Scarlet's Mate

Part Eighteen

Elliot's still holding me as he talks with Derek about what they should tell the pack.  I'm only partly listening, not being able to fully pay attention to them.  I put my head on Elliots chest and breathe in his scent, I start to feel calm and my thoughts become less loud.  I feel my eyes start to drift shut. 

Elliot must've felt my body relax more as he picked me up and started to walk with me somewhere.  I kept my eyes closed, the peace I feel right now is sacred and I don't want to risk losing it.  I feel him sit down with me still in his arms. 

"Scarlet?"  Elliot pulled me back to reality.

I open my eyes and see him looking down at me, "yeah?"

"What do you want to do?"

"What do you mean?"  I question him.

"About the attack, do you want to tell your grandma?  I just want to figure out a good excuse for you to have a personal body guard 24/7 if you aren't ready to tell her yet," he explained.

I thought about it for a minute before responding, "come up with an excuse.  I will tell my grandma eventually.  Just not right now."

He rubbed small circles on my back, "that's fine, tell her when you're ready to.  There's no rush."

I go to get up from Elliot's lap, he lets me go and watches me intensely.  I stand up, "I would just like to be alone for a minute, if that's okay."

He nods, "yes of course, anything you need," he gives me a sheepish smile and sits back down on the couch.

When I get to my room I close the door and grab my phone off the nightstand.  I decided to text Rayne, 'Hey, sorry something happened.  Come over now, please.  I'll explain everything when you get here.  Oh and Derek Adams and Elliot Parker are here.  I'll explain that too.'

I go to set my phone down when it starts to ring, I look and see a blocked caller.  I freeze, unable to answer it.  My heart starts to pound in my chest and I feel like I can't breathe.  I stare at my phone until eventually it stops.  It falls from my hand and a silent thump is heard as it hits the carpet. 

My body starts to shake and I feel tears falling from my eyes.  I try to focus all my attention on breathing.  In and out.  I can't seem to get a steady rhythm going.  I take off the hoodie i'm wearing and throw it to the floor.  Then I grab my chest, trying to force myself to breathe in and out.

Suddenly there's a knock at my door and the knob turns.  My heart is about to drop to my stomach when I see Derek peek his head in.  When he sees me he immediately opens the door and comes in, sitting next to me on the bed.  He looks worried, "are you okay?"

He reaches over and swipes a tear from my cheek.  I breathe out and suck in another ragged breath.  He watches me as I slowly learn to breathe normally again.  I look over at him, "yeah, I'm fine."

Derek sighed, "Scarlet, you don't have to put on a brave face, you can talk to me."

"I'm not trying to put on a brave face, and if I am, it's more for me than for you," I look down at my hands, "I'm afraid if I let myself fully feel what I'm going through I'll end up completely broken."

Derek moves closer and puts his arm around my shoulders, pulling me to him.  He rests his chin on top of my head, "I'll always be here for you."

I think back to a couple days ago, how simple everything had been.  Before I knew about werewolves or mates or had scary men doing horrible things to me.  And I regret not enjoying it more.  Just when I thought things might finally start being okay after my parents died, all this happens.  I must've been really shitty in my past life to deserve this much bad karma.