Chapter 83: Simon

I felt someone stroking my hair. I thought it was a dream, a comforting hand on my head. I opened my eyes slowly, it was real. It was really happening. I pulled my head up and looked at who could have been stroking my hair. Violet looked down at me, pulling her hand away.

Goosebumps covered my skin. “Oh my god.” I stood and leaned over her, hugging her.

“Hi.” She managed to croak out.

“Baby, you scared me.” I kissed her forehead. “You almost didn’t make it.” I hugged her again.

She let out a breath that would have been considered a laugh. “Sorry.”

I pulled away and looked at her. I took her shoulders in my hands. “What would possess you to stab a knife into your arm?” I wanted to shake her but resisted the urge.

She coughed. “Can I get some water?”

“Yes, of course.” There was a small pitcher next to the bed. I took it in shaking hands and poured her a glass.

She took it and sipped it. When she drank the full glass, I filled it again and handed it to her. She didn’t drink the second one but set it on the table. She didn’t say anything, she just looked at me.

“Well?” My eyes looked at her, searching for an answer.

“They needed a sacrifice. You heard.”

I shook my head. “No, baby. I didn’t hear anything. The only thing I heard was you talking to nothing in a weird language and looking around at something.”

Her eyes widened. “So, you didn’t see them?”

“See who?”

“The shadows.”

“No. I didn’t see any shadows, at least nothing out of the ordinary.” I sat down and took her hand again, rubbing the back of it.

“After I said the spell the second time, it was like I transitioned into a different dimension, but I was still there.” She paused to take a sip of the water. “Everything was black and gray. I could still see you and everything but there was no color. In the forest, these shadows emerged. They were big, like eight feet tall, big. With yellow eyes and pointed ears.” She tried to gesture with her hand but winced at the pain. She put down her arm.

“Then what happened?”

“I asked them to bring back Toby. But they said that for them to bring back anyone they would need a sacrifice.” She looked at me. I could see her eyes welling.

“What did they ask for?”

Tears started to roll down her cheeks. “They wanted you.” She bit her lip.

I looked at her and pursed my lips. I took my hands and rubbed them over my face. “Fuck!” I yelled. She jumped. “Sorry.” I said, trying to calm down.

“I wouldn’t make that offer. I offered what I could freely give. My blood. I’m the last of my kind now, that makes my blood special.” She grabbed my hand and pulled it away from my face. “I wasn’t trying to leave you. I didn’t mean to make it that big. I was scared they were going to take you.”

My face softened. “You sacrificed yourself instead of me?”

She nodded.

She protected me. I couldn’t protect her. I was useless in her world. How many times would she need to sacrifice herself to protect me, when I couldn’t do that for her in return?

“What’s wrong?” she asked gently.

I stood with a scoff, pacing the small room. “I’m useless to you. I may be the Alpha but, in your world, I am nothing. Just a pawn to be played.” I looked over to Violet. Tears were streaming down her face.

“Don’t say that.” She tried to contain a sob.

“If I wasn’t there, what would they have asked for? Probably a lot less.” I continued to pace. “I put you in that position. In this position!” I pointed at her in the bed. “You almost died.”

“Come here.” She said, trying to get composure.

I stopped and looked at her. “I’m useless to you.” I said quieter. After a moment of looking at her, I walked over and sat down in the chair.

She sat up and tilted my head to meet her eyes. “You are not useless to me.” She kissed me. “I made a decision because you are my world, and I wasn’t going to offer you up to be sacrificed.” She smiled. “It probably wasn’t the best decision, but I saved you. And I would do it again.”

I let out a small chuckle. “You almost died.”

She leaned her forehead against mine. “I wasn’t going to be taken out that easily. I already told you our future looked bright.”

I closed the space between us and kissed her. I let all the emotions that I have felt these last few hours flow through me. She opened her mouth against mine, inviting me in. I leaned over her. She wove her fingers through my hair pulling me closer, almost laying on top of her.

“Eh-hem.” A voice sounded from the door.

I turned around and it was the doctor.

“Hello, Luna. I’m Doctor Price.” He walked closer and offered her his hand.

Violet pushed me a little with her good arm, I slid back into my seat. “Nice to meet you, I’m Violet, Violet Proctor.” She shook his hand.

“It’s good to see that you are up.” He looked at her monitors. “And looking strong.” Doc shifted his gaze from Violet to me, with a stern expression.

Violet’s cheeks began to turn bright pink. “Sorry.”

“It’s only natural for a newly mated couple to be a little…frisky in the beginning. But Alpha, I’m expecting you to reign in your sexual urges for a few days so Violet can heal.”

I put up my hands in surrender. “She started it.”

The doctor barked out a laugh. “I’m sure she did. Anyway, Violet how are you feeling?”

“I’m feeling good, a little tired, but good.” She smiled at the doctor.

“Great. I told the Alpha once you wake up and feel strong enough, we can move you to your room. It must be more comfortable than here.”

“I can go now?” she asked hopefully.

“If you are up for it. I can sign off on the transition. We of course want to monitor your vitals three times a day. And an IV drip is a must for at least the next twenty-four hours just for good measure.”

She nodded. “I want to go back to our room.”

“Ok great. I will collect the items that you will need when you get there. You will need to keep the IV bag elevated; we can give you an IV pole as well.” Doc checked something off on his clip board and set it down on the table next to the bed. He turned off the monitor that was beeping and pulled off the finger monitor. “Can you walk? Or do you need a wheelchair?"

“I can walk.”

“Like hell you are going to walk.” I stood and scooped her up in my arms. “Until you are better, I am your mode of transportation.”

She laughed. “You cannot be around twenty-four seven.”

“I’m the Alpha, I can do whatever I want.” I gave her a devilish grin.

“Remember, even though you are Alpha keep the romping to a minimum.” Doc said.

“I understand doc. But if she starts it, I’m going to finish it.” I laughed.

The doc eyed me over his glasses as he pulled the IV bag off of the stand and handed it to Violet. “Keep this elevated.”

“Thank you so much, Doctor Price.”

“If anything happens, please call me. You may heal fast but that doesn’t mean things won’t go wrong.”

“Gotcha Doc! Bye.” I yelled as we walked out of the room.

“What did he mean when he said, ‘I may heal fast?’”

“Werewolves heal faster than normal wolves or humans.” I strode through the dark halls. Taking my time, trying not to jostle her too much.

“I’m not a werewolf.”

“Obviously, you aren’t. But you are mated to one. You will notice some changes happening. You should heal faster, see further, stuff like that.”

“Oh.” She bit her lip.

“You have got to get that under control.”

“What?”

“It drives me crazy when you bite your lip.

She laughed. “Good, now I know how to torture you.”