Chapter 169

Chapter 169
Matt

Matt wasn’t sure how long he has been blacked out when he finally forced his eyes open again. They felt like they were full of sand and his head was swimming. The small hum of the medical equipment near his bed sounded like a herd of elephants stomping through his head. The sheets felt itchy and the air tasted sterile. He finally managed to focus enough to glance around. It took him a few seconds before he realized he was in the Pack hospital.

Every muscle in his body ached from being in one spot for too long. He winced as he tried just the slightest stretch. Horrified, and unsure of his injuries, he looked down and saw bandages wrapped around his chest. He was mostly covered in a light blanket but he knew from the weight that both of his arms were set in casts. Matt blew out a frustrated breath. He tried to sit up, when a hand pushed his shoulder back down.

“Easy Matt, you are still healing,” Leo said. Matt sighed heavily and settled back against the flat hospital pillows.

Matt looked up at his friend’s face that was marred by grief. Leo looked exhausted but physically unharmed. As he took note of Leo’s red rimmed eyes, he knew the news would be devastating but he had to know. “How many did we lose?”

Leo looked like he would be sick. “Five Blackrock dead, three that are critical and may not make it, and seven including yourself that are seriously injured. There's at least forty dead from Silvermoon and eleven rogues.”

“I’m sorry about your father,” Matt said. He had seen Adam fall on the battlefield. He had known the former Alpha for many years and he was still having trouble wrapping his brain around what had happened. Guilt gnawed at his insides as he realized that Adam’s death was a direct result of Christy’s revenge on him for trifling with her. Matt looked at the wall and shifted uncomfortably.

“Were there any other significant losses?” He asked, hoping to discreetly ask if they had lost any of their good friends or mates.

“Two were from border patrol, one of the trainees, my father, one of our better warriors and an elderly man who didn’t make it to the shelter on time.” Leo shook his head. “Considering the scale of the battle, our casualty list was relatively small. Most of the ones we lost, were casualties of the Bata’s pack hunting. The devastation would have been worse if you hadn’t stopped them.”

Matt frowned. “I didn’t stop them, Kami had to rescue me. All I managed to do was bleed out.” He hated the sound of self- pity in his choice but his pride was absolutely destroyed at the thought that he had to be rescued by his student.
Leo shook his head. “That’s not what Kami told Cole. He says he owes you one for saving her life. Everyone was saved by you.”

Matt shook his head. He wasn’t a war hero. That wasn’t what happened. He remembered it clearly, Kami was fighting and he tried to help her, but he couldn’t. He knew he passed out the minute he got to his feet and his pour human friend had been left to fend for herself. Until that moment, he wasn’t even sure she was alive. He had been secretly praying to the goddess that she wasn’t the trainee that had been lost.

“How is she?” Matt finally asked.

“Kami is fierce. She came out with barely a scratch. She says it was largely due to your training. She told me and Alex, that you were holding your own against three wolves when she jumped in. She says that at the end of the fight, she was pinned. She thought she was a goner when you got back up. She said that even with all your guts hanging out, you weren't giving up. The distraction was just enough for her to get in a lucky shot and take the last wolf down.” Leo explained.

Matt felt confused. He couldn't figure out why Kami would say something like that, she was known for telling the truth. Matt sighed again and decided to change the subject. He didn’t think he could stand another moment of listening to Leo give him credit where it wasn’t due. He knew he had failed and didn’t want Kami to try to lessen his shame.

“How is your mother?” He asked sympathetically.

“She is devastated but the doctor believes she will survive. He thinks that the sustained fight that my parents were having over humans being admitted to the pack, had caused enough separation in the relationship to keep her alive.” Leo said with a small voice of hope. “He apologized to the whole family this morning, so she at least has the peace of knowing they weren’t angry with each other in the end.”

“What can I do?” Matt asked.

“Right now, I just need you to rest and heal. You aren’t any good to me with a giant hole in your chest.” Leo said.

“You might have a point. I feel like dirt, I think I’ll try to get some shut eye.” He said as he tried to find a comfortable spot. He heard Leo slip out of the room and Matt closed his eyes.

His brain and emotions seemed to go into overdrive. He was suddenly overcome with rage. He was overwhelmed with the knowledge that his injuries and the deaths of his pack mates were on his head. He had brought the threat to Blackrock by trusting blindly in a woman. One that he had been warned wasn’t girlfriend material. A human who meant nothing to him more than a good time.
Matt hated himself. A human woman had almost gotten him killed while a different one saved his life. It didn’t make any sense. The Silvermoon pack had once been their friends and now because of a woman, Jenny, they were Blackrock’s enemy’s and good people were dead. He decided the only people he hated more than himself were women and Silvermoon wolves.

As he fumed, his nose was suddenly filled with the smell of lilac, fresh berries and sunshine. The scent was completely intoxicating. His eyes quickly began to search for the smell. “Mate” his wolf began to scream in head.

Matt was shocked. He had spent years looking for his mate and now when he had decided to swear off women forever, he found her. His head was filled with her mixed with the overwhelming scent of Silvermoon.