Hey everyone...sorry if this isn't the most interesting chapter. It's more of a filler :P

Chapter 36

I felt pain in my lower back, the kind that came with lying down for too long. I tried to lift my arm but it was like my muscles were so used to being stationary that it was more difficult than it usually was. The same thing happened when I tried to pry my eyes open. Panic began to overcome my body when I heard my mate’s voice. At least my ears still work, I huffed to myself.

I decided to focus on what Logan was saying, seeing as I couldn’t do anything else at the moment. “Logan, considering what happened, we should-,” I heard Ethan say; the sound of my mate growling cutting him off.

“Drop it.” He snapped. “I’m staying here with her. If I leave, and she wakes up without me here she’ll-.” He caught himself; deciding to sigh instead of finishing his sentence, much to my annoyance. I tried to open my eyes again; succeeding this time as the sight of my mate sitting on the bed I was currently lying on, by my hip, came into view.

A quick inspection of the room made me realise that we were in our bedroom back at the Blood Moon Pack Alpha house; my body now clad in one of Logan’s shirts, hidden from the waist down by the thick black duvet on the bed. I brushed my fingers against my mate’s hand which was crumpling the bed spread with agitation; his knuckles white from how tight a hold he had on it. “Logan.” I muttered; my voice raspy from lack of use.

My mate’s face was hovering over mine in a second; his expression one of pure relief. “Chelsea, you’re awake.”

My throat was too dry for me to speak. “Water.” I forced out. He understood immediately, helping me up as he passed me a glass of water. I wanted to argue that I could sit without his help, but I could tell that I really couldn’t; leaning into him for support as I emptied the large glass of crisp, cool liquid in one breath.

“I’ll tell the others she’s awake.” I heard Ethan mumble, leaving the two of us as he slipped out the door. My mate barely heard him as his eyes remained glued to me.

After I finished my third glass, Logan crushed me to his chest; rocking me back and forth slowly as he buried his face in my hair. “I was so worried about you. You’ve been unconscious for three days now. The doctor said you were hit so hard you had a concussion.”

My eyes widened; his words making me recollect the events of the last night I remember. The panic from earlier immediately attacked me again, my whole body going cold as various, horrific scenarios of what could have happened while I was unconscious filled my mind. “What happened while I was out?”

I felt Logan stiffen from the reminder of what had happened to me. “Your brother found you a few hours after you left the house. He said that whoever knocked you out didn’t do anything but leave you bleeding on the ground.” He growled in an agitated tone. I pulled away and met his gaze; stroking his cheek as if to tell him to calm down.

My eyes studied my mate’s tired face; his hair standing out in all directions as if he’d run his hand through his hair a few hundred times before I’d woken up. His eyes were surrounded by dark circles; my fingers brushing against the stubble on his jaw. He hadn't looked that bad since the time I'd left a while ago.

“Did you find out who did it?” I asked in a whisper.

He shook his head. I saw something flash in his eyes but it was gone before I could properly catch it. “No, but when I do, they’re fucking dead.”

I could see that he was slowly becoming more and more enraged; his eyes darkening as his arms around my body began to shake. I pulled the collar of the shirt I was wearing away from my neck; peering inside. I met his confused gaze with a smirk playing on my lips. “Who changed me?”

A smirk of his own appeared on his face; relief filling me as I felt my distraction working to release some of Logan’s pent up rage, through our bond. “I did, of course. I had to get Jen to remove your makeup though.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck; giving him a chaste kiss. “Did you realise that you left me without a bra?”

His smirk turned devilish. “Yes I did.” He mumbled; his now gray eyes dropping to my lips. From there, conversation ended for a while.

***
I walked downstairs; watching my feet despite the knowledge that my mate would catch me if I tripped, his hold tightening around my waist. I had already showered and was now dressed in another one of Logan's shirts'; wearing a pair of cotton shorts under it. And yes, I had a bra on.

My mate protested to my clothes being too revealing but a few kisses and a pouty face mixed with my 'it's comfortable' argument put an end to his whining. The moment my feet touched the ground, I was scooped up into Jake's arms; the rest of my visitors, Ethan, Sam, Dylan and Jackie watching my reaction a few feet behind him. "Chelsea, I'm so sorry for what I said."

I remained motionless as he continued to cling to me; taking in lungful after lungful of my mate's scent as I forced my wolf from forcing her way to the surface and ripping Jake apart. I kept my hands gripped at my sides; refraining myself from reacting. I finally managed a wordless nod.

My brother pulled away; giving me a saddened look. "Chelsea?"

I turned my cold, emotionless stare on his face. "I would like for you to leave now." I articulated curtly.

His eyes widened in disbelief. "You're not serious."

My eyebrows pulled together in impatience; my fingers gripping the bridge of my nose. "Yes I am." I turned to Logan. "Could you get him out of here please?" My mate opened his mouth to protest; though he closed it when he noticed my impassive expression.  Are you sure? He asked hesitantly. You might regret this later on. He mumbled; his voice resigned.

