Alone

Keep Pushing

Ross's POV

I had walked downstairs to see if anyone had extra clothes for Adriana, maybe even get some dinner when I felt stab through my chest. It began quickly, like a static shock, then it was heat. A hot pulsating stab that tore through me. No where near enough to put me on my knees like Adriana had felt when she was away from Damien, but it hurt enough for me to know something was seriously wrong with her.

I shoved past the few people who had gathered in the pack house lounge room and stormed upstairs. When I bursted into the room I panicked, she was crying. It was my fault too, I'm the one who hurt her.

I did the only thing I could think of, hold her. My wolf, Rut, was all too eager to rush to her side. I don't fully understand why he's taken so fondly to her. He hasn't let me look at any women since he felt our mate die. He tried to kill us once, it was a bad time. I had let him take full control, but... He didn't want to be in a world without love. He threw us off a cliff. I was in a coma for over a month. We slowly recovered our sanity though. Never finding any joy in our life, but channeling every emotion we had into a strive to make life better for the pack, that's why I wanted to expand with Alpha Damien's pack. I need to keep pushing myself or else I'll lose my focus again.

I had it all planned out too. But when I was in a meeting with Alpha Damien I immediately noticed Adriana. My wolf couldn't tear his eyes away from her. I would try to stay focused, but I always found myself curious about what she was doing. I'd flicker my eyes over to her every few seconds no matter how hard I tried not to. And when Damien denied me the expansion I'd asked for I was so mad. All I could think of was a way to hurt him. She was the answer. The thing is though, I couldn't stand the thought of hurting her. I stole her and as she was locked away all I thought about was her health. I knew she wasn't happy, but at least I could keep the beautiful girl healthy.

And now here I am. Cursing myself for leaving her long enough to end up like this. Crying her eyes out laying on the floor. I need to take care of her. That's all I want.

I slowly helped to calm her down. Rubbed my nose along my mark to try to soothe her asleep. Once she was asleep I mindlinked my beta to take care of any business that came up for the next few days. I won't be leaving her side any time soon.

It was black. All around me was darkness. I faintly heard her though, out in the distance. She'd tripped and hurt her foot. Suddenly I could see. She was so far from me. Out in the woods. I ran after her. Shifting and sprinting as fast as I could carry myself. She kept getting farther though. And then I saw why.

Damien had a hold of her and was dragging her behind him. She stumbled behind him due to his roughness and impatientness. They kept getting farther and farther away.

He can't take her from. She can't leave me. I can't be alone again. When she faded from view my wolf cried out. The only happiness he ever felt was stolen from him. We were alone again. All alone.

I woke up to a violent shaking. My eyes flickered open and closed as I reoriented myself. Looking down I saw Adriana with her hands over her ears, head tucked down, and cowering. I reached for her shoulders and when I touched her she flinched.

"D-Don't touch me... Please." She curled around herself tighter. Afraid I'd retaliate and lash out at her. All she received though was silence. Silence that was summoned as I tried to understand what I'd done. She rolled to face away from me and my heart stopped.

Claw marks, slashes, blood. Did... Did I do that to her. The shirt on her back was tattered and torn. Blood seeped through the material and on to the bed. Tainting the sheets. Just like the scars will. The marks I left on her will be there forever. My beast scarred her. Her beautiful skin, stained. The sheets, stained. Blood. I did this to her. To perfection. I took an axe to the Mona Lisa.

"N-No please. Adriana I didn't... I promise I didn't do this. I wouldn't ever hurt you. Please... I didn't mean to do this. Let me fix it." I reached out and gentle laid my fingers on her elbow. She flinched and my wolf let a whimper slip out of him. She didn't pull away after she flinched and I took that as I sign to continue. As lightly as possible, I grasped her arm and helped her up. I would've just carried her, but I know she wouldn't be happy with that.

I slowly walked her into the bathroom. I put her down sideways on the toilet seat, her back facing me. I wet a cool rag, until I realized her shirt was in the way. I gently reached for it and pooled the torn fabric at the tops of her shoulders. Tears sprung to my eyes. This damage. Even to a wolf would be awful. Take at least a week to heal fully. My sweet Adriana isn't blessed with the gifts a wolf offers. She'll be hurt for a long, long time.

My wolf whimpered and took control of my body, he reached his hand out and stroked it down the side of ribcage, careful to avoid the gashes. He used the rag to clean the wounds and wash away the blood, whines leaving his chest when she'd cry or flinch. He rushed into the room and emerged in the first shirt we could find. He quickly gave it to her. I had enough control to keep him from changing her himself. I made sure he turned around to give her privacy when she pulled on the clean shirt. My wolf rushed forward and swept her back to the bed. Carefully laid her down and snuggled in next to her. He whimpered one more time as she flinched. He placed his nose on his mark and sighed in content. She smelled like him.

No one would take her away.

I'm not dead. You may or may not be happy to hear that but... It's true. Sorry it's taking me forever to publish. It's just a busy life. Thank you soooooo much for putting up with me and continuing to read this book. Means a lot to me.