Chapter 10: Worried About Her

**Roxanne**

"When did she fall asleep?" My mother's voice startled me from the doorway and forced my head to lift off the desk.

"What?" I said in a hoarse, groggy voice.

"I know you girls have been up all night," she replied, walking over to me with a bowl of fruit. "So when did she fall asleep?"

"I, uh, I don't know; maybe a few hours ago. She felt light-headed and-"

"Because of the accident? Is she okay?" my mother asked worriedly, glancing towards Mina before handing me the clear bowl.

"Yes, she's fine." I sighed. "I don't think she has a concussion or anything."

"Roxy," my mom chided me for pushing the food away. "You have to eat something, honey."

"I can't, mom. You should've seen the way she looked at me last night. Like I was a total stranger."

"Sweetie…"

"She was so scared and so mad," I cried. "What if she wakes up and tells me she wants to leave? What if she doesn't want to be friends anymore? What am I gonna do then? What is Benji going to do?"

"Roxy, baby, take a breath," my mother said, gently lifting my face to hers. "I know you're hurt and afraid you've lost Mina, but trust me, you didn't. You girls have been best friends for years, and she loves you. She's in shock right now, but she'll recover from this."

"How could you be so sure, mom?"

"She didn't pack her things," she answered, pointing to the clothes Mina had spilled on the small sofa yesterday evening. "Look, you had six years to tell her the truth about who we were, but you chose not to until you brought her here... in the middle of nowhere... surrounded by hundreds of us. Honey, how did you expect her to react? Of course, she's scared. Wouldn't you have been if that was you?"

"Ugh," I groaned and turned away from my mom.

She was accusing me of being a lousy friend, and though she was right, I didn't want to hear it, not from her, or anyone else. I was beating myself up enough already for lying to my best friend and potentially losing what we had, and so I didn’t need the reminder. But as more time passed, the more part of my anger moved towards Mina as well. After all, our friendship was supposed to be solid, and despite whatever else, she was supposed to know how much I loved her. I may have been a werewolf, but I was still me—the same old Roxanne who would do anything for her, anything to protect her.

"I had to bring her to Jester," I whispered, thinking back to Micheal and the danger he represented."You said I brought her here, but I had to."

"For your brother?" my mom asked.

"No," I shook my head, tears rushing down my cheeks. "For her safety."

"Honey?" she insisted for more details with a single word.

"Mina's been through some stuff," I started to say, watching my friend squirm sleepily in bed. "She doesn't like to talk about it, but I know she doesn't feel safe at home anymore. That's why she left our hospital a year ago. She started taking assignments to- I don't know, change her mind and find a better place."

"Hmm..." my mother said, her green eyes boring into mine.

"But this new contract is overseas, mom. I couldn't let her go that far alone, so Jester was my best bet. I thought that if she and Benji happened to be mates, he would help me protect her."

"Well, they are mates, and that's our Luna. You were right to bring her here; we'll all keep her safe." my mom said as a solemn expression drew on her face. "Eat honey," she ordered me before taking a deep breath.

My mother asked me no more questions, and despite the desire to know more that I knew burned within her, she allowed a heavy silence to settle between us instead while I forced a cold berry to my lips and convinced myself that everything would somehow be fine. 

Yet another lie, I knew.

Minutes later, my father's voice broke our silent trance, and as he walked inside the bedroom, my mother’s shoulders relaxed. I smiled, witnessing, as I had for years, a glimpse of the soothing effect they had on one another through their mate bond. But this time, and for the first time in a while, I found myself longing for my mate and wishing he was beside me, easing all my sorrows as only he, and no one else, could. Suddenly, I missed everything about him, his scent, touch, warmth; at this very moment, there wasn't a single thing I couldn't regret losing. 

"Roxy?" My father asked, pulling me out of my thoughts as he approached Mina's bed.

"Huh?" 

"Is she okay? How's her head injury?" 

"Oh. No, she's fine. She's just sleeping."

"What about you? Did you sleep?" he asked again, his eyebrows and lips drawn to the middle of his face in a grave, worried look.

"A few minutes here and there. What is it, dad? Why do you look so upset?" I asked him, rushing to his side.

"I, uh, I just talked to your brother on the phone. I was supposed to meet him this morning, but considering everything that happened with Mina-"

"Dad, you didn't tell Benji what happened, did you? He is going to kill me! That’s his mate," I whispered, panic coming over me.

"No!" he replied, his gaze going back and forth between us. "I didn't tell him, Roxy, don't worry. But there is something else," he stopped.

"What? What is it?"

"There will be a meeting at your brother's tonight, and you must come with us. We're going to discuss the attacks on the pack. Remember we told you about those?"

"No," I snapped. "I'm not leaving Mina by herself."

"Honey, you don't have a choice. You have to be there," my mother sighed and stood up. "It's important."

"I don't care. I'm not leaving her alone."

"She's asleep," my father pointed.

"But she could wake up before tonight." 

"Right, and if she does, we'll take her with us," my mother added. 

"But-"

"Roxanne, you're going," my dad cut in with his stern Alpha tone and brought the conversation to an immediate end.

I didn't want to leave Mina alone, but no one could go against an Alpha's orders, even if that Alpha was my father.

"Fine," I grumbled back. "But I hope she wakes up before we leave."