The Fate of the Triplet Betas

Chapter Seven - She's Awake

Jack’s POV

It has been four days and Ayla has not woken up. My sisters and I arrived here on Friday night and it's Wednesday morning. I’ve been trying to keep myself busy around Eric’s Pack helping on patrol and with training, but not being around my Mate is killing me. My wolf is taking it extremely hard as well. He wanted to rip that red eyed murder wolf to shreds for hurting our Mate, but I restrained him because I need to get information out of him. Eric and I have him locked up in the packhouse dungeon which is basically the basement that they modified. I have been injecting him with wolfsbane laced with silver so he would weaken, but it didn’t affect him at all. It's almost like he built up a tolerance to it and he won't shift out of his wolf form.

I walked up the stairs from the basement after another failed attempt of wolfsbane t*****e and I sighed. I need to go see Ayla to help calm my wolf. It’s getting harder and harder to hold him back whenever I see Drake. I close my eyes and I growl at the memory of Drake smiling over my parents’ dead bodies. I still can’t figure out how Drake survived being starved to death. I checked his pulse. I burned his body. There is no way he could have walked away from that. Unless it wasn't really him and he managed to escape, leaving some random body in his place.

“Jack. Hey, are you okay?”

I open my eyes to see Ayla’s friend Jenna standing in front of me. She introduced herself as a seer and white wolf when I wouldn’t leave Ayla’s side at the hospital. She explained to me everything she has seen and even what David had seen after his Mate was killed. I almost feel bad for him. He loses his Mate and almost ends his life, but then he loses his mind after seeing his kid’s futures unfold before him. Apparently it's some type of prophecy, but they don't know what it is because the Moon Goddess never told Jenna what it is.

I shake my head and clear my throat, “Yeah I’m fine. I was about to go visit Ayla.”

“Ok. I just heard from her dad that’s she’s awake. She is talking with her brothers right now, so I opted to go find you and tell you she’s awake,” she acknowledged.

My wolf immediately cheered in my head and wanted me to bolt over to the hospital.

“Thank you.”

She nodded her head and crossed her arms over her chest.

I hurry out the door and I take off into a sprint. The pack hospital is in town about half a mile away. I like this little town. It’s a bit cozier than my Pack, but Ayla will be safer when I take her home with me.

Ayla’s POV

The silence only lasted about thirty minutes.

My brothers came bounding into my hospital room like a couple of bears. I crinkle my nose in disgust because it smells like they just came from training.

“Gross guys! The least you could have done was shower before coming in here,” I announced, but I couldn’t stand the smell anymore, so I buried my nose in the blanket.

Brad lifted his arm and took a big whiff, to which he responded with a crinkle of his nose. “Yeah, sorry about that little sis.” He starts fanning under his arms, but I don’t think it’s helping.

“Awe come on. Our baby sister is finally awake after four days and all she cares about is whether we smell nice?” Kyle preached. “Come here and get a big whiff sis!” Kyle opens his arms wide and comes in for a hug.

I gasped in shock and throw the blanket over my head. “NO!” I squealed.

But Kyle doesn’t stop there. He hugs me over the blanket and his sweat soaks through the blanket.

“Groooooss,” I complained. I pushed his chest through the blanket, and he falls into the chair holding his stomach because he was laughing so hard. I pick up my pillow and I throw it at him, but he catches it. He tosses the pillow back at me, and it hits me in the face.

I cross my arms across my chest, and I pout.

Brad stands at the foot of the bed just smiling, but thankfully he isn’t laughing. He knows better than to make me angry.

“Okay, I’m done.” Kyle throws his hands up in defeat and sighs.

I smile big then I stick my tongue out to show him that I won that round.

Kyle scoffed and rolled his eyes.

“It’s good to see you awake Ayla,” Brad interjected.

I place my pillow back behind my head and I nod my head at his acknowledgement. The bed is inclined so I can easily talk without turning my head too much because there is just a small pain where that rogue bit me.

“Did I really sleep for four days?” I asked.

Kyle and Brad exchange looks, and the silence begins again which could mean they are mind linking again. I roll my eyes and I wait for them to finish their secret conversation. I pretend to check my nails until Brad clears his throat. I glance up at them and I purse my lips.

“Yes, you were asleep for four days, but…” Kyle trailed off and glanced at Brad.

I furrowed my brow at them in confusion. What are they hiding from me?

“The doctor seems to think that your wolf has left,” Brad muttered, leaning against the wall by the door.

Left? Why would Zara do that? She’s just asleep and dormant because the poisoned bite took a lot out of her. But could she really be gone?

