verb ~ restore friendly relations between

Not long after our conversation, Phoenix had left to do some work. I had to practically force him from my room, telling him I would be fine for a few hours. Charlie eventually joined him, leaving me with Sean.

It was awkward at first, our relationship had become so strained. From Phoenix warning him away from me, then to him finding his mate, to me being kidnapped twice, and then my Luna duties... I feel like I've abandoned my friends.

"What are you thinking about?" He wondered, looking away from the tv on the wall.

"Huh? Me? Nothing, I'm fine." I shook my head to clear the daze.

He chuckled. "I know you, Nova. That is your deep in thought face, so whatever you are thinking about, you can speak to me about, okay?"

I exhaled deeply, knowing he was right. I used to confide in him a lot; told him my thoughts every single day.

"It's just been some crazy few months." I sighed.

He turned around in his chair, ditching the movie to look at me. He smiled sadly at me, moving forward to press his hand on my forearm. He hasn't changed much in a month, not like I expected him too. I guess being away with no concept of time, felt like a long time.

"You have been through a lot." He admitted.

"I miss hanging out with you. I wish you came on the trip as well, but I know you have Rose now. I guess we both just became so distracted with our own lives that we forgot to hang out." I faux laughed.

He shrugged. "You don't need to worry about that, Novie. People drift and things happen, its natural. You've been through so much with Steven and now this hybrid guy, on top of figuring out your heritage, and your relationship with Phoenix and the pack... It's a lot of work, being an Alpha wolf."

"That's true." I frowned, fiddling with a loose thread on my top blanket. "It's all happened so quickly. I've... I've never been so scared, Sean."

He frowned at my hushed voice. "Why?"

"I thought I was treated badly before, but this man... he took pleasure in harming me." I gritted my teeth. "I feel like I'm going to fall asleep and wake up back there, that this was all just another vision."

"I can assure you, it's not a vision." He mumbled, removing my hand from the sheets. "If you ever want to know if this is real, just ask me. I'll even use a codeword."

I laughed lighting, sniffing away the negativity. "Oh yeah, like what?"

He hummed, eyes shining with amusement. "How about... gingerbread?"

"Gingerbread?" I wondered, confused. "Where did that come from?"

He shrugged, picking up my fingers only to drop them one by one. "It's not a common word for every conversation, so if I see you slipping, I'll just tell you; gingerbread."

I laughed, shaking my head. "Okay, deal."

"Good." He grinned. "Oh, have you seen my sister yet?"

I felt my face drain of colour. "Not yet. I think Phoenix has been forcing her away."

He wrinkled his nose. "Your brother... was injured and Gaia brought him to the hospital whilst you were unconscious. He's fine, don't panic, just had to have some stitches to help his skin sew back together."

My eyes still widened. "Stitches? He's a wolf, he doesn't need stitches unless it's bad! Sean!"

He grunted as my voice grew in pitch. "He just needed a few organs sewing back inside!"

My face paled and I stared at him in horror. His face was stern, gauging my reaction. When a simmer of a smirk graced his lips, my face dropped into a scowl.

"You teaser! I almost had a heart attack!"

"Good job you're in a hospital." He jeered.

I scoffed, crossing my arms with a pout. He snickered, turning his gaze to the door as footsteps neared.

"He's fine, honestly. He's back in the pack house with my sister crooning over the baby, he just had a big gash in his side that he was struggling to heal. Some rogue sank his claws in deep."

I exhaled, accepting his truth. It dawned on me then, the fact Molly was also pregnant. Did she know I was too? I was so lost in my own thoughts that I didn't notice the door open until a familiar figure stepped inside. Phoenix entered, freshly dressed and his eyes immediately found me on the bed. Kate trailed behind him as he held the door for her, a broad grin on her face as she approached my bed.

"Nova! How are you feeling?" She asked, moving to my machines.

"I'm good. I feel normal." I smiled softly.

My eyes drifted to Phoenix as he stood at the foot of my bed. He observed Kate before casting his eyes down to me. He gave me a soft smile, his hand cupping my ankle with a sign of comfort.

"Nova, I just need to have a word with Sean about some things. Kate is going to do a quick check; will you be okay with that on your own?" He asked, concerned.

I swallowed, nodding gently. I felt no fear anymore, being around doctor's or in a hospital. I suppose, in the back of my mind I've learnt I am safe. There are more things out there to be scared of than a pregnant werewolf checking my pulse.

Phoenix's smile broadened to show off his teeth. My heart felt heavy in my chest at the beauty of it, forcing myself to hide the blush. I think I will forever be flushed whenever he showed me so much attention.

