Save Me, Alpha

Chapter 4: Ugliness and Hurt

Two weeks. I still consider myself trapped. I'm still wary of Bryce, still unable to trust him. Even with my cold behavior, he still continues to try to make me feel comfortable. All I really want is to come home to my family. I cry myself to sleep every night, missing them. Bryce always asks me what's wrong, but I just say 'nothing'.
Tonight, though, I can't hide that something is wrong. I wake up in a cold sweat, screaming and tears streaming down my face. I grab at the quilt on the bed, trying to erase the images of knives and blood. I hear feet padding on the floor and the door bursts open, and Bryce hurried to me, wrapping me in his arms. "Sh, sh, it's okay, it's was just a dream, you're okay," he sooths. I clutch on to his T-shirt, soaking it with my tears, "but it was real, Bryce, all of it was real." "I know, baby, but it's over. None of them are going to hurt you," he tells me. "Every night, I see it when I close my eyes. The knives, the blood, the ropes, the torture. It never leaves me, Bryce. It haunts me all the time, nothing can make me forget it, and that's what's hurting me. They may not hurt me physically, but they do hurt me mentally," I tell him. He's quiet, saying nothing. "And because of them, I'll have reminders of it everyday when I look into the mirror, when I take a shower, when I change my clothes. Looking at myself causes me to remember," I finish, my voice breaking at the end. "You're beautiful, Kylie," he tells me. I shake my head, "no I'm not, Bryce. Don't lie. These scars, they've ruined me. I'll never be the same." He pulls away and looks at me in the eyes, "you'll be beautiful no matter what." I look away, "please go." "Kylie-" "Bryce, leave me alone," I state. He waits for a little, but then stands and walks out, shutting the door behind him gently.
I lie back down and bury my face into the pillow, crying. I need to go home, I need to show my family that I'm okay. I need to leave tomorrow.
******
Bryce's POV
My wolf calls out to her, he wants to hold her, to be close to her, to comfort her. But she keeps pushing us away. I want all of those things just as much as my wolf.
She thinks her scars make her ugly, but they don't. They make her beautiful, they show her strength. I can hear her from next door. I hear her crying every night, even though she thinks I can't. I want to go to her and comfort her, but I can't. It'll just make her push me away more.
All I know is that she isn't happy. She wants one thing, and I think I know what it is. I think she wants to go home. In fact I know that's what she wants. I'm going to take her tomorrow, back to her house. If she stays, so be it. I can't force her to be with me. Sure, it'll kill me and my wolf to be away from her, but if it makes her happy, then that's what needs to be done.
I walk back into her room and she sits up, "I thought I told you to-" "I'm taking you home tomorrow," I interrupt. She stands up and walks over to me, "you're what?" "I'm-taking you home tomorrow," I repeat, it hurting more the second time. A grin breaks out on her face and she surprised me when she wraps her arms around me. I hug her back, and my wolf purrs at the closeness of us. Her skin sets mine on fire when it touches, and I know she felt it too because she gasped a little and steps away from me. "Uh, thank you, Bryce. You don't know how much this means to me," she thanks me. 'I do know, and I don't want to let you go, but I know it'll make you happy if I do.' I want to tell her, but instead I say, "you're welcome." She smiles brightly, "no, I mean it, it means so much to me, you have no idea how much I've missed them." I smile a little, "well, you won't have to miss them anymore. Good night."
I turn to walk out. "Bryce," she stops me. I turn back around, "yeah?" She looks down, "I-I just want to thank you. For everything." I shake my head, "no need to thank me. You're worth it." With that I walk out before I decide to stay.

