"We are afraid to care too much, for fear that the other person does not care at all."
— Eleanor Roosevelt

"Not you. Stay," he said with a blank face, no emotion nothing.

Our eyes found each other, his blue eyes stared straight through my soul. Which was kind of awkward, considering what he said to me earlier. A thousand words were felt inside of me, unspoken words drifting into my soul.  I felt my body heat up, begging me to give in to the mate bond.

"Mama." The moment was cut short by the little girl, she threw her hands around my leg and I kneeled down, picking her up. 

I slowly walked towards him, his eyes pitch black, I knew his wolf has taken over. I stopped in front of him, handing him the little girl and his eyes flashed from black to blue a few times, before they completely turned blue. 

As I handed the girl over to her dad, our hands brushed against each other, sending sparks through my entire body, causing me to retract my hand back as fast as possible. I crossed my arms in front of my chest as the little girl hugged him. 

Looking at the picture in front of me I saw something that he sure as hell hides in front of others.  Love.

"You're bleeding," he said.

"Yeah, they dragged and bit her, you should get her looked at. Their SUV is parked outside." I said, hoping that it will lead them to who did this.

"I'm talking about you," he said, and for a split second, I saw concern in his face, which disappeared as soon as it appeared. 

"Its nothing." I responded truthfully.

"Why are you not healing?" 

"Well, my wolf, she is still... recovering." I said, hanging my head in shame.

"Look at me when I am talking to you, Monica," he said, lifting my chin so I could face him. Again the sparks, darn. it.

"Sorry. Alpha, King."  I said. I know, harsh way to spoil the mood, but he still said I was not his mate. I cannot be hurt again. Not me or Ella.

"Come with me, I need to get Lily to the Royal Pack Doctor," he said walking away.

"Uh... I have to go home now, Alpha King... my parents, they won't allow me to go anywhere. I already had to sneak out, just to be here tonight." I said, which reminded me that I will be in for another round tonight. They are going to 'kill' me for sneaking out, again.

"Well, you aren't going back there. I'll take you to gather your things. You're moving with me." He said.

To say I was shocked, was an understatement. "You said we're not mates, you don't want a mate. That -"

"I know what I said and I stand by it. Lily likes you and you helped her, which we also still need to talk about, as soon as we get back to the pack. The warriors will gather all the evidence  here." 

"King. Alpha, I can't. You don't understand. I cannot go." I said, tears started to form in my eyes, bringing back too many memories. Memories, that cost me everything I held dear to my heart.

"Don't cry. Don't show your weaknesses, Monica," he said coldly.

I didn't respond. Only allowing the deafening silence to fill the room. I looked at little Lily and smiled, maybe she is what I need to become better. She felt like a part of me, even though she is nothing of me.

"Let's go. I know where you live. We need to leave now." 

I nodded my head and walked behind him. 

--------

We stopped in front of my home. It was way past midnight and I knew that once I enter that house, there would be no turning back.

'You are a fierce woman, mate of a King. Be brave.' Ella said.

"Let's go," he said. Lily was sleeping in the back in her car seat. I reached for the back seat, taking a blanket from the side and gently throwing it over her little body.

"Will she be okay, alone?" I asked.

He nodded his head. " Alpha... I would feel better if you stayed with her, after the day she had." I said, for two reasons. One I did not want to leave her alone, and two I did not want him to be involved in my 'family' drama.

"Very well. You have twenty minutes." 

I nodded and ran across the street to the house.

I stood there, a few seconds blankly in front of the door before I opened it. The house was dark and there were no lights on. I mentally did a happy dance and ran towards the basement. 

I put on the light and grabbed a few bags from my cupboard. I grabbed my clothes, I did not have enough packing bags, so I took my favorites only. I grabbed my toiletries, makeup, my stack of favorite books, my art supplies, my little wolf toy from when I was a baby, which was dropped off with me.

Once my bags were stuffed and I had no more space, I decided to head out. 

Walking out of the kitchen the light went on, which made me jump like a lunatic. 

This is it... 

I turned around and there she stood. Mrs. Emotional.

"Where the fuck do you think you are going?" My mother spat.

"Uh... I... with a friend." I blurted out.

"I don't think so," he said from behind me... Great, Mr. Physical.

I turned around to face him, but before I was fully facing him, he hit me in the face. Slamming me with his fists over and over. "You're not going anywhere!"  he spat, he literally spat on me.

"Who would want you, Monica? You are pathetic, weak, and a disgrace. Your own parents dropped you at the door of strangers at barely a day of age." She said smirking, walking towards her husband, kissing him on his cheek.

"I want her." A loud, powerful voice said, growling from behind them.  

They turned around and gasped. They clearly did not hear him enter their home, truthfully, neither did I.

He walked to my side, took my bags, and helped me up. "Can you walk?" He asked cupping my face, while his eyes scanned my body. 

I nodded my head and he took my arm, helping me walk out of the home, but as we passed them my father grabbed the Alpha by his arm. I saw the rage in his eyes. He wanted to hit him, the Alpha King, imagine that.

"I would let go if I was you, sir. I am already holding myself back. I won't hesitate to kill you. So take your hand off my arm. Now," he said, growling.

He shook my father's grip from his arm and we walked out of the house. Once outside I saw two other SUVs and a man standing outside of ours, watching Lily.

"Thank you." I said softly, so that just he could hear me.  He did not respond. I tried my best to keep my emotions at bay, my heart was slamming against my chest, ripping my chest apart.

I climbed into the backseat as he placed my bags in the back of the SUV. I really tried to control the tears, but once little Lily reached for my hand, I just lost all the control I had.

You can be strong, in the broken places, right?

"You can call me, Alexander." 

Hi there everyone. 

Once again thank you for the reads, votes and shares

Stay safe

M

*****

Copyright © 2020 by @wildfiremockingjay
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.