Alphas Choice

T H I R T Y - S I X

I'm so sorry, Gracie! My wolf whimpered. I teased his wolf too much, I knew what he was like and I wasn't thinking, are you alright?

I couldn't respond, I couldn't think, he slammed into me at least ten times before he stilled long enough that I could loosen his grip on me and I dove down to the bed crying. I looked up and saw his eyes fade back to gray, and his face crumpled.

"Grace..." He reached for me, but I didn't move. I laid there looking at him, tears streaming down my face. "I'm so sorry, I tried stopping him once I realized what he was doing..."

I knew I couldn't completely blame him. My wolf egged him on, and his wolf was strong and couldn't control his urges, but I was hurt, my mate hurt me. He was supposed to make my first time memorable and good, and now everything great that happened this morning will be tainted by this.

I could smell blood but couldn't feel exactly where it was coming from. I just wanted to lay here, but I was cold all of a sudden.

"Please, Grace, say something..." I could hear the emotion in his voice.

"I'm cold." I finally whispered.

He got off the bed and pulled the sheet, and comforter up around, careful not to make contact. He looked dejected. He found his boxers and put them on before walking towards the couch on the other side of the room. I was angry at his wolf, but I still needed my mate, I was hurting and didn't want to be left alone right now, I wanted to be comforted.

"Gabriel?" I said in a small voice. He turned quickly at the sound. He looked like I was about to break his heart and probably thought I was going to ask him to leave.

My heart tightened at the expression on his face and his slumped shoulders.

"Yes?" He whispered.

"Come here, please." He looked confused as he came to stand next to my bed, I lifted the edge of the blanket and winced when the movement sent pain in waves through my midsection. "Lay with me, I need you here."

His face softened a bit as he gingerly crawled in to lay next to me, trying to be careful not to jostle me. He laid diagonally like I was so he could lay his face in front of me but not touching. He reached over me to grab one of the long pillows and eased it under my head for me. I reached out and grabbed his hand, and a new wave of tears came as my emotions came over me.

He held my hand in his like it was a lifeline, and we just stared into each other eyes. I'm not sure how long we laid like that, but the sun had come up, and the room lightened more. I just wanted to sleep, I pulled his hand against my chest, and it brought my wolf and I some comfort, I was just letting my mind go numb.

I closed my eyes, then felt him lean in and press a gentle kiss to my forehead. He laid his face next to mine, and his breath blew across my face. I focused on the smell and the feeling on my skin, and I felt myself starting to fall asleep as he was whispering apologies.

I woke up and stretched, then cried out in pain, momentarily forgetting what had happened. Gabriel was there watching me with a horrified look on his face.

"Grace, I'm so sorry..." He started, but I held my hand up to stop him.

"I know." I said quietly, I knew he was sorry, I didn't want to hear it.

I needed to pee but was already tearing up, knowing it was going to hurt to move, let alone go to the bathroom and clean myself up. I sighed and slowly pushed myself up to my hands and knees, wincing and saw his hands moving around like he wanted to help me but didn't know what to do. I just ignored him and crawled to the edge of the bed, I heard him gasp when I crawled past him, so I can only imagine what it looks like.