I groaned in pain at my side and I opened my eyes. As if the pain there wasn't bad enough, I soon realized my head was throbbing like it had been cracked open.

"Good morning. Or I should say evening since it's eleven at night." I glanced over at Murphy as we walked over to me. Charlie and Kit were asleep on a couch across the room but quickly woke up at the sound of Murphy. It took me awhile to become orientated, Murphy performing some tests to make sure my brain was in working condition.

"What the fuck happened?" I groaned and took a sip of some water that Charlie held out to me.

"Apparently, you tried to save Amelia and got injured in the process." Kit informed me and I remembered the deer and my lip curled.

"Guess that's what I get for being nice." I snapped and Charlie frowned. I'm guessing he knew the real reason I tried to help and it definitely wasn't to save Amelia's life. If I were holding a glass of water and she was on fire, I'd drink the water. Let the bitch burn.

"Anyway, where is everyone else? Kinda figured Nixon would be in here all over me." I joked, but my smile fell quickly when I saw the other two looking everywhere else but me. "What's wrong?" I asked more serious before the doors to the room burst open and Julian walked in with fire on his heels.

"I'll tell you what's wrong! That cunt has been crying and whining about how it's all her fault and all she does is get people hurt. Obviously, that didn't work on Nixon because hello? His mate has a concussion and broken ribs. So what does she do? Threaten to kill herself to repent. So that's where my dearest brother is. Fallen for her lies and manipulation once again!"

"Wait seriously?" Kit asked, looking dumbfounded and Julian nodded his head. "I thought he was going to make sure she was okay and then come in here. I didn't know he was no babysitting her!"

Everyone began arguing back and forth about the situation but I couldn't find it in myself to join in. Did Nixon really decide to stay with her instead of coming to make sure I was okay? I mean, under any other circumstance I wouldn't be upset by that but this girl is clearly lying and the fact that everyone is seeing through her facade except him is becoming exhausting. But there was also a part in the back of my mind saying Amelia could be saying some truth. She could really feel upset and be thinking suicide was an option but you shouldn't just throw that term around to get attention. The others picked up on my silence and stopped talking to turn their attention on me.

"How are you feeling?" Julian asked softly and for some reason, the silent pity I could feel from them was aggravating. I didn't need their pity. If anyone thinks I'm just going to run away like a coward, they're sorely mistaken. I'm going to do what I have to do to stop this act Amelia is throwing and if that still doesn't work, I'll tell Nixon to his face I'm leaving. I'm not going to let myself stay in a position that makes me feel worthless and unwanted.

"Physically or emotionally?" I joked and Julian gave a small smile in response. "I'm actually pretty hungry."

"Well, let's go get the man some food then!" Charlie chirped and grabbed his mate and the brother by their arms before dragging them out of the room. I sat in quiet for a while before the door opened and I held my breath, praying it wasn't Nixon. As much as I wanted to bless him out, I was too exhausted to do it right now.

"Good news, you can go back to your room today," Murphy said as he walked in and I released the breath I was holding. "Bad news though. No strenuous exercise for the next two weeks. You broke several bones and while we have fast regeneration, bones take a little bit longer to heal than wounds." I thanked Murphy and he got busy getting me some medications for the pain I may have if I push myself too hard. I'm not going to lie, I was very uncomfortable being alone with Murphy. It seemed like everyone just magically forgot that he killed his whole family. Murdered them and put them in jars to use for his weird-ass experiments. Maybe he repented, but in my books, there's no coming back from that kind of behavior.

"Is someone coming to get you?" He asked as I was handed a little bag filled with pills. I wanted to be able to give a solid answer, but I didn't really know. "You've been in here for almost a month now, so walking may be a little difficult." My eyes nearly popped out of my head.

"I've been here for a month?!" I gasped in shock and Murphy just continued on with his thoughts.

"Your tibia and fibula were both shattered as well as two of your ribs. Breathing might hurt too. Try not to take deep breaths, although I guess that goes hand in hand with no strenuous exercise. Anyway, back to my original question, is someone coming to get you?"

If my head wasn't throbbing much before, it was now. "Uhm, I guess Charlie, Kit or Julian. They went to get me--"

"I'll be taking him back," Nixon announced as he walked into the room. I watched him with a blank expression as we made his way over to where my bed was and nodded to Murphy before looking at me. I was suddenly hit by a wave of strong ass perfume and my lip curled in disgust.

