When I opened my eyes the next morning, my head felt heavy, well, my entire body felt like it was being weighed down with boulders. I vaguely remembered the nurses shoving something into my IV the night before, telling me it would 'help me sleep despite the pain'.

The sound of a muted groan made me sit up, turning my head the left. And right there next to my hospital bed, was Alpha Allen, sleeping on a small fold-out bed with blue sheets.

I swallowed hard. The thought of him having slept right next to me all night made the hairs on my arms raise. But soon enough that uncomfortable feeling was replaced by another one. Bathroom.

I gritted my teeth as I turned around, my ribs disagreeing profusely. I put my right hand around the IV pole, using it for support as I stood up. A small tug on my finger made me look down, and unthinkingly, I removed the clip on my index finger.

The heart monitor went crazy, a loud alarm beginning. I reached back for the clip as fast as I could, my legs giving under beneath me, now that I didn't have the IV line for support. A strangled yelp left me when I landed on my side, the entire right side of my body screaming in pain.

The only thing I felt, besides the pain, was something touching my head. The sides of my head, stroking my hair, touching my cheek. I gasped for breath, the pain coursing through my entire body, making it impossible to think. I felt tears on my cheeks, and not long after I felt other hands all around me. Some on my side, another one on my head, a few more on my hand. That also felt weird ... wet. And warm. As if someone was pouring warm water over it.

My weight disappeared underneath me, and I was laid down on something soft- probably the bed. I heard voices, they weren't loud, just rushed, panicked. Except one, one was mad, and also became loud as seconds went by. Something tugged on the top of my left hand, and I felt my face grimace at the feeling.

Seconds later, relief flooded through my body as the pain numbed, the voices becoming clear again.

"... ow exactly is it my fault Alpha Allen that you can't seem to keep your mate in place, huh? This is the second time she's gotten hurt trying to escape you, within two days- was the first time my fault too? Was it?"

A hellish roar made the room go quiet, Actually, for a second I was quite sure the entire world shut up. I sobbed at the sound- it was terrifying.

"You better watch your mouth, doctor Lancaster, I have already informed your coworker of the consequences of defying and disrespecting me, don't think for even a second it doesn't apply to you as well,"

The doctor didn't answer - or at least I didn't hear it if he did.

I heard footsteps, and a door opening and closing, and then the room was quiet again.

He touched my face gently, nuzzling my cheek, occasionally stroking my hair. I don't know how long I just laid there, feeling him soothe me. He broke the silence first. "Are you alright, love?"

"I'm ... not really no," I whispered, my drugged brain not giving me an opportunity to think through my words.

"Love, I know you're in pain but..." His voice cracked at the end, and I heard him take a few more deep breaths. I didn't' even bother opening my eyes. "But I have to ask you, why did you try to run away again?" he whispered, pain so evident in his voice that I could barely imagine what his face must be looking like right now.

"I didn't try to... run. I ... needed bathroom..." the words muddled together when they left my lips, even though I had a 5-minute long explanation as to why he shouldn't kill me.

I sighed, taking my hand and rubbing it softly with his thumb. "Love, why didn't you just wake me? I told you yesterday that I'd help you when you needed to use the bathroom, or needed help with anything else,"

I hummed, my jaw feeling too heavy to move.

"Your parents will be arriving around 4, and I'll have them driven home somewhere between 8 or 9.... I can probably stretch it to 10 if you'd like," he stroked my hair, and I felt his lips on my temple. "Just relax, for now. I'll wake you a few hours before they arrive, then we can get a small bit to eat, and you can get yourself freshened up from your nap," he whispered.

"I ... bathroom..." I mumbled.

"Oh, of course, sorry," he said. I was completely limp in his arms as he carried me to the bathroom and sat me down. He asked me if I needed help, to which I shook my head frivolously, almost falling forwards onto the bathroom floor. Alpha Allen stabilized me, and seconds later I heard the door closing behind him.

I was placed back on the bed, my head slightly clearer now that I had had the opportunity to splash a bit of water into my face, but I still felt like I could easily doze off for a month or two.

I heard something scraping against the floor. I opened a single eye, to find Alpha Allen on a chair with a computer in his lap. Without looking at me, he reached for my hand. I didn't have the energy to move it, so I just closed my eyes, falling asleep with his thumb nuzzling my hand.

