Muffled voices surrounded me as I opened my eyes. I looked around the room I was in before I realized where I was: the pack house’s infirmary. What the hell was I doing here? 

I looked around once more, noticing the people. Mel stood in the corner with a sad look on her face, Jake held her in his arms, brushing strands of hair away from her face. I saw my brothers, sitting on the chairs in the room. And lastly, I saw both Zane and Drew, bickering in hushed tones. 

My bed creaked as I tried to sit up. Everyone’s head turned to look at me. In a flash, everyone was by my side.

“Oh Ari, please don’t scare me like that ever again!” Ethan cried out as he engulfed me in a hug. I hugged him back, but I kept wondering what he meant by scaring him. What happened? Why am I here? Why is everyone so worried? All those questions swarmed my mind as I tried recalling the events that happened.

Suddenly, everything came back in a flash. The wrestling match with Zane, the angry Drew, Drew sleeping with Dana, sneaking outside, and then fainting. Why the hell did I faint? 

Ethan let go of me and placed a kiss on my forehead. 

“Aribear!” cried Sammy, as he hugged me with his tiny little arms. I pulled him to my lap and placed a kiss on his cheek.

The door opened, revealing Dr. Murray, the pack doctor. Her face held a mask of emotions, ranging from fear, to anxiety, to confusion, to sympathy. She walked over to my bed, looking at Sammy in my lap then back to me.

“Sammy, can you please get off your sister? I need to check to see if she’s okay. Can you do that for me sweetie?” Sammy got off of me, and ran into Ethan’s open arms. He lifted him up and faced me once again. I looked back at Dr. Murray, afraid of what was coming.

“Arianna, I have some alarming news. Firstly, you fainted because of the lack of food that you ate today. You’re very malnourished and I’m putting you on a strict diet plan to help you gain more weight,” she breathed in a heavy breath before continuing, “Now, the thing I wanted to tell you was, many of your ribs are cracked or fractured. You’re right leg has a fracture that has been incorrectly healed. Also, you’re left arm is fractured as well. The problem with this is the fact that many of these injuries date back to almost 3 years. Arianna sweetie, it’s best if you tell us how you got these, and how you fixed them?”

My eyes widened completely as what she said sunk in. I had to tell her about my father’s beatings and the cruel treatment I get by the teen pack members. I couldn’t do that. Everyone would find out and everyone would hate me more. 

“Um, well, uh...”

God, I couldn’t do this. Everyone’s gonna hate me for ratting them out. All the adults of the pack don’t know about any of my treatment and this will just make them punish their kids harder. Oh, god, what about my father? I know it isn’t his fault that he hurts me, it’s the alcohol’s, but he’s still my dad and I can’t just hurt him like that. I already lost one parent, I don’t need to lose another!

“Arianna, dear, please tell us. This is for your own good. Has someone been hurting you?” Dr. Murray’s voice rang out in the eerie silence room, as everyone waited for my answer.

I scanned the faces of the crowd. Drew and Zane had stopped their fighting to look at me, and both held a mixture of curiosity, horror, and sympathy for me. I looked over at Ethan, who was now accompanied by an equally worried Olivia. They both gave me sympathetic smiles, and nodded their heads, as if to say ‘go on and tell them the truth.’ My gaze drifted down to Sammy, who was looking clueless as to why the sudden tension was in the air. I pulled away from my sightseeing to look back at Dr. Murray, who smiled sympathetically and put her hand over mine, gesturing me to go forward. Just as I looked up, I realized that almost the whole pack was in here. I gulped nervously. ‘Come on Arianna, you can do this. You can finally be free of any harassment,’

Sucking in a deep breath, I recalled all of my experiences of beatings with my father since I was fourteen.

“Ever since my mother’s...death, everyone in my family has been distraught. Without my mom, my dad felt completely lost, as most mates do when the other dies. Because of my resemblance to my mom,” I took a deep breath, “my dad would constantly beat me when he was drunk. That’s why I have all these faded scars and bruises,” I lifted my shirt up a little so everyone could see them. Gasps of horror echoed throughout the room. I smiled weakly before continuing, “I would just take the beatings without fighting back, because he was my dad, he is my dad, and it isn’t his fault. It’s mine. I left my mom at the accident when I should’ve helped her. I didn’t want to listen to her and get out, but I did. I shouldn’t have done that,” I wiped a leaky tear that managed to spill out, “But anyway, um, it didn’t help much that most people in school bullied me as well. I guess they just didn’t like me or whatever because of what I did to my mom. But everyone would push or shove me in the hallways, and mock me that I became like this,” I whispered, gesturing to my body. 

