Chapter 20
“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” – Lao Tzu
Rose's POV
I woke up much later in the pack clinic, my eyes landing first on Auntie Hilda, then on my father. They both sat beside my bed, their eyes glistening with unshed tears.
Auntie Hilda abruptly stood up.
“Oh, my baby!” she cried, clutching my hand. “I’m so glad you’re safe!”
The woman who had devoted her life to looking after me began sobbing uncontrollably. I hadn’t meant to, but tears welled up in my own eyes as well.
“Dr. Danvers said don’t do or say anything to trigger another panic attack,” my father said sternly, gripping Hilda’s shoulders and pulling her back slightly. “Get ahold of yourself, Hilda. Be strong for Rose.”
I sat up gingerly, feeling as if my limbs were weighed down by stones. A strange sensation wrapped around my wrists, and I looked down to see straps securing my arms to the bed.
“You were sedated,” dad explained quietly. “You thrashed around a few times in your sleep. We were afraid you might hurt yourself.”
“I…I was just so scared,” I admitted, my breath shaky. “But I’m…I feel safe now.”
I turned my gaze to my father.
Dad moved closer, wrapping me in a strong embrace.
“Listen, Rose, this is really important,” he said. “I wouldn’t ask you this unless it was for your safety. How many people were in that shack with you? The place had been doused with sage to mask any scents—that’s why we couldn’t track you.”
My stomach churned. “Whoever kidnapped me had enough time to cover my scent and trail to the shack from the road,” I muttered bitterly, swallowing the lump in my throat.
My head throbbed, most likely from the sedatives.
Dad nodded grimly, taking my small hand in his large, calloused one.
“But Aiden followed your trail after they found you. Inside the shack, they picked up two scents—but there was only one scent on you. The only person in there was the man that touched you. He…well, between Aiden and Jake, there wasn’t much left of him,” he finished, satisfaction in his voice.
My eyes widened. “They killed him?”
Dad nodded curtly.
“Good.” I leaned back against my pillow, my voice steady. “He was a rapist, Dad. Oh, goddess… He said…he said they all stop struggling eventually…”
I barely got the words out before it hit me like a wave—I was back there again, trapped, helpless. The memory sucked me under, my body turning ice-cold, my breathing erratic.
“Rose, honey, calm down. He’s not here anymore. He’s gone,” Dad’s voice called to me, but it sounded so far away.
“He wasn’t alone…” I gasped, panic gripping my chest. “Ray, Bobbin, and…and… Boss,” I choked out, my body beginning to shake uncontrollably.
“Boss?” Dad’s tone sharpened. “There was a third person?”
I tried to respond, but I couldn’t stop gasping for air. It felt like I was drowning, the room closing in around me. What if they came back for me?
“Ezra, she’s in no position to be questioned!” Auntie Hilda scolded. “I’m getting Dr. Danvers!”
“Boss,” My voice trembled as I fought through the terror. “A werewolf! K-k-k-k-k…” My teeth chattered violently.
“Stop upsetting the patient! Out! Out! I told you she wasn’t to be disturbed!” Dr. Danvers’s furious voice cut through my panic. “Sedate the patient!”
No! I had to tell them. They had to know. What if they kidnapped someone else?
I struggled against the restraints, lifting my upper body off the bed. Strong hands gripped my shoulders, pushing me down. I fought wildly, desperate to get the words out. More hands pressed me down, and then—sharp pain in my forearm. A needle.
No, no, no!
But the drowsiness hit fast, swallowing me whole.
Aiden’s POV
I sat in Dr. Danvers’s office as he discussed Rose’s case.
“She’s been sheltered for most of her life,” the doctor said, fingers steepled together.
“So an event like this was difficult for her to process. Alpha, she needs time to come to terms with everything. She was almost raped. She was kidnapped and brutally beaten. That would be traumatizing for anyone.”
Rage swelled inside me again.
“I need to find out who was behind this,” I pressed. “If I don’t know anything, I can’t keep her safe.”
“You will not question her,” Dr. Danvers insisted. “It might send her into another panic attack. I assume you’ve filed a report with the police?”
I nodded.
“We told them we found her screaming in the woods. We turned the body in, saying it was mauled by wolves in the shack.” A grim smile tugged at my lips. “Of course, the sheriff knows it was most likely werewolves. But that’s beside the point.”
Dr. Danvers exhaled heavily. “Let the police investigate. You said it looked like there were two people?”
“We did,” I confirmed. “Ezra also passed along what little Rose was able to say before she had another…episode.”
