Stella POV...

Pain slamming back into my temples wrenches me from the black hole I was blissfully enjoying.
"Ugh, ow!" I groan loudly as bright lights invade my pupils relentlessly. Closing my lids into slits while using my arm to shield my burning eyes more effectively. Surprise and confusion fill my emotions, a familiar beep beep noise makes some of my panic lessen.

Sniffing the air confirms the familiar potent disinfectant smell of a hospital with eyes protectively covered I manage to open them fully I see I am also connected to an I/V line

I'm alive!

"What the, why am I?" I splutter a confused rant to no one. 

Amber, are you there, care to shed some light?  Nothing, there's no response as my mind stays silent. The memory of her last surge of power causes me to conclude she is still wiped out, I hope she's ok and will come back eventually.

Memories continue to slam back into me as a nurse spots me sitting up in my bed, she starts making her way over. My head spins from side to side as I struggle to separate the memories from reality. One minute I'm on a battlefield ripping Regan's head from his body, the next a nurse is pushing me back into a soft hospital bed yelling at me to calm down.

Suddenly a warm sensation enters through my I/v and after a few moments I feel a gentle calm come over me snapping me out of my flashback traumas. A huge smile spreads across my face as I fall back into my pillow, laughing with happiness. The nurse smiles as her shoulders visibly relax.

Amber, you savage, we did it. We're still alive. Once again I'm met with silence as there is no reply from my inner friend.

"Welcome back Luna" the nurse smile warmly as she continues to fuss around me.

"Where am I? Where's Brodie? Is he ok?" Panic almost causes my throat to close over as my last memory was of his slouched and bleeding body, as he laid limp on the ground of a raging battlefield. My memory is dull under the weight of the drugs just administered, but still the memory is haunting.

The nurse places a gentle hand on my arm,  surprised she doesn't have whiplash from my abrupt change in emotions. She's kind and obviously good at her job but I wish she'd just answer my damn questions.

"Your back In Kaitai, and Brodie's fine! You are also doing well Luna. You're exhausted and bruised but recovering as expected." She pushes me back into a resting position and turns to my monitors. Immediately I sit back up, not done interrogating her yet.

"Where Is he?" I ask more firmly not wanting to be treated like a child anylonger. I am her Luna after all she is expected to answer my questions, she turns back to me, sensing my worry and confusion.

"You've been unconscious for three days Luna, he hasn't left your side, but the Alpha's called for a meeting today. He had to be present. I will let him know you're awake, but they shut mind links off during meetings" I see her eyes glaze over as she tries to mind-link Brodie anyway, I appreciate her trying. I also try to mink link but like Amber all me supernatural abilities appear to be sleeping for now.

I grab the nurse's arm, hoping my grip doesn't hurt her. I need to see Brodie now; I'm not waiting any longer.

"Where?" I practically growl at her. She looks at my arm, sensing my franticness.

"Now, please, he will be here as soon as their meeting is over Luna. Just relax while I get in touch with him, and we run some more tests. I'll go and get you another dose to keep you calm in the meantime" I see her fiddling with what I imagine is some sort of panic button or alarm. I sit back and nod as calmly as my raging emotions will allow. Clearly she's not letting me go and not going to force the meeting to be disrupted.

"Ok, did he answer your mind link?" I ask in a much more casually curious tone.

"No the mind link is shut off to pack members I will keep trying every 5 minutes until I can get through and let him know you are awake," she smiles, appeased by my calmer response. The nurse spends what feels like an eternity fiddling with my I/v and connected machinery. Then, at last, she leaves, presumably to get another does of whatever drug they gave me from te Doctor.

As soon as she's out of sight, I rip out my I/V and cord attachments. The machine monitoring my vital signs starts to blare with warning alarms, and I almost send it crashing to the floor, finding the power button.

Now that it's silenced, I stand it back on its perch and cast a wary look in the direction the nurse left. Seeing a familiar looking bag stuffed under a chair, I grab at it, finding it's filled with some of my clothes and basics.

"Yes!" I hiss, slinging the bag over my back. I sway on my feet. I  haven't walked for three days I remind myself this is going to be a slow challenging journey. I start by taking careful concentrated steps. As I leave the room, unnoticed, then take a few stealthy maneuvered corners, I manage to duck into a bathroom with a few curious glances my way from onlookers.

I try to mind-link Brodie again, but nothing happens. I'm not waiting any longer to see Brodie stuff the stupid Alpha's meeting and tests. Yea, I still feel groggy, but I can come back after. I just need to see him alive and get rid of this tightening in my chest, to tell him I love him before something else threatens to keep us apart.