“We still aren’t sure, but now that you’re awake. The doctor recommends Jenna speak with the Moon Goddess tonight to find out,” Kyle countered. He was sitting sideways in the chair with his legs hanging over the arm. The room goes quiet once again and I peer at Kyle. It looks like Kyle hasn’t shaved for a week. He almost has a full beard, but it stops short of his chin so it’s a bit of scruff, but it kind of makes him look homeless. I bite my lip to keep from laughing and I glance at Brad who must have seen what I saw. Since Brad is clean shaven, I can tell my brothers apart now.

“So, Kyle. Why the beard?” I said, completely changing the subject. I tried to hide the little snort at the end, but it squeezed out and Brad joined in with a snort of his own.

Kyle glared at Brad, but the only response he got was a shoulder shrug and a smirk.

“Oh, come on Kyle. I think it's nice you look like the type of werewolf the humans think we are,” I said, sucking in my lips to contain my laughter.

That only resulted in getting the same glare he gave Brad just a few seconds ago. I lower my eyes and I snort one more time before throwing my head back and laughing so hard I run out of breath in a matter of minutes. There was a slight twinge in my neck that hurt, but I ignored it.

“Judy likes it okay,” he expressed, throwing his hands up in defeat.

I clutch my chest as my laughter keeps growing and I have to lie on my side to keep myself from falling off the bed. Tears were starting to spring from my eyes, and I can hear Brad laughing along with me.

Kyle groaned.

I sit up on the bad and I take deep breaths to try and stop laughing. I wipe the tears from my eyes and sigh.

“I’m sorry Kyle. You know I love you. I just never saw you as a beard guy,” I expressed, folding my hands in my lap.

He reached up and scratches his face. I bite my lip and I look down at my hands.

“I didn’t grow the beard on purpose Ayla. I was stressed about you and whether you’d wake up or not so my morning routine just ceased.” There’s a bit of worry in his voice and I kept my head down so I don’t end up weeping.

I wish Zara was here to explain things to me, but I still don’t feel her. I raise my hand to my neck, and I can feel the bandages that wrap around it. Did she heal me before she left, or do I have to heal slow like a human? Will Jack still want me as his Mate if I am human now?

As if on cue to my inner thoughts, I get a big whiff of my Mate’s scent. My lips quirk up in a small smile and I let out a relieved sigh. Zara is still here because otherwise if she wasn’t then I wouldn’t be able to feel my Mate as he gets closer to me. I raise my head just as Jack enters and my breath hitches in my throat. He looks the same as when I saw him four days ago, but it’s like I am seeing him for the first time again. He smiles softly at me and walks over to my left side, our eyes never leaving each other’s.

“And that’s our cue to leave,” Kyle proclaimed.

I am still staring at Jack as they leave, and he grabs my hand. The sparks from his touch tingle up my arm and I close my eyes so I can savor it. Jack sits on the edge of my bed and wraps his other arm around me.

“You have no idea how much I missed holding you,” Jack whispered near my ear. His husky tone of voice made me wet down in my special place that I almost moaned in response, but thankfully I was biting my lip.

“Open your eyes, Ayla,” Jack demanded.

I do as he says and blink my eyes open slowly. Jack’s face is inches from mine that I can smell what he had for breakfast this morning. Mmm, a breakfast burrito from the diner in town. I loved going there after school with Jenna.

Jack raised his hand to my chin and uses his thumb to pull my lip free from my teeth. My cheeks burn red, and I want to turn away, but he is holding me in place. I am completely speechless by his movements, and he hasn’t done that much to me.

He leans in and presses his lips to mine. Pure ecstasy was all I felt when sparks ignited our kiss. He gently bites my lip and continues as he parts my lips with his tongue, and I grant him access to the rest of my mouth while our tongues fight for dominance. I rake my fingers through his hair, pulling him closer, so he was practically on top of me. He has one hand cradling the side of my face while the other found its way to my breast.

I was so entranced by our little make out session that I didn’t notice the purring in my head getting louder. Then suddenly, the twinge in my neck completely vanishes and I gasp. Jack pulled away and peered down at me with concern in his eyes.

“Are you okay? Did I hurt you?” he asked, checking me up and down for any injuries.

I can’t help but laugh at him.

“Not at all.” I replied. “In fact, I think I am fully healed now because of you.”

I sit up and start to unwrap the bandages around my neck. Jack just stares at me with confusion written on his face. He looks so cute with his brows pressed together and his mouth in a straight line. I toss the bandages in the trash, and I bare my neck to Jack to show him. Jack reached out and lightly grazed his fingers along my skin. I watch him as his eyes trail down my neck to my chest. A small moan escapes my mouth which results in a playful growl coming from him.

Jack pushes the hospital gown off my shoulder and uses his other hand to cradle my face. I close my eyes and I basked in the feel of his lips on my lips.