TTMA [Complete ✔️]

12. Old friend

Knox's P.O.V

Something in me changed, snapped, you could say. Her whimpers and cries stabbed daggers into my heart like no one else could. I loved her, I loved someone. Finally, after all these years, I remembered what love felt like. This small, weak she-wolf in front of me gave me that feeling back and I would be forever grateful to her no matter the outcome.

At that moment, I knew, she was mine, even if she didn't agree with me yet. I would show her she had nothing to fear when she was with me, even if it took weeks, months, or years. I may not know how to be gentle, but for her, I would learn. I would give her my heart and soul, even my life if it came to it.

I drew my hand back, more cautious of my moves now than I had ever been before. All eyes were still on us, but no one dared to move, not even my mate, apart from shaking like a leaf on a cold autumn day. I looked at my sister pleadingly, hoping she could help me somehow, teach me what to say or do, but she had already passed out, her powers having taken all of her energy.

Zane was holding his mate in his arms, still sitting on the ground, where he was previously bleeding to death. The warriors were pretending to look around, but I could feel their gazes on us each time I looked away. So many wolves, yet I was completely alone, helpless in front of a she-wolf I never knew I would want so much.

"I won't hurt you, you're safe now!" I whispered as gently as I could. It seemed like it came naturally. When I talked to her I felt the love I had craved so long for, the love I didn't know I would ever experience, the one I didn't know I needed.

My mate, however, didn't look convinced. She backed even further away, hitting her back on the tree behind her. Her porcelain skin was covered with bruises and wet with tears, a sight I promised to myself I would never have to look at again.

"I have to get you back in the car, please!" No movement. She didn't fight me, she didn't agree, just looked at her feet, the tears trickling down her precious face. I got up, slowly moving closer to her until we were inches apart. Her scent drowned me, making me crave more, but next time, fear won't be apart of it. Next time, her scent will be mixed with happiness, she deserved it.

"I'm going to pick you up so you don't hurt yourself, ok?" She once again gave me no answer so I just picked her up. She flinched, a small whimper escaping her busted, chapped lips. Even in the state they were in, they were still the most beautiful lips I had ever seen.

Zane got up as well, Rose in his arms, the warriors following behind us. Most of them took the second car, while Zane, I, and our mates, along with one warrior, took the first car since it was bigger.

My Beta and I sat in the backseat, my mate's eyes widening in horror at the sight of three huge male wolves in such a tight space and I couldn't say I blamed her. From what little I could see, her eyes were a soft chocolate-brown, that perfectly fit her face. Could she get any more beautiful?

"You don't have to be afraid, none of us would ever hurt you, I promise! Try to get some sleep, the road back is long." I caught Zane's smile before he managed to mask it up and hide it from me.

"What's so funny, Beta?" I mused, c*****g an eyebrow at him.

''I'm sorry, Alpha, I didn't mean to pry, I was just happy you finally accepted your mate." I playfully punched his arm, causing him to look at me.

His eyes held so many emotions, I could tell there was something I needed to do just by looking at them. Something, long overdue.

"Zane?" His gaze didn't leave mine, the friendliness in my voice something that was confusing him. I could see he wanted to believe I was back to who I used to be, but he didn't let himself believe it in case it was all a lie. I wasn't there yet, but I chose to change. For her, for me, for my mother, who would want this.

"I never meant for you to be hurt by my decisions. I did, however, mean to push you away. I thought that if I did, there was no way you could hurt me when you leave like she did. I was wrong about one thing though-you wouldn't leave. I understood that when I saw how hard you had fought to keep my mate alive, although yours was waiting for you at home. You could have easily driven away, like I asked, but you didn't." Whatever it was he was expecting me to say, it wasn't this. He was shocked, to say the least. His words were getting stuck in his throat as he tried to answer me so I saved him the trouble and continued.

''Thank you! For all those years, in which you endured every temper and mood I was in, for treating my sister right, and-" I grew quiet, the last part being the hardest. "For remaining by my side and believing in our friendship when I didn't. I want my best friend back if you're willing to try again." I looked away, not being able to handle looking at him any longer.

His eyes were the same as those of little Zane, the one, that was my best friend. The one that consoled me, helped me grieve, the one that I hurt. They were painful reminders of what could have been had my life not turned out the way it did, had I not shielded myself away from the wrong people.

Seconds felt like minutes as I anticipated his answer. Maybe he wouldn't reply, maybe what I did was too much for him to forgive me. I thought I had lost him until I heard his voice, full of emotion.