"Okay, my love. I won't be long."

Parting ways, we said our soft goodbyes, Sean giving me a slight wave as he followed his Alpha out of the room. Once the door shut behind them, I turned to Kate with interest. She was stood waiting patiently, notepad clutched to her chest.

"Hey again." She giggled. "Now, I'm just here to see how you are doing so we can discuss some things."

"Okay, what things?"

She laughed. "Let me go through some observations first, okay? I just need to take some blood, check your cell levels. They were pretty high last time I checked, your blood pressure was high too so I need to do that. If all seems well, we can take out your catheter and you can get to walking around. Maybe sleep in your own bed tonight."

I exhaled deeply. "That'll be nice."

"Okay, good, let's do this."

I patiently waited for Kate to do her checks, helping her with whatever she needed. I shied away from the needles and winced at the pressure cuff but once it was all done, she ran her finger along her notepad with pursed lips.

"All okay?"

"Everything seems okay, you say no aches or pains?"

I shook my head and she smiled, writing on her notepad. The door creaked and I turned to eye the clock to see Kate has been busy with me for an hour now, some of it spent in comfortable conversation. Phoenix walked in, cutting off our conversation but he made no move to talk, merely standing at the end of my bed again.

"Good. Alpha's blood work a treat then." She grinned. "Maybe, if you're up for it, we can do an ultrasound."

"Ultrasound?" I wondered.

"To see how far along you are! With you not having a period, it can help with estimating the due date."

My eyes widened, my mind flushing as I never even thought about that. "Oh, right, yeah."

"Still doesn't seem real, huh?" She mused.

I shook my head. "I admit I am a little confused to reality right now."

I saw Phoenix stiffen and I swallowed harshly.

"How so?" Kate pondered.

"I, uh, lack of sleep, food and water I guess..." I mumbled.

She shared a look with Phoenix before clearing her throat. "How about this. I take out your catheter, go run these tests and be back in a couple of hours with results."

"Now?" I froze, remembering the embarrassment of the last time I had one.

She nodded, moving to wash and glove her hands and ready the equipment.

"Want me to leave?" Phoenix wondered.

I blushed, "It's okay... Just... don't look."

He laughed loudly. "Nova, you are in a hospital. I have seen worse things than some pee in a bag."

I blushed deeper, looking back to my sheets with embarrassment. He chuckled, moving to stand beside me and take my hand.

"Once this is done, I want to talk. We have a lot of things to get out in the open, don't you think?" He murmured.

I nodded, licking my lips. His eyes followed the movement and he leaned down to kiss me gently. Kate placing things on the foot of my bed had me pulling away, clearing my throat. She eyed us with a raised eyebrow, rolling part of the sheets absentmindedly.

"Ready?"

I chewed my lip but nodded, allowing her the go ahead. I avoided their gazes through the whole procedure, the sensations making me shiver with disgust. Once finished, Kate organised her things once more before wrapping me back up and giving me a warm smile.

"All done, good job, Nova."

I drank in her compliment, finding comfort in her words. "Thanks."

"I'll be back in a few hours, okay? Don't try to walk until then unless absolutely necessary. Your blood pressure is still a little off and I don't want you collapsing." She explained, giving me a stern stare. "Someone will be in with lunch shortly."

"Okay." I breathed, eager to eat after missing breakfast.

Beaming, she turned and left the room. The only sound was the mumbling of the television and the whooshing of my breathing. Was I breathing too loud?

My nerves grew as Phoenix sighed, settling into the chair more comfortably. I looked up at him through my lashes to find him already staring at me, eyebrows furrowed slightly.

"W-what do you want to talk about?" I wondered.

"I want to know what happened, Nova, so I can help you."

"I'm fine." I shook my head.

He sighed, running his fingers through my hair. "I saw the way you slept. You kept waking up scared of the dark, your heart racing or you'd talk in your sleep."

"I did?" I frowned, not remembering any of that.

He nodded, stroking my cheek gently. "How did they get you? Was it Raven?"

I swallowed. "She was Master's sister..."

He growled, the sudden noise causing me to jump. "He made you call him that?"

I nodded. "He was very controlling... He treated me like a trophy, or like a child. I-I... I overheard him talking about I was the greatest prize to a bunch of other men. Sounded like it was a game."

He glared but I knew it wasn't intended for me, so continued.

"He wouldn't feed me or dress me properly. He claimed that those things were luxuries."

