My Genius Mate

Chapter Ten

I was the first one awake. My ribs felt much better, but I was still pretty sore. Slowly, I could sit up and walk to the bottom of the stairs. Before going up, I took another look at my friends. No, they were my family.

Gabe was flat on his back on a blanket under the TV on the floor. He was snoring and drooling, which made me laugh. Henry was also on his back on the loveseat. He was tall enough to have his head on one armrest and his knees propped up on the other side as Katie curled up on his chest. Both looked adorable. Ronan had not moved an inch all night to ensure I was comfortable. His head was leaned against his hand, and he looked as handsome as ever.

I held in a groan as I took my first step up. I held my side and made it to my room. I needed to shower, change, and get back into my regular clothes. I took my shirt off and looked in the mirror, wincing at the sight. My ribs were no longer a bright purple; they were now a light brown. What stood out was the hand bruises on my arms and a nail scratch on my leg from him grabbing at me and trying to take me away from the one place I knew I belonged.

The warm water on my skin felt lovely. It rolled over my entire body and helped with healing. The familiar smell of cocoa in my body wash, and my hair care made everything feel slightly better. I felt like I was back to normal if that even existed anymore. What was I calling normal? I was back in town with Ronan and Henry but was still a target for someone. This was now my second attempt at being kidnapped and in the town I tried so hard to return to. What was my issue? What did I do to someone to have them try to do this repeatedly?

I pushed past the feeling and got dressed. My jeans and baggy band tee went well with my black shoes. I brushed my black hair and parted it where my white streak was so it was on the left side of my face. I pulled it into a ponytail before dropping it again. My hair was longer than I thought it was, reaching my midsection. At this moment, I realized just how much of an influence Katie really had on me. My hair looked shiny and healthy, my nails were upkeep, and my tan, native skin was glowing. She even had me use an eye drop occasionally to clear my allergy to red eyes. My green eyes had never been so clear. All of this, I still think I was not good enough for my mate. Maybe that's why he got together with that redhead; she looked nothing like me.

I was in the middle of self-loathing when my phone buzzed and made a pop noise in my back pocket. It was a number I didn't have saved. 'Watch your back.'

'Who is this?'

'Stay away from him if you're smart.'

'Are you threatening me?'

'Yes.'

I was staring at my phone, trying to figure out who the hell this was, when there was a knock on my door, scaring me. Ronan smirked at me and raised his hands.

"Sorry, didn't mean to make you jump." He saw my confused expression and became concerned. "You okay?"

He sat beside me on the bed, looking over my shoulder at my phone. "I have no idea who this is."

He took my phone, punching the number into his phone to see if he had it too, but nothing came up. He stared at the number before looking up at me. "I'll figure out who this is, but don't tell anyone else."

"You mean except for the people downstairs?" He sighed, looking at me; he knew it was no use. I would tell Katie, my best friend; she would tell her mate, and Gabe would feel left out and give us puppy eyes to tell him. I took my phone back as he kept his hand reaching out to me. We intertwined our fingers as he moved closer to me.

Ronan held my chin with his finger and thumb. He was close enough to me that I felt his breath across my face. My wolf whined out for him, wanting him, needing him. "I was so worried about you."