Sisters by chance - The beginning

Atlas

Lucas POV 

She is pale, white as a sheet, with empty eyes. She neither screams nor cries. She seems to have disappeared, shut herself off. Before she saw us, now she's gone? And I'm worried, what if this broke her? Mrs. Lee takes her beautiful hands. She holds them but says nothing. For a long time, an eternity, we stand there waiting. Waiting for her to do something, say something.

"Mrs. Lee, what's happening to her?" Jake wonders nervously.

"She is in shock for now, and she is grieving. Grief is different for everyone. We need to give her time, time we do not have!"

"How long?"

"The first three days are the worst, then we'll see." She says with a deep sigh.

"Let's take her back to the hospital!" I tell them and take a step forward. I lift her up, cradling her in my arms.

Smelling her calms me down, and I take deep breaths all the way back to her room. Jake stays behind for a moment, clearing everything with the Lees and probably with John too.

Back in her room, I put her down on the bed. I stroke her hair, her face down her arms, and take her hands in mine. She stares into the nothingness, absent, seemingly completely unaware that I exist. Maybe she needs to be left alone, as Mrs. Lee said. With a sigh, I straighten my back to walk away. Soft fingers close around mine and grip hard. The air leaves me, I stop in the middle of the motion and look down at my hand. She is holding my fingers. Slowly I stroke my thumb over her fingertips until she relaxes some. Maybe I should stay, give her time doesn't have to be alone time. I look up towards the chairs. They are both on the other side of the bed. I take a step towards the end of the bed but once again she stops me by grabbing my fingers.

“Would you like me to stay?” I whisper. She doesn't respond, and she doesn't let go. I’ll give it one more try, or I just have to stand here until she changes. I step back and take her hand with my other. Holding her in both my hands while leaning over her head. I breathe in her scent again, feeling the calm spread. Who could have predicted that warm honey and cinnamon could smell this good? 

“Honey, I just want to take a chair. I’m not even leaving this room.” I promised her while I nuzzle her forehead, temple, and cheek with my nose. She squeezed my fingers and let's go. I hurry around the bed and take one of the chairs. I quickly return and take her hands while I sit down. I lay my head on the bed next to her hands and close my eyes. I hold her gently and draw small circles with my fingers. My breathing slows down, and I am filled with her scent. My back is so incredibly sore after two nights sitting, now it seems to be an afternoon too. But I don’t care. I care about her.

Jacob POV

When Luc wanted to take her back to the hospital I agreed. But I let him go himself, the entire pack knows that the bear is my friend and her with permission. He won't have any problems. And I know he will take care of her. He loves her as I do. She doesn't know that yet. But that's a problem for another day. Right now the cover-up is the issue at my hands.

“Mrs. Lee, I appreciate that you told her. I don't think I could have done it!” I say gratefully. 

“Of Course Mr. Winter, It's always harder when it's the people closest to us. I understand that she is your mate and the bear's partner?”

“Yes, it was a bit of a surprise, but we are handling it. We haven't figured out how to tell her yet though. She is still very new to our world and can't comprehend the attraction she feels towards the both of us!” I admit. Mrs. Lee smiles at me. 

“Two mates are a surprise even amongst us. I can't begin to imagine how this feels for her. But she is strong, and with the both of you helping her, she will be just fine! Remember to be truthful with her, answer all her questions and take good care of her. And you know where to find me if she needs someone to talk to. regardless of the topic.”

“Yes, thank you!” I say, and take her hands in mine, holding them momentarily. “Now, the cover-up. I’m not sure which is best. And I really don't want to make this decision without her. So, I will fill the Alpha in on the delay. Mr. Lee, how far did you get?”

“Oh, she told us the whole story, From beginning to end. It was a bit hard on her. But as my wife says; She is strong. We have it all on tape and will talk to the young man next. The interrogation with Hugo is at a standstill. He doesn't speak about anything of importance; he only asks for one thing over and over. He wants his pretty pet, and we assumed that's Miss Bell.” A growl escapes me and Blue snorts over the disrespect. She is a princess, a goddess. Nobody’s pet!

“I will talk to the Alpha about Hugo. You focus on Tobias and see what he has to offer! Harry is with him, send for them, and get this done!” I command and leave them to it. Outside of the office, I link my brother, ‘Where are you?’