"Whilst you were pregnant?" He growled. "That fuc-"

"Hey," I breathed, pulling his hand to mine. "I'm okay."

"You aren't though. I can see the fear in your eyes, the haunting Nova. Repressing it could make it worse. What did he do to you that makes you so wary?"

I licked my lips nervously. "I tried to escape, I tried to be brave, Phoenix, but he was faster, stronger and always won. He'd punish me if I stepped out of line, and one night... he... he locked me in a dark cellar, and..."

"What did he do?" His jaw clenched, muscles twitching under his dark gaze.

I swallowed at the dangerous look in his eyes, the hazel turned completely black. His tanned skin made him look more dangerous, the dark stubble of his beard and long hair casted shadows along his features. I dropped my gaze, moving to fiddle with the blanket again.

"He stripped and chained me to a wall. He usually had his minions to do it, but not this time... I was always chained." I shook my head, teeth clenching as I tried to bite back the emotions. "He hosed me down. It was so cold, and hurt and I couldn't move. I was down there for days in the dark, stuck to the same spot on the wall."

Just when I thought he was going to storm out of the room, I looked up to him. His nostrils flared and he froze, his body stiff and on guard. His dark eyes trailed my face, contradicted with what to do. I blinked harshly as my eyes blurred, fresh tears pooling down my cheeks.

His mouth opened silently, unable to form words. Stiffly, he moved his hand to cautiously cup my jaw, moving like I would run away. The fire of his touch made light contact with my jaw and when he realised I wasn't going to move, he stood, both hands coming to rest on my face.

"I'm so sorry." He breathed.

"You don't need to be sorry." I whispered.

His eyes scanned my features, thumbs wiping the tears away. I saw the slight twitch of his lower lip, before his head dipped to stare down at the sheets. I raised my hand to cup his own cheek when his hands fell to my neck. I felt my pulse beneath his palms, a comforting reminder of our connection.

"It's not your fault, Phoenix."

His jaw twitched and when he looked back up to me, I saw the face of a broken man. Unshed tears lined his eyes, the whites becoming red with how hard he was trying to fight them. He whimpered lightly, leaning his cheek into my touch as he stared at me.

My breath trembled as I sighed. "There was nothing you could do. They used dark methods to get me, he had two witches to begin with."

"I'm meant to protect you." He whimpered, blinking a tear away. "I should've gone with you."

"And then what, end up like Charlie? Or Pollux? They had magic, Phoenix, it seems inevitable." I smiled sadly. "You can't protect me from everything."

"But I can." He shook his head stubbornly.

I wiped his tears away, heart warming at his show of emotion. He had never been so emotionally vulnerable. I knew it must mean a lot to him if he was being so upset, so heartbroken.

"It's okay. I'm here now, right? You have me now? ... Both of us." I added with an afterthought.

He breathed deeply, eyes dropping to trace my features. What I said seemed to work, his breathing calming as silent tears dripped down his chin.

"Can I sit with you?" He mumbled.

I giggled lightly, nodding. His eyes became focused with his task as he pulled back the covers. I shivered at the sudden contact with the open air, but ended up squealing as Phoenix pulled me forwards. My back ached with the movement but he held me gently.

He climbed in behind me, his legs wrapping around my hips, his chest pressed to my back. His arms came around my front to grab at the blankets as he wrapped me up again. I sighed contentedly as the warmth of his body met mine. I snuggled into him, inhaling his scent like it was the last source of air in the world.

He grumbled lightly, a soft approval as his head fell into my hair. He pulled us back until comfortable, hands staying wrapped around my middle. I held onto the backs of his hands, even when they drifted to rest on my lower stomach. I felt butterflies erupt at his touch, the mate bond reminded me just how connected we were.

"I got you." He mumbled.

"I know you do." I smiled, leaning sideways to kiss his lower jaw.

The saltiness of his tears remained on my lips, even when he went to rub his face into my shoulder to be rid of them. I felt my heart ache for him, the salty reminder that everyone is human, and everyone feels. It was just our job to try and understand them. But I was safe and we were together, like we were meant to be.

***

cute chapter?

Also hey, i dunno what is going on with wattpad weird things keep happening whenever i edit a chapter and people are getting confused.

I update Monday, Wednesday and Friday guys, if i was to update earlier, or had any issue,  I would tell you!

wc: 2728

Question of the Day:

Favourite.... flower? Or plant in general. Is that a weird thing to ask? Idk

Im stereotypical, I like roses.

But Ive just bought some cornflower seeds for my garden ready for spring, and i think theyre actually quite pretty looking haha