Recovery

Recovery

Alpha Maximus POV

She rests in the bedroom that once belonged to my parents. She sleeps, and I keep watch over her. I cannot take my eyes off her. I want to make sure she is okay but not invade her privacy. She has a long road ahead of her from her looks, and I plan to honor my brother by being with her every step of the way. She will not be alone in this. She will need a lot, and I will make damn sure she gets everything she needs, no matter what it is or how hard it is to get.

"How is she?" Marcus asks me. He is behind me as I peer into the bedroom. I know Marcus wants to get home to Mindy and needs to wrap this up as soon as possible. He can go home. It is fine with me. I do not need him for this part. He will just be in the way.

"She is weak. I am worried about her. The healer has been with her a few times this morning, but she refuses to wake up. He said her wolf is in shock and trying to heal her body," I say.

Marcus takes a deep breath and then places his hand on my shoulder. "Jules, the Alpha's sister, is being taken to another pack to hide. She has asylum with the Crescents, and they will take care of her for now until she can figure out what to do. Now we have to figure out what to do with Kayla," Marcus says.

"I will figure it out," I snap at him. I do not even want his help now.

Although I am thankful that Jules helped us, I am not concerned for her well-being, only for Kayla. I have to make things right for her. She begins groaning. I open the door, and she reaches above her; she screams and then falls back to sleep.

"She is really shaken up, isn't she?" Marcus says.

I look at him and shake my head. Sometimes, it blows my mind when I talk to him about how far away from real emotions he is to be a family man. What did he think she would be like?

"Marcus, what the hell do you think he was doing with her? How did you expect her to act once we rescued her?" I ask him. I know Marcus is my brother, but sometimes I think there is something wrong with him.

"I know, but I did not expect her to be so broken," Marcus says.

I look down at her, sleeping and trying to heal. "She is not broken; she is strong. She survived, she ran, and she will heal! I will make sure of that," I say.

"I can take her home with me. Mindy can look after her," Marcus suggests. Yeah, Mindy, sure. Mindy is an excellent Luna, but it is not going to happen unless it involves her nails and hair. I do not see Mindy making sure Kayla is cared for, fed, bathed, and healed.

"I am staying here with her. I have already told you what I plan to do with this place. I will help her, and she will have a home," I say.

"What if she does not want this place? And what about your pack?" Marcus asks.

I stand over my brother, towering over him. "I have already made arrangements for my pack. I am not leaving her. Go home to your wife, and let me handle this, brother," I say to Marcus. He backs down. That is right, little brother, back the fuck down. I am about to lose it on you.

Marcus walks toward the bedroom door. "You could at least ask her what she wants before you start making decisions for her," Marcus says.

"She is the Luna of this pack, and the land is hers!" I remind Marcus.

Marcus steps toward me. "What pack? They are all dead except the few wolves that were here instead of at the wedding!" Marcus yells at me.

I turn away from Marcus. I would hate for Luna Kayla to wake up to me choking the life out of Marcus. "Goodbye, Brother," I say to him as I look out the window. I am done talking to him.

Marcus leaves, and I do not leave Kayla to say goodbye. I already said goodbye to him. She has not woken up entirely yet. She screams for Soran, cries, and moves her arms around as if she is fighting off someone. I am afraid to leave her alone. I do not want her to wake up and no one to be here with her. She needs me, and I will help her for Soran to honor him.

"SORAN!" she screams out louder than before. I rush to her, and I take her hand. She squeezes my hand. "I knew you would save me," she says. Tears are flowing down her face. She begins to open her eyes. She looks at me.

"Luna Kayla, I am Maximus. I am Soran's brother," I say softly. She looks at me as if she is trying to focus.

"Where am I?" she asks me. She blinks rapidly and tries to move. She looks around the room.

"You are home. I brought you to the home of my parents. You and Soran would have lived here after the wedding, so I brought you here to heal," I say to her. She looks around, confused.

"Soran? My pack? My sister? My parents?" she asks, and then her face turns to horror as she remembers.

She lays back in bed. "Please do not let him take me. I cannot take anymore," Luna Kayla screams out.

She squeezes my hand. "I promise to keep you safe, little wolf," I say to her.

She closes her eyes. For a moment, she looks peaceful, and then she sits up in bed. "SORAN!" she screams for him.

I take her into my arms and hold her. "Please do not beat me again. I will behave," Kayla cries. I want to take her pain from her.

"No one will ever hurt you again, little wolf," I whisper into her ear. I hold her frail body in my arms. Her body is covered in so many bruises and lashes it makes me and my wolf angry. How could someone hurt such a beautiful, sweet young woman?

She pulls away from me and looks into my eyes. "Help me," she says, her eyes pleading for help.

"You are safe," I tell her again. She looks around the room and is searching for him. She is scared, and nothing I can say will reassure her she is safe yet.

She lays back in the bed and falls back into a deep sleep, still holding my hand. I brush the hair from her face and notice more bruises on her. There is no part of her that Ranon left untouched.