“You cannot question my patient further,” Dr. Danvers said firmly. “But you may go in to see her.” He closed Rose’s file. “I’m only allowing it because you’re our alpha. I trust you not to trigger another volatile situation like Ezra did.”
I nodded, rubbing my eyes tiredly.
Would she even want to see me?
This was all my fault.
With a resigned sigh, I made my way to the room Rose had been given. It was the one reserved for the alpha’s family—a room meant for the luna.
Her bruises had faded, and the cut on her lip was gone. Still, she looked so fragile, so pale, lying in that bed. As I stepped closer, the thick fringe of her lashes fluttered open. Her eyes found mine, and, to my surprise, a small smile touched her lips.
“Well, this is becoming a habit,” she teased. “Me in the hospital, you visiting me.”
I swallowed hard, waiting for her to lash out at me.
“What’s wrong with you?” she asked, her expression shifting as she studied me.
Wincing from the lingering pain in her leg, she sat up in bed, her curls tumbling over her shoulders.
I didn’t answer, keeping my gaze on the floor. I wasn’t supposed to upset her. She might have another panic attack.
“Are you angry?” she asked hesitantly.
“Why would I be angry?” I snapped, unable to keep the frustration from my voice.
My head lifted to meet her gaze. “I have no reason to be angry at you, Rose. The entire reason you were sent away was to prevent something like this from happening. This is my fault. I should have been better equipped to protect you.”
I pressed my lips into a tight line, bracing myself for her to agree.
Because the truth was, I knew what was really going through my mind.
I should have been better prepared for the mate pull.
I should have never exposed her in the diner…
I should have never let my wolf’s territorial side rub off Rose’s luna mark for all the world to see.
I should stop being an idiot and accept our bond.
“This isn’t your fault,” Rose said quickly. “ I can feel your emotions radiating towards me, Aiden. You feel like it’s all your fault. But it’s not! I should have been more careful. From now on, I’ll—”
“You’re not going anywhere without me or another pack member,” I cut in.
“We attend the same university. I’ll take you to your lab and bring you back home.
The rest of your days, you work in the pack clinic which is safe.
We can coordinate our schedules. If I’m not around, Layla will take you.
You aren’t going anywhere alone anymore. At least not until I mark you.”
I sucked in a breath. I hadn’t meant to say that last part yet.
“What?!” Rose exclaimed loudly, completely floored. “Mark me?! You said it was too intimate for…for…” She stopped talking, utterly flabbergasted by my statement.
“Please, Rose, we need to do this. It’s for your safety. You’re the one who said you were tired of all our rules. Once you’re marked, you can go wherever you want. You’ll have your freedom back. I’ll be able to tell where you are and if you’re in danger.”
“Wouldn’t I have to change first? And…and…Josie said werewolves administer the mark after the mating ceremony,” she insisted.
“You don’t have to be a werewolf for the mating ceremony or to receive your mate’s mark,” I hedged.
“Think about it, human mates can be marked too. But I’d have to wait until you turn to mark you so that our bond would be stronger.
I can mark you before your turn, but it wouldn’t be as effective.
When I mark you after you’ve turned, I mark your wolf as well.
Marking you before your change only marks your human form.
” I kept my voice even, almost business-like.
Inside, though, I felt shame. I’d always thought I’d mark Lexia and have a mating ceremony with her.
I was going back on my promise to her. But…
I didn’t feel as bad as I should have. I didn’t even feel heartbroken over losing Lexia.
Why? Because I was developing feelings for Rose.
Because something in me was screaming that her safety took precedence.
Nothing mattered if my mate was in danger. All that mattered was keeping her safe.
Rose clenched her eyes shut briefly.I knew she was taken aback by my words. So was I. Marking her had been the last thing I ever wanted to do. But even if I was fine with this, was she?
“I need to think about this whole marking thing,” she said evenly.
“You can think about it.” I inclined my head.
I wanted to yell at her that she had no choice in the matter, but knowing Rose, she’d only rebel further. I’d ask Ezra to reason with her later.
Hesitantly, I reached out and skimmed my fingers lightly over her cheek, where the handprint had now disappeared.
Her eyes fluttered closed, and I felt warmth spread through me at the sight of her feeling safe.
She unconsciously leaned into my touch and it took all I had in me not to cup her beautiful face in my hands.
“You’re so brave,” I whispered. “But I’m going to take care of you. Don’t worry. I’m not going to let anything like this happen to you again. You’re my responsibility.”