The Alpha Prince's Mate (Book 7 Of The Regal Eclipse Pack Series)

Chapter 57

Ethan laid his head back on the seat of the SUV tiredly. He really didn't want to sleep but he was having a hard time staying awake. A very hard time.

Memories from the day that he had wandered around in the desert before he'd finally made it to Rose's house had been slowly filtering through his mind. He didn't want to remember that time, but it was there.

He'd been a wreck. It was hard to wrap his head around the fact that he had wanted death, but the agony and suffering he'd experienced had made him feel that way. He'd felt completely hopeless. He couldn't have imagined how much worse it would have been if he wasn't immune to silver. He would have felt like he was burning inside and out.

He'd been completely delusional, he realized, seeing things that weren't there, and forgetting who he was and the fact that he was immortal. He'd even forgotten that he was a werewolf, his mind had been so muddled.

But everything was fine now. He was fine. Just really tired and beyond ready to go home. He wanted to go home to Pennsylvania. He sighed. It'd be fine. He just needed to sleep for a long time and he'd be fine.

His thoughts drifted to Mila. He was glad she was okay. He was still worried about her. But his dad had said she was on the plane so he's see her here shortly. He was still a bit concerned that she'd want out after what had happened. Frankly, he wasn't sure at the moment if he could survive a rejection. It would be very difficult after what he'd been through. He felt the familiar ache in his gums again, his driving need to mark her and claim her as his.

She'd been in his dreams, always there, waiting for him. He closed his eyes now, letting his thoughts drift. She was there waiting, but he couldn't get to her.

"Ethan?"

His eyes snapped open and he realized the vehicle has stopped moving and they were at the plane. He shook off the sleep, and got out of the vehicle. He followed his father and Ragnar over to the plane, then stopped, looking up. The steps seemed impossibly high and like he might face plant halfway up.

His father looked at him, concern on his face. "You go first."

He nodded and began the ascent. Somehow he made it up there but it took a lot out of him. He was so tired. It didn't help that Maverick had been asleep this entire time. That alone made him sleepy.

Inside the plane, his gaze immediately settled on her first. She was standing there, tears streaming down her beautiful face. It hit him then how much he really missed her, and how badly he needed to mate and mark her. He walked up to her, ignoring everyone else for the moment. She stepped forward and into his arms, hugging him tightly.

"I missed you so much," she said.

"I missed you too, Mila," he said, taking in her scent.

The others on the plane hugged him though Mila didn't leave his side. He finally settled down in a seat, happy and relieved to be off of his feet. He put his head back and was out before the plane even took off.

Mila frowned as she watched him. He hadn't really seemed all that enthusiastic to see her and it worried her. What had happened to him while he'd been gone? But then he'd barely said a word to anyone, just hugged them all and smiled and then sat down.

She knew he'd been unconscious most of the time. Daniel had told her if he wasn't, he would have found a way to contact them. But she didn't know much more than that. Maybe it was because family was around? She had no idea. She'd never been around him when he was with his family, except his sister.

Daniel sat down next to her. "He's extremely tired, Mila. Tired enough that he didn't think he was going to make it up the steps of the plane. His body had to go through extensive healing and it hasn't been that long since it did. He's fine physically, but he's going to need a lot of sleep to recover from that. I'd imagine his wolf is probably asleep as well, and that will make you more tired."

"Mentally?" She'd heard him specifically say physically and knew him well enough now that she knew he didn't say anything without reason.

"I'm not sure. But he would have been a lot worse off if he wasn't immune to silver," Daniel said quietly, his eyes on his son.

"What all happened?" She wasn't sure she wanted to know, but at the same time, she needed to. Ethan was hers, and she wanted to be prepared just in case. She knew how things could affect people. She'd seen it with her father.

"He suffered from sun poisoning, and heat stroke. He got bit by a rattlesnake. He wandered around in the desert for a while and was terribly burned. And they injected him with silver which really slowed down his healing."

She felt sick to her stomach just listening to him talk. Her heart broke for Ethan and how much he must have suffered. "I thought silver didn't affect him?"

"It doesn't burn him like a normal werewolf. It just slowed down his healing quite a bit. So Dr. Rose had him sedated the entire time so he wasn't feeling all of the pain," he said.

"And if he wasn't immune?" She needed to know.

Daniel was quiet for a moment. Finally, he spoke. "He would have died a slow, torturous death."

That made her more sick to her stomach. Knowing someone could do something so horrible to him. Ethan was so kind. Why would someone want to do that to him? Her gaze darted around to the others on the plane. They were listening as well. Jenna's eyes were on her son.

"Just give him some time. Mila. You are one of the first things he asked about. He's just really worn out," he said.

Daniel's words were reassuring and they made her feel a bit better. At one point, Ethan opened his eyes long enough to take her hand in his, and squeeze it gently. Then he dozed back off.

The plane finally landed back in Texas and Daniel roused Ethan. He shot her a smile and got up and they all got off the plane. They headed back to the pack house and on inside.

Ethan turned to Mila. "I have to sleep. I'm so tired."

"I know. Come on," She took him to the guest room, the same one they had both used now, and on inside. Their blanket was still there along with their pillows, though Mila hadn't been back in the bed since her long nap. She'd been on edge, knowing they had a lead, and it had gone from there with them heading to California. She'd had to sit on the plane and wait almost an hour before Jenna had told her they knew where Ethan was, and then almost another hour before she'd told Mila they were headed back with Ethan and he was fine.

"This is where you've been sleeping?" Ethan asked quietly.

"I haven't slept much," she admitted. "But yeah. Your dad went and got our things to help me sleep."

He nodded, looking at the bed. "I need to take a quick shower. Mila, you don't have to stay with me, while I sleep if you don't want to."

"Do you want me to?" she asked.

"Yeah, but I have no idea how long I will sleep," he admitted.

"I want to stay. I haven't slept much since you've been gone," she said. "I was too worried."

He reached out and touched her cheek. "I'll be out shortly."

She smiled at him and watched him disappear into the bathroom. She then worked to remove her own clothing, struggling with her bra until Ethan walked out.

He smiled and walked over to her and unhooked it, the wrapped his arms around her. "I missed you Mila," he said, kissing her neck.

"I missed you desperately, Ethan," she responded.

He picked her up and carried her over to the bed. "I want you, but I'm too tired," he muttered, settling down next to her.

She moved over to him and he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against him. He buried his face in her hair, breathing in deeply and was out.