Broken Protector

Chapter 11; Don't Cry

The next few hours flew by in a blur. Some time along the way of Ryder carrying me to the car, I passed out and woke up several times in the night by nightmares. When I wake up the next morning, Ryder is slumped over, asleep in a chair by my bed.

Feeling emotionally drained, I slowly sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. I felt like the dead. Ryder suddenly stirs, his head lifting. When he sees me watching, his golden eyes widen and I'm suddenly pulled into his arms.

"Keeva, you're awake," he whispers, his voice hoarse. I stay silent and wrap my arms tightly around his neck. "God, I was so worried," he murmurs when he pulls back, cupping my face to look into my eyes with a small smile. He immediately frowns though, stroking his thumb across my cheek, "What's wrong?"

Tears filled my eyes again, "I feel dead," I admitted, my own voice hoarse from crying all night. Ryder quickly wipes away fallen tears, "No, don't cry," he whispers, his hands moving to hold the back of my head. "Please don't cry." At his soft and gentle tone, I helplessly let out a quiet sob.

I try to turn away from him but he just jerks me back, "No, do not hide," he murmurs harshly, pulling me to him. His arms wrap around me and he gently presses my head to his shoulder. My hands go up to his neck, sliding into the hair at the nape of his neck. "I don't know what those girls said or did to make you have a panic attack but it won't be pretty when I find out," he growls, kissing my hair.

"Thank you," I whisper to him. Ryder sighs, "I'll do it any day for you, princess," he assures me. He stands up with me in his arms and suddenly walks out my room and into his.

With a gasp, I land on his bed a he throws me on it. He doesn't say anything as he climbs up beside me, pulling me by my waist on top of him. "Ryder, what are you doing?" I mumble, blushing as his arms wrap possessively around me. His lips brush my ear, "You're bed is uncomfortable," he growls gruffly.

I sighed, snuggling deeper into his chest. "Rest, but when you wake, we're talking," Ryder warns. I cover his mouth with my hand, closing my eyes as my head drops on his chest, "Shut up and sleep," I ordered. I feel his lip curl underneath my hand as he shakes in laughter.

****

I wake up a few hours later from the pulsing in the side of my head. With a cry of pain, I shot up from my pillow. Ryder was already awake and a second later, he comes barging through the door, "What's wrong?" He murmurs, crouching in front of me.

I turn my head towards and frown when he suddenly drops backwards on his heels, horror in his eyes, "Fuck! The side of your face is fucking bruising!" He swears. I flinch when he reaches to touch it. Ryder looks at me sadly, standing up to lift me into his arms.

I willingly wrap my arms around his neck as he starts carrying me downstairs, "I'm sorry this happened, Princess," he growls. I stay silent as I'm carried into the kitchen. Ayato was sitting at the counter, holding a mug of coffee. He looks up when we entered and immediately drops the mug.

I flinch at the sound of it crashing to the floor and breaking while he stares at me in horror as well. "Is my face really that bad?" I mumble. Ryder sits me down on the counter so we were eye to eye. "No, Keeva, it's just hard for any of us to see you like this," he answers honestly.

"Here," Ayato says, handing a ice pack to Ryder. "Put the on the back of her head." Ryder's eyes darken in anger when he sees the small bump on the back of my head. "What happened?" He spats, gently pressing the ice pack to my head. I wince at the cold feeling.

His golden eyes clash with mine, "Tell me, Keeva," he growls. My eyes were frozen to his and I hear Ayato leave the room, leaving me and him alone. Ryder leans in, his nose brushing the tip of mine, lips a inch away. His eyes didn't leave mine as he brushes his lips along my jawline.

My breath hitches, "S-stop," I stutter, breathlessly. He doesn't, "Than tell me," he commands huskily. I tried to keep my breath from trembling as he traces a finger up my neck. "N-no," I protest weakly. His hand than holds the back if my head, keeping me from jerking away.

"Tell me and I'll stop," he whispers, kissing the corner of my mouth. I let out a whimper and grip his jacket in my hands but he grabs them with one of his own and restrains them in my lap. "Ryder, please!" I plead, wanting more than his teasing kisses. "Tell me," he growls, stopping for just a moment.

Squeezing shut my eyes, I answer, "Jessica and Hannah ordered me when I came out of the bathroom. She said some things, slapped me three times and banged my head against the wall."

Ryder still had my hands and I was jerking at them so I could touch him. He growls, "Will you stop and calm down." I flinch at his harsh tone but calmed down and open my eyes.

"Please let go," I begged, refusing to let my tears fall. Ryder lets my hands go and I immediately wrap them around his neck, pulling him to me. But Ryder refused, pulling defiantly away from me. "Ryder..." I whisper, pressing closer to him.

I suddenly feel his hands on my waist, gently pushing me away. I struggle but it was no use. I refuse to meet his gaze as tears fell from my eyes, "I'm sorry," I whisper, letting my hands drop from his neck. Ryder sighs me tilts my head, golden eyes burning into me, "I don't want you to do this when you're not in the right peace of mind, princess. It's unfair to you," he murmurs.

I whimper, trying to pull my eyes away from his. "Princess," Ryder murmurs, moving the hair from my face, "It's okay. Jessica and Hannah got suspended and Carlisle met with your mom to discuss getting a restraining order." My eyes widened and I let out a soft sigh of relief. "Really? I'll never see them again?"

He grins, "It's very unlikely," he promises. My fear faded away and wrap myself around him, giggling, "Thank you," I breathe into his ear. Ryder chuckles, kissing my forehead before carrying me into the living room. "Everything will be okay," he whispers.

A/n I am so long overdue for a update but hey, you got three chapters so hush it. My other account is BrokenLostRebel

~Sage