Survivor

13. Us and Cocoa Mugs

By the time Aedyn and I pulled up to the pack house, it was pitch black out. I was a nervous wreck the entire car ride, worried that more of Luke's warriors were going to jump out any minute. 

I ran inside as soon as the car stopped, with Aedyn close behind me, promising to get the bags in the morning. The soft click of the door locking behind us helped wake me out of my daze a little. 

"Come on, babe." I took Aedyn's hand as he led me up the stairs to my room, and then over to the bathroom. "Jump." I was too tired and stress to question, so I did what he said and he placed me gently on the counter top. 

Pulling stuff out of the cabinet, he  bent down and rolled my pant leg up to my calf.

"What are you doing?" He looked up at me.

"Cleaning you up. The last thing you need is an infection or something. This might hurt a little." He poured something over my ankle that burnt like crazy, but I didn't even flinch. I've had worse. 

Once it was dry, he took a white bandage and wrapped my ankle so all the cuts were covered, and rolled my pant leg back down.

"All set." I looked up at him.

"Just another bandage for my collection." I smiled, trying to make a joke, but he didn't seem to find it funny.

"Trust me. There will be no more bandages in the future." He seemed like he wanted to say something else, but changed his mind. "Are you going to be all right for the night?"

I nodded my head. "Yeah, I'm just going to crash, I think." 

"Okay, call me if you need anything." He pointed to the mysterious door off to the side. "That door connects our room. Please don't hesitate to come get me." I nodded, and he kissed my forehand before walking out. 

I got changed into a baggy shirt and sweatpants, knowing full well I wasn't going to be able to sleep tonight, no matter what I said to Aedyn. 

I got under the covers and closed my eyes, only to see blood red eyes and images of Luke. I could almost hear his voice, yelling at me and telling me that I was worthless. 

After an hour or so of tossing and turning, I sat up and listened for any noises from downstairs. Only met with silence, I quietly opened my bedroom door and walked down the stairs, trying not to wake anyone up. 

Once I entered the kitchen, I made myself a cup of hot chocolate and sat on a kitchen bar stool at the island, just enjoying the silence. 

I had two options at this point. Luke had already found me, and it was only a matter of time before he sent more warriors. I could either run again, or tell Aedyn and see what he wanted to do. I couldn't just ignore it and put the people here at risk. What if Ian or Kat had gotten hurt today? Or Aedyn got more than a scratch? 

I remembered the panic I felt when I smelt his blood. I was scared to death and I never want to feel that way again. 

I was so caught up in my own thoughts that I didn't hear someone walk down the steps.

"What are you doing down here?" I turned and was met with a shirtless Aedyn, with his hair a bedridden mess and in a pair of red flannel pajama pants. 

I shrugged, taking another sip of hot chocolate, listening as he pulled up a chair and sat beside me. 

"You should be resting. You need to be healing." I still didn't answer him, instead just listening to the silence of the night outside. 

He sighed and reached for the hot water and cocoa packets, making himself a cup of hot chocolate. 

"The real stuff is way better, just so you know. Not this packets stuff." He took a big slurp before sighing again. 

I saw him looking at me from the corner of my eye. 

"I'm Alpha Luke's missing daughter." He blinked hard. "Well, legally I guess. I'm not really his biological daughter." 

We both took a sip of hot chocolate, letting my statement sink into the air. 

"Okay." Now it was my turn to blink at him. 

"Okay?" He nodded.

"Okay." We fell back into comfortable silence for a little while, listening to the wind outside.

"Why did you leave?" I swirled my drink in the mug, watching the last little bit of brown liquid swirl.

"He tried to kill me. With a silver knife." I didn't look in his direction, not wanting to see his reaction. 

"That's not the first time he hurt you though. Is it?" I shook my head, a silent agreement falling between us. I wasn't planning on telling him now, but it all just came spilling out. 

He silently filled my cup back up. 

"Why didn't you want to tell me?" I swallowed hard.

"I don't know... I guess I thought you wouldn't want someone broken." I laughed dryly. "I guess I still don't think so." 

"Bobbi, I've known the whole time." My head snapped toward him.

"What?" He what now? 

"I mean obviously I didn't know you were Alpha Luke's daughter, but I knew someone had been hurting you from the moment Kat told me about the bruises." He smiled at me. "I knew you where listening outside that door too."

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"I wanted you to feel comfortable enough to tell me on your own, if you wanted." He shrugged. "I didn't want to push you."

"But- But.... You kissed me, though." He leaned forward.

"Love, it doesn't change the way I feel about you. You are my mate, okay? And you are strong for surviving that, and I'm proud of you for being a warrior. So yeah, I kissed you. Because you are beautiful and deserved to be loved." 

My wolf was howling in the back of my head. He didn't care. He wanted me anyway. I felt all warm and fuzzy on the inside, and I couldn't help from smiling. 

He lifted my head and met my eyes. He was smiling too. Laughing almost. 

"You understand now right?" I nodded, and then I gave into the howling in my head. 

I kissed him. Letting go of the mug for the first time to put my fingers in his hair. His hands met my waist, and I loved the way his hands felt. He tilted my head back, biting my lip and I opened my mouth for him. He made me feel important for the first time in my life, and it took my breath away. 

We pulled away panting, and his blue eye sparkled like I've never seen them before. 

"Did I tell you I really like the hair cut?" I laughed.

"Kat told me to get it." He smoothed out some of the curls that had gotten messed up from our make out session. 

"I think it suits you." He tucked my hair behind my ear and traced the bottom of my jaw line.

"Just so you know..." I bit my lip, nervous. "It was Luke's warriors who attacked us today. I-" I swallowed hard. "I think he found me." 

Aedyn pulled my lip down with his thumb just like before. "I'll take care of it, I promise. Okay?" He pressed out foreheads together. 

"Okay."

 I savored this moment, just the two of us, at three o'clock in the morning, just us and cocoa mugs. 

Because he still doesn't know the whole truth yet.