Chapter 123: Rhys
I had never truly felt guilt before. I had felt bad for some of the things I had done. I had empathy for the families that I had hurt on rampages. I had felt for those whose lives had been effected by the endless wars of werewolf kind. I had even felt bad for not rescuing Grace quicker from the Red Blood pack, and the way things had gone down with my brothers. But none of those had even come close to this. None of those things had eaten away at my soul and felt like they were killing me in the same way this was. No. This was different.
It had been nearly a week and Grace hadn’t moved. Not really anyway. She got up to pee, but that was it. She’d always just crawl right back into bed. I couldn’t get her to talk and if I wanted her to eat and drink I had to hand feed her. Otherwise, she just laid there in a burrito of blankets, sleeping or staring at the wall. Nothing I said, seemed to matter. I’m not even sure she was hearing me at all.
Sawyer, had been in several times to check her out, but she never acknowledged his presence and as far as he could tell there was nothing physically wrong with her. My mate had survived being beaten nearly everyday of her life for years. She had all but been abandoned by her family all those years ago. She had survived so much. But I was the one who broke her.
“How is she today?” Sawyer asked quietly as he brought in two trays of for us, I hadn’t left the room since we had gotten back.
I looked up from my laptop at my little mate who was currently asleep or pretending to be asleep; I honestly couldn’t tell.
“No change.” I answered, turning back to my laptop.
“Has she eaten today?” He questioned.
“4 bites was all I could get her to eat.” I sighed.
“Rhys, if this continues, we’re going to have to take her to the clinic and give her iv fluids and a feeding tube. I’m worried that her body is going to start shutting down.”
For the first time in a while, I felt a flicker of panic come through the bond. I wasn’t glad that the hospital still scared her, but I was glad that she could feel something and let me in that little bit even if she hadn’t exactly meant to.
“I’ll try harder to get her to eat and drink, “ I promised. “But I’m not traumatizing her.”
“Traumatizing her is better than killing her.” Sawyer argued.
“I said not right now. Give her a few more days. She just needs more time.”
“We don’t have time, Rhys!” Sawyer shot back in exasperation. “We are no closer to anything than we were 2 weeks ago!”
“I know.” I said lowly. “But she needs time, and I’m going to give it to her.”
My brother glared at me. Things had been weird between us since Caleb had come back. As far as I knew, the two hadn’t had a proper conversation yet. And Sawyer was pissed at me for putting Grace through what I did, and not only that, but then also pissing off the witch who then left us a freaking cryptic as hell note.
“In case you have forgotten, you are the Alpha King.” Sawyer said through gritted teeth.
“I have not forgotten.” I replied coldly.
“Then act like it.” He bit out before storming out of the room.
Grace flinched at the slamming of the door, but otherwise, there was no physical reaction to what had just happened. She had long since shut the bond down when she had felt me at it’s edges. And I hated that she didn’t trust me with what she was feeling.
I moved to sit in front of where she was laying on the bed, her tray in my hand.
“Gracie?” I tried, but her eyes were closed even though now I knew she was awake. “Can you please eat and drink something for me?”
She didn’t move. I knew she had heard Sawyer, but she seemed unable to just unfreeze. She had been through so much hurt, that I just didn’t have any idea how to help. She didn’t cry, so I couldn’t wipe her tears away. She didn’t scream to just let it all out. She just laid there, letting it eat her away. Destroying herself from the inside out. And all I could do was hold her, and whisper that things were going to be alright. I kept telling her to take all the time she needed, but the truth was, I didn’t want to wait. I needed her. I needed her to be alright. I needed her to help me. I needed her smile. Her laugh. I needed every single thing she could bring me, and I was the reason she couldn’t do any of that. I was who broke her.
A knock at my door, pulled my attention away from my sweet girl, and I got up to answer it, tabling the food for later.
“Leon, what can I do for you?” I asked.
“I need you to see this.” Leon stated, his voice serious.
“See what?” I asked in confusion, all he was carrying was a children’s book, and an old one at that.
He raised the book, and shut my bedroom door, forcing me fully into the hallway. Whatever this was, he didn’t want Grace to see it.
“What is that?”
“It’s a children’s book.” Leon answered.
I frowned. “I can see that for myself.” I retorted. “Why did you bring it to me?”
“Read it.” Leon shoved the book at me.
The Alpha’s Choice.
I felt my frown deepen.
Once upon a time there was an Alpha, whose mate was special.
She had magic in her veins, and they all feared her.
She could rain blood on them and turn the sky dark with only a flick of her hand.
She was kind, but the world made her cruel.
The Alpha had to choose whether to save her or his pack.
The prophecies told of greatness in their reign,
But the Alpha broke her instead,
And the Alpha’s choice was made.
What the fuck did I just read?