Chapter 71

Ambrose came forward and hugged me tightly, “I was so scared.”

I smiled and hugged him back, “You can't really get rid of me that easily, y'know.”

He chuckled, “I just got you back. You’re not leaving. Ever.”

I rolled my eyes and pulled back. Everyone came over and hugged me. Jasmine had tears in her eyes.

I smiled at her, “What’s wrong?”

“My son is a disappointment.” She mumbled, wiping the tears that fell from her eyes accidentally. I didn’t know how to respond to that so I just stayed silent.

Jimmy came over to me with tears in his eyes and my heart broke. I never thought I'd see my little brother, my little Jimmy, crying worriedly about my state.

I laughed to lighten the mood , “You’re such a hot mess.”

He looked appalled, “Me? We need a mirror over here! This girl thinks I’m the hot mess. I’m sexy.”

“Suuure.” I laughed heartily.

He hugged me and kissed my cheek. I hugged him back, “Okay, enough with the mushy stuff. I need some vanilla cookies.”

They all laughed as we started walking back to the house with Jimmy holding me closely so I wouldn't fall.

“Why weren’t you fighting back?” Stephen asked quietly as he scowled at the bodies on the ground.

I shrugged, “Why would I?”

He looked at me, “You have people that love you. You’d just die and leave them?”

“Beating me wasn’t going to kill me. I can’t die.” I told him flatly, maintaining eye contact the whole time.

“Yes, you can. They could’ve cut your head off or something.” He snarled.

“They can’t do that! I’m under the Royals’ protection.” I laughed.

“Oh…” He trailed off.

I nodded, “Yeah.”

We turned onto the street that the house was on and I didn’t want to go in there. Call me a coward but I did not want to see Kaden yet. He might've rejected me but even after everything, I still actually loved him.

Yes. I'm actually not ashamed to say it. I loved Kaden, wholeheartedly. And even if he had betrayed me, that didn't stop me from loving him. But at that point, I didn't even want to see or hear him.

We walked up the driveway and I saw the door wide open. I confusedly looked around and I saw dren on the floor with blood on his shirt.

Panicking, I started to run. I didn't know when or where I got the strength from but I ran. I ran into the house and knelt beside Ben.

I looked around and saw Kaden a stone throw away from dren with blood on his shirt too. I saw pain and regret flash through his eyes as he watched me hopelessly and helplessly.

I quickly looked away and my eyes fell upon Benjamin again.

“What’s wrong?” I asked softly.

“We felt your pain.” He whispered weakly.

He looked like he was still alive just for that moment. He looked like he was about to pass away any moment from then. He sounded like it too.

I lifted his shirt and saw the same knife holes that were on my stomach. Looking at him fully, I saw his bruised face from when the wolf guy had run the knife across my face.

I set my hand on his stomach and pushed energy into it. I didn't have a lot of strength left in me but I did what I could for dren until the holes were all gone. I was completely exhausted.

“I use my power on you a lot, Benjamin.” I chuckled weakly.

He smiled and sat up slowly. He looked over at Kaden and glared at him with hatred in his hard eyes. I slowly stood up and walked over to Kaden who looked up at me as I knelt down beside him.

I looked away from his eyes and lifted his shirt. I set my hand on his stomach, ignoring the stupid electric tingles that shot up my arm every time I touched him. I closed my eyes and pushed a lot of energy into him.

“Cora.” He said quietly.

I opened my eyes and closed them, pushing the leftover strength I had into him.

“I’m sorry.” He whispered. His voice was broken, just like my heart.

I opened my eyes and nodded, standing up. dren pulled me to his chest and away from Kaden.

Everyone followed, leaving Kaden in the doorway, looking broken. That broken look on his face made my heart break even more. I didn't want to be around him at all but I didn't want to see him like that either.

Ben pulled me beside him on the couch and pulled his mate to sit on the other side of him. Monroe sat next to me and smiled slightly.

“I need vanilla cookies.” I sighed, standing up.

They all shook their heads and chuckled as I walked into the kitchen. Kaden was leaning against the counter with his head in his hands.

Ignoring him, I walked to the table, grabbing the cookies and leftover skittles.

“Cora…” Kaden whispered with neediness.

I turned around and looked at my beautiful feet, not wanting to meet his eyes. “What?” I asked coldly

I saw him flinch from the emotionlessness in my voice, “I’m so sorry. I-I didn’t mean to. I swear. I love you.” He sounded broken.

I looked up and saw tears running down his face, “Sorry doesn’t cut it, Kaden.”

He nodded, “I-I know. But…tell me a way I can fix this. Please.”