Some of my anger melted in response to his sweetness, but I didn’t budge on my decision. I’m sure. I just can’t do this right now. I admitted.

My mate gave me an understanding look before he went over and seized Jake's arm; my brother ripping it away the moment Logan's fingers touched his skin. "Get off!"

My mate narrowed his eyes. "You have to leave right now." My brother shook his head in response; keeping his pleading gaze on me.

"Please Chelsea, just talk to me!"

"I have nothing to say. And frankly you've said enough already." I snapped; turning to leave. I felt hands roughly grab at the back of the shirt I was wearing. I felt panic for a moment when I began to fall backwards; breathing a sigh of relief when his hand wrapped around my upper arm when I was not two inches from the hard ground.

His arms gripped my shoulders painfully as he spun me around; shaking me as if that would help in pleading for my forgiveness. I shoved him away. "What the hell is your problem?! I could have fucking fallen! Are do you just not give a damn about what you do to me?!" I shrieked; my voice raising an octave.

He ran a hand through his hair; irritated. Yeah, well that makes two of us! I snapped mentally. "I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking!" He tried; grabbing at my hand. "Chels please don't do this. Don't be mad, you can't be! I lost mom and dad, I can't lose you too!" He begged. “I’m sorry!”

"Well maybe you shouldn't have fucked up then." I snapped harshly right before Ethan and Logan shoved my thrashing, growling brother out the door; his wolf calling out to its sister that had no choice but to ignore him.

***

After everyone had calmed down from all the commotion, Jen fixed me a large stack of pancakes after my stomach had growled so loud it could have been mistaken for a shifter. She and Sam stuck with me in the kitchen while Dylan, Jackie, Logan and his Beta focused on getting Jake off of our territory. He updated me on the situation from time to time and from the sound of things, my brother wasn't being very cooperative; going as far as punching his best friend in the face a few times when Dylan had tried to get him into the car.

I sighed in frustration as I shoved another forkful of pancakes into my mouth. "Why can't he just leave?!" I said around my food. Sam rubbed my back; trying to calm me a little. It didn’t work.

A small smile appeared on Jen's face. "I'm glad that despite your accident, you haven't lost your feminine charm, Chels." She joked; sarcasm dripping from every word. She gave me a look as she stopped my hand that was gradually smashing my pancakes into a messy mound of dough from all of my agitation. "You have to understand, he's your brother. He was probably already beating himself up the moment he hurt you and he definitely felt worst about it when what he did led to your accident."

My eyes widened. "Are you saying I should feel sorry for him?!" I demanded.

She shook her head. "I'm not saying you don't have the right to be angry but I am saying that he feels bad enough already. There's no need for more guilt tripping." Sam nodded her head in agreement.

“She has a point Chels. I was talking to Jackie earlier and she told me that Dylan had been worried about Alpha Jake ever since that night. The only reason he left your side was because Logan had barged onto Delaney Territory with enough shifters to give your brother no choice but to allow him to bring you back here. The Alpha forced Alpha Jake to stay away.”

My eyebrows pulled together at the way they were defending my stupid ass brother. “If he really wanted to be by my side, he would have fought for it.”

They both gave me an incredulous look. Sam’s voice was filled with disbelief when she spoke. “Have you seen your mate angry?!”

My anger ebbed and I grew sullen; those horrible images returning to my mind. Jen reached out and grabbed my hand. “I have.” I muttered; my eyes dropping to my plate.

Sam drew back like my words had struck her. “What?” She asked; her voice below a whisper. “D-did he hurt you?”

I forced a smile to my lips. “Of course not!” I chirped; managing to sound like that was the most absurd thing she could have ever said. I could see that she didn’t believe me though; as she came over and hugged me tightly.

“Did he hurt you?” She asked again; sounding firmer this time.

I shook my head. “Not physically.”

She nodded as she hugged me tighter; I leaned my head on her shoulder. “And emotionally?”

“It was hell.” I admitted quietly. “But it’s in the past, and I’ve moved on.” I said confidently; more to convince myself than my friends.

Sam pulled me closer. “No, you haven’t.” And just like that my already damaged dams broke. My tears began to run as I buried my head in her shoulder. Jen came around and grasped both of us; sandwiching me in between them.

“No, I haven’t.” I managed in between sobs. “But, I-I’m w-w-working on it.” I forced out.

“Did what Alpha Jake said bring all those memories back?” Sam guessed quietly.

I nodded. “Y-yeah.” I mumbled; wiping my eyes as Jen and I pulled away.

Sam seemed to take that in. “Then I can see why you’re so pissed.”

I sighed. “Jen is right though. After all, he didn’t know.”

Jen smirked triumphantly; though I could tell she was trying to smile for my sake. "You know I am." She perked up; changing the subject. "It's almost my birthday by the way. What'd you get me?" She exclaimed; shaking my arms.

“Ooh, I got you the cutest little outfit; you’re going to love it.” Sam piped up from beside me. I just continued chewing; giving her a smirk.

"Fine, sit there and eat your pancake puree." Jen huffed; my mind more than happy to be thinking of something else as it began working out a plan for my bestie's birthday.