"I missed you, man!" With that, I turned around to look at him again. His eyes were wet and a smile was curled on his lips. "I never gave up. I knew one day the Alpha I loved so much would be back, my friend would be back."

''It's Knox, Zane. And I missed you too. Your dumb jokes, your personality, our friendship, I missed it all."

''Then dumb jokes you're getting!" He grinned. His smile grew larger, full of memories of the past and thoughts of the future. My eyes darted to my sister, who also deserved an apology. My sweet Rose, she would be so happy to see me trying. She fought me for so long, trying to bring back my smile, the person I once was, but I never thought of it as something possible.

I thought that as long as the scars of my past remained on my skin and mind, I would stay locked away. I had thrown the key far, far away, in order to protect myself, but it seems that wasn't the right decision. I was selfish, hurting those around me in order to keep myself from being hurt and although no one would blame me, I would never truly forgive myself.

I would change, work on myself until I prove Esteban wrong. Show him that I can be strong, that I can love and not be like him. Show to him that even with a powerful wolf, my human side could be gentle to those, who deserved it. My family, the people in this car, proved themselves time and time again, now, it was time for me to prove to them that not all is lost, like they had hoped all this time.

***

Both Zane and I remained silent. There was so much we wanted to say and not enough words for it. Not when my mate was shaking in fear from me and not when he had almost died for her.

The window proved to be quite interesting during the long drive. The trees, birds and sky hadn't seemed pretty to me in a long time. It was almost like the world got its colours back after being grey for so long. Perhaps, it was because I had stopped paying attention to details, or perhaps, it was because the views had only been pretty when I shared them with my mother, but for the longest time no sight was deserving of attention, I deemed it as a waste of time, but not anymore.

Now, I saw it as something I could show my mate, enjoy with her. Somewhere, we could make memories and forget our pasts. I knew she had it worse than me and I certainly knew that I would have to fight for her, but I have never felt more ready for a fight than I was right now.

My mate had fought sleep for a while, I could feel her observe my every breath, see her flinching every time Zane or I made the slightest movement. Her fear was oozing off of her making the car feel suffocating and the drive painful. After a while though, she couldn't fight her heavy eyelids and fell asleep.

Even in her sleep, her heartbeat didn't steady. She was breathing heavily, even more so when she had a nightmare. She hadn't been asleep for more than an hour before her already ragged breath intensified. Beeds of sweat trickled down her forehead, her malnourished body starting to shake again.

When the sound of her voice met my ears, I couldn't take it anymore. She was pleading for someone to let her go, to not hurt her as she shielded her face with her arms. I looked at Zane, needing him more than I had ever needed him before. What was I meant to do?

I didn't want to touch her without her consent and I knew she wouldn't want me to right now. I also couldn't let her suffer so I was lost. Lost, with no idea on what I was meant to do, all I knew was that she shouldn't be in pain and that I needed to do something to help her.

"Your touch is the only thing that would soothe her." Zane had said quietly, snapping my attention to him. ''Let the bond do its thing, Knox. I know you would never hurt her or touch her without her consent, but she needs you. Only a light caress, nothing more." I nodded slowly, my own forehead covered in sweat.

She was so close, yet so far away at the same time. Her body was next to me in the seat, yet my hand refused to meet her skin. She wasn't the only one shaking, my hands were too. My love for her was already stronger than anything I had known in my life so far. It felt good to feel, especially something as strong as love.

I knew how wrong I was to not believe the Moon goddess was there for me. She was and she always had been, her gift to me just came later than I had thought it would. It was better than I could imagine, my mate was the most perfect gift and if it meant fighting for her I would do it in a heartbeat.

Hell, I would endure my life all over again if it meant meeting her once more. There were so many sides of her to explore, so many memories to be built, that I couldn't wait for.

For now though, one touch would be enough. Just a light, gentle, caress on the arm. For her own good.

I reached out and with a shaking hand caressed her porcelain skin. Tingles shot up my arm, the bond working its magic. Goosebumps arose on both our arms, my eyes making contact with her skin. I was so afraid of touching her, of scaring her, hurting her, even though my skin was barely making contact with hers. She flinched away at first, but then stopped fighting me until her breathing somewhat calmed down.

It was the slowest it's ever been since she had been awake so we were already making progress. When Zane and I's eyes met, he was proudly looking at me with a small smile, which I returned.

Before I knew it, we were in front of the pack house, ready to overtake anything life throws at us. I certainly knew I had never been more ready and more certain about anything in my life.

A/N: This is definitely a favourite of mine writing wise! Let me know what you think, please!