Chapter Five

Mel had been staring at the light blue hospital walls for a while. It seemed a grimace was permanent on her face from her physical and emotional pain. She couldn't decide what she thought about the situation. Achilles has harmed her, but he had been trying to keep her safe. Those were the facts.

As she felt for her wolf she felt intense sadness. Mel winced at the pure pain her wild was going through. Her mate had hurt her. Mel would never understand that. Her wolf had already formed a bond with Achilles and his wolf, where Mel barely knew them.

"I'm sorry," Mel whispered.

The only thing about the apology was, Mel wasn't sure whether it was to her wolf or herself. Neither of them deserved what he opened to them, but Mel still felt as if she could have stopped it. If she hadn't thought that maybe Achilles wasn't as bad as the rumors said. Maybe if she had listened for one time in her life.

"Maybe they would be alive if it wasn't for me!"

Mel knew it wasn't true, but at the moment it felt like everything was her fault. She would have blamed a volcanic eruption on herself right now. Mel shut her eyes tightly, she didn't want to cry. Crying made her feel tired and weak.

"I wish you were here," Mel said, as her throat closed up.

She tried desperately not to succumb to her emotions, but her eyes welled up nonetheless.

"I have nobody," Mel whispered.

It seemed true. Her mate had hurt her. Jax had been the one to provoke his reaction, and for what? Her parents were dead.

A tear slipped down Mel's face, only to be savagely wiped away. Mel wasn't sure when crying became bad, but it must've been planted in her mind at a young age. Her parents had never been fond of emotional displays.

"I'm sad," Mel stated.

It was like the thought triggered an avalanche of emotions. Tears leaked down Mel's face like the loose, dripping faucet next to her.

She hoped that nobody could hear her, but she knew since the door was open and the walls were paper thin that wasn't true. Nobody came to check on her though and for that she was grateful. At this moment she wanted to be alone with her thoughts and emotions. She needed to make an important decision and she didn't want to be swayed.

Mel knew there must have been a good reason why he reacted as he did. She knew that there was more to him than what everybody said.

"But he hurt me."

That was the overwhelming truth that Mel and her wolf always came back too. He had hurt them and hadn't even stayed long enough to apologize. Mel's wolf couldn't sense him anywhere near them and somehow that hurt Mel more than the scratch.

"Maybe he already made the choice for me," Mel said, sadly.

An older man she had seen before caught her attention as he stepped into the room.

"What was that?" He asked.

"Nothing," Mel muttered.

"I'm a pack doctor as you know," the grey-haired man stated. "The other pack doctor is off this week. Anyway, I'm here to check your stitches and change your dressings."

Mel shoved the comforter off her and sat up. Her arm did not agree with the lovely but she ignored the pain.

"I thought nurses usually did this stuff," she said.

The doctor unwrapped the bandage and sighed. Mel looked at the wound. She wasn't surprised it wasn't healed. Her wolf had stopped healing her after their whole pack died.

"Well, yes, but Alpha Achilles was very clear that..."

"Okay," Mel said.

The doctor grabbed another wrap and began to bandage her arm again.

"Just so you know, it took about ten stitches for me to mend the wound. It also doesn't seem to be healing to par which is a bit odd."

Mel bit her lip, "That's normal for me. After my pack was massacured my wolf couldn't heal me anymore."

The doctor nodded, "The trauma must have affected her."

"Yes, it must have," Mel said.

The doctor quickly finished the wrap and took a long look at Mel. He was worried about the young girl. She had been through so much and now she was paired with the most ruthless man in the country.

"Remember to think of yourself, Kid."

With that, the doctor walked out of the room. Mel thought of his words. She didn't need to do what was right for her. She had always done what was right for everybody else, but now it was time to think of herself.

**********************************

Achilles had never left. He was sitting far enough in the woods for Mel not to sense him though. He wanted so badly to see her, but he didn't want to hurt her again.

Achilles sat next to a small pond in his wolf form. He had stayed at the pack hospital until he knew Mel was okay and then he had come here. He hadn't moved since. He couldn't force his wolf to get any farther away, not that he would want to in the first place.

I just changed her bandages. She is healing at the rate of a human, but otherwise, she is fine Alpha. Well, physically at least.

Achilles winced at the mindlink from the doctor. His wolf whimpered and stood up. Achilles wouldn't be able to stop him for much longer.

"She can't heal," he whispered to himself.

He immediately knew that it was because of him. Her wolf was refusing to heal because her mate had harmed her. In other words, her wolf was depressed, and Achilles guessed that Mel probably was too.

I need to see her, Achilles thought. His wolf barked and let Achilles shift. After a minute of searching Achilles pulled out some clothes and changed into them. Shortly after he began his trek back to his mate. He prayed to the Moon Goddess that she didn't reject him.

If she did he would have to explain to his pack why he would never have a Luna. Achilles shuddered at the thought. He was head over heels for the girl all ready. He never thought this would happen. He would apologize every day for the rest of his life if he needed to. He just wanted to love her the way she deserved to be loved. He didn't mean to be so insecure, he just was.

