Alpha Nathan

It had been a week since we took our mate to the pack hospital. She lies there—no movement or response of any kind. The machines breathe for her and pump her blood. The doctor says she needs to rest. He is keeping her sedated so her body has the best chance to heal. My gamma, Kane, can feel her wolf, but she is weak. She doesn’t have the strength to heal her person. The doctor is talking about maybe giving her some of my blood. Since we are destined mates, it should help her to recover. But without knowing what else has been done to her and other treatments she may have received, we don’t know if my blood will hurt her in the long run.

“Where are you, little mate? Can you hear me?” I wondered, sitting next to her and holding her hand. She is gorgeous, even with all her scars and injuries. They show that she is strong and a fighter. What made her finally give up on life? She had to feel so alone and afraid to decide to end her life as well as her wolf’s life. Her wolf is another thought that floats around in my head with no answers. It must have been bad for her wolf to be willing to end their lives. She is so tiny and adorable. Although she had the machines hooked to her and the beeping, whirling, air-pushing sounds they made, they didn’t take away from her beauty and the fact that I just wanted to hold her. I want her to feel the love I have in my heart for her. Not because she is my mate but because she is another being deserving of love, compassion, and happiness. I want her to feel the bond we can have as mates, but I want her to want that as much as I do. Let me show her how she should be treated and taken care of.

All I can do is sit beside her bed, holding and stroking her hand. I have decided to tell her about my daydreams involving her and how I want to care for her. Love her. Get to know her. “You are so beautiful, my tiny mate. I see a future day lazing away in bed while you sit between my thighs with your back to me. You are relaxing against me as I brush your gloriously long black hair. It is so soft. I know because I could not resist brushing it behind your ear while you lay there deciding if you would return to me.” I remain sitting, stoking her hand to ensure she can feel my touch. I can feel the sparks tingle along my skin when we are touching. I wonder if she can, too.

I stood and reached to smooth the blanket down her petite form. The doctors and nurses make me leave when they sponge her off. They say I am not ready to see the damage done to the rest of her body. Just seeing the scar across her neck makes me tremble with anger. I want to kill whoever did that to her. My sweet angel lies there. My wolf, Kalen, is quietly curled up in the back of my mind. He can also sense her wolf, but she does not respond, and he is scared. The two are so weak and have decided to leave this world together. What would make them want to come back now? Neither of them had any idea that they had been rescued from the bottom of the waterfall and that they were now in a hospital. A pack surrounds her and people who want her.

Caressing her face, I placed a chaste kiss on her forehead. Her skin is so pale it is almost translucent. She had an ethereal look to her. “There is much more to that daydream, little one. How about you open those beautiful eyes and let me see their color? Then you can find out how that daydream continues in person.”

No reaction, I continued to speak quietly to her. Telling her about the pack and trying to describe each wolf and how much they already love her. How all of us have been waiting forever for her. I will spoil her rotten, and the rest of the pack will also. She would never have to worry about anyone hurting her again or not having enough food. My sister has already started getting the things together that a young woman would need. I link my sister to make sure she understands whatever she thinks the Luna will need when she wakes up. “Dalia, make sure you get your Luna whatever she will need and get her soft, comfortable things to wear. I don’t want anything that may irritate her scars. I don’t care what it costs.”

“Oh, my goddess, Nathan, okay! I know you have told me this five times now. Calm down, it is under control. I am back from the stores and washing some of the sleepwear I got her. I spoke to one of the nurses, and she will change her into one tonight when they bathe her.” Dalia retorted back. I could hear the snorting sound she probably made at me, telling her what to do and buy.

“You deserve the best little one. I want nothing against your precious body that may make you uncomfortable or cause you pain. If anyone causes you discomfort, it will be me, and I will never do it purposely.” I know I sound like an idiot holding a one-sided conversation with her. I don’t know what else to do. So, I go back to uttering nonsense and wondering for the thousandth time, where is her pack? What happened to her? Why would someone do this to her? Then, it is back to the litany of prayers to the moon goddess. “Selene, please don’t take her from me. I know she and her wolf made a choice. I don’t know why they chose to do it, but give me a chance with her. I swear I want her. I will love her until I draw my last breath. Why would you give me someone who didn’t want to live and then have them take their life right in front of me? Is it a test?” I wonder if the goddess is listening. “Please, my lady, I am worthy of your gift. I promise my pack and I will worship the ground she walks on. Let us show her and you that we are worthy.”

With another breath, I reminded Selene, “I have taken care of Kane and shown we are worthy of your moon-touched family. Kane says she is special to us. He can feel it. He says he also feels another gamma connected to her. Whatever your plan is, I promise to do my best and bring it about. I know you want what is right and just for your people.”

Kane came rushing into the hospital room, breathing hard, “Alpha, there is a group of people at the waterfall. Our patrol came across them camping there. They say they have tracked their Alpha Luna to our waterfall and lost the scent.”

Standing as quietly as I could, I shot Kane a dirty look and held my finger before my lips for him to quiet down. “If it's people who know her, I don’t want her to be scared they have found her if they are the ones who tortured her.”

I stroked the back of her hand once more and linked Dalia again. “Dal, could you come sit with my little one? There is something that needs my attention.”

She immediately replied, “On my way. I heard already and figured you would want someone with her if she awakens.”

Turning back to Kane, “They said they were tracking her? What the fuck is an Alpha Luna? Is there something wrong with them?”

Kane, the goddess who loves him, looks confused, “I don’t know, Alpha. But I think they are talking about your Luna. One of them is a gamma and keeps telling me he knows I know their little ghost.”

I could not help but look surprised when I faced him. “What? Maybe they are looking for someone else.”

My sister came rushing, carrying a bag full of stuff, “Go, Nathan. Find out what is going on. I will stay with her until you return. We will make her nice and comfy.”

Smiling at Dalia, I leaned down and pecked my little one on the forehead. “I’ll be back. You are a good girl. Wake up so I can see the color of those beautiful eyes.”

I motioned for Kane to follow and headed out the door.