Saving Isadore [MxM] (An Alpha's Fight Book 1)

Chapter 16

ISADORE ¤ POV

When I stopped by the hospital that afternoon, it had taken everything in me to walk through the heavy door of Aaron's room and step inside. Even my determination couldn't outweigh the fear of rejection, the nervousness that churned my stomach and the cold fear of baring myself to another person that settled in my bones. I had to do this, I had to be strong, but being strong needed strength in itself.

Aaron was barely awake, dressed in his own clothes rather than the hospital gown I'd previously seen him in. His midnight black curls were disheveled and frizzy, his tawny brown skin a little bit pale and splotched yellow with healing bruises and his dark eyes hooded with sleep. Yet even then, he was still the most beautiful omega I'd ever laid eyes on and the attraction I felt towards him surged.

Aaron smiled, waving a heavy hand in my direction, beckoning me inside like trying to coax a frightened animal closer. I hesitantly did so, moving towards his bed. Aaron blinked up at me, looking confused, obviously not knowing why I was back again so soon, but loving my presence either way. It made my heart warm just a little bit knowing he was pleased to see me.

"I'm sorry about this morning, Isadore," he suddenly frowned and I missed his bright smile immediately. Aaron sat up, blinking rapidly to expel the sleepiness trying to drag his body into darkness. "You had a seizure, didn't you? I feel so fucking stupid - I couldn't read the signs and I didn't help. You should be able to rely on me, but I failed you. I'm sorry."

I was already shaking my head as I sank down onto the bed beside him. "No, don't apologise," I whispered, giving him a reassuring smile. "It's not always easy to identify and half the time, I don't even know when I've had one. I just feel... lost afterwards. I ran before you could comfort me and that was my fault, I just needed to... escape."

"Why?" Aaron asked, even more confused, his thick eyebrows furrowed in the middle of his forehead. "Was it something I said? Oliver? Was my dad too overwhelming? I know he can be intimidating but-"

"It wasn't any of that," I cut him off before he could go on. It had been terrifying when the huge male had walked through the doors that morning. I'd never seen an alpha as big or broad or incredibly ferocious looking. He was even bigger than my own dad. Aaron's father had been nice enough but I had been wary, timid around such a force of nature. He could kill me in a heartbeat, I knew that, and although his demeanour had been the opposite of violent, just knowing what an alpha like that could do made me shiver with fear. Was that the same feeling many omegas got when looking at alphas?

"Isadore?" Aaron asked and I realised that I'd drifted off. I blinked down at him, blushing with embarrassment. He simply raised an eyebrow, more alert than when I'd first sat down. With all the firm sassiness I'd come to appreciate from Aaron, he asked me very clearly to start talking. So, I did. Finally it was time to do what I'd came here for.

My fingers shook as I reached into my inner blazer pocket and pulled out my letter. The words inked into the page were more significant than he'd ever know. It held my past, my heart and what I hoped for the future. It ripped me open bare and all of that vulnerability I placed in his small hands. Aaron gazed down at the paper, frowning, but he didn't say anything as he unravelled it. "Another love poem?"

I didn't answer, lowering my gaze to the bed sheets as I reached up to grab anxiously at a clump of my hair. Aaron slapped my hand away so fast that I jumped on the bed. He barely gave me a glance as he grabbed the hand he'd slapped and held on tightly, his thumb moving back and forth over the stinging skin.

I stared down in alarm, waiting for the panic to overwhelm me, for my chest to tighten at being struck, but it never came. Somehow, I was able to differentiate between Aaron's love tap and a violent blow. It made me breathe a little bit easier. He really was the one - I knew it in my heart. I only hoped that when Aaron came to the end of the letter, things wouldn't change.