19. Ella
19
ELLA
M y eyes pop open, machines beep next to me, and there’s a throbbing in my head that thumps with every beat of my pulse. I squint in confusion as the light in the room hurts my eyes, and the feel of scratchy blankets on my oversensitive skin makes me want to get up. But I relax into the bed, take a few deep breaths, and try remembering what I’m doing here. In a hospital. I’ve been in enough of them over the last year to recognize the sounds, smells, and sensations of the sterile environments.
The last thing I remember is Owen coming home with a bruised, cut cheek.
“Oliver!” I shoot up in bed, shouting for my brother, only to find I’m alone. The room is bare, except for a chair and closet. The window is covered with a curtain, but shadows are moving outside.
Flipping the blankets off, I slide out of bed, dizzy but forcing myself to move until there’s a tug in my arm from an IV attached to a stand. Picking at the tape, I rip the tether out, pressing the bottom of my gown to the now-bleeding wound.
“Oliver!”
The door opens to reveal Theias with a container in his hand, worry etched into his forehead. “What the hell are you doing out of bed?” He places the container on the chair and scoops me up, returning me to the bed. “You have a concussion, doll. You shouldn’t be up.”
Once I’m settled back where I started, Theias sits next to me, one hand on either side of my hips, boxing me in.
“Where’s my brother?” I sob.
“He’s fine. They wouldn’t allow him to stay last night after you were admitted. Caleb will bring him by after they get him registered at school.” He brushes a finger across my jaw, and I relax into his touch.
“What happened?” I whisper, unable to restrain the tears welling in my eyes from spilling over.
“You don’t remember?” His head tilts as he searches my face. Shaking my head, he cups my cheek, bringing his lips to mine before pulling back. “You had a panic attack after Owen and Oliver arrived home. You thought Blake was coming for you and tried to leave. When you were stopped, you blacked out and hit your head.”
Closing my eyes, my lungs constrict as I remember the overwhelming fear of Blake finding me. I know if he does, I’m dead. “He’ll kill me,” I murmur.
Theias’ large hand tangles in the hair at my nape, pulling me into him gently. “Nobody is ever going to touch you again, doll. I won’t allow it.” He doesn’t know Blake, though. “Yeah, I do.” Ooops. I must have said that out loud. “I know men just like him, and I know he’s going to crumble under the fear of what I’ll do to him if he even thinks of you again.”
“How can you promise that when you don’t know him?”
Glancing up into his stormy midnight eyes, there’s a flash of something–deadly intent fueled by rage–and I think, I think… maybe, for the first time, I can see how much more dangerous Theias is than Blake.
“I’ve known men like him my entire life, sweet doll. They thrive on hurting those smaller than themselves. Controlling the weak so they feel strong. That’s what Blake did to you.”
“I never thought of myself as weak before.” That’s a crushing blow.
Shifting to face me better, Theias stares into my eyes, and I swear he sees deep into my soul. “You are the furthest thing from weak, Ella. You are the strongest woman I know. You survived a man who sought to beat you down until you shouldn’t have been able to get back up. That would break most men. But women…women are fighters in their souls. Warriors in a way men aren’t and can never be.”
“You really believe that?” My voice is a whisper among the chaos.
“More than anything. But even warriors need wolves to protect them. Let me be your wolf, baby.” Relief billows through me as I close my eyes and lean into his strength.
“Yes, Theias, please.” I nearly cry, I’m so overwhelmed again. I just want to be normal, but I’m afraid I’ve forgotten what that’s like.
“Knock, knock.” Dr. Edwards walks in with a smile on her face. “Everything okay?” I nod as she enters, grabbing a small stool from the corner and sitting at the end of the bed. “How are you feeling, Ella?” Her eyes zoom in on where I ripped out the IV and the blood stains my wrist and hand. “What happened here?”
“Panic,” I grumble, feeling foolish about it now.
“About?” Mia prompts.
“Oliver.” I’m still worried about him.
“The little brother I met last night. He’s just fine. Got him iced and cleaned up in no time, same with Owen.” Her smile is reassuring. “It’s you and that head of yours I was concerned about.” I twist my lips. “Do you remember what happened?”
Nodding, I tell her the last thing I can recall. She and Theias share a look.
“The rest will likely come back. It’s probably lost in what I like to call the panic haze. Nothing to worry about.”
“The baby?” I’ve been afraid to ask.
“Nestled away, safe and sound. The stress is not good for them, however.”
“Them?” I latch onto the word instantly.
“Oh yes.” The doctor’s grin grows now. “You, my dear, are going to be the very proud momma of two babies, not one.” I blink slowly at her announcement.
“Twins?” I croak, glancing up at Theias, who is just as stunned as me.
“That’s right, both beautiful and healthy.” Patting my foot, she stands. “I’m getting you out of here if you promise to do nothing but be a couch potato for at least three days and come see me on day four. Good?”
I begin to nod but regret it and opt for words instead. “Got it.”
“Theias, you okay in there?” Mia asks him. His stunned expression is amusing, but a slither of worry has me pulling back. Maybe two is too much for him.
“It’s okay if you don’t want this,” I whisper, which seems to break him out of his shock.
“Don’t want this?” he growls, leaning in closer to me. “What the fuck do you think I don’t want? Two more of you? Are you insane? The more I get of you, the better.”
The tension breaks, and I smile wide, holding his face in both of my hands, palms tickled by his beard.
Brushing my lips across his, I can’t help feeling elated on such an emotional day. “Thank you.” Pressing into him, he deepens the kiss like I knew he would.
“Ah, ah, ah, no hanky-panky, you two! Momma needs the rest. Not to say that oral for her isn’t an option.” Mia whistles a jaunty tune and walks out, leaving me slightly stunned.
Theias, however, is not. “I am all for my mouth on your cunt.”
His hooded eyes as he licks his lips make my sex clench and throb a matching tune to my heartbeat.
“Not here,” I hiss when I feel his hand moving up my thigh under the blanket.
“When we get home, you’re mine.”
The warning sounds a lot like a threat, and all I can do is whimper because the man is wicked with his mouth.