Survivor

Recovery

After several weeks of healing and recovering, Harper had made good progress as she could now walk around without the help of Riley and had gained a stable weight. Her bruises and gashes were now faded, her gashes leaving behind white scars, and her cheeks were now fuller while her lips returned to their natural, pink color.

Harper now paced back and forth as she waited for anyone to return to her room. She had come to appreciate the company of Riley and a few other nurses, but there was one presence she truly missed.

Gabriel hadn't returned to her room since she pulled out her IV and she wondered if she had driven the Alpha away. She had also noticed how Riley began to mumbled insults about the Alpha during the morning, wondering if he angered her in some way.

Harper's head snapped to the door as it open and she smiled as Riley came into view. "You're up early." Riley smiled as she shut the door behind her. Harper moved towards her bed as Riley began her normal examinations on Harper, making sure everything was going smoothly.

"Well, everything looks good. Just try to get more rest and continue to eat." Riley instructed as she turned to Harper, who nodded at the instructions.

Harper quickly moved for her notepad and thrust it out towards Riley. "More questions, alright, let's see." She took the notepad and sighed at the very first question.

When Can I Leave?

It made Riley think of Gabriel as she read the question, the cowardly oaf was avoiding talking to Harper about staying since Riley first brought the idea up.

"I'm not sure, Harper, but soon. We just want to make sure everything is okay." She smiled, noting that she would need to have a long chat with her Alpha. Harper gave her a curt nod as Riley looked down at the next question.

Did I Do Something Wrong?

Riley had to guess that she was talking about Gabriel's missing presence as he no longer checked in on the woman, but asked Riley to report Harper's progress to him daily.

"You did nothing wrong, Harper. He's just busy." Riley said, trying to convince Harper. However, she was sure it didn't work when the woman crossed her arms over her chest and pursed her lips. "He's an Alpha, Harper. It's a busy task." Riley knew that she wouldn't be able to convince Harper that Gabriel was just busy, but she wanted to make sure the woman didn't begin to blame herself for her mate's avoidance.

"I'll come back later, okay." Riley's eyes lingered on the woman's saddened expression before she left the room with a mission to drag the Alpha's ass down to the clinic to speak with his mate.

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"Gabriel!!!"

His head perked up as Riley busted into the room, her eyes in a darkened state.

"Alpha...I tried to...she just..."

Gabriel's gaze flickered to the fearful expression on his usually calm and collected Beta and chuckled lightly. He waved the Beta away and then came face-to-face with the angry brunette, that glared at him as she pointed a painted nail at his chest.

"You need to talk with Harper!" She growled harshly as the man before her crossed his arms over his chest. "I won't let you allow her to walk out of your life."

 The Alpha stared down at the petite nurse. "That's not your choice." He said calmly.

"You don't understand, do you? You don't understand just how miserable your life will be when you just watch her walk away. It will tear you apart." Riley choked out and watched as her friend's piercing eyes softened.

"You have a chance to have something great and you want to let her walk away without seeing for yourselves just what you two have," Riley said and then felt as he pulled her close, allowing her to press her forehead against his chest.

She wrapped her arms around his waist as they stood there in silence.

"I miss Michael." She murmured and Gabriel hummed in agreement as they hugged, one mourning a brother while the other mourned a lover.

Riley pulled away from him and looked up into the familiar, brown eyes of her Alpha and friend. "Please, speak to your mate." Her plea was met with silence until he gave her a curt nod.

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Harper stood with her back to the door, her eyes peering at the outside world through the window as her nimble finger separated the blinds. It was already dark out, but the Moon was shining its beautiful, silver rays across the landscape outside and through her room. She removed her fingers from the blinds and moved deeper into the room, her fingers moving towards the drawstrings of the sweatpants Riley brought her. They were too big for her, but she enjoyed the baggy comfort it provided. She worked on tightening the strings to keep them from slipping past her waist when the door to the room opened.

Gabriel flicked the light switch beside the door and then turned towards Harper, who crossed her arm over her chest. She watched as Gabriel visibly swallowed as his eyes raked over her. She looked down at herself and let out a small squeak as she realized that she wasn't wearing a bra. She quickly readjusted her arms to hide away her chest and shifted awkwardly on her feet.

Neither one of them spoke as they stood some distance apart and let the silence consume them.

Then one of them stepped forwards and shattered it to pieces.

"I'm sorry."