Arriving at the pack hospital he could feel her in every fiber of his being. It was like his body needed to be near hers at all costs. He needed her.

Achilles mindlessly walked until he reached her door. Nobody thought to stop him for fear of getting slaughtered. Achilles hated those premeditated thoughts, but at moments like these, they helped.

With a world of worries and fear in his chest, Achilles knocked at the door even though he was sure she knew he was there. He tuned in his hearing and heard a sniffle, his heart broke a little more.

The door opened to reveal a ragged looking Mel. Achilles wanted to pull her into a bear hug and never let go, but he couldn't.

"I am a horrible person."

Mel stood wide-eyed, staring at the man in front of her. He came back. Mel wordlessly pulled him into her room and shut the door.

"Why are you here," she demanded.

"I want to say that last night was the biggest mistake I have ever made," Achilles said. "I-I hurt you. That was the one thing I was never supposed to do to my mate. The one thing that I said I would die before I let happen. I failed in the worst way possible, Mel. I know that I don't deserve you to forgive me. You deserve somebody good like you. Somebody that doesn't snap and hurt others. Somebody that can take of you and protect you."

Mel was surprised. She expected him to beg for her forgiveness. She hadn't prepared for this.

"I am hurt. You hurt me," Mel said. "But I think we need each other. I am willing to forgive, but it will not be easy. You need to make me believe that you will be better."

Achilles' heart lept and his wolf was howling with glee. His face didn't mirror it though, it rarely did.

"You're not healing," Achilles said.

He meant to say thank you or even just smile but it didn't come out. His brain replaced a lot of things he wanted to say with automated responses it seemed.

"No," Mel answered.

She could tell Achilles hadn't said everything he wanted to. There always seemed to be something just under the surface. Something that was dying to jump out and show itself, but what shoved down and ignored. That was the reason they needed each other. They needed to help each other heal.

"I'm so sorry," Achilles said.

Mel gave him a small smile, "Don't flatter yourself. You are not the reason why I'm not healing."

Achilles felt anger flood into his chest. If not him, what was the reason she was still hurt? Did the doctor do something wrong? A growl passed his lips before he could stop it.

"Achilles," Mel said in a warning tone.

"Please touch me," Achilles burst out.

"What?"

Mel looked at Achilles like he had suddenly gone bald. Achilles nearly died of embarrassment as he realized how wrong what he said had come out.

"I meant that I need you to make physical contact with me before I flip out."

Mel nodded and placed a hand on his shoulder. Achilles felt his body react as his wolf began to purr.

"Now you can explain," he said.

Mel was surprised at his new-found communication but didn't comment on it. She knew how that kind of stuff worked for her. If somebody pointed out something she did well, she wanted to not do it anymore. That could have been because of her stubborn attitude though.

"My wolf stopped healing me after my pack was killed. I think it must be trauma, that's what my research turned up at least."

"I wonder if my friend could help you," Achilles thought out loud.

His gamma, Brianna, had a background in science and was good with werewolf genetics. Her paired with his pack doctor could help her.

"They're just going to tell me the same thing everybody else did."

Achilles tilted his head, "And what's that?"

Mel looked down at the ground at that question. She felt anxious at the thought of answering that question.

"That the only person that might be able to bring my wolf fully back is my mate."

Mel watched Achilles face. No clear emotion showed on it, but she could see a hint of something in his eyes. It looked like hope to Mel.

"Are you hopeful?" Mel asked.

Achilles was shocked. How had she figured that out? He was rather sure his face wasn't giving anything away. We're mates, that was his only thought that made sense.

"I am." Achilles confirmed.

"I am too," Mel said. "I think we can help each other. Now, I need yo to get me out of here before I go insane."

Achilles felt a small smile creep up onto his face. He did nothing to make it disappear.

"Consider it done,"

Achilles waited as Mel changed. He then made sure to exude the power he rightfully owned and strutted out the door. He knew that nobody would so much as look at them the wrong way like this.

Mel felt a shudder go down her spine as Achilles walked in front of her. He was showing off his true Alpha power and Mel would be lying if she said she didn't find it hot. She quickly walked to his side so that the could get out faster.

Nobody stopped the pair as they strode out of the building and into Achilles' truck. Mel pulled herself in the passenger seat and deeply inhaled her mate's scent.

Achilles started his truck and began to drive. Mel didn't object as he started to drive to his pack, so he kept going. He noticed her face was stone as the got closer to the border. Achilles stopped the car swiftly.

"Nobody is trying to stop me," Mel said.

Achilles felt like his heart was getting ripped out of his chest, "Did you want them too?"

It was a loaded question, both Mel and himself knew it.

"Drive. Please drive."

Achilles did as Mel asked and drove right over the border. He watched as she clutched her chest and tears spilled out of her eyes.

*************************************

Thank you for reading! You guys are the absolute best!

Reading Questions:

-What do you think Mel should do to make Achilles make up for what he did?

-Do you think Mel and Achilles are good for each other?

-Why do you think Mel's pack isn't stopping her from leaving?