Silenced

XXVI| Stay Here

I slowly woke up with a groan. A dull ache in the back of my head like I was hit with a pole... It happened before so I wouldn't be surprised if it happened again...

I went to sit up, but a gentle hand pressed on my chest.

Lazily, I looked to see Mr. David. He would be the only person who'd dare stop me from something as mundane as sitting up.

He looked concerned, more than usual actually.

"Are... Are you okay, Harley?"

I winced at that damn name... A name that held so much hate and filth on it...

I hated that name.

"Don't call me that, Hot-Stuff." I weakly growled, laying down again.

I looked around as we fell into our usual silence. I noticed I wasn't back in the hospital wing of the house... I was somewhere else... Somewhere more fancier? It seemed to be an area for the wife or something...

"Who's room I'm in?" I whispered, turning my head to him.

He looked away before looking me in the eyes.

"Why were you covered in deer's blood?" He quickly changed topics.

I winced at that... At the question and the fact I was covered in blood.

I didn't have an answer to that... I don't really know what happens when I black out in rage... It just... Happens...

"I... I don't know..." I looked down at the soft blankets... I couldn't look him in the eyes... Not when I couldn't answer that question myself... "I... I don't know what happens when I black out... Everything becomes..." I tried to look for the word that I wanted, but none of them felt right... "Faded? Blurry? I don't know..." I started to pick at blanket, an old habit that I use to do when I was nervous and scared. I guess I still hadn't kicked it...

The silence was killing us as we waited... I don't know what we waited for, but we waited for it.

"Why did you black out?" His question was soft, almost as if he wanted to let me know that I didn't have to be afraid of him.

"Anger." I whispered, my voice fading. "I get so angry... That I can't calm down... Anything that made me angry in the past would come back... It... It kind of hurts..." I tugged at the blanket on impulse, causing a light rip. "All I know is... Is when I black out, I hurt people... So, I..."

I couldn't finish that thought... Those words...

"You learned the forest so you wouldn't hurt people... And when you'd wake up, you wouldn't be lost..." Ashton finished, an almost understanding tone in his voice.

I nodded at that, but hated how he thought he understood me... He wouldn't... No one really understands my pain, my trauma or my past... Not even my pack completely understands it!

"Stay here." He suddenly whispered, causing me to look up at him.

We stared at each other for a long while, his eyes hazel and sad, mine bright blue and surprised.

"Wh-What?" My voice cracked at that.

He reached out and cupped my cheek, holding it softly... Almost caringly.

"Stay here, in the manor. I have plenty of teachers here, many of them having taught me." He tried, his other hand now cupping my other cheek. "You don't have to worry about the damn Principal or your father here... Trust me... Just..." He sighed at the end, his thumbs rubbing the skin under my eyes. "Just stay here."

I opened and closed my mouth like a fish. I held no answer.

"My pack..." I tried gently. "I can't leave them..."

Mr. David nodded, almost like he was coming to his senses and pulled away from me. I almost whined when he did... His touch was just so... caring and gentle...

"Right... They can stay too... They're part of your family, and they deserve to stay... And if I'm right, plenty of them need schooling too?"

I gave a loose chuckle at that, nodding.

"They all dropped high school, yet Ace is making me go still."

Ash laughed under his breath, nodding.

"I'll send Charlie and Oliver to get them... Or at the very least offer it to them as well."

I nodded at that, blinking my eyes slowly. I was tired... Usually am after a black out.

Cupping my cheek again, he gently used his thumb to close one of my eyelids, the other following suit.

"Go to sleep... You're safe here..."

I twisted my sore body to him, keeping my eyes closed as he removed his hand. I was going to take a chance and...

Believe his words.