The Alpha's Broken Mate

Chapter 11

Roe's P.O.V.

Everything hurt. A steady beeping sound came from somewhere behind me and I could smell a salty fresh scent that I couldn't place, but I loved it. It smelt like home, though that thought alone made no sense to me. That's if I ever had one. Delicious tingles were spreading from my left hand and up my arm. I knew that feeling, it was familiar somehow. My mind was too fuzzy and pounding hard.

"Come on Roe, wake up for me." I knew that voice. It was full of pain but I knew it. Who was it? Every part of me just wanted to comfort them. "I promise I'll do better to keep you safe." What does he mean? Pain jolted through my head and the memories came flooding back. Two months with my new family, the club, Damien and that first kiss. The last memories that came back sent fear through me. The stench of decay in that cell. The pain they inflicted and then Damien's face as he held me. He came for me. "Roe, you're okay. I'm here." He said gently just before I managed to blink my eyes open. I immediately squinted at the blinding light that greeted me and it was quickly dimmed, letting my eyes meet with those familiar green ones.

"There you are." Damien sighed, smiling softly as his thumb traced circles across my knuckles. His clothes were creased and he had bags under his eyes. Had he even slept? How long had it been? Looking around I could see we were in a medic centre, but it wasn't the one I was used to. Wondering why I was laid on my side only lead to me remembering what they did to my back. Panic started to grip me again. My head was really throbbing now. Damien helped me to sit up, gingerly resting against the pillows as the pain subsided. He then held a cup in front of me. Lavender tea. He helped me drink and I felt myself calming down. I went to rub the sleep from my eyes only to find Alec stopping my right arm mid air.

"Careful, you don't need more bruises." He said as he let go and sat back down. I hadn't even noticed he was there. Good job he was because that hand was now in a cast. I tried to smile at him but winced as pain shot through my face. He wouldn't meet my eyes and I didn't know why. Had I done something wrong?

"Where are we?" I asked after a moment. I don't remember how we got here.

"Where in a hospital owned by a good friend, Princess." Damien looked worried and I noticed he was watching me intently. Chewing on my lip I reached for the tea, though that salty smell that filled the room was more calming then the drink at that the moment. The sweet warm liquid was welcoming as it slid down my throat, easing the soreness. "How do you feel?"

"Sore." I answered honestly. "Hungry. How long was I out?" Alec stood and left the room. I wonder what was up with him.

"Two days." My eyes went wide. Had he been here the entire time? I was going to ask when the door opened and Dr Cora's smiling face came into view.

"I hear our patient is awake. How's the pain, Sweetie?" She asked as she started looking at the various machines I was attached to.

"Not to bad." I stated, despite my pounding head. Of course, she didn't believe me. Tutting under her breath she continued to check the machines before she turned to me and pulled the blanket back. Faint scratches could be seen all over legs and arms. My brow furrowed. That wasn't right, I remembered what they did. It was the same thing that left the scars on my stomach. These marks should be deeper. Pulling up the gown, I traced my fingers across the marks on my thighs. They were smooth to the touch and I doubted they would they scar.

"This isn't right." I muttered.

"We tried a new technique." Dr Cora spoke up. "It helps the body heal small wounds faster. Your face and back will take longer and will most likely scar, I'm afraid." I was about to ask her about this technique when Damien caught my hand in mid air. I hadn't even realised I had lifted it towards my face.

"You probably shouldn't touch it." He spoke softly, but there was a cautious look on his face.

"Show me." I said, sitting up straighter. A look passed between them before Damien moved to help me stand.

Cracked, scabbed lips and a deep purple cheek stared back at me from the mirror. The angry red mark started just above my left eyelid, cut through my eyebrow and into my messy hair. There was no doubt about it scarring with stitches holding it together. I would be stuck with this ugly reminder forever. A reminder of the injections, the vile words and the painful wounds. I could already imagine the new taunts Rebecca would come up with. There had to be a way to cover this up surely? Someway to hide it at least. Maybe if I restyled my hair I could keep it hidden. That salty scent enveloped me again, chasing most of my thoughts away like a wave of calm. Damien came to a stop behind me, our eyes met in the mirror. We stayed like that for a while, his gaze holding that strange emotion once again. A small smile played on his lips, his hands found my waist.

"Why do you keep looking at me like that?" The question tumbled from my mouth without my consent.

"Like what?" His brow furrowed slightly. I turned around to face him.

"Smiling, with that look in your eyes." His smile came back in a lopsided grin.

"How can I look at you and not smile?" There was truth in his eyes along with that emotion again. Infuriating man.

"You're impossible." I muttered, feeling my cheeks heat up. Moving his hands off me, I started trying to push him out of the bathroom with one hand. "Now get out, I need to shower." He didn't budge.

"You need to rest." He said sternly.

"I need to feel clean." I was tired, but more then anything I wanted to be clean, so kept pushing him.

"You can't get the cast wet or the stitch..." His voice was pleading this time.

"I'll figure it out." I cut him off and kept trying to shove him out the door. He seemed reluctant to leave, but he eventually let me push him out of the room.

Trying to keep the stitches and cast dry proved to be difficult but I managed it. Though it took me far too long and I was thoroughly exhausted again. I also realised I had no clean clothes to change into. Holding the towel tight, I hesitantly opened the door.

"Damien, is there anything for me to wear?" I asked, embarrassed as I stepped out of the bathroom. Within a few strides, he was in front of me.

