Run

Chapter 15: The Weeks

The pack Doctor, Peter, has done everything he can, but she's still in a coma.

It's been three weeks, and I haven't left her. I've given all my work to Marcus and he's taken over while I care for my mate.

I run my thumb of the knuckles of her pale, cold hand.

"I'm sorry Brooke," I say. "I'm so, so sorry." My voice breaks and I can feel tears welling up.

"I've been horrible to you. You didn't deserve that. Any of it. It's my fault that you're here. What I did, I know you'll never forgive me for. I just want you to fight. After this, if you want to reject me, that's okay, I understand. If you want to be a member of this pack, then you can. If there's a different pack, I will do everything I can to get you in."

"You deserve so much more than me and what I can give you. But I just want you to be happy. That's all that matters. Even if you happiness isn't with me." I lift her hand and kiss the back of it. "I'm so sorry."

The door to my mate's room opens and I look up to see it's Marcus.

"You need to shower," he says flatly.

He's been pissed off at me, and I don't blame him. I never told him she's my mate. I didn't let him get involved in it. I shouldn't have treated anyone like that, especially my mate.

"I don't want to leave her," I say. He doesn't respond. He just walks out, and then comes back in a couple minutes later.

"Why?" He asks.

"Why what?" I reply.

"Why now? Why do you care all of a sudden?"

"Marcus," I growl.

"Let me say something. Not as your Beta, but as your best friend."

"Marcus-"

"You need to cherish her. She was made just for you, and you're blowing it. If you had told me at the beginning, actually treated her like your mate instead of a rouge, you wouldn't be in this situation. Dude, I'm saying this as your friend, on a personal level, but you have to understand that she's been through a lot, and she deserves to be treated like a queen, not a prisoner."

"I know," I whisper, dropping my head in defeat. "I know, and I'm going to do everything in my power to make it up to her."

"Okay." He walks out of the room and comes back almost instantly.

"And just as an FYI, I'm not so pissed at this point as I am frustrated." He closes the door and then opens it once again. "And do us all a favor and get your ass in the shower. You smell like shit."

I hold up my hands, surrendering to him, standing up and making my way out of the room.

"Thanks god," I hear him mumble.

"Heard that!" I yell.

"Damn it!" He screeches. I laugh, realizing we've returned to our normal, playful banter.

I head up the stairs, through the bedroom, and into the bathroom. I take a quick shower, making sure every inch of me is clean. I get out, dry off and head into my closet. I grab a pair of jeans and a black tank top, and throw them on once my boxers are on before I head back towards my mate's room in the hospital wing of the house.

I open the door, and I almost run into a nurse.

"Oh, Alpha I was just coming to get you. She's woken up."

I shove past her, only to see my mate, sitting up, supported by the hospital bed, with fear in her eyes. As I rush towards her, she quickly pulls her knees to her chest, buries her face in her knees, and covers her head with her arms.

What have I done?