Repost for those who didn't see it last night

*********

I dropped Jason off at his house when we got back. I had told him that I would probably be meeting with him again soon as well as with my father to discuss what steps we would take moving forward. 

When I walked into the house, my mom pulled me to the side with a slightly worried look in her eyes. 

"What's wrong? Is Allison-"

"She's in the living room. But Alarik, she's not well."

"What do you mean she's not well?"

"She woke up about two hours ago screaming." My body went tense at her words. "I sat her in the living room with a herbal mint tea. She hasn't moved or said a word since."

I wasn't looking at my mom, my eyes were fixed on the wall behind her, my mind racing a million miles a second. 

"Alarik, she needs help. She needs professional help."

I looked at her then. 

"What do you think that's going to do?"

"She needs to talk to someone about what happened."

"She can talk to me."

"I don't think that's a good idea," my mother said pointedly. 

"And why not?"

"Can you really sit there and listen to what she has to say? Your my son, and I know you so well. There is no way you would be able to stay impartial and that's something she needs. She needs someone to talk to, she needs someone to just listen."

I didn't want to listen to what my mom had to say anymore. It doesn't matter what she thought, what matters is what Allison wants. I go around her and into the living room, sitting next to Allison on the couch. 

She's staring blankly at the TV that isn't on, a mug between her hands. 

"Hey," I say setting a hand on her leg. 

Allison jumps slightly, wide eyes turning to me. A small smile finds it's way to her lips. 

"Hey," she whispers.

I reach out, taking her left hand in mine. My thumb rubs over the ring on her finger. 

"How are you doing?"

Her eyes are trained on her hand in mine, watching my thumb as it moves. 

"I'm fine." 

Her voice doesn't sound convincing, but I can also tell she doesn't want to talk about it. I'm stuck between trying to find medium ground between what she wants to do and what would be good for her. She doesn't want to talk about what's bothering her, but will holding it up inside help her with it?

Allison takes her hand out of mine and places it back on the mug. She starts retreating back into herself and I know that something needs to be done. 

"Allison, my mom and I were talking and she thinks that maybe you should see someone."

"What do you mean?" She looks at me straight on now. Her eyes accusatory. "Do you think there's something wrong with me or something?"

"No, no. Of course I don't think there's something wrong with you. We just think that you've been through a lot."

"I'm fine." Her voice is sharp, short. 

"Allison. You shouldn't be fine." The more she talked, the more I was starting to agree with my mother. Allison wanted to act stong, but put on a brave face and pretend that she was perfectly fine. While I hadn't agreed with my mother at first about her needing to see someone, I knew that she shouldn't be fine. She'd been through so much; more than I even knew. 

"I think it would help you to talk to someone. It's okay to need help."

I could see her fighting back tears. I could feel how much she was trying to keep back from me. She had built up a wall around herself. It was amazing how well she was able to manipulate the bond given how new it was. 

But the effort that she was putting forth made me want to press her further. I knew she was trying to hide it and I wanted her to let it out. 

"I don't need to talk about it. There's nothing to talk about."

"Gods, Allison! You were kidnapped and held as a prisoner for two months. You had a bullet in your leg, you have that scar on your arm, you looked like you hadn't slept the entire time you were there. You can not be fine."

There was a loud crack as she slammed the mug down on the table next to the couch. Allison stood up and stormed out of the room not even looking back. I heard the back door slam and not too much longer, a howl broke through. 

I put my head in my hands, pinching the bridge of my nose and taking deep breaths. I then got up and went out back. I jogged to the trees and stripped down before shifting into my wolf and running after Allison. 

I was getting closer and as soon as she could tell I was, she started running away. I went faster, trying to predict her movements, what she would do. 

I went up a hill, one that would go around and cut her off. I got met her just before she got passed and she skidded to a stop, leaves flying around her paws. 

She let out a low growl, looking me straight in the eyes. 

I did nothing, just looked at her. 

Get out of my way! She shouted directly to me. 

I'm not letting you run away from me. 

I just need to be alone.

No you don't. 

She may say that she wanted to be alone, and she may think that she does, but I knew leaving her alone right now would be the worst thing I could do. She was hurting, maybe not physically, but she was hurting. 

I stepped toward her and another low growl traveled from deep in her throat. I just shot her a glare in return. I wanted to snap. She may be my mate, she may having a hard time, but I was still an Alpha. I didn't take well to others confronting me like that. 

I kept walking toward her. Her growl got louder. I ignored it. 

As I got closer I could see blood on her back leg. Even though her leg should have been nearly healed, she'd managed to pull the stitches and open it back up. 

I kept walking until we were standing nearly nose to nose. I could feel her body trembling, I could feel that it was for multiple reasons. Anger, fear, pain.

She wanted to run but she couldn't. I nuzzled my face to hers.

I heard small whimpering sounds, barely audible.

Shh. It's okay. I'm here for you. 

I could feel my heart ache for her. She was clearly shaken but she didn't want to admit any of it.

Alarik, please just back away. Leave me alone. 

I'm not going to leave you alone again, Allison. I'll always be here. 

Well can you be here while being somewhere else please? I need space right now. 

I stepped back looking at her. I was hurt by her words, but more than that, I was worried. Once again I was trying to figure out a middle ground to what she wanted and what she needed. I couldn't force her to be around me though as much as I would like to. I couldn't keep her by my side twenty-four seven. It wasn't practicle for either of us. 

So, I left. I went past her, back the way I'd come. I shifted back and put my clothes before going into town. I went to the only place I thought might help. I went to Cassie. 

After she yelled at me for not telling her that Allison had been back, and after I'd explained that she was supposed to be resting and that's why I hadn't, she finally let me talk. 

I'd told her what Allison had been like, how she'd run off and refused to let me be near her. 

Cassie promised to try to talk to her and she thanked me for finding her. There hadn't been any choice in the matter, there was no way I would have possibly left Allison out there. 

I made my way back home, feeling only slightly better with Cassie's promise to talk to her friend. I wished there was something I could do to help Allison, but I was at a loss for what it could be. I should have known that getting her back wouldn't be the last of our problems. There were going to be lasting effects of what had happened. 

If I could, I would bring O'Brian back and kill him again. I would torture him in the way he'd made her suffer for two months. I hoped he was burning in the pits of hell, never to get freedom again. It was what he deserved. 

***************

It appears that their rough patch isn't over yet. Allison has some things she still needs to deal with. 

Remember to comment your thoughts and what not. And if you liked the chapter, please don't hesitate to give the chapter your vote. Thanks!