The Alpha's Warrior Mate

Fight Like A Girl

I made my way back to the infirmary. Anna sat on the edge of her bed looking out the window.  She looked up at me and smiled when I got back in the room and my heart skipped a beat.  I handed her the clothes and made my way back towards the door.

“It’s not like it’s anything you haven’t seen before.” I turned around to see Anna smirking as she slipped out of her hospital gown.

I sucked in a deep breath and told myself I should stop looking, but I couldn’t. Instead a swallowed hard and willed myself to wait patiently for her to get dressed. In what seemed like eons and milliseconds all at once, she pulled on her slippers and headed towards the door. 

As she brushed passed me I caught her lavender scent and I lost all control. I grabbed her waist and crashed my lips onto hers. She tensed up before a moment before returning my kiss. Her lips were soft and warm as I traced her bottom lip with my tongue. She granted me access to explore and I tangled my hands through her hair. She responded by sucking on my bottom lip before giving it a quick bite. I could feel her body growing hotter and I knew I had to stop. Pulling away I gave her lips one more peck before lacing my fingers through hers and leading her outside. 

Once outside she took in a deep breath of fresh air. “You know, this was the pack that was supposed to come to my home pack. They got ambushed and pretty much everything was burnt down. When I... got here, it was all tents.”  

“I didn’t know that. I wish I had, maybe we could have helped,” I said and I meant it. “Maybe I could have....” I choked.

“There’s no way of knowing, Ethan. Don’t torture yourself like that,” She said softly. “Plus, we wouldn’t have Lizzie if things had worked out that way.” My heart squeezed in my chest at that. 

“What do you think is next for you?” I asked stealing a glance at her. 

“I’m not sure,” she sighed. “I’m not sure I’m ready to leave here. I’m not sure I’m ready to go back with you.” 

“I understand,” I tried to make my voice sound even. I couldn’t imagine going home without her and Lizzie, but I had to force myself to deal with the possibility. “Anna?” I pulled her out of her trance. 

“Hmm?”

“Do you want to go on a run with me?” I asked.

For the first time since I’d been here she genuinely smiled. “Yes. I do.” 

... . 

Anna POV

We made it to the edge of the Forrest before shifting quickly. My wolf hadn’t been out in so long and she was ecstatic. Ethan’s black wolf was my opposite as they ran and ran together. Eventually, I started to miss Lizzie and my wolf did too so she reluctantly gave control back to me as I shifted to my human form. 

“That was incredible!” Ethan exclaimed. 

“Yeah it was,” I replied shyly. He reached out to grab my hand and I let him. It was beginning to feel more and more natural again. His reasoning for what I assumed was betrayal checked out. Mason seemed to agree too. 

We made our way back to Lizzie and my heart melted when I saw her in Miriam’s arms. She looked up from rocking her and gave me a small smile before handing her over. Ethan pulled Lizzie and I onto the bed and held us there. Eventually I started to doze, so I placed her in her bassinet and crawled back into my mate’s arms. He sighed lightly in his sleep when I touched his chest. I couldn’t deny this is where I belonged. 

I took Lizzie back to my room for the night. The infirmary was cold and distant and I wanted to relax. I asked someone to bring Ethan a cot to sleep in for the night. I wasn’t ready for him to be so close to me. He seemed a little surprised at first but he obliged. 

We were startled awake by noises in the hall. I stole a glance at the clock that read 2:30 AM.I looked to Lizzie’s bassinet but she was still sound asleep. 

“Stay here,” Ethan commanded but I was already in motion. I shot towards the door and yanked it open. The scene before me was chaos. The pack I had learned to call home was inundated with fifty or so rogue werewolves. Their clothes were matted with dirt and holes. These werewolves didn’t live according to the order that we did. They didn’t care about decorum, they just wanted blood. One approached me and I blocked his punch dodging to the left. His attack was sporadic so I landed a blow to his gut with my foot. Seizing the opportunity I brought my knee to his face, rendering him unconscious. Two more advanced as soon as the first was down. I made quick work of them as well. I caught Nadia and Mason out of the corner of my eye, they were working in perfect unison, taking care of four rogues who had dared to attack them. Surveying the rest of the room, I took out three more, snapping each of their necks. When the last was down, I looked up to see Ethan eyeing me mysteriously. 

“Where did they come from?” Darian asked from my right. 

“I’m not sure but we will find out,” Mason said darkly grabbing the remaining rogue and heading to the basement. 

I caught Darian’s eye and knew he would be going to check in on Mason in a few. 

“Go, I’ll get some guys to help with this.” He covered, nodding his head in Ethan’s direction. I walked past a very stoic Ethan and back down the hall towards my room. I could hear his footsteps behind me so I left the door open for him. 

I looked myself over in the mirror. Blood was spattered across my face and clothes. I sighed, and started the shower. Ethan stood at the door of the bathroom looking lost for words. 

“What?” I asked. I was admittedly tired and needed him to spit out whatever he was thinking. 

“I... I didn’t know you could do that,” he stammered. 

“Do what?”

“... fight like that” he swallowed hard. 

“Yeah, well I guess you never thought to find out,” I sighed as I reached in to turn the water on. 

Lizzie’s cry broke our awkward silence and Ethan left to go pick her up. I shed my clothes and stepped into the hot water. I watched as the blood washed down the drain as I thought about what the future would look like. I loved it here, but I didn’t know if I could leave Ethan. Eventually he’d have to go back with or without Lizzie and I. After a few more minutes, I’d made up my mind. 

When I got out of the shower I wrapped my towel around me and walked out into the room. Ethan sat on the edge of the bed, feeding Lizzie her bottle. I captured the moment in my mind. I wanted to remember how he was with her forever. He moved to sit her back in her bed, trying not to wake her. He sat back on the edge of the bed and I watched him watch her for a long minute. I finally broke and went to him. I put my hand on his shoulder and he looked up at me. I climbed into his lap and put my head on the crook of his neck. He responded immediately wrapping his arms around me.

“Ethan?” I said into his shoulder.

“Hmmm?” He murmured.

“Let’s go home.”