***

My eyes stirred as something stroked my hair. I squeezed them shut at the pain in the back of my head- this must be what a hangover feels like.

"Love, wake up. Your parents will be here in a few hours,"

My eyes shot open at his words. I sat up as quickly as possible, looking around. The fold-out bed was still beside me.

Alpha Allen was right beside me on the other side, smiling. He stroked my hair, before standing up, walking to the small dining table at the end of my bed. A small pile of neatly folded clothes was on top.

"I wasn't quite sure what kinds of clothes you preferred, so I went to my little sister for advice- so if it's awful do not blame me," he said with a little smile, picking up the clothes, placing them on my bedside table. Next to a hairbrush and a roll-on deodorant that I hadn't even noticed.

He walked out the door, leaving me alone to change. I reached for the clothes pile, everything falling apart as I picked it up. I sighed, looking at the clothes. My face became beat-red at the sight of the very lacy white panties and matching bra.

I put it on as quickly as I could, throwing glances at the door every few milliseconds to make sure he wouldn't barge in while I was changing.

I held the shirt in front of me for a second. It was dark blue, like the flowers, and the dress, probably a size too big. I put it on, enjoying the soft feel of the fabric. An instance at work suddenly flashed before my eyes - it was my first or second day working there. I had been carrying a tray with maybe 7 cups of hot beverages, and as I had been setting it down onto the table, I tripped over a floorboard, and I had spilled some coffee over a lady who had then spent twenty minutes screaming at me about ruining her cashmere sweater- ending up in me crying all throughout my break.

At last, I was sitting in that stupid hospital bed, in the loose hanging shirt and loose pants- Alpha Allen apparently wasn't very good at judging sizes - either that or he thought I was fat.

A knock came from the door. I told him to come in. He smiled at me, looking me up and down. "I hope you like the sweater, that color really does look beautiful with your hair and skin, it compliments both perfectly," he said, admiring a lock of my hair he held in his hand.

"How about we get a quick bite to eat before your parents get here?" he asked. I nodded quietly, fidgeting with the sweater.

"Any requests?"

I couldn't help the little half-smile working up my lip. "If they have peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, I'd like two of those... please, oh, but only if it's strawberry jelly... please"

He smiled at me, half a laugh leaving his throat before he nodded. "PB&J it is then,"

***

We ate our lunch, and once again he interrogated me, so he could 'get to know me'- this time it was mostly about my life, school, favorite subjects, friends, hobbies, my job.

I'd answered at honest and short as I possibly could, without saying something anti-werewolf that would make him rip my throat out before I had a chance to see my parents.

My heart jumped for every time the number on the wallclock went up, and it had done this since 1:40.

"Love, please calm down, your heart is beating a tad too fast for my liking - take a deep breath, please. Your parents will be here in-" he glanced at the clock I'd been staring at for the past two hours. "-20 minutes."

Against my will, I breathed as deeply as possible with my broken ribs and a punctured lung, my eyes traveling to the door. 20 minutes before it would open. 20 minutes before my mom and dad would walk in, and I'd be able to hug them, feel their arms around me, talk to my dad.

The minutes passed by slowly, and all hope left my body when the clock hit five minutes past 4. He had lied- they weren't coming to see me. I was never going to see them again, he had just told me that to enjoy the look on my face when I realized.

Tears began welling up in my eyes, a single one traveling down my cheek, falling onto the cashmere sweater.

"Love? What's wrong? Are you in pain?"

Alpha Allen's voice seemed so distant, so far away. My hands were shaking in my lap, sobs threatening to tear through my body. I pressed my lips together, knowing perfectly well what would leave my mouth if I were to open it.

Monster.

Beast.

"Love, please, tell me,"

I pressed my lips together, blowing air through my nostrils, doing everything to compose myself.

"My... my parents..." I whispered faintly. My heart was slowly tearing to pieces in my chest.

"Love, darling, they're 10 minutes late, if they're not here by 4:20 I'll call Alpha Elriam and ask him what is causing their delay,"

Unsettlement washed over my body at his words. Was he lying to me again? Was he telling the truth? Perhaps they were just stuck in traffic. Or they had been in a car accident, killing both my parents. Or they were being executed. Bloody and awful images flashed before my eyes, my heart thundering at the thought.

