Because of Them

Chapter 4

Lex blinked at the girl he just caught from falling. He knew something wasn't right. Whoever she was, she was extremely malnourished and injured.

Not to mention the fact that this was his mate. How did she just so happen to stumble into his arms?

"Christian!" he yelled, unsure of what to do in his bit of shock.

Christian followed Lex's voice to the entryway of his house. He paused at the frail girl in his arms. He sniffed. Was that-?

"What happened?" he asked.

"I-I don't know. I opened the door and she was just there," Lex said.

Christian reached for the girl, his hand skimming hers. "My mate."

"What?" Lex's frantic eyes met his. "No, no. She's my mate."

Christian's heart thudded in his chest. What?

"We'll talk later. Take her up to one of the bedrooms. I'm going to call the doctor."

Christian found them in one of the spare bedrooms that wasn't being occupied. Lex had a rag and was gently cleaning away some of the dirt and dried blood that caked the girl's delicate skin.

"So, do we share?" Lex whispered.

"I don't know," Christian mumbled. He had never heard of a wolf having two mates.

"I'd be okay with it," Lex said softly, chewing on his lip. "As long as she is."

Christian didn't have a chance to respond before Wilder appeared with the doctor.

"What's going on?" he questioned, staring at the girl. He growled. "What happened to ny mate?"

"Wilder, she's our mate, too," Lex whispered.

"What?" he said, stepping further into the room. "Can that happen?" They looked at Christian.

"I don't have any explanation. I've never heard of this happening," Christian told him.

The kind doctor did an examination. It couldn't have been easy with three wolves intensely staring her down.

"She's extremely malnourished," the doctor said. "Her eyes are responding to my light which is great. Keep her off of her feet, and keep them clean. Those cuts are deep, and the dirt already makes them high risk for infection," the doctor said.

"It feels like she may have a rib broken," she continued. "Severe bruising on the abdomen makes it look like she has been kicked repeatedly. I would take her to the hospital for a scan. I would want to confirm there is no internal damage."

Wilder growled lowly again, scrubbing his face. "You think someone did this?"

"Yes.  I would say someone abused her for years, and she ran from them."

"Poor thing," Christian said, taking the girl's hand. "I can barely sense her wolf. I doubt that she will have any increased healing."

"Take her to the hospital. They should get her on some fluids, too," the doctor advised.

---

The trio did as instructed. They pulled chairs close together so they could talk softly.

"It's bad if a wolf has to come to a hospital," Lex said, resting his head on his arm.

"Yes. I'm relieved there is no internal damage," Christian said.

"Who the fuck would abuse someone like this? The bruises and scars on her wrist and ankles, even on her neck. She's been tied up." Wilder was angry, beyond angry. He wanted to track the abusers down and tear them apart limb by limb. He planned to do so as soon he found out who they were.

Lex placed a comforting hand on his thigh.

Wilder snapped, standing up abruptly. "And why the fuck are we sharing a mate? I didn't ask for this."

He threw the chair he was sitting in. It hit the wall with a loud crash, the plastic snapping as it hit the ground. He left the room.

"That was unnecessary. He could've woken her," Christian sighed.

Lex stayed quiet, moving his chair to the girl's bedside. He rested his head on his arm again, closing his eyes. Wilder was his best friend, and it stung that he seemed to resent the idea of sharing so much.

Christian was battling his own thoughts. He didn't have time for a mate. This girl was going to need help and support, and he wasn't sure he was the right person to do so.

But, she was so beautiful, even beneath the dirt. The nurses had done their best, but there was years worth of it. He couldn't wait to see her brown hair shine. He couldn't wait to see her eyes.

He must've dozed off with Lex, only waking to movement in the room.

Wilder picked up his broken chair, choosing to sit in it.

"Are you okay?" Christian asked him.

"You're asking me?" Wilder answered confused. He was the one who stormed off.

"Of course. I know it wasn't how any of us imagined, but it is what's happening and we can't change it."

Wilder nodded.

"You hurt Lex's feelings," Christian added.

"Yeah, bitch," Lex said with a yawn, stretching out his limbs.

"What about yours?" Wilder asked Christian.

Christian shrugged, feeling the familiar heat on his neck. "I'd like to think we could make a good team, but I would never take that decision away from her." He was referring to the girl, to the pretty Jane Doe who had yet to wake up.

Wilder stood, tapping on Lex's shoulders until Lex also stood. He gave him an awkward hug.

"I will be more considerate next time," Wilder said.

"You better," Lex huffed, sitting back down.