I shook my head, “I’m not going to help you fix your mistake. You made it, you fix it.”

A sob escaped his lips, “I’m so sorry.”

I shrugged, “It is what it is. I’m over it.”

His eyes widened and his bottom lip quivered, “Over it? Over what? Us?”

Again, I shrugged. “I don’t know, Kaden.”

He took a deep breath and looked at the wall, “Okay. I understand.”

I smiled slightly, “Good.”

I started walking out when he grabbed my wrist. I yanked my wrist out of his grip, trying to get away from the feelings his touch arose inside of me.

“I just want you to know that I’m s-sorry. And that I love.” He looked into my eyes.

“I know you’re sorry.” I nodded.

He looked hurt, that was all I said. He was expecting me to say I love him back. It’s not happening like that, man. You can't hurt me and expect a couple apologies and I love yous to fix it.

“Really sorry.” His chest was rapidly falling up and down and he started to look a little green.

“I know, Kaden. You don’t have to keep telling me how sorry you are. I know, okay? It still doesn’t change what you did. What you did was disrespectful, embarrassing, and hurtful.

The fact that you so quickly accepted her as your ‘mate’. I would never do that to you, Kaden. So for you to do it to me that easy, I don’t even know what to think.” I chuckled humorlessly.

He winced and looked at the ground, “I know you wouldn’t do that to me. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“Honestly, neither do I.” I shrugged, “But, whatever.”

“What can I do?” He begged, more tears falling down his face.

“Give me time.” I told him, walking out.

Again, he caught me by my wrist. He opened his mouth to speak when a threatening growl erupted in the room.

I looked over at the door and saw a furious dren glaring at Kaden’s hand on my wrist.

“Let her go. Now.” He snarled, his bright blue eyes gone black with rage.

Kaden squeezed my wrist before letting go and stepping away. dren pulled me to him and glared at Kaden.

“Stay away from her.” dren growled angrily.

I looked up at him, shocked by how mad and protective he was. Even I wasn't that mad.

“But she’s my mate.” Kaden whimpered.

Ben put on a fake surprised face,

“Really? Oh wow. So when the blonde bimbo was in front of you, she was still your mate? When she ran out sadly without you even noticing, was she still your mate?" He yelled angrily. dren was so angry that his veins were already popping out of his face.

"You call someone your mate but you're quick to drop her when a random female comes claiming? You don’t treat your mate like that, Kaden. You don’t treat anyone like that for fuck sake.” He hissed, dragging me out of the kitchen.

He practically threw me on the couch and plopped down beside me, stiff as a pole. Ali looked at him worriedly then at me. I shrugged and she sighed.

“You’re staying in my room tonight.” He stated authoritatively, not even asking.

I scoffed, “With you and Ali getting your freak on. No thanks.”

They all laughed as Ali blushed bright pink but Ben’s face remained the same, cold.

“It wasn't an option.” He said fiercely.

“I’ll sleep in Justin’s room.” I said, ignoring his command.

His head turned to me so fast that I was surprised it didn't snap, “You. Are staying. In my. Fucking. Room. Tonight!”

Everyone stared at him in shock while I narrowed my eyes attitudinally, “We’ll see.”

He shrugged, “I’ll drag you.”

The tone in which he conveyed his message made me realize he was serious about forcing me to sleep in his room tonight so I decided to brighten the mood.

“Not if you can’t catch me. Ha!” I called childishly as I jumped up from the couch and started running, only to be thrown over a shoulder three seconds later.

“Damn.” I mumbled.

Everyone laughed and dren started walking up stairs, dragging Ali behind us.

Ben pushed open a door and threw me on the bed. I bounced and glared at him until I stopped.

“Asshat.” I hissed.

He shrugged, “Call me what you want.”

“Dickhead.” I glared, “Shit-face. Moron. Idiotic baboon. Douche. Dumbfu–” He cut me off by slapping his hand over my mouth immediately.

“I didn’t say to call me every word that comes to your mind.” He said amusedly.

I nodded and he let go. “Dumbass.”

He shot me a raised brow and I smirked, laying down like a starfish.

“I’m not staying here.” I closed my eyes.

“Yes, you are.” dren shrugged, walking out and closing the door behind him while Ali shot me a sympathetic look.

“Don’t look at me like that.” I glared at her playfully.

“Sorry.” She smiled sheepishly.

Nodding, I stood up. “I’ll see you later.”

“Where are you going?” She asked softly. So adorable.

I lifted up the window, “Justin’s room.”

“Bye.” She giggled.

I waved and climbed out the window. Looking down, I began to get nervous. Why the hell did his room have to be on the second floor?