Chapter 92

(Maya POV)
My body felt heavy, pulling me closer to the ground and if it had not been for the support of my uncle, I would have easily fallen to meet it. Every move felt like it took the wind out of me, and my breaths were sharp and heavy. I had never felt so pent before in my life, but thankfully we soon arrived at the office where my mate were waiting for me. As soon as the door opened, they stood and rushed to meet us.

“She will be weak for now, but hopefully by tomorrow it will ease up a bit and she will feel a bit more normal. Or a different version of normal for her.” My uncle said offering a sympathetic smile before turning and leaving us alone.

“Oh baby are you ok?” Tommy asks wrapping an arm around my waist and holding on for dear life.

“Yeah, I just feel out of it. My body feels strange, different.” Is all I am able to get out before I start to feel dizzy.

“We will get you home soon so you can rest.” Noah says running a finger through my hair to move it out of my face.

A moment later the door opens, and the witch and my brother enter.

“How are you feeling sis?” Freddie asks.

“Like I was hit by a truck.” I say with a half laugh before I winced in pain.

“That will pass. It was a very extensive procedure, you released far more energy than I had anticipated. In must say, it was an impressive spectacle! The amount of power inside you is immense and I can see why so many have tried to get their hands on it.” The witch says.

“Yeah well, I’m just like everyone else, at least for a while.” I reply.

“No Maya, you aren’t like everyone else. No one should be able to contain that much power within them without it killing them. You are unique and extremely special.
Remember that.” She says giving me a soft smile.

I nod, but I only wish I believed it. Maybe my body was strong enough to contain the power, but I was still a student at trying to use and control it. My mind was weak, and my lack of faith in myself was my poison. People think that if they tell you how special you are over and over it makes it easier to believe, but it feels like something too high to live up to. I was nothing before I came here, not even a wolf and not much of a human either. I was average, nothing special.

So suddenly being told I was this person who everyone would look to was asking me to become someone I didn’t even know. I wanted to believe, with everything in me that I could do this. That I could be someone who could lead, fight, and protect my kind but could I be that person when faith was in short supply?

“I can take you all home if you are ready.” Freddie says pulling me out of my thoughts.

“Please.” I say with a relieved smile.

I was huddled into the back seat of an SUV with a mate on each side and two more behind us in the third row of seats. They all had at least one hand on me, letting me know they were there, and I was glad. They still cared even though I was so weak, and that was something I needed right now. The car ride was quite with only the sound of the pavement under the tires slowly lulling me to sleep. I was exhausted and I felt safe even if I was weaker now. I had four amazing mates and my brother around me and it felt like….home.

The warmth I felt was something I had not thought about much with my mind constantly trying to keep me running, but this was my home. Being with these guys was all I needed to feel like I was safe, not a place…them. I needed them, for once I was completely helpless and I needed them. I couldn’t fight if I wanted, and I couldn’t run. And that made me smile. I had a family who would fight and protect me with everything they have, who would take care of me. Since my parents died, I felt like I was wondering and lost.

I had never been on my own before. I had never lived alone, or really done anything for myself. So, until now I was trying so hard to figure out how to take care of myself, to fight for myself, to make myself better. Now, I couldn’t do any of those things and I was glad. The thing is, being the one who handles everything and carrying the world on my shoulders was hard. It took everything in me to just keep fighting, and I was tired. So, for once I welcomed the help, love, and care from my little family.

Because I realized then and there, it’s ok to feel weak and tired. It’s ok to not be everything for everyone! I was not in this alone, and it was my turn to let someone else take care of me again. I could help but let out a content sigh at the thought of just letting my four amazing mates shower me with all their love and enjoy every second. I owed them this, for them to feel like I needed them. They were always chasing after me or being overlooked in way of whatever crisis we had to face, but for now I could give them this.

I owed them.

So, when we arrived home and I stepped out of the car only to have my legs give out on me, I let Tommy carry me to the house because he wanted to feel needed just like I did.

“I’ll be back tomorrow to see you off, ok Maya?” Freddie called out after us, and I turned to him and nodded.

Tomorrow we face the council, but tonight I was free.