"I've asked my friends sister if you could borrow some of her clothes, they should be here soon." He smiled down at me and helped me over to stand beside the bed. "Cora said this cream needs to be placed on your back after the shower." He held up a small tube and gently turned me around. I don't know why I was letting him apply the cream, but then again it's not like I could do it myself.

"It's hideous." I sighed while looking down, as he leant around me to put the cream on the bed. How could he even look it. The new wounds crossed over the old scars and I knew it was a mess to see. He was so close behind me. Closing my eyes I leaned back into him, arching my back a little to avoid the wounds, as his hands gently rested on my hips. Taking deep breathes of that calming salty smell as his body heat kept my bare skin warm.

"You will never be hideous to me." He breathed against my shoulder, his lips delicately brushing the exposed skin. Sending those infuriatingly addictive tingles through me. I desperately wanted to believe him. 

My hands found their way on top of his and our fingers intertwined. We shouldn't be stood like this, but it felt so right. Suddenly, the door opened and both of us snapped our heads towards the door. The guy I saw Damien talking to at the ball walked through the doors, smirking.

"Shaun!" Damien roared and quickly pulled me behind him. My cheeks were on fire. He just saw how close we were. s**t!

"Oh calm down. I'm only bringing the clothes you asked for." He didn't seem phased by Damien's tone at all. "Oh and that doctor of yours has figured out what was in the syringes."

"Shaun!" Damien yelled again. His voice shaking the room as I clung to the back of his shirt.

"Ooop's." Shaun replied and I heard him scurry out the door.

"The sooner we're out of here the better." Damien muttered, more to himself I guessed, and sighed before he turned to face me. There was a nagging voice in the back of mind now, one that said he was hiding something from me. Was it to do with the syringes?

"Were you going to tell me?" I questioned and he squirmed under my gaze, avoiding my eyes.

"Yes, but...uh not today. You've only just woken up." His answer seemed reasonable enough but it didn't stop the pit from growing in my stomach. He was hiding something from me. "Roe?" His voice sounded concerned but I just moved passed him.

"I'm tired and I need to get changed." I stated, refusing to look at him as I picked up the clothes Shaun had left on the chair. Hoping he'd leave me alone to at least get dressed. Though I wasn't sure I wanted him to go at all really. Not when I was somewhere so unfamiliar. Wondering what they injected me with hadn't crossed my mind and I wasn't sure I wanted to know. The only thing I was sure of was that I was so tired and I really needed to put some clothes on.

It was late when the house came into view. Damien had seemed in a hurry to get home and honestly I was too. Shaun was friendly enough and he seemed to enjoy annoying Damien, which was funny to watch. But I wanted to be alone right now. Too many thoughts filled my head. Too many things didn't make sense to me. Damien was hiding something, Alec was avoiding me and acting strange. I hadn't seen Dr Cora to ask her what was in the syringes, she was 'too busy' apparently. There was something else too. I felt different. I couldn't pin point what had changed but something had. And nothing was chasing away the headache. As soon as the car stopped I jumped out but before I could even make it up the stairs, I was enveloped in a hug and Rob's voice came from above me.

"Thank the Goddess you're safe." He pulled back, his hands on my shoulders as he scanned me for injuries. I watched as his movements went from analytical to gentle as he noticed my face. 

"Hey, Old Man." I smiled up at him. He rolled his eyes before he pulled me into another hug and this time I hugged him back. It was a quick hug, but it felt good.

"Oh Honey." I heard Julie say before she pulled me away from her husband. She tucked my hair behind my ear as she looked at the cut. Suddenly she pulled me against her and I froze. Just as quickly she let me go, but I could see the hurt in her ice blue eyes. "I'm sorry, Roe. I'm just so glad you're safe." I hated making her feel bad. It was a reaction I had without any control. If I tried to force it I usually ended up vomiting. It wasn't pretty.

"It's okay." I said and touched her arm lightly. "Would you mind coming with me to get my hair cut tomorrow?" I asked, hoping the offer would cheer her up.

"Roe, you need to rest." Of course Damien just had to speak and I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Julie smiled and understanding flashed in her eyes.

"Of course I will. We could grab lunch after as well." She said as she lead me into the house. I smiled back at her, a day away from Damien would definitely be welcome right now. "We have a surprise for you." She smiled wider as she opened the living room door. Jace, Warren, Amy, Jasmine and Amelia were sat on sleeping bags in the centre of the room. The furniture had been moved to the edges, except for the coffee table which was piled with pizza and ice cream. The smell of pepperoni and cheese filled the room and my stomach grumbled. All of a sudden I was at the centre of the quickest group hug in history. It was mere seconds but it still caused my heart to race, Though I didn't care because I was so glad to be back.

"We thought we could have a slumber party tonight." Jasmine beamed, clearly it was her idea and she was proud of it. I looked at Warren, his arm around Amy's waist, and he wordlessly told me all I needed to know. They wanted to make sure I was okay. I looked around at my friends and smiled.

"Well I hope someone remembered the rum." Jace shook his head, chuckling and handed me a glass that was hidden behind the stack of pizza boxes.

"Of course we didn't forget that. Now sit you're ass down and eat." He said with a smirk. Amelia popped a movie on, not that any of us were paying attention to it. We spent the night laughing and talking. Damien stayed and though I tried to keep up the silent treatment, I failed. We made plans next few days. Jasmine insisted we plan a girls night out for the weekend and, knowing Jasmine's bossy nature, I doubted I'd be able to get out of it. We had so much fun but one person was missing. Alec.