10.

~Xyana~

The constant low beeping of the monitor is the first thing I hear when I open my eyes. I jerk up, finding a familiar figure holding his hand out to me.

“Xyana," he offers a bright smile. "It's great to have you join us. You remember me, don't you?"

I nod. I do remember him. He's the same Doctor who took care of me when I first arrived in the pack.

I clear my throat, my voice sounding raspy when I speak. “What happened to me, where am I?”

“You are in the hospital. Your mate brought you in because we thought it best to have you here in case you needed more intensive care." He explains with a smile. "Apparently, you had a wrist injury, and your Wolf wasn’t having such a good day either. So... we've done a few checks. If it's okay, I would call in the Alpha.”

I nod, "please, do."

He goes to open the door that is hidden by a wall curtain. Once Alpha Gaston steps in, I'm instantly overwhelmed by his scent. This is something I've never experienced before.

My nerves instantly go calm, and I lay down on my pillow, taking in a deep, steady breaths.

“How are you feeling, Xyana?” Gaston asks me, as our gaze met.

He is wearing a well-tailored two-piece outfit and is standing at the foot of my bed with a worried frown.

“I’m fine, Alpha.” I reply, making him shake his head.

"Gaston, Xyana. It will be Gaston to you, alright? You are family."

I smile at him. "Your brothers call you Alpha sometimes."

"You're not my brothers, are you?"

I shake my head to the side "Would you please do me a favor?" I ask him.

"Tell me."

"Can you speak with Bones and Dion and convince them not to be mad at Clif? He was kind and gentle and then..." I'm short of words because I can't explain what happened or why it happened.

“They won't be mad at him for long. But he'll get punished for what he did."

"No! Don't punish him, please." I plead, almost sobbing.

"Why not? He hurt you, Xyana."

"Yes, but he's my mate and I don't... I don't..." Gaston is frowning more, still looking at me. "I don't think I'll survive it if he's hurt."

"Fuck!" I hear him say. "Why do you think so?"

I'm even confused that I would think this way. I raise my hands in sincere confusion because I have no answer to give him. "I don't know," I confess. "I don't know why?"

"What if I decide to punish Declan or Dion."

'Is Gaston raving mad, why would he want to punish my innocent mates?'

I shake my head, "no, don't. I won't survive knowing they'll be in so much pain. I'm going to feel the pain with them and it will be overwhelming."

"You're going to what?" Gaston moves from the foot of the bed and stands beside me. "You're going to feel their pain, Xyana? That is not even possible..." He pauses. "Can you feel your mates now?"

"Yes." I reply, even as my brain is trying to process what's happening to me."

"Where are your mates?"

I shut my eyes, trying to focus on an imaginary image of my mates. After a few seconds, I open my eyes and reply to Gaston, pointing to the door. "they are outside the door."

"This is brilliant." He murmurs to himself. "Do you remember anything about your past, Xyana? Like your family, your previous life, maybe? Your former pack's name for instance?"

I shake my head. 'I'm not going to tell him of the Black-Haw pack.'

Not when I'm certain they'll get to find out that I'm a Luna-reject and maybe they will realize that I'm not so special anymore and start treating me terribly.

"I don't remember any of that, yet."

"Alright. You'll take your time. We won't rush you." He turns to the doctor, "Dr. Nat, what's your diagnosis?"

The Doctor, who shifted to the end of the room with my hospital file to offer us privacy, comes closer.

“It's not so bad. The wound is deep, and it's healing, but it's gradual and may be too slow. But I would eventually heal up, maybe within two to six days. It has been treated and covered. It's all good now. Our tests also established that her Wolf is doing fine and she seems to be fully healthy. But I'd like to keep her overnight, just to be on the safe side. Afterward, she can return home, but she will have to rest and eat healthy to help with her wound healing.”

“Of course,” Gaston nods. “Thank you, Nat.”

“It is my pleasure, Alpha.” He bows before turning to me. “I will leave you alone and check on you in a bit.”

I thank him with a smile before he bows again, and leaves the room.

Gaston sighs deeply as he sits down on the chair beside my bed. “I’m sorry for all this trouble, Gaston," I apologize. "You must have more important things to do and I'm messing everything up.”

"No, I don't. And don't say that Xyana. Nothing is more important than you." He said those words like he meant every single word of it and that made me feel hot.

'Oh my Goddess!'

“I’m glad that you are alright.” He squeezes my hand on the covers, but before I can even wrap my head around how soothing his touch feels, he has already pulled his hand back. “I must apologize that I didn’t take the time to talk to you beforehand. Clifton might be hotheaded, but he's a good man. I just feel most times that he finds it hard to express himself the way he should. Yet, that does not in any way justify him hurting you."

My heart flips in my chest as he flashes me an exhausted smile. “Is something wrong?" He asks, arcing his brows probably wondering why I'm smiling sheepishly.

“Sorry, I... I've never really seen you smile before. Your smile is beautiful.”

He gives me a quizzical look, and I start blabbing, searching for words to explain the statement I just made. "What I'm trying to say is; I'm grateful to you for saving me that night. I haven't seen you smile before you know… since I met you… And... Ugh, I think I'm lost for words to explain better, Gaston." I confess, after struggling nonstop to find the right words. "Can we forget I said anything and start all over again?”

“Sure,” he chuckles, making my heart skip and swell at once. “You heard the Doctor, henceforth, you're going to take as much rest as you can get. That's the only way you can get better. When you get better, I'll finally introduce you to the pack.”

“Thank you, Gaston. And you don't have to feel bad for me. When one finds their mate, it is only customary that they get to claim him or her. Oh, why am I telling you? You know that already. You felt the same way with your Luna.” I smile at him, hoping to cheer him up.

Sighing, he gets up, “Well, what I and my Luna had can't be compared to this. Your situation with my brothers is a bit special. I hope you forgive us for how we've treated you so far."

“There is nothing to be forgiven, Gaston. Trust me, I'm happy and fine.” I try to convince myself, along with him, while I clasp my blankets.

He nods, leaning down to press a kiss on my forehead. “I’m glad you're taking Clifton's defense. I was always worried about him getting someone who wouldn’t understand him. He doesn’t always deserve someone like you, but he is a good man, and I’m very sure he's fond of you already, even if he doesn't show it.”

"I'll call in your mates now. Do you want that?"

"Yes." The word is out before I can think about it.