Kylie's POV
'You're worth it'? What's that supposed to mean? I push the thought away and te grin returns to my face. He's taking me home. I'll get to see my parents again.
I lie back down and close my eyes, then fall into a restless sleep.
******
I wake up feeling happier than normal. I'm going home today. I get out of bed and walk into the bathroom. I lift my shirt up and look at the pink scars left behind. The stitches came out after a week, and then now I have these scars left. I drop my shirt and then look at my face. A scar ran from the top left of my face to the top of my lip. I was hideous. Who could love someone that looks like this? There's a knock on the door and I turn around quickly. Bryce smiles softly at me, "hey, I'm ready when you are." I nod, "I'm almost ready. I'll meet you downstairs." He smiles and gives me a curt nod before leaving.
I brush my teeth and hair, then walk downstairs. I walk over to Bryce, feeling uncomfortable with all of the people looking at me. The beta walks towards me and I back behind Bryce. I feel the same vibration and hear the same rumble as all ways. "Stay away from her. Touch her, or look at her, or go near her again, and you'll be sorry," he snaps. "Sorry, Alpha," he apologizes and walks away.
A little girl runs up and wraps her small arms around Bryce's legs. "Bwyce, tell Ryan to stop chasing me!" She cries. He leans down and picks her up, right when a little boy runs in, probably about ten years old. "Ryan, are you chasing Kenzie around?" Bryce asks the boy. The boy, Ryan, looks down, "yeah." "Apologize," he states, setting the girl down. "Sorry, Kenzie," Ryan apologizes. She grins, showing her missing two front teeth, "it's okay." I chuckle and she looks at me. She walks over, "who awe you?" I smile a little, "I'm Kylie." She grins at me and lifts her arms up. I pick her up and place her on my hip. She runs her finger down the scar on my face gently, "how'd it happen? Did someone do it?" I nod. She frowns, "dat pewson is mean. You awe still pwetty though." I smile, "not as pretty as you." She shakes her head, "your, wight, you awe pwettiew." I smile brighter and put her down, "thank you, Kenzie." "Awe you going to mawwy my bwothew?" She asks. I feel my cheeks get hot, "uh, no?" It came out more like a question. "But he likes you! You have to get mawwied!" She exclaims. "alright, Kenzie, go play with your dolls," Bryce intervenes. I chuckle as she runs off giggling. "Come on, Kylie," Bryce say, and I follow him outside.
We get in his car and he drives. The drive is quiet until he says, "you don't have to go back to your family." "What?" I question. "You can stay back at the house," he adds. "You don't have to go back to yours." I shake my head, "I need to go home." He nods, "yeah, okay. I understand." "You can come visit, though," I tell him. He glances at me quickly before turning his attention back to the road, "really?" "Sure," I reply. "Are you sure you want to go home?" He asks again. "Are you going to miss me waking you up in the middle of the night screaming?" I ask sarcastically. "Yes," he answers. "You're joking. Right?" I question. "It's the only time I can hug you, it's the only time I can hold you and comfort you," he tells me, making my cheeks flush pink.
"Well, sorry- that house there!" I point at my house and he pulls in the driveway. "You can come in if you want," I tell him. "No, I think it's best if I-" "please, I need you to come with me. I'm scared," I interrupt. He nods and turns the car off, then gets out with me.
We walk to the front door and I hesitate in front of it. I feel fingers intertwine with mind, and feelings of electricity shoot up my arm. I look down and see Bryce's hand in mine. For some reason, that gave me the courage to knock.
We wait and there's no answer. "Maybe no one's-" before he could finish, I hear the door unlock and then it opens. "Mom," I choke. She looks at me horrified, "what happened to you? You were so beautiful." I feel Bryce's hand tighten around mine. "I'm okay, though, I came back," I tell her. I step forward to hug her, but she steps back and I look at her hurt and confused. "Mom, what's wrong?" I ask. "Don't call me that," she snaps. "You'r not allowed here, now, leave before I call the cops." "Mom-" "I said get off my lawn now!" She yells. I feel tears slip down my cheek, "o-okay. I'm sorry to bother you." Bryce tugs at my hand, and I walk back to the car with him.
We drive for a while, but I can't help it anymore. I break down, shaking with sobs. "Crap," I hear Bryce say under his breath. The car comes to a stop and I hear him get out. Then, the door opens and he wraps his arms around me. I react immediately, holding on to him. "What did I do w-wrong?" I ask. "Nothing, love, you did nothing wrong. She is a sick woman who doesn't care about anyone, forget her," he answers. "I'm a freak, Bryce. I'm ugly, did you see the way she looked at me? She was horrified by me, Bryce," I sob. "Sh, calm down, Kylie. You're not ugly, you're beautiful. You're not a freak, and so what if she was? It's one person. Everyone loves you, Kylie. Think about Kenzie, how much she likes you. She told you that you were pretty, and she never tells people that. Not even our own mother," he states. "Who could like a girl that looks like me?" I ask. "Me," he answers.