I sit against the wall resting my body while I search through the bags contents. Sluggishly I manage to pull the sports leggings and oversized t-shirt on, feeling awed that Brodie packed my favorite comfy clothes to wear. I stuff the hospital gown in the bathroom bin and heave myself to the poor excuse of a mirror.

Other than a few scratches and a kind of washed-out look, I'm ok. Cuts and bruises are already fading from my body. Soon the signs of  battle will be gone. My hair is a lost cause, and I don't even attempt to brush it, just throwing it up in a high ponytail. Using the counter for support I suck in some deep breaths to clear a wave of dissiness.

Exiting the bathroom with cardful determined strides, I follow the signs to the elevator, relived I'm no longer getting curious glances.

Guess wandering around in a hospital gown would make people look my way.

I lean up against the rails, pressing my head to the mirrors of the elevator. I purposfully manuevered myself to the back so knowone would notice my obvious exhaustion. Finally we reach the ground floor and I walk amoungst the croud aware the nurse probably noticed I am missing from my bed by now.

Camoflauged by the small group of bodies I make it to the front doors of the hospital and almost let out a battle cry of truimph. I'm tankful the doors are automatic as a wobble in my step almost forces me to sit. I should move a bit slower, but my need to get to Brodie forces me to push on. Shaking it off, I carry one foot in front of the other, taking in some breaths and pushing my shaky limbs to obey my instructions.

The hospital isn't far from the packhouse I know this from the short drive with Josh on my first day here. Taking breaks and testing my mind-link every twenty or so steps finally the packhouse comes into veiw. I sag against the lampost thankful for the overcast evening sky.

My heart stops when I see the front doors burst open. It's Brodie; he looks worried and like he wants to punch Josh as he spins him, yelling something at him. Guess the meeting is over, or the nurse finally mind-linked him that I've woken up. I push of my support post and force unwilling legs to comply.

He looks great, like his normal healthy self. I can't help a giggle of happiness as I see him shove off Josh with ease. Wolfmans ok, he's more than ok he's back to full Alpha strength. Adrenaline allows me to move a little faster. Brodie has his back to me, but Josh's eyes light up with recognition, and then he frowns with concern.

Brodie turns, spotting me, and I grab the nearest solid support to stop myself falling. The impact of his look almost sent me sprawling to the floor. The nurse wasn't kidding about the exhaustion, even our mate bond brings me to my knees. Brodie growls closing the distance between us in no time.

He scoops me up stuffing me into his chest almost painfully. Finally, I'm here were I needed to be, and it's never felt better. Every body part that can wrap around him holds on for dear life.

He supports my weight with ease, and I sag into him further as the adrenaline leaves my muscles, replaced with elation and a bone-tired weariness. My chest untightens, and the sparks of our mate bond soothe my emotions at last.

"Hey, little mate," he chuckles softly into my ear.

"Hey wolfman" I squeeze back as much as I can.

"You shouldn't have left the hospital Stellla" He scolds me, pulling back and inspecting me with worried eyes. Up close I can see his weaariness, lack of sleep and worry for me eating away. Guilt sweeps through me at the thought.

Noticing my concern, his feature shift into a soft smile.

"I leave for one hour and then the whole hospital goes into panic because your suddenly missing. I just about killed Josh for slowing me down."

"Sorry. I wanted to see you." I yawn and lean my head into him wanting to close my eyes for just a minute.

"I know, me too" he grumbles and starts moving us towards the packhouse.

"What are you doing?" I ask, slumped against his shoulder surprised he's not taking me in the hospitals dirction.

"I've already mind-linked the doctor that you here and will be treated from home now that you're awake."

"Home" I breathe in agreement giving him another squeeze to show my appreciation. I would much rather be treated at home. Black spots appear in my vision as the weariness grows stronger.

"Uh Brodie I think I'm." I pass out...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I open my eyes only to slam them back shut expecting a blast of blinding pain to hit me. It doesn't and I realise i'm in our dimmly lit bedroom and re-hooked up to an I/V. Brodie wasn't kidding; they literally brought the hospital to me this time.

I frown at the quietly beeping vitals of my heart beat and start to sit myself upright in amoungst the chaos of cords and drip lines.

"Ugh, this is rediculous" I groan.

"Don't even think about unhooking anything!" Brodie's voice calls from the open door, and I smile. I sag back and wait knowing were I am and where my mate is. My wolfman comes running in, looking ready to tackle me if I disobeyed his order. A chuckle escapes my lips.

Brodie frowns folding his arms over his chest, unable to stop his lips lifting into an amused smirk.

"I promised the doctor you would behave. That's the only reason he agreed to all this" He waves his hands at my make-shift hospital.