"Charlie, Kit or Julian will be coming to get me," I repeated myself to Murphy and I didn't miss how Nixon frowned.

"Drake--"

"As much as I love some juicy tea, I don't care much for couple drama." Murphy sighed as he shook his head before turning to me and pointing at the bag. "Take two of those anytime your pain starts to flare up. And judging from the permanent stank face you have going on, I'd say you should take some now. Unless that's just your face, in which case I don't have any medication to fix that." And with that, Murphy left the room and I was now alone with Nixon, the only sound filling the air being distant chatter from somewhere in the house. I felt like fighting at this point was useless and I really didn't want to start one when I was still recovering, but my brain kept saying I needed to get this situation fixed asap, so...I decided to put it all out in the open.

"I don't like her."

"Babe, stop--"

"No, let me talk dammit!" I snapped and Nixon pursed his lips. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. "How would you feel if my first love showed up and while I swore I didn't have feelings for her, I still was with her more than you? You would be beyond pissed. I know this because you get upset when I'm hanging out with Travis, my straight best friend. I know I said I would be friends with her for your sake and I had every intention to try, but I see right through her act. Everyone does!" I opened my eyes to see Nixon looking really offended and I gritted my teeth.

"Amelia came here only to patch things up with me. She's a wolf-like us. SHe understands what having a mate means and accepts that I have moved on. All I've wanted is to find closure with my parent's death and Amelia disappearance so I can be happier. Is that so wrong of me to want to pursue a friendship with her?"

"Yeah, it is," I answered immediately because I was tired of playing the pitiful mate. I'm always biting my tongue and trying to be polite while everyone around me keeps pushing me to show how much of a dick I can be, and I'm at my breaking point. "If it were anyone else, there would be no problem. In fact, if she wasn't a conniving manipulative bitch, I would have no problem with you wanting to be her best friend--"

"Don't call her a bitch. She's not a bad person!" Nixon snapped and I couldn't help but move my head back to look at him in shock.

"Are you seriously going to defend her?" I questioned. "Nixon, the fact that you are so blind to what she is doing is concerning. Our relationship was going extremely well until she showed up, and now she has no problem in doing things to keep us separated." I waited for him to respond, but he was clammed up now, making me let out a heavy sigh. "You know what let's just stop this back and forth. Stop lying to me. That's all I'm asking from now on."

"Drake, I haven't lied about anything!" My mate argued but there was no time for retaliation because the doors opened up to reveal Charlie and Kit walking back in with a plate of food. They both slowed their steps when they saw Nixon in the room and Charlie immediately looked concerned.

"Everything okay in here?" Kit asked slowly and I nodded my head before Nixon could speak.

"I've been discharged. Could one of you bring me back to my room? I would love to get some good sleep in a comfortable bed."

"Drake, let me take you." Nixon tried and I met him with a glare.

"Don't you have a friend who needs watching?" I asked, referring to Amelia and my little comment didn't seem to appease Nixon because I could see his jaw tighten as he turned away and walked out of the room, slamming the door behind him. It was silent in the room as Kit and Charlie kept looking at each other to try and figure out who should speak first and I'm guessing they decided on Kit.

"Has he done something?" He asked softly and I actually laughed at that which caused Kit to blink rapidly in surprise.

"When hasn't he done something?" I chuckled. "This whole relationship is going to shit because of that bitch."

"What has he been lying about?" Charlie questioned and I pursed my lips in thought. I wasn't really one for gossip and drama, so sharing my personal life wasn't ever ideal to me but I could tell the two just wanted to better understand the situation and help. They obviously knew a thing or two about fighting and rejection.

"He's just always with her. Always. I would believe they were just hanging out together but he always reeks of that cheap ass perfume she wears. I had girlfriends. The only way his whole body would smell like that is if he was hugging and touching upon her or he's bathing in it himself, and I highly doubt the latter."

Charlie poked his bottom lip out in thought. "Have you asked him about it? I mean, I haven't known him for long but he doesn't look like the type to lie." He then looked st Kit to see if he would back him up, most likely because out of the three of us, Kit knew him longer.

"Charlie has a point. Nixon has never lied or given us a reason to question his actions." Charlie looked satisfied with that answer and I could tell he was trying desperately to help fix my relationship, but I was losing hope. "But—" This wiped the small smile off Charlie's face and he looked at his mate. "Nixon has been acting different since she's been here."

