Chapter 15

Everything hurt.

My body and my heart hurt. My heart was heavy with pain and guilt, whilst my body cried from pain. I'd done a lot more damage to Zariya, so why was I the one in an immense amount of pain? Still too tired to open my eyes, I focused on the sounds and scents around me. Everyone was here. Everyone including Aspro. I'd heard his voice, and he didn't sound happy.

"You let her near Valeria." He said. I didn't need to see Aspro to know he was mad. "You failed to protect her despite that being the only reason I asked you to come here."

"She didn't want my help." Mavros defended himself, his voice equally portraying anger at his brother's words. "I couldn't force her to hide behind me. She is a queen, brother. She can make her own decisions. Valeria knew what she was walking into when she agreed to fight with Zariya. I am not to blame."

"You still failed."

"Stop blaming me." Mavros hit something and it rang in my ears, adding to my headache. "I didn't come here because you asked."

"Then why did you come?" Aspro questioned. "Tell me, brother. What was your motive for coming here?"

"It doesn't concern you."

"Please," I heard Maya say. She sounded tired. Probably from crying after finding out about Logan's demise. "Stop arguing. It will not make her regain consciousness faster. I know my sister. She can be stubborn and she won't let anyone change her mind once she's made her mind up about something. No one is at fault here. No one is to blame."

Both brothers became quiet. Neither spoke a word of blame.

"How is Logan?" Aspro asked. "Has he woken up?"

"Not yet." Melody answered. "I checked with the doctors about an hour ago and they said he is fine. He will wake up soon."

"Zariya really messed with Valeria's head." Mavros sighed. "She lied about Logan's death just to rile this stubborn woman up."

What?

"I believe it was a warning." The friendlier twin said. "We need to have Logan on watch at all times or he'll die for real."

I shot up with a force that made me feel as though someone hit my head with a baseball bat. Mavros was the first to hold me, as he was the closest to the bed. I studied my environment. I was in a hospital room; I noticed. Then, I looked at everyone in the room, checking for signs of a prank or lie. I saw nothing. They were honest.

"Logan is alive?" I winced when I felt a sharp pain in my rib area.

Maya answered. "Yes. Zariya lied to you."

Relief flooded through me instantly, almost making my pain unnoticeable. I was that happy. "Can I see him? I want to see Logan."

"Not now." Mavros rubbed my back soothingly. "Rest. Maybe tomorrow morning."

I didn't argue. I was okay as long as he was still alive.

Maya tapped her mate. "Come on, let's go check on Red."

Drake got to his feet, walked over to my bed, and patted my back. "Get well soon, alright?"

I gave a smile in response. They all left the room, leaving me with both brothers. For minutes, no one said a word. I liked it. My head hurt too much for a conversation and I doubted I'd be able to make one without giving myself a more severe headache.

"Mavros?" Aspro called.

"Mm-hmm?"

"Can we talk?" he looked at me. "Outside."

"Okay." Mavros stood up and followed his brother outside, but not before patting my head lightly.

I did not know what they wanted to talk about, and I didn't really care. I was too happy to care. With a sigh, I sunk into the bed and shut my eyes. My rest was cut short when a nurse came into the room to check on me. She was a beautiful redhead.

"Good evening, your majesty." She greeted with a bow.

"Good evening." I cleared my throat. "May I have a glass of water? My throat is a little dry."

"Sure thing." She went over to the dispenser in the room's corner and filled a small plastic cup with water.

"Do I have a concussion?" I took the water from her and took a sip.

"No." She replied. "Just some bruises. Fortunately, you have no broken bone."

Thank goodness. Thinking back to how Zariya threw me, I thought I'd have a concussion. It's a good thing I was okay.

"You'll be good to leave tomorrow morning." She added with a smile. "I'll leave now."

"Thank you."

The young nurse bowed and left the room.

<<<>>>

It had been two hours and thirty-one minutes and I hadn't seen the two brothers. It made me wonder what they were up to. Just when the boredom was getting to me, my best friend poked her head through the door.

"Hey," she said, letting herself in. "How do you feel now?"

"I feel great." I followed her with my eyes as she sat down on the bed.

She nodded. "Good."

I noticed how she had shaky eye contact and fumbled with the hem of her shirt. She wanted to tell me something she thought was important. I had a feeling it had something to do with the bomb Carter dropped on me the other day.

"What do you want to talk about?" I questioned. "Is something going on?"

She finally met my eyes. "Carter told me about what happened. He told you we would leave the pack and go to Iceland until I give birth just so Zariya won't be able to harm the baby and me." She checked my face for signs of any reaction. I remained calm. She continued, "You know he meant well, don't you?"

"I understand his concern, Mel. I'd also hate to see you or the baby hurt. It'd kill me inside."

"After a lot of thinking, I've decided."

"You'll leave with him, right?"

"I'm staying."

"What?"

"You heard me." She looked down at her protruding stomach. "I'm staying, V. As your gamma, I am supposed to be with you till the end, no matter what comes our way. I signed up for this shit."

I didn't know if she was a good friend or just really crazy. She was risking her life and her baby's just so she could be by me. Something was definitely wrong with this woman. Melody was out of it. It was official.

"No."

"What do you mean, no?"

"You cannot and will not stay here. As long as you are around me, around this pack, your life is in danger. I cannot risk it. Carter was right. You need to leave."

Confusion clouded her eyes. "I thought you wanted me to stay."

