Safe With Him

Cruel Jokes

Sean's POV

I knew she was the one before I even laid eyes on her. She smelled of sweet citrus and lavender. I'm not sure how those go together, but damn she can pull it off. Seeing her broken, beaten, hanging in the balance between dead and alive. One look at her had this big bad alpha drooling like a love sick puppy.

Seeing her, Feeling her, I could feel my soul vibrate. A mix of worry, anticipation, and furry raged inside of me. But one question kept circling through my mind.

'Why was she running? Who orchestrated this?'

Luckily our pack hospital was close enough she didn't bleed to death. By the time we burst through the doors I was covered in blood. Usually I would embrace bloodshed. That is how I gained respect throughout the packs. But this is the wrong blood.

Her blood.

My Beta, Clyde, was waiting for us. Waiting to see who the one person that could stop me in my tracks is.

Mate.

The word slammed into me with enough force to stop my heart.

Twenty-eight years.

Twenty-eight years of waiting.

Twenty-eight years of wondering if the Moon Goddess had forgotten me.

And I found her half-dead on my border.

"Sean..."

"Save her."

"The healer is doing everything she can."

"Then do more."

"What happened man? I haven't seen you move that fast since the night..."

"The night what?"

"The night they found your parents."

"You know you could f**k up a wet dream right?"

Clyde is my best friend, my Beta, but damn he sure does know how to get at my damn nerves.

"I guess the Moon Goddess works in mysterious ways" Clyde says as he nudges my shoulder and winks.

"I want her wardrobe filled by the time she wakes up. Goddess only knows the hell she's been through."

And with that he was off. He may be stubborn, but there's a reason I consider him my brother.

Just as he walked off, the pack healer was coming out of the bay Ryley was in. She had a look of relief on her face.

"She will be just fine Alpha. Luckily whatever moron laced that blade did a piss poor job. I think my toddler could do better"

That was the best news I had heard in years. How f****d up would it be to find your mate, knocking on deaths door, and lose her before you could even say a proper hello?

Ryley was still asleep, Goddess she was beautiful. She had long brunette hair that cascaded down her back and chest, framing her face in the most perfect way. The way her chest rose and fell with each breath looked like the ocean waves you see in movies.

*beep*

*beep*

*beep*

The monitor gained pace.

Her finger twitched.

And just like sleeping beauty, her eyes fluttered open.

She took her time adjusting. Adjusting to the light. Adjusting to the bandages wrapped around her abdomen. Adjusting to what I would assume is the scent of her mate.

Devin was pacing, almost prancing, in the back of my mind. He was just as excited as I was. This is his mate too after all.

Just as soon as she realizes where she is, she snaps her head towards me.

"Please don't kill me! I'll do whatever you want, just please don't send me back!"

My heart instantly shattered for her. Here she is, my mate, begging me not to put her in harm's way. Who in their right mind asks that?!

"Why were you running?"

"I'm sorry, I can't remember! I just remember seeing you, and Bruce... OH MY GOD BRUCE!!"

And just like that she's trying to jump out of bed and take a run for it. She crashed into me in the doorway. I will give it to her, this girl's got speed and strength.

The only move I could make was to pull her in and not let go. Feeling her tremble against me reminded me how fragile she really is right now. Whatever happened to her, whoever she's running from, is going to be next on my s**t list.

"Bruce ran off. I got distracted and he took the opportunity to tuck tail and bolt."

"Jesus. Wait... You? Distracted? Alpha Sean that doesn't happen."

"It does when my fated mates arrives at my border half dead. Beaten and battered. Bleeding right in front of my very eyes".

Just then I realized she was still in my arms. She stopped trembling, just the occasional shiver. Probably because she was in a hospital gown, bare ass showing for the machines and monitors in the room.

"And it's just Sean to you"

"Oh? What if I have no plans on staying?"

"We will see about that, won't we?". I couldn't help the smirk that plastered across my face.

Does she think she can show up like this, to the most feared pack, the most ruthless pack, and walk away? Absolutely not.

Just then I realized, this is going to be fun.