His Chosen Mate (Complete- Standalone)

Chapter 16

I wasn’t out for long, at least I dont think I was.

When I came to, I could feel the car being parked.

“What the f**k Troy, what the f**k?” I heard as the car door opened, my body slumped over, my eyes closed, concerned murmurs in the background. I could only make out the voices closest to me, the ones pulling me out of the car.

“Carry her inside.”

“Get Dr. Morris.” A panicked female voice said.

Orders being tossed around, the hustle of wolves in motion all around, but I couldn't make out where or who.

The only voice I could distinguish was that of Troy. “She is fine, she is already healing!”

“She isn’t just your mate but our Luna. I’m not gonna let you do this again!” It was Vince, his Beta, the only person who would dare challenge his actions.

Troy laughed, loudly and menaciously, “I’ll do whatever I want.”

I was being carried up some stairs. I could tell there were many wolves around, but when I tried to open my eyes it hurt, so I kept them closed. The pain was still throbbing in my head, the ringing in my ears was subsiding and my sense of self was a bit foggy. My wolf was raging, pacing. She knew exactly what had happened. Our mate, our fated mate had hit us, had smashed us, full force against the car window, over what?

Here I thought if I played nice and gave him what he wanted. I would have some power over him. I lost myself to the bond, I let this psycho mark me and I marked him back. Even after our bond was cemented, he had the audacity to harm me. I needed protection against my own mate.

I was set on a bed and I could smell a soft patchouli and lavender scent. I was greeted with a warm, soft voice. An older female.

“Ashleigh, can you hear me?”

I nodded, keeping my eyes closed.

“You are healing, the wound looks okay. Would it be okay if I cleaned you up? The doctor is on his way.” I didn’t know this voice but it granted me temporary safety.

With a nod, I felt my burden lighten and the piercing ringing gradually cease. Despite this momentary comfort, I was consumed with guilt and shame - had I really given in to Troy so easily? I let a psycho claim me. I claimed a psycho! One that literally just hit me after I claimed him and gave myself to him. If ever there were an escape from here, how would I justify that fateful decision? How could I ever look at Kingston again. I couldn't.

“Dr. Morris is almost here,” The gentle voice said, “You look so much like your father.” she whispered to herself.

Huh? I tried to open my eyes. My eyelashes fluttered but I physically couldn't open them. I went to rub them.

“Let me get that all off, you are covered in blood, it's dried and clotted thick on your face. Just a moment dear.” I could feel a warm wash cloth gently pressed against my skin, then hear it as it was being wrung out in a bowl beside me. The gentle voice took extra care and continued this time and time again. Someone brought in more water. Then I could hear rushing footsteps climbing the stairs. They were heavy footed and I feared for a moment that it might be Troy. My body tensed.

“Dr. Morris is here, shhhh, shhhhh.”

“Hey,” The voice was solemn. It was masculine, strong, young.

“She is okay, she is healing well.”

“Hi Ashleigh, I’m Dr. Morris. Are you able to speak?”

I hadn’t attempted to say anything at this point, “Yeah.” I said my throat dry and sore, my voice broke.

“Do you know what day it is?”

“It’s Wednesday July 9th”

“Do you know where you are?”

“I assume Venice packlands, in the Venice packhouse.”

“You are correct, can you open your eyes for me?” I could feel him hovering over me.

I opened my eyes, as my eyes adjusted to the room around me. I could make out the three wolves in the room.

Dr. Morris was dressed in a button up and tie, with slacks. His face was handsome and young. He looked about my age. His complexion and hair color matched mine. We even shared the same chin, I noticed. The gentle voice was sitting in a chair at the foot of the bed. She was a woman a little older than my mom, her features were familiar as well. What stood out about her, was she had violet eyes. I had never met anyone with my colored eyes before. I studied her before noticing another younger male standing against the wall observing.

“Who are you?” I asked.

“I am Dr. Morris, Ashleigh. You are in the Venice packlands.” He started to take my blood pressure and check my pulse.

“I know that but why are you familiar and how do you know my father?” I looked at the lady in the chair. She put a hand on my leg and gave me a gentle, reassuring squeeze.

“I need you to do me a favor, I need to look at your eyes. Can you sit up for me?” The doctor extended his arm and offered a hand to assist me. I adjusted myself so I was sitting up, moving my legs off the bed to face the doctor.

“I need you to follow this pen cap. Can you do that? Don’t look at the light directly, okay?” The doctor proceeded to move the pen in a circle, then back and forth. He took turns looking at both my eyes.

“You’re healing nicely. You received a concussion but everything indicates that you are healing. If anything like sleep patterns or mood or you continue to feel fogginess or have anything that feels off. You need to let me know. Okay?”

“Can you take her to the hospital?” The woman asked.

“Mom, she doesn’t need to go to the hospital.” Dr. Morris responded.

“For testing or something?” The woman sounded desperate.

“How do you know my father?” I asked again, this time sitting up looking directly at her. “Who are you?”

She looked at Dr. Morris and then the boy behind her. A little conflicted. The boy left the room, closing the room behind him. Either he had been silently ordered through mind link or perhaps he knew the answer to my question required discretion. I noted his movements. In fact, I was more aware of every detail in this room than normal.