"Cross my heart, and hope to die, or I'll stick a needle in my eye? Ugh however that stupid saying goes anyway," I huff frustrated. Brodie moves to sit next to me on the bed, but it's not close enough for either of us. I sit up, and he climbs around until he's sitting behind me, I lean back into him, ona  contented sigh from both of us.

He storkes my hair out of my face and I hum my appreciation.

"How come you're up and kicking so quickly?" I frown as he seems totally fine and back to full strength, yet I still feel like a trains hit me.

"Alpha's heal faster, especially in wolf form. Leo was in control for a long time after the battle finished. I was almost fully healed by the time we got back to camp. What I needed most was sleep, and I got a lot of that sitting by your bedside the last 3 days." He continues to stroke my head soothingly and I realise this is what he's been doing while I sleep.

My stomach growls loudly in protest to still being empty. Brodie chuckles and starts to move. I try to prevent him from leaving, but he doesn't have it pushing me aside easily.

"You've got to eat something, Stella," he softly scorns as he makes his way out of the room. This time I don't complain feeling the hunger pains of now four days nil by mouth.

Brodie returns with an amazing smelling chicken noodle soup.

"Take it slow he warns" giving me a a pointed look before handing the bwol and spoon over.

I obey taking smal spoonfuls waiting to see if my body will reject the warm liquid.

"I like compliant Stella. Normally I can only get you like this after sex" He muses and I almost choke on the next moutful of soup. He laughs more whilst handing me a napkin to clean up my mess.

"What happened to Brad" I ask hesistantly worried my brother and his mate didn't make it.

"We have them. He says you're helped him escape, that Regan held his mate hostage." He states unhappily. Relief washes through me that there btoh ok.

"Its the truth" I look into my wolfmans eyes to assure him. I hear Leo's rumble through Brodies chest, letting me know that my brother is not In my Alphas' good books.

"Thought so, there settled in another suite within the packhouse. I had them held like prisoners at first, but his story seemed legitimate, so I had them moved, but still watched" he grumbles.

"Thanks I'm glad there not in cells. He helped me get out." I try a soft tone to ease the rising agitation in him. I jump when he raises his voice at me.

"Do you forget he almost drowned you to death in front of me! If it wasn't for him you would never have been taken in the first place" he growls, furious.

"I know but he didn't have a choice. Regan had his mate help captive against him, constantly using her to ge tBrad to do his bidding." I shiver at the memories of Regan grabbing me at the dinner where I met my brothers bethrothed for the first time. Brodie's grip on my shoulders to loosen's.

"Regan had us placed in the same cell together, not sure why exactly. So Brad could tell me about all the horrific possibilities for my future, and fill in the gaps of my past? Regan was so cocky I wouldn't get away that he was stupid enough to pair his most powerful assest together. The one person who could teach me to weild my power properly and fuel me with the anger of the answers he had."

"He showed you how to use your power?" Brodie states.

"Yeah, I guess so. Brad didn't really do much, just helped me get angry enough. I needed to figure it out for myself. Discovering the truth helped me unlock that hidden part of me in some strange way."

"You're seriously impressive, Stella. Seeing you wield your fire like that during battle I was in awe of your strength."

"Ugh, thanks, I think? Are you planning on using me as a weapon now too?" This time it's Brodie's turn to laugh.

"That's not what I meant, and you know it!" the circles he rubs into my sore and tense shoulders are heavenly, and I find myself feeling tired again.

Seriously haven't you slept enough?

Amber! It's so good to hear you back in my head! It's felt like forever.

Too long, She grumbles.

"Leo can feel Amber's back," Brodie comments.

"Yeah, she's back," I mumble feeling Amber relive the memories and snarl around in my head at the images.

"Brodie I didn't know if I was ever going to see you again." I choke. "Regan wanted me to sever our bond and mate with him. I almost got out at one point, but he dragged me back. Kelci had ratted me out, told him everything she knew about me."

Brodies deep rumbling growl and painful grip makes me whimper.

"She ran the night of the bonfire while everything was chaos, but we'll track her down and she'll get what she deserves. I'm glad you got to kill Regan yourself, but god, if I could have brought him back and done it again myself, I would have" I can tell he's fighting back Leo who's pressing for him to shift.

I lean myself back into him fully letting the tingles of our mate bond calm his raging emotions.

"I'm glad shes gone, but the fact shes still alive out there with a grudge against me doesn't sit well with me" I tell him honestly wishing she was on the battle feild and I could have killed her there and then.

"I know, I'll find her Stella" Brodie replies determined. I frown not wanting him to go anywhere anytime soon.