9

"What do you mean you can't find his body?" I asked.

Cain rubbed the back of his neck, "It's gone."

"How does a dead body suddenly get up and disappear?"

"Wait, how did you kill him?" Eduardus asked.

Cain sighed, "I slit his throat."

"Werewolves can heal from that."

I groaned and pinched the bridge of my nose, the second I think we'll have a break, new drama begins. Now, I have a not-so-dead Jefferson running around while my mate is vulnerable.

"Keep Alaricas protected. He's too weak to defend himself right now." I ordered before walking away.

I ran my hand through my hair, I can't tell Alaricas that Jefferson is alive without him freaking out. But I can't lie to him either.

He's already traumatized enough, this fear is going to make him worse. He'll constantly panic, he would always need someone by his side, but I'm the only one he trusts. He's going to have to get used to Cain and his brother again, I can't constantly be by his side. Especially if I'm going to spend a lot of my time searching for Jefferson and killing him. Permanently.

I walked into his hospital room to see him awake. He was glaring at the blue jello, a disgusted look on his face. I rolled my eyes as I sat down.

"What happened now?" I asked.

"I hate jello." He pouted.

I chuckled, "Of course you do."

We were silent for a few minutes when he released a breath and looked at me.

"Jefferson isn't dead." He stated.

I furrowed my eyebrows, "What?"

"I'm not dumb, Jo, I know he's alive. I would have felt the tie to my beta break."

"He's...alive."

He didn't say anything, he laid back down and stared at the ceiling. I had no idea what to say, he's been tortured and now he finds out that man isn't dead yet. I wanted to comfort him, but I was afraid. Afraid that he was angry at me and would snap at me any second. I can't get those images of him hitting me, out of my head. I know it wasn't actually him, but he was still the one hitting me.

He looked at me and raised his hand, immediately I flinched. He frowned and lowered his hand.

"I was just going to...stroke your cheek. I'm sorry." He whispered.

I bit my lip, "It's fine...I just...I'm sorry."

"Can I?"

I nodded as he raised his hand again and gently stroked my cheek. I frowned when I saw the wetness on his finger.

"You were crying." He smiled sadly.

I smiled a little, he cupped my cheek, his eyes holding many emotions. I leaned into his touch, my eyes closed. I relaxed at the warmth and the sparks that flowed through my cheek. He gently stroked my cheeks with his thumb.

"I'm so sorry." He whispered. "I never meant to hurt you."

I opened my eyes and smiled softly at him, "I know."

"Alaricas, what did I just tell you?"

I watched as a younger Alaricas flinched away from the man, fear shining in his eyes. The man took a threatening step towards him, his eyes black and cold.

Alaricas gulped, "T-to n-not w-wake m-mother up."

"Good, now...why did you disobey me?"

"Just punish the brat already, I want to go hunting." The woman growled.

"I know, mate. We will go." The man smiled lovingly as he kissed her on the cheek.

"I don't get why we kept him? He's a bastard child." She sneered.

The man sighed, "Yes, a bastard child, but he's stronger. Eduardus will never make it as an alpha, he doesn't even want to be alpha."

The woman grunted in reply. The man stormed over to Alaricas and grabbed him by his throat.

"You'll learn your place, bastard."

I woke up gasping for air and sweating, the sound of Alaricas' scream quickly grabbed my attention. I jumped out of the chair and started soothing him, telling him he was okay.

Just moments later he snapped his eyes open, they were wide and filled to the brim with fear. When he saw me he quickly jumped off the bed, ripping his IV out of his arm.

"No! Please! No more...no more. I won't wake her again!" He whimpered.

I slowly got off the bed, "Hey, it's just me. Jolene."

He furrowed his eyebrows, he was silent for a moment. His eyes then widened and he swallowed.

"I-I'm sorry...I didn't.." He trailed off as he finally registered the pain his body is most likely in.

He crumbled to the ground, panting and cussing. I ran over and knelt beside him, he flinched a little at my touch, but eventually relaxed.

After calling in a nurse, we managed to get him back into the bed and put the IV back in his arms. I thanked her as she walked out.

I sighed, sitting down, I scooted closer and ran my fingers through his hair. She had given him some pain medicine since he was in immense pain when we got him laying down again.

I planted a gentle kiss on his forehead.

"You don't know what he's been through!"

Eduardus' words from the meeting rang in my head. Sorrow pooled into me, awakening my need to protect my mate.

"Looks like I have a lot to learn about you." I whispered.