‘Good afternoon to you too, I’m fine. How are you?’ he answered, annoyed.

‘Hugo calls my goddess his pretty pet, how do you think I’m?’ I say equally annoyed.

‘I’m sorry bro, I’m actually at the station. I just arrived. I’ll come up to meet you.’ He cuts the link, and I wait outside Mr. Lee's office. When Johnny shows up everyone bows slightly when passing him. He acknowledged them all, and walk up to me. “Alpha,” I say, bowing my head.

“Ah, Alpha!” said Mr. Lee from behind me, looking out from his room. “What great timing, I was just about to inform you about the clothes that Miss Bell identified. You wanted to take a look, you said.” Johnny nodded his head, and Mr. Lee directed us into the adjacent room. Slightly confused, I follow them. Johnny tens up and stops at the table. 

“Was she certain?” He asks, his voice dark and hard. “She seemed sure. She described them as her sisters. They became really close through this ordeal.” Mr. Lee answers while taking a step back from my brother. I walk up to the other side of the table, studying him.

‘Something is wrong’ Blue tells me. Johnny's eyes are all black and he stares down at a washed-out black band t-shirt. The letters Q u e e can be seen through the transparent plastic. He touches the note on the bag with his fingertips mumbling, “Mia” still with a dark voice.

“Atlas?” I ask carefully. His eyes snap up at me, and he growls. My brother has taken the backseat, and Atlas is in full control at the moment. I bow deeper than before and say no more. Atlas opens the bag slightly and lifts it to his face breathing deep. When he puts it back at the table and turns to Mr. Lee he is John again. 

“Tell me Mr. Lee, who has my mate?”

***

Back at Mr. Lee’s office, Johnny takes the seat beside me in the visitors' chair. I've sent a text to Luc: I'm with John. I don't know when I'll be back at the hospital. 

He hasn't answered yet, but he is occupied with Sofia so, I’ll talk to him later. Mr. Lee is busy rewinding the tape recorder. He is old school, but meticulous. 

“Mr. Winter,” he said uneasily, “Do you really want to hear this?”

“Yes!” Me and Blue answer in unison.

“Please don't wreck my office, this is the only recording, and we don't want Miss Bell to go through this again, do we? He says raising an eyebrow at me. I nod and prepare mentally for what I am about to hear.

“Alpha, I ask the same of you!” He says submissive and waits for Johnny to nod.

“So, this is parts of Miss Bell's story, the parts where she talks about Mia.” Mr. Lee tells us before pressing play. Letting us in on the hell my sweet princess has lived through. Her soft voice comes through the speaker telling us about waking up in a truck on a hay-covered floor. About the relief and horror of not being alone. About two girls Agnes and Mia. We skip forward and learn about their unsuccessful escape. Blue whimpers in my mind, unable to explode in anger. My hands are bald up into a fist, and my fingernails dig into my palms drawing blood. Johnny sits completely still, listening attentively. We hear her tell us about him demanding that she consent to him. That she is expected to give herself willingly. I can almost see the tear roll down her soft face when she recounts Agnes' execution, and then the thread Mia's life. When she admits to giving up, refusing to be responsible for Mia's death as well, I stand up and leave. I furiously ran through the station out on the street and down the road out of town. ‘Tell me when it's over, I’ll come back’ I link to John. only receiving a mental nod.

I run to the clearing where Sofia met Blue for the first time, for real. We turn towards the forest and continue running. We run through the forest, we see the trees pass by in a blur, but no matter how fast we run, we can not run away from what has happened, what we have heard. Mrs. Lee said she was strong. But no one should have to be so strong. 'She saved the life of our future Luna!' Blue tells me with admiration. Completely spent, we reach the packhouse and go up to the room we are borrowing at the moment. I have not slept a single night in it. Now I long more than ever until we can go home. I need to talk to Lucas about it. What should we do? If she accepts us. Where are we going to live? My house is big enough. When I built it, it was with the hope of a mate and many children. But it must feel all right for everyone.

Her words echoed in my head; "I couldn't let him kill her too, I gave up myself. I consented." The rage erupts like lava from a volcano. But it doesn't matter, it doesn't change anything. The rage is replaced by hopelessness and the longing for her. So I threw myself in the shower. And get dressed in a hurry, I walk with long strides towards the hospital. I have to see her, hold her.