Don't Leave Me

Chapter 21

I woke up and let out a tired sigh. I sat up when I realized that I was in a bed...my bed...the one in the pack house. Beside me, the covers looked slept in which was weird but I shrugged it off. My body aches as I slip out of bed and stumble across the room into the bathroom. I ignore the mirror and turn on the shower. After everything that I've learned about mates, I'm surprised that I'm not feeling worse. The soreness in my muscles is expected after a big fight...but I feel like there should be more emotional pain. I quickly shower, trying the wash away the bad memories. Then I dry and put on a shirt and a pair of shorts from the closet. I glance in the mirror and shake my head. I look horrible. I had dark circles under my eyes and my skin was paler than usual. That's expected. I leave my hair on my shoulders and feel the shirt begin to dampen as I leave the bathroom. I quietly leave my room and make my way down the main staircase as my stomach growls. I feel like I haven't eaten in days. 

I'm almost down the stairs when the front door begins to open. I freeze and my mouth drops open, my heart stopping. Cade walks through the door and my knees begin to buckle. He glances up and when his eyes land on me, he freezes.

"Cade?" My voice cracks and I grip onto the banister for support.

I couldn't believe it. 

He rushed up the stairs and caught me in his arms. I gripped him tightly. I squeezed my eyes closed as tears spilled down my cheeks. Relief exploded inside me as I felt him in my arms.

"Is it really you?" my voice is so quiet.

"Yes Aiya, it's me." He says and his voice shatters the headache that had been pounding at my temples.

I pull away from him and look his face over. "I...I saw you die."

"I can explain that." Apa's voice echoed in the entryway and I leaned over to see him shutting the front door behind him.

"Come on," Cade pulls me down the stairs. "Let's get you something to eat and we will tell you what happened."

I nodded as he guided me towards the kitchen. I gripped Cade's hand tightly in mine. I was so afraid that if I let go, this would all be a dream and he'd be gone forever. He pulled me into the kitchen and made me sit at the counter. He began to pull away but I squeezed his hand. He looked back at me and saw the fear in my eyes. He kissed my forehead and cupped my cheek with his free hand.

"I'm not going anywhere baby." He whispers in my ear. "I'm going to fix you something to eat."

I reluctantly let go of his hand as he pulled away. He walked around the counter to the fridge and began pulling stuff out. I watched him like a hawk. Apa sat next to me and put a hand on my shoulder, causing me to jump. I looked at him and he smiled slightly.

"Do you remember Stephan?" He asks taking my right hand in both of his. 

I nod. "He is one of the angels that came with you." 

He smirked slightly. "And you understand that angels have abilities...all different kinds?"

"Sure." I shrug remembering Elder Knight telling me about them after my wings came out for the first time.

"Well, Stephan is unique in the fact that his ability allows him to assume the identity of anyone he chooses."

"We had a meeting...without you...the night before we met with Claremont." Cade says and I look at him.

"Why?"

"I knew about Stephan's ability and I knew that Huxley would try something." Apa says frowning. "I'm sorry...but we made a plan to protect Cade."

"Without telling me?" I ask pulling my hand from Apa's grip.

"We needed your reaction to be real." Apa says looking guilty. "We knew that if Huxley believed to have gotten the upper hand then, and only then you would be able to defeat him."