Tommy carried me inside and set me down on the couch very slowly and carefully and I wanted to tell him I was fine, but I let him fuss for a minute.

“Can we get you anything? Are you hungry? Thirsty?” Eli asked anxiously.

“I could use hugs and lots of them!” I say holding my shaky arms out to welcome them.

They laughed and huddled around me, each wrapping an warm around and squishing me in the best group hug ever. We laughed and after a few moments we parted, but they each also left a kiss on my lips, forehead and cheeks.

“Now seriously…hungry? Thirsty?” Eli asked again making me laugh more.

They were cute when they worried.

“I could go for a grilled cheese and a coke!” I said happily.

“A girl after my own heart!” Tommy said pretending to be hit with an arrow straight to the heart.

“One grilled cheese and coke coming up!” Eli says standing and heading for the kitchen.

“Make that two!” Tommy calls out.

“Three!” Noah added.

“I shall try it as well!” Thomas adds lastly in his unique manner.

Eli stopped and gave the guys a nasty look before turning and heading into the kitchen.

“What else do you need? A blanket!” Tommy yelled and quickly stood and rushing toward the hallway closet and pulling out a super fuzzy blanket.

He rushed over and set it neatly in my lap and it felt like heaven was touching my skin. Before I could speak up in thanks, Noah sat beside me and pulled some of the blanket on him and wrapped an arm around my shoulder.

“Star Wars?” He whispered with hopeful eyes.

“Definitely!” I replied with a wide smile.

He smiled and navigated on the TV until Return of the Jedi started. Tommy fussed with the blanket a bit more before sitting on the other side of me and taking my hand in his a squeezing tight. I laughed softly at their antics but found them completely sweet and very us. Thomas sat nearby and was immediately taken into the film and I glance at him every so often only to find him laser focused on the movie. His eyebrows furrowed at certain scenes and I smiled at how cute he looked.

A few minutes later Eli walked in balancing several paper plates on top of each other and cokes in the crook of his arm.

“Order up!” He called out and we all turned and grabbed one of each and began eating immediately.

We all called out our thanks and sounds of enjoying the taste of the combination. We ate happily and watched the movie happily, but about halfway through the two sitting beside me were pulled away and Eli took Noah’s place and told Thomas to sit on the other side where Tommy had been. Eli intertwined our hands and leaned in and kissed my temple before turning to the movie again. We had never really established a system of splitting up times in a way that really worked, but I guess this was something. Thomas didn’t do anything at first, maybe because our relationship had always been a bit different.

He was not overly physical like the others, relying on our special bond as a way to feel connected to me but for now that part of me was gone. He looked to me as if to ask permission to touch me, and I softly nodded holding my hand out for him to take. He seemed unsure but took it and a soft smile appeared on his face. This was different for us, but in no way bad. His grip tightened and he forgot all about the movie choosing to watch our hands instead.
It wasn’t that we were never physical, but it wasn’t like this often. Maybe it was more the fact that he couldn’t feel anything more than our skin against each other. It made me think, if I never regain my power and that part of me is gone, how would things change between us? Would he mind the change, being more physical and less mentally bonded?

Once the movie ended, I had concluded that he wouldn’t mind at all when he didn’t let go of my hand.

“So, we should let you rest well tonight. We can sleep in our own rooms so you can rest.” Noah said looking a little disappointed.

I usually slept with at least one of the guys when we were together, on occasion even two of them. I didn’t want that to change but I also couldn’t decide, but would the boys all be willing to sleep in one bed together?

“Can’t we all sleep together? I would rather not be alone.” I offer.

They looked to each other and there was an air of awkwardness, but Tommy stood and placed his hands on his hips.

“For you I will happily spoon Noah!” He said proudly.

“Uh what? Why me?” Noah asks.

“Because I know you will keep your distance unlike Eli who is a cuddler.

“I like to cuddle Maya not you!” Eli retorted.

And so on it went, until we ended up just falling asleep in various positions on the couches. Me leaning into Thomas’s arms and Eli clinging to the other side of me. Tommy and Noah sleeping on opposite ends of the other couch, a mess of limbs and blankets. It was a mess, and it was perfect! One last night of us just being us, before I finally face the council.