Broken Chains

Part 14

Chapter 14

I groaned as I slowly woke rain spattering down on my face. I rubbed a hand across my eyes and realised that a large Jacket had been draped over me I reached out and lifted it to my nose slowly inhaling and my heart fluttered as Derek's scent exploded in my nose. Suppressing my tears I gripped the jacket and pushed myself up to my feet. My legs wobbled threateningly beneath me I quickly took stock my neck was throbbing and bleeding painfully but it wouldn't kill me. I had scrapes on my cheek and hands most likely from the wall and pain in my hips seemed to indicate that I would have some lovely bruises there possibly from my fall, and I had clearly twisted my ankle when I fell. I rubbed my forehead and my fingers came away sticky with scarlet blood. I gripped Derek's jacket in both my arms and held it to my nose. I walked rapidly out of the alleyway and scampered across the road furiously brushing tears out of my eyes. I didn't know if Carl would be back yet but I wasn't going to linger if there was a chance I could get back and hide in the bathroom. He would of course know what had happened eventually but I just needed a moment to gather myself. Thankfully the tiny hotels lobby was deserted as I was soaking wet and clearly more than a little dishevelled and I just wanted to get back to my room. I ran up the stairs ignoring the pain in my ankle though I was thankful that we were only on the second floor. An elderly lady gave me a clearly disapproving look as I passed her in the corridor I don't know what she thought I was up to outside but she clearly didn't approve, and I wasn't in the mood to let it go so I just snarled and growled loudly at her . Her eyes widened but of course she didn't say anything. I pulled my key out and opened the door of our room, as soon as the door opened the first whiff of air told me Carl wasn't there. I sighed and hurried across the room knowing it would be close. I brought Derek's wet Jacket to my nose inhaling one more time and placed it down tenderly on my bed. Before I grabbed Carls little first aid kit and scurried into the bathroom. I quickly peeled of my wet and blood soaked clothes and dropped them to the floor turning the shower on I jumped in keeping the water scalding hot. I just didn't care as all I wanted to do was let the tears flow as weak as it was I just wanted to cry, and so I did I stood under the water and allowed the tears to come my shoulders shaking with emotion until I just cried myself out which didn't take long. soon I was able to stop and get control of myself, and I just decided to return to being practical I scrubbed vigorously at my skin scouring dirt and grime out of all those multiple wounds, wincing as I felt multiple wounds I hadn't even realised that I had. The water turning pink as it washed down the plughole.

"Jess." Carl called as I jumped out of the shower wrapping a large white towel around me.

"Yeah." I said brightly I jumped as Carl banged hard on the bathroom door.

"What the hell happened?" he said sharply clearly his nose suddenly locking on to the lingering scent of blood in the room.

"I'm fine Carl." I said calmly as I took out alcohol wipes and began cleaning at my scraped hands. "I'll be out in a second" I said looking in the mirror so I could clean the blood flowing down my cheek out of the deep graze.

"Jess." He called his voice crackling with emotion clearly he had just found Derek's jacket "Look I'm coming in." he called,

"No." I squeaked but he had already strode in, I cursed myself for not locking the door but it was habit back in the den we didn't lock doors mainly because if you were trying to avoid another wolf a silly thing like a lock wasn't going to stop them. To be honest though even if I had locked the door here Carl would have broken it anyway. "What do you want?" I asked squirming around trying to pull my towel tighter around me. A stupid reaction as it would have instantly made Carl more suspicious as nudity was not something that embarrassed us and anyway the wounds I should have been hiding was completely exposed on my neck. Carl reached out silently and just placed a hand on my shoulder gently he encouraged me to turn and face him, which I yielded to I didn't have a choice. He pulled his hand out of his pocket with a small white tub I instantly recognised from home, Kate made it for us. I bit my lip as I felt tears stinging behind my eyes. It was a cream that Kate made to soothe our allergic reactions to silver. I remembered hours and hours I had spent gently massaging this cream into the scars Derek had on his neck and chest from a silver chain, watching the vivid red marks easing and healing under my fingertips as the soothing balm made Derek purr in contentment. Carl sighed and took a step closer he leaned over and ran his fingers gently along my skin brushing the hair back off my neck. I heard him intake a sharp breath as he saw the vivid red burn mark around my neck he put the tub down and reached out rubbing his fingertips gently along the marks, as I bit my lip trying not to wince.