Viktor's POV

We had been interrogating the Rogues that we had caught the other day. They told us about their leader, who was forcing rouges to join him. We even got his location from them. I decided to check it myself. 

It was a secret mission and just Alpha and other two warriors who were accompanying me, knew about it. All the while I thought, this seemed too easy to get through. And I was right. It was a trap. The whole thing was a plot. They had made themselves caught by us. They gave in on our torture just in a day and started talking.

When we reached the location after a day-long run, 20 rouges were waiting for us. We walked straight into it. We were easily outnumbered. But then again it's not easy to take down warriors of the Pearl moon pack.

We killed them all, but the last one took out the dagger and slashed me with it deep, right above my heart. He again lifted his hand to stab my heart but his hands were ripped off by my man.

I was bleeding heavily. We ran back towards the pack house. I was pushing Rex to his full limits. He had started healing me which prevented infection. He was drained of all the energy by the time we reached. I had mind linked Jake, my best buddy and fellow warrior and he was already at the door to help me. 

I didn't want Jia to see me in this condition so didn't inform her about my return but she found out, I don't know how. I saw her standing at the door crying, looking at me with hurt in her eyes.

I cursed myself for being the reason for her pain. Still I was so happy to see her after these days. She came near taking a small step looking in my eyes, questioning me why I had left her without informing her. Then she saw the wound and gasped

"What happened?" she asked the doctor with sadness 

She was now avoiding looking in my eyes.

"It's nothing, just a.." I tried to speak but Doctor Tonia interrupted me.

"It is just a 10 inches long, 2 inches deep cut made within a silver dagger that was dipped in wolfbane. I need to stitch it up." She said,

Jia was now looking at it with horror, tears were running down her face. I looked at the Doctor and mindlinked Dr. Tonia.

'Great! Now fix it' I growled. She smiled.

"So Viktor, you found your mate, she is pretty." Doctor said.

"Yes she is, my Jia" I said proudly.

"Jia can you help me with this" doc asked and she nodded.

"Can you hold Viktor for me, while I stitch this up? It's going to hurt badly." 

Before she could say anything I pulled her with my hand across her waist and held her close to me. She hesitated a bit but then wrapped her arms around my neck and started rubbing my back to comfort me.

The warmth of her embrace, healed all my pain and tiredness. Rex was purring happily.

I looked at the doc and she winked at me, while working on my wound.

"All right, warrior , you are good to go. Take your medicine on time. Stay away from water for today and try not to move your arm. You may be strong but rest." Doctor Tonia gave her instructions after she had bandaged my wound and looked deep in my eyes. She was a smart lady in her mid-fifties. She knows me so well.

"What! No bath, I am stinking" I said frustrated.

"Sponge bath" doc told Jia and she nodded while helping me get off the bed.

Jake, who was standing at the corner, came forward to help me. I introduced Jia to him.

"Jia, that’s Jake, my best buddy and Jake this is Jia my mate." I said, holding her by my shoulders next to me.

"Hey Jia,"

"Hi"

We were walking towards our room and Jake was supporting me to walk with Jia walking in front of us.

"So Jia, how is it being mates with Viktor?" Jake asked Jia.

"I don't know, my mate keeps running away from me" she said not bothering to look at us

I was so taken back with her answer full of hurt that I stopped walking for a bit. Jake looked at me with big O formed on his lips and gestured his hand across his neck indicating 'I am dead'

We reached our room and Jake helped me to get in bed. He was about to leave when Jia called him.

"Do you have a mate Jake?" She asked him.

"Nooo! Still looking for her. Anyways I will take your leave. And rest" he said pointing his index finger to me.

Jia went to the bathroom, brought a wet towel and started with my sponge bath. I told her I can do it myself but she insisted. She was still not looking at me. When she came near to wipe my face I lifted her chin to look in her eyes. Tears started to well up again in her eyes. I rested my head to hers holding us together

"I am sorry" I said 

"Will it always be like this? Has it always been like this?" She asked in her broken voice.

Like what? " I got confused.

"Like, you going away without informing and coming back all injured." She was now looking in my eyes, searching for truth.

"Yes! Earlier no one noticed. But that's how it has been" I don’t  want to give her false hopes.

"Can you atleast manage the injury part?" She asked so innocently.

I smiled at her and kissed her forehead. She was so cute and innocent.

"Yes, I will try."

I took a small nap and rested while Jia prepared our dinner, spaghetti with meatballs. It was delicious. We were just gonna call it night when there was a knock at the door. Confused at who could be there, so late at night.

"I will get it" Jia went out to check.