Alpha Allen wrapped his hands around mine, turning my head so my eyes met his. "Love, relax, they'll be here shortly, I'm su-"

A knock interrupted him mid-sentence, my head whipping the opposite way. The door opened slowly, a pair of familiar grey-ish blue eyes coming into view.

"Papa," I whispered, my voice breaking.

He threw the door open, and right behind him was my mom. They walked up to me, not saying a word.

My mom brushed her hand along my hair, nuzzling my cheek. "My sweet baby girl... what happened?"

"Don't worry about it mom, I'm fine, I'm completely fine... I've missed you so much," I reached out to hug her, but she wouldn't let me pull her in. She just looked at me, shaking her head, tears in her eyes. "Sweetie, I want to hug you, trust me but, I can't when you have all those tubes and needles and..."

"You should be able to hug her, just don't ... squeeze too hard. Her ribs are broken,"

All of our heads turned to Alpha Allen instinctively when he spoke up. I'm pretty sure we had all forgotten about the fact that he was there in the room.

He walked up to my father first, extending his hand. "My name is Lyxander Allen James Wilde, but you can call me Allen. A pleasure to meet you, Mr. White,"

My dad shakily took his hand. Alpha Allen repeated the gesture with my mother, this time just switching out the 'Mr' with a 'Mrs'.

"I am, as you probably know, your daughter's mate. I'm sure you know what that means, yes?"

My father furrowed his brows slightly, pressing his lips together for a moment. "In general... yes, but are you referring to anything ... specific?" His voice was shaky and weak. My heart sunk in my chest, never had I heard my father speak like that, so ... submissive. He was always such a confident man, and he never took any bull from anyone.

"Nothing specific no, just that she'll be moving in with me as soon as she is discharged from the hospital, as you know, and legally I will be her guardian and caretaker,"

"But she's only 16! She's practically a child, she hasn't even graduated high school!" My mother yelled, her arm swinging out to cover me, protect me. My heart soared at her action and broke at the same time knowing that nothing she could ever do would stop him from doing with me whatever he pleased.

Alpha Allen's eyes became hard as stone, yellow flashing over them for a second. "Mrs. White, I am well aware of Paige's age, and trust me, I take it into consideration every second. And if you're worried about me taking advantage of her because of her age and-" he shot me a quick look. "- sorry my love, her weak stature, then I can settle your worry by telling you that I have never, nor will I ever take advantage of a woman. And given your current living conditions, I am one hundred percent sure that I can provide her with much better education that the two of you could ever offer if she so wishes,"

A mix of anger and panic filled her eyes. "But, but, but she's our daughter, You can't take her away from us! She's all we have!" She was screaming, tears running down her cheeks, wrapping her arms carefully around my shoulder.

My father stepped in front of both me and my mother protectively. Alpha Allen's eyes once again turned yellow, a quiet growl leaving his chest as his clenched fists were shaking by his sides. "Mr. and Mrs. White, please step away from my mate. As inconvenient as it may be, I have very strong protective and preservation instincts for Paige, and currently, that instinct is very prominent, so unless we want anything bad to happen, you must give her some space, and give me access to a full view of her,"

"Absolutely no-"

I whipped my head around, staring at my mom with pleading eyes. "Mom, Dad, please, just move, it's okay mom, just move, please mom? Please, I need you to move, just do it, mom," I rushed out so fast even I had trouble understanding what I was saying.

She took a step back, letting her arm fall to her sides, and my father took two steps to the left, giving Alpha Allen a full view of me. His eyes returned to semi-normal, a thin ring of yellow still circling his pupils.

He nodded, taking a deep breath, slowly walking up to my side, picking my hand up from the bed, wrapping both of his hands around it. "I apologize for my behavior, I just find the thought of someone taking Paige away from me extremely unsettling," he said to my parents, looking my father in the eyes first, and then turning his head a nudge to look into the eyes of my mother.

"... and I also completely understand that you find it upsetting that I'll have your daughter move in with me so suddenly, I can't even imagine what the two of you must be feeling right now, but after all, as you both know, I am going to take great, and careful care of her. She's the most precious thing in my life, and will always be ... or well, up until the day we eventually decide to have children, that is,"

"Are you out of your mind