11

Eduardus walked into the room to see Alaricas out cold, curled up in a ball and hugging the blankets. I sighed and stood up.

"Can you stay here while I go and shower? And get something to eat?" I asked.

He nodded, "He won't freak out...right?"

"I don't think so, if he does, just be calm and tell him you aren't going to hurt him."

He nodded before taking a seat, I smiled at how he watched his brother with concern.

I want to know more about Alaricas' past, but the only time I do learn about it, is in nightmares.

We talked for a bit and I had asked him if that was what I was seeing. He just said yes, that I'm seeing all of his flashbacks that he gets when he sleeps sometimes. I felt horrible for him, he was abused as a child, then tortured by his beta. It's going to take him a long time to get over this. If he even does.

I quickly showered and changed, sighing in relief when I didn't feel disgusting anymore. I then silently are my breakfast, focusing on what I'm going to do about Jefferson.

He's alive and running around, who knows what he's going to do next. I have to get this pack back to their original strength, worry about the war, and now I have to add Jefferson's crazy ass into all of this.

I released a breath and looked out the window, I'm going to have to step it up as Luna. I don't care that me and Alaricas hadn't mated or marked, this pack needs some type of stable alpha. Not two who switch out every day.

"Who are you?"

I looked up to see a girl around my age walking in. She watched me with confusion as I just stared at her, wide-eyed and in the middle of biting into my bagel.

I swallowed my bite and wiped my mouth, "Jolene, and you?"

She scowled at me, "You can't remember your best friend from this pack? Even though I was the slut who tried stealing Alaricas from you..."

I raised an eyebrow and smirked, "Nope."

"That hurts." She gasped, feigning hurt.

I chuckled and quickly got up to hug her. "Hey, Nicole!"

She chuckled and hugged me back, "So, how's Alaricas doing?"

I sighed, "He has some major...PTSD issues."

"I figured that much. It's a shame, he used to be such a strong alpha. Still is, just..."

"He's mentally scarred."

She nodded, "My mate is now training the warriors. Eduardus and Cain asked him to."

"You have a mate now? Who?"

"The gamma, Jayden."

I grinned, "Cogratulations, girl! I have to meet him."

"You already did though..."

"Yes, but I haven't been here for six months. I have to meet him again." I stated stubbornly.

She rolled her eyes, "You're weird."

"I know." I smiled.

I walked into the hospital room to see Alaricas watching his brother. His eyes held fear, but he was relaxed. I looked over to see Eduardus looking back at him with sorrowful eyes.

"You two alright?"

Both men looked at me in surprise, I raised an eyebrow at them. Alaricas eventually looked away and laid down, turning his back to face me. I rolled my eyes at him, he now has a habit of doing this to me until I kiss him on the cheek. Pain in my ass.

I looked back over to Eduardus who was yawning.

"Yeah." He answered.

I sighed and dragged Eduardus out of the room. When I knew Alaricas wouldn't be able to hear us, I frowned at him.

"What's going on?" I asked.

He sighed, "He won't speak to me. I'm his older brother and he....he acts as if I'm going to hurt him."

"Eduardus, you need to understand that he went through a lot. He has major PTSD from the torture and now he's having flashbacks of your parents abusing him." I tried explaining.

"I just miss my brother."

I smiled softly at him, "I know you do, but he just needs time."

"Our parents want to see him."

I froze, "No. Not yet."

"I told them they can't see him until they have permission from Alaricas himself." He replied.

"Good. It would be too much for him."

When I walked back into the room he was sitting up, his eyes watching me with alertness. I smiled at him, I could feel the bond trying to bring us closer, but I couldn't do that yet.

Sure, I'll kiss him on the cheek, but I can't bring myself to actually kiss him. He looks hotter each day as he grows stronger. He's getting his natural color back and he's starting to gain some weight.

He still had his abs, but they're barely there. I know the first thing he'll do once he's fully healed is go to the gym.

I'm not in love with him, not yet. I care about him a lot, but love isn't the word to describe us right now. I'm still afraid of him lashing out on me when he's stronger, but for now, I'm controlling my fear.

He frowned at me, "No kiss?"

I rolled my eyes and chuckled, I quickly

kissed him on the cheek. He nodded his head in approval before sighing and laying back down.

"When can I go to the gym?" He asked.

I raised an eyebrow, "When the doctor clears you to."

"Fine. When can I go back to my own home?"

"I'm not sure, hopefully soon. This hospital room is boring."

"You don't say." He replied sarcastically.

I playfully glared at him, he smirked before laughing. I was stunned, how in the world can his laugh be attractive? I haven't heard him laugh like this since, well, never.

He would always just do a small laugh or chuckle a bit, but never an actual laugh.

When he quieted down and smiled at me, I felt butterflies in my stomach. I smiled back, even with our past, I do want to love him. But my fear is the thickest wall guarding my heart. Locking in my emotions as if they were prisoners. Which they are.

They're simply my prisoners of the past.