Help Me

Chapter 45: I Love You

Riley's POV

The doctor lead Ashton and I down various halls until we stopped at a door. The doctor opened the door and we entered.

Cole was sitting up. He was looking around clueless. When he spotted us, his relaxed slightly. "Guys! Where's the war? When did I get here- Riley, you're back!"

I smiled and waved. Ashton brought me closer to Cole. "How are you feeling?"

Cole touched the spot where Ben's heart laid. "I feel like someone had ripped my heart out and shoved another one in its place. No laughing. I'm serious."

My smile became forced. "Cole, your heart was failing and you needed a heart transplant."

Cole's eyes widened. "What?"

"You were dying, Cole." I said flatly.

He leaned back against the backboard and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I... I don't remember that... It was an organ donor, right?"

"...Sure." A lump formed in my throat and I tried swallowing it down, with no success.

"You don't seem so sure..." Cole narrowed his eyes at me.

I forced a smile. "I am sure."

He didn't seem to believe me but he let it slide. "So, where's my baby sis?"

"In the waiting room, sleeping." I said. Cole looked disappointed but he nodded anyway.

We stayed in silence until the doctor came back in. "Cole needs his rest, do you both mind leaving?"

"Okay."

Ashton pulled me out of Cole's room. I waved goodbye at Cole and he nodded back at me.

We made our way out of the maze of hallways. Ashton hummed softly and I could finally relax. Everyone's safe and Cole's alive.

When we got to the waiting room, people were starting to stir from their sleepy states.

Lucy looked at us in confusion. "Where'd you go?"

"Cole." I said. "He was awake. But he is resting right now."

Lucy groaned in disappointment. "You've got to be kidding me!"

"Nope, not kidding." I said.

"You didn't tell him about, you know who, right?" Dennis asked.

I shook my head. "Maybe when he feels better. We can't just dump all this info on him in one go."

"He'll get angry with himself and lock himself in his room for the rest of the day. Or maybe weeks." Justin said. "What if we don't tell him?"

"Idiot," Lucy snapped. "Of course he will find out. He will be all like, 'Hey, where's Ben? Have you seen Ben?'" She mimicked her brother with an overly deep voice. "That wouldn't work, I'm telling you. He'll get mad at us and would start yelling at me, saying that I'm his sister, in supposed to tell him stuff like that."

I sighed out loud. "How do we tell him? If he's going to ask about Ben, what do we say? He quit being a gang member? He went on a vacation? He suddenly got married and moved in?" I gently rubbed my temple. "I don't think we should lie. If none of you are going to do it, I will."

"No," Spencer cut in. "I will. Ben appointed me as the new leader. I should be the one to tell him. At the same time, explain everything that's gonna happen."

When no one objected, Spencer clapped his hands together. "I don't know about you, but I am tired. I will see you people in the morning."

Then I noticed the time. It was 11:25 pm. "Yeah, we should get some sleep." Jared mumbled. Then he took hold of my cousin's hand. "Come on, Bridget, let's get to bed."

She obediently followed him. But before she went out the waiting room, she spun on her heel, yanked her hand out of Jared's grasp, and ran to me, tackling me in a tight hug.

I gasped in surprise as Bridget squeezed me lightly with her thin arms. "I'm so glad you came for me, Riley. So glad. I know what Dave's been doing to you for many years. I admire that about you. This is the first time I'd talked to you so I don't know what you're like. From what I'd heard from Jared, you're just like me. It's a privilege to know you Riley, you saved me from certain death."

I relaxed my body and snaked my arms under hers, hugging her back. "It's good to know another blood related family member of mine." I said into her ear.

She pulled away, "Goodnight everyone." She waved and disappeared with Jared.

"Well," Jaimie said standing. "I'm going to sleep. Nighty night my pretties."

Once Jaimie left, Justin stood up. He pointed to the spot where Jaimie was standing, "He is not okay. I'll go talk to him. Goodnight and don't think too much on the pessimistic side."

"Goodnight guys," I said. "I'll see you in the morning."

Ashton wheeled me back to my hospital room. He closed the door behind him and carried me to the bed. He gently set me down and sat in the chair.

"Come sleep here." I moved aside to make space for him on the bed.

He shook his head. "I'm fine."

"That wasn't a question." I muttered. I reached for his hand and when I got a firm grasp on it, I pulled him to me. He reluctantly stood up and sat on the bed.

"Lie down," I commanded. I tugged gently on his shirt sleeve. He eased himself onto his back. His frame was ridged and stiff.

I snaked my arms around his waist and buried my face into his chest. I felt his muscles clench at my sudden contact. "Relax," I cooed. "I'm not going to break into a million pieces."

"I can't relax." He said. He turned his head to look at me. "I feel like the worst mate in the world. I don't deserve you."

I know he's talking about what had happened before war. It was written all over his face. He felt guilty for letting me follow Paul.

"Hey, listen. It was bound to happen. It's not like I could've escaped it all. Paul targeted me. I can't just ignore that and let him continue with the rouge attacks." I said. "This is after all, my pack."

He smiled softly and kissed me. I immediately responded. We kissed for a few moments before he trailed kisses along my jaw and down my throat.

He sucked and nipped at various places before he traced his tongue on the spot where my neck and shoulder met. He sucked on that spot before he bit it. I gasped as searing pain shot out. When he pulled away, he licked the wound so that it was clean.

I felt woozy. Sleep sounds very tempting at this moment. My eyelids began drooping.

Then I felt his muscular arms slide around my waist and he carefully tucked my head under his chin.

"Riley," he started, "I've even meaning to tell you this for a while now. But because of the current events, I didn't get a chance to."

I hummed softly and my fingers traced shapes on his back.

"I love you." He blurted. What did he say?

"You might not have the same feelings towards me, but I do love you. I am really hoping you will one day return my feelings." He muttered. "I don't think you heard what I'd just said. Girls are always sleepy after they are marked, anyway. You'll probably be very cranky when you wake up. Happened to every girl I know. One day happily skipping with their mate, once they are marked, they yell at them like their life depends on it."

I mumbled something incoherently and nuzzle my face into the crook of his neck. I sighed contently, feeling like there was a stronger bond between Ashton and I.

~

QOTD: Do you like camping?

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