Now, this was interesting. Now it wasn't just Julian and me noticing the difference. "How so?" I inquired and Kit looked like he was trying to find a way out of it but there was no way I was letting that happen. After a while, he sighed and put his hands on his hips.

"He keeps missing training." My eyebrows shot up at that information and my eyes widened in surprise. I distinctly remember him saying goodbye to me in the mornings because he had training, and now I'm learning he's been missing it. "He said it's because he's trying to help Amelia find a place to stay in town."

"Ha! Bull fucking shit! That bitch just wants him around her so she can try and get him back. I've about had enough of this shit." I snapped and moved over to get out of my bed. As soon as my injured foot moved forward, I felt my knee giving out and I started to fall before Kit hurried forward and caught me.

"You've been bedridden for a while, hold onto me while we walk so you don't fall." He suggested and I nodded my head, secretly hating how weak I was. Charlie gathered my things, helping to put some sweats and a baggy T-shirt on me, and walked on my other side as we left the room and headed up to mine. We made small talk on the way there and once in front of my door, I started to remove Kits hand.

"I've got it from here," I assured him and he looked reluctant, but stepped back so I could open the door. I took my things from Charlie and we said our goodbyes before I shuffled in the room and closed the door. Leaning against the wall, I glanced around the place and sighed. Clothes were everywhere and the bed was a mess, but what caught my attention was my pillow lying in the middle of the bed, almost like someone has been holding it while they slept. I couldn't fight the frown that formed on my lips and I could feel my eyes getting moist. Was I being over dramatic with this whole situation? I didn't feel like I was, but when I see something like this...it makes me wonder. He clearly still cares. The feeling of wanting to curl up in the bed in breathe in his scent was overwhelming and I pulled away from the wall to move towards the bed. I heard the door open behind me just as my leg gave out on me and fell to the ground, groaning in pain as my jaw hit the floor hard.

"Shit!" I heard Nixon say behind me and I immediately felt his arms pulling me up and helping me to the bed. I rubbed at my sore chin and sighed in frustration as he helped lay me down. Then that scent of perfume hit my nose and I groaned and started smacking his hands away.

"Drake stop. Let me help you!" Nixon said with impatience and I continued to smack his hands away. "Drake—"

"I don't want you touching me or being around me if you smell like her! Go take a shower and then try again." I argued, causing Nixon to huff and I expected him to give up and walk away, but instead, he started stripping and dammit if my lower half didn't throb at the sight of his naked body. No Drake! You're supposed to be mad! Thankfully, he closed the door to the bathroom and I heard the shower turn on. I took the time to recollect myself and try and think of how to make this work.

I felt really stupid and childish.

Drake cares about me and I know that. I'm sure if Amelia was trying to start something with him, he would reject her. He's made it very clear from the beginning that he only has eyes for me, so why am I still fighting with him about this? My thoughts were interrupted when the bathroom door opened and Nixon emerged, bringing with him a cloud of scent that was my body wash. I raised an eyebrow at him and he shrugged his shoulders.

"You said I smelled like her." He simply answered and I let out a small chuckle. From my position on the bed, I watched as Nixon towel dried his hair and threw on some boxers before climbing in beside me. He seemed very hesitant in being near me and I grew tired of his timid attitude, grabbing his arm and pulling him towards me.

"I'm not mad anymore." This caused Nixon to look at me in shock. "Well I mean—I still kinda am, but not really." The corners of his mouth turned up and I yelped in surprise as he pulled me into a bear hug. My ribs were throbbing at the sudden action, but I didn't want to say anything. I'd missed his hugs so much that I didn't want this moment to end.

"Drake, I'm going to say this and I will continue to repeat as long as you need me to. I only love you. It's only ever going to be you. Amelia is my past and that's where she stays." I decided a response with words wasn't enough, so instead, I leaned in and gave him a gentle kiss. As I pulled away and we stared at each other, the raw passion that surrounded us became unbearable, but I knew we couldn't do anything because of my injuries so I had to push Nixon away a little.

"Murphy said I can't do any intense movements. I'm still healing." I spoke quietly and while I was expecting Nixon to agree and let us go to bed, he did exactly what I wanted him to do.

"We don't have to have sex." He smirked, sitting up on the bed so he could hover over me. His hands slowly moved down my chest and when they reached the waistband of my sweatpants, he slowly slipped his fingers underneath, the coolness touching my burning skin and making me jolt. "You just stay right there and I'll take care of you all night." He said seductively.

And take care of me did.