She answered in a whisper. "My name is Mary. I am your Aunt. Mark was my younger brother and Mac too.”

“These two are my sons, Michael and Mark Jr. is in the hall.”

I was so confused. I have an aunt and cousins? I was still slightly disoriented because the only thing I could manage to say in response was, “Oh, I never knew I had an aunt.”

“I was mated into the Venice pack long before your father met your mother and before he became Alpha. I was 8 years older and mated right as I turned 18.”

“It’s great to meet you. I didn’t know I had other cousins.” I looked at the doctor warmly.

“Well, I apologize we are meeting under these circumstances.” The doctor, Michael adjusted himself, his eyes avoiding contact with mine. When suddenly he tensed. His shoulders went rigid as he turned to face the door.

That was when I heard footsteps on the stairs. “Lay back down,” Michael instructed. The door was kicked open by Mark in the hallway, who stood there like a statue on guard at the door.

“She awake?” called Troy. I could hear him leaping up the stairs, his breath catching in two or three strides up the stairs.

“Yes Alpha, she is. I’d like to do a scan in the next 24 hours if possible.”

“Yeah, whatever.” Troy was dismissive and agitated.

“It would need to be at the hospital, the pack clinic doesn’t have what I would need.”

“Is that really necessary?” His face inches away from the doctor, snarling at him.

“With her being a hybrid-”

“Who told you she was a hybrid!” Troy roared.

“I could tell by her pulse and body temperature. I am not sure the extent of her healing based on that. Just to make sure everything is okay, plus I would like to check her reproductive system, see her viability for you.” The doctor was clear and precise and did not cower to Troy.

That explanation seemed to pacify Troy.“Yeah, yeah, let’s do that before the Luna ceremony.”

“I can drive her there now, but we won’t be back till 8 or 9. I can take her in the morning as well. Either way, she needs to rest. There is no activity tonight. Food should probably be brought up to her.”

“I won’t stand for a weak mate.” His voice towered over everyone in the room.

“Let’s have dinner together here. You can introduce her, I can monitor her here at dinner and overnight. Tomorrow morning, I will take her in for a fertility check. That's all anyone needs to know. Does that sound good, Alpha?” Michael seemed to have experience handling Troy. He was clear and precise, not leaving him with much room to argue.

“Fine, find her something to wear and everyone within earshot, if you repeat that she is a hybrid, I will take your head. Literally rip it from your body.” He turned, leaving the room not once looking at me, not once acknowledging that he was responsible for hurting me.

“Did you have anything to change into Ashleigh?” My Aunt Mary asked.

I shook my head no, “I have a bag but I was supposed to leave today and only packed what I needed for work.”

“Well, let me wash that dress and I have a shawl. The alpha doesn’t like females to have exposed skin.”

“I will grab your bag. I saw it on the porch.” Mark said from the hall.

“Thank you,” I said as Mary was helping to take the dress over my head, using a sheet to cover me.

“I won’t be long, Michael. Could you stay here with her?” Mary asked. "We have a lot to talk about but now is not the time."

“I don’t plan to leave her side tonight.” He gave his mom a reassuring smile, then gave me the same one. But he still avoided making direct eye contact.

“Aren’t you young to be a doctor?” I asked when Mary left the room.

“I finished my residency two years ago, I can practice medicine in the human world and was trained in wolf medicine when I was still a teen.”

“That is impressive. Good for you.”

“How about you? Do you go to school?”

“I have my masters in business. I work in retail, in visual merchandising.”

“Did your mom ever have any other kids?”

“Nope just me. How about you, just the one brother? Or your own pups?”

“No time for my own yet. I had an older brother and sister and a younger sister also. All three have passed.”

“I am so sorry to hear that.”

“There is a long history between the Ventura and Venice packs.” He said solemnly as he started to clean up the room. “There is a bathroom across the hall, if you want to wash off.

“That would be great.” I stood up with my sheet wrapped around me. I trudged across the hall, it was a pretty standard guest bathroom. I imagined I was put into the visiting guest rooms. As I turned to look in the mirror, the horror of the events began to take shape- blood cascading down my back and my side was now dried. Crimson adorning my hair, strands matted, blood pooled and now dried in clumps in my hair and was thick and tangled at the roots. My right eye was bloodshot, an eerie shade of black across the whole right side of my face. The injury looked gruesome and can only imagine what it looked like when it was still actively bleeding.

I took off my bra and panties and could feel the dried fluid that had settled into them. I was reminded and sickened by my actions. I climbed in the shower, scrubbing my skin raw. Trying to wash away my memories. I reminded myself that I needed to be strong, that I wasn’t at fault, my bond was to blame. I was doing what I thought I needed to control the situation, to gain the upper hand. No matter what happened in the moments I shared with Troy before, none of it mattered - all that mattered now was survival.

I embraced my sorrow, letting the tears run freely down my cheeks. I gritted my teeth and convinced myself to remain strong - stronger than any Alpha that would try to control me or tear me down. My passion for life pulsed through me like a second heartbeat, fueling an ironclad determination in seeking retribution against him; I didn't know how but I would survive this, survive him.