“But even though this happened, I don’t blame anyone because it’s my entire fault to begin with. I deserved ever slap, kick, or punch my dad gave me. I deserved every insulting word that was thrown my way. I deserved the harsh treatment, the small bedroom, the little care I was given. I really do deserve it all because I was some coward who left their mom to die,” By now, the tears were freely flowing down my face. I didn’t even make a move to wipe them.

“So, that’s how I got my injuries. But I’m fine, honestly, I can still work. Don’t worry too much about me,” I looked up to find quite a sight. All the girls were sobbing, while the guys gave me looks of sympathy and guilt. Drew’s hands were clenched to his sides, and I could see his wolf was trying to take control. Zane looked equally the same as Drew. Looking back over at Dr. Murray, I tried to wipe my tears hastily and smile, but even Dr. Murray was in quite a shock. 

“Arianna, is this true?” A booming voice echoed in the room. Standing near the doorway, was both the Alphas, Drew’s parents. Alpha Blake, and Luna Blake both looked sympathetic and worried. I just nodded my head in respect, still shocked that they were here. Ever since Drew turned 18, he became the alpha, and his parents decided they wanted to travel to different packs and settle disputes within them. It was in order to keep the werewolf community safe. So it was quite a surprise seeing them here and listening to my pathetic sob story than helping out a neighboring pack. 

“Why didn’t you inform us about it dear?” Drew’s mom, the luna, whispered while coming over and crushing me into a hug. 

“Sorry, Luna, but I didn’t want anyone to get hurt because of me,” 

“Nonsense, sweetheart, you should have told us. Look at you! We should’ve been better alphas to you! This had been going on for four years and we didn’t detect the slightest problem! I’m so very sorry, in fact, we all are!” she gestured to the crowd, before hugging me again.

“Alright, um, may everyone leave please? Arianna needs all the rest she can get,” Dr. Murray ushered everyone out, but not before saying, “Alpha Drew, please stay with her. She needs you more than ever,”

My eyes widened. No, no, no, no! We just argued and I really didn’t want to deal with Drew right now! But, since luck is never on my side, Drew nodded before coming over to my side of the bed.

I looked away, avoiding his gaze. Drew’s strong hand gripped my chin up so gently, like I was some porcelain doll, before gazing into my eyes.

“I’m so sorry for everything Ari. I was a complete insensitive jerk. I wish I’d known about all of this before. Damn it, I don’t even deserve someone so beautiful, caring, and perfect like you!” Drew stood up so quickly that I flinched involuntarily. 

“Oh baby, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I-“

“Drew, it’s alright,” I said resting my hand on his arm, “I’m fine, honestly,”

“Arianna, don’t lie to yourself, please. You have every right to slap me, or punch me, for being such a jerk about you,” he pulled my hand up to emphasize his point.

I just giggled at him, which made him break out into a smile.

“Ari, promise me you’ll keep laughing like that and I’ll be the happiest man alive,” he whispered before planting a kiss on my forehead. He lingered there for a bit, before pressing a kiss to either eye. He slowly went down to my nose, and pressed a quick kiss there as well. Gently, he hovered over my lips, before finally claiming them. I melted into the kiss, wrapping my arms around his neck and tangling them into his hair. He moaned against my mouth, and I smiled. Somehow, amidst all the kissing, Drew found his way on top of me. He rested all his weight on his forearms, just hovering there, while placing kisses up and down my neck, across my jaw, and on my lips. 

All too soon, Drew moved away, but still stood hovering over me. I whimpered from the lack of his touch.

“Arianna, I can’t,” he looked away guiltily, “if I don’t stop, my wolf won’t hesitate to mark you. I can’t do that against your will,” he whispered, finally meeting my eyes.

“Well then, Mr. Blake,” I leaned in so close that our noses were almost touching, “mark me,”

Drew looked astounded. He opened his mouth to protest, but I shut it with a kiss.

“Drew, please? I can’t risk not being with you,” I whispered.

His eyes bore into mine, that I almost got lost in their deep blue grey pools.

“I love you,” he whispered. Oh my god. He just said the three most magical little words of all time, and they were directed towards me! I did a little happy dance in my head, before grinning.

“I love you too,” His smile lit up, showing his elongated canines. Lowering himself to my neck, he placed a soft kiss at the joined part of the neck and arm, and bit in. 

A million sensations filled me, ranging from pain to lust, as the simmering bite mark reduced to a blissful feeling. I felt jolts of electricity travel through my veins, into each body part, and around again. He and I were now officially joined, and nothing could break us apart.

Drew kissed my mark again, sealing it. Our eyes met once more, and I leaned in to kiss him. Drew collapsed beside me, pulling me close to his warm body and began murmuring soft words into my ear. Before I knew it, I was drifting off into a blissful, Drew filled sleep.