Secrets and Lies

Chapter 23

Hello Readers,

Thanks for being patient. Here is chapter 23 like I promised. 

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Josh's POV

My heart leaped from my chest at the sight of my mate making her way toward me. Her dress was no longer white and torn in many places, her hair was completely disheveled, and her face was covered in sweat and dirt.

I shifted so that I could I hold her in my arms, to feel her warmth and know that she was safe.

I scooped her up into my arms where I never wanted to let her go again.

She pulled away to look at me and I placed my hands on her face, moving her hair to get a better look at her.

"Josh," she whispered and I could hear the subtle disbelief in her voice.

"It's me," I confirmed.

I placed my lips to hers, needing to feel the connection.

When we broke apart, Mina buried her face deeper into my chest and I wrapped my arms more tightly around her. In that moment she let out a sharp painful scream.

I quickly let go thinking I had hurt her, but quickly found the source of her pain. Blood poured down her arm out of wound that looked like scratch marks.

She took one look at her arm and then collapsed in my arms.

"Mina," I shouted as fear shot through my core. She remained motionless, but the sound of her heart beat kept me from thinking the worst.

I quickly and carefully picked her up, knowing she needed help fast.

"The car, hurry," Mina's mom said, alerting me to her presence. I had kind of forgotten she was here.

I took her advice and placed Mina carefully in the backseat.

"I'll sit with her, you drive," she said climbing in the backseat.

I nodded and jumped in the driver's seat. Thankfully, Zander wasn't the brightest bulb in the box because he left the keys in the ignition.

I turned the keys, starting the car and quickly sped away from the cabin and to the hospital.

Hang in there, Mina, I pleaded.

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I refused to leave Mina's side. Not when the doctor took her from me to stop the bleeding in her shoulder, not during any of the exams, and not when her father suggested I go back to the house to get some sleep.

I remained by her side, determined to be there when she woke up. Also, I couldn't live with myself if I left and something else happened to her.

I gently took a hold of her left hand, the one that wasn't injured, kissing the back of it. The cut to her right shoulder was deep and she lost a lot of blood because of it which is what caused her to pass out. The doctor said she might have some permanent scarring.

"Come back to me, Mina," I whispered softly, keeping her hand tightly in mine.

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Mina's POV

Darkness over took my senses and it was all I knew until I heard a continuous beeping. It sounded rhythmic but I couldn't figure out what it was.

Slowly, more of my senses returned. My fingers twitched slightly and my nose was filled with a strong sterilizing scent.

I slowly opened my eyes, blinking a few times to adjust to the light. I found myself in an unfamiliar room. Everything was white, from the walls to the comforter that covered me. I then took notice of the heart rate monitor and realized that was the beeping I heard.