would rush towards them like that.

But like a mother, our luna allows the unknown crying teenager barrel into her for comfort.

And then we all get a telepathic message from our alpha.

"Meeting room. Now!"

We all head to the study hall at the other end of the house.

Jessie looks back regretfully at Helang crying in our Lunas arms and then follows the rest of us.

.

.

.

"YOU DID WHAT!?" The alpha bellows his rage at Jessie who can't take the alphas heat and looks down.

"Why on moon goddesses name would you do such a thing! I leave for 3 weeks for an important meeting and I come home to screaming guys fighting and a random child who looks half dead! And you wonder why I refuse to give you all more responsibilities." He tears into us.

"I want to know why she is covered in bruises and so skinny! Have you guys been abusing that poor child?!" He yells at no one in particular.

He stops talking and pinches the bridge of his nose with a heavy sigh.

"The Luna said she calmed down a bit but is terrified.

I ordered the pack doctor to come look at her and run some tests. You boys are..."

The door bursts open and in walks a fuming luna.

"You boys are a bunch of animals!" She shrieks and points her finger at Jessie and Antonio.

"Her neck! And her wrist! And don't get me started on the rest of her!" She grits out.

"Explain!" She yells.

Antonino guiltily looks down and heavily sighs.

"I thought someone broke in because the smell was unfamiliar and I tried to see but then I got attacked so I reacted stupidly. Steven knocked me unconscious and made us all see reason."

He said almost too low to hear.

The Lunas eyes flare and Antonino lets out a strangled whimper before bowing his head.

"I don't care what you thought! And I don't care that she attacked you! She has every right to defend herself considering her situation. I'll also have you know that the human police have also been calling up trying to find a way in. That necklace she wears lets the police know she's in life threatening danger." She continues.

"I can go on all day about how upset I am with the lot of you but I think I've said enough. Johnathon Carter, as of today, I don't want to see you near that girl until I feel she is comfortable." She states with authority.

His head snaps up and a look of defiance and anger shows on his face.

"But I'm her friend! I wouldn't hurt her!" He tells out trying to convince her to take back her command.

"Only in her dreams. She doesn't know the real you. Do as I say. That is final." She said staring into his eyes till he looks back down in submission.