"At first, I was annoyed at what Carter said, but now I think about it, it'd be selfish of me to allow you stay here. You have to leave."

"Well," she stood up. "I'm not going. I'll stay here, whether or not you like it."

Before I could think of a response, she pivoted on her heels and stalked out of the room. Just great.

Once again, I became alone.

<<<>>>

I hadn't realized I slept off until I opened my eyes to see Aspro stroking my hair like his brother had done. His touch was different, though. It didn't feel the same as to when Mavros did it. I didn't feel the butterflies or feel like a teenage girl. It felt like Zayne was touching my hair. Aspro felt like a brother to me.

"Did I wake you?" he removed his hand. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay." I carefully sat up. "Where is Mavros?"

I saw hurt in Aspro's eyes. "Why are you looking for him? I'm here, aren't I?"

I didn't know what to respond to that, so I kept quiet.

"Why aren't you saying anything? Do you wish he was here instead?"

"I never said so." I averted my eyes from his pained face. "I just wanted to know where he was."

Aspro breathed out a sigh. "Mavros is on a mission and he won't be back until tomorrow."

"Oh." was all I said.

We remained in an uncomfortable silence with me hoping someone would come in and make it less awkward. I had never felt this way with Aspro before. He always made me feel comfortable and at ease. It was strange how much things had changed. Maybe I was hanging out with his brother too much.

"I saw everything." Aspro broke the silence. His usually calm expression had morphed into one of anger and jealousy. "The kiss. I saw it."

I became speechless. I couldn't explain why I felt like I cheated on him and now I was being questioned for why I did it. It made me feel dirty.

"Why did you let him kiss you?" He queried. In his eyes were the accusations of a lover. "Do you like him?"

"What?"

"Do you love my brother?" he reiterated, much slower this time, as though he were speaking to a child.

"I," I refused to meet his eyes. Why couldn't I answer his question? What was wrong with me? "I, um..."

"You like Mavros." He asserted, standing to his feet. "Why? Is he better than I am?"

"Aspro,"

"Has he ever been there for you? Has he done anything except hurt you?"

"You don't understand."

"I understand, alright?" he pressed his lips together. "I went away for some days just so I could help you and when I return, you've already fallen for a man who has done nothing to deserve you."

I became annoyed. The way he spoke to me made me feel like he owned me. Like he owned my life and could tell me what I could and could not do.

"I can love who I want." I tried to maintain a calm expression. "You don't own me. We have nothing together, Aspro. You know it."

The rage in his eyes was a frightening sight for me because I had never seen him upset. I was used to a calm, kind, and loving god, not the one who looked like he could squeeze the life out of me.

"Then it's my brother you have something with." He nodded to himself. "Fine. Why Mavros? Of all the people you could fall in love with, you chose a person who will do nothing but get you into trouble."

"The same goes for you."

"Pardon? The same goes for me?"

"Yes." My head slowly began aching due to stress. "If you hadn't promised Zariya a family, I wouldn't be in the mess I am in. She wouldn't be threatening my family." My voice rose. "Logan wouldn't be on a hospital bed and neither would I. You do not differ from your brother."

His shoulders slumped in defeat and he sat back down. With his eyes trained on the white tiles, he said. "All I wanted was for you to be happy. With or without me." he looked into my eyes. "You loving my brother will only make things complicated. You could get punished."

"Aren't I suffering already? Do you think I'm happy with what is going on? A crazed spirit is forcing me into having a child with you and you think I enjoy her threats?"

"Can't it be someone else?" he reached for my hand and I pulled away. His hand hung in the air for some seconds before he retracted it. "Please reconsider your choice."

Once again, he got up and left the room.

I ran a hand through my hair. What was I to do? I felt awful about the way I reacted, but I also felt better for coming clean. I had somehow admitted my feelings for Mavros. It was dangerous and messy, yet I found myself falling more. I found myself thinking about the moment we shared in this bedroom and a strange urge to recreate them. I was fucked. Really fucked.

At first, the goddess took away my mate from me and now; she has left me with two brothers who have me confused. Whereas I felt like I owed one an apology, I wanted the other in my bed.

"What do I do?"

"What do you do with what?"

I shrieked. "What the bloody hell?"

When I heard the chuckle, I relaxed instantly.

"Darling, you scare easily." Mavros sat on the bed and kissed my cheek. "How do you feel?"

"Why are you here?"

I recalled Aspro saying he was away on a mission and would not be back until tomorrow. What was up?

He placed his hand on his chest, feigning hurt. "You don't want me here?"

"It's not that." I tried to ignore how he was drawing imaginary circles on my tummy. "Your brother said you wouldn't be back until tomorrow."

"Oh, yeah."

"Then why are you back?"

"Because I missed you."

The room temperature sweltered, and so did my cheeks. "Well, you've seen me now, haven't you?"

He hummed a response, still busy with tracing circles on my stomach.

"You can go finish that up."

He looked at me. "I'll leave after I get two things from you."

I raised a brow. "Which are?"

"An apology."

"For what? What did I do?"

"You hurt my feelings the other day after we kissed. The way you left made me feel like I had done something wrong, when clearly, I didn't."

He wouldn't understand. I was in shock and I was afraid. At that moment, I felt as though I had made a mistake I would be punished for later.

"I'm sorry for leaving like I did." An archaic smile formed on my lips. "Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?"

He nodded. "Yes, there is."

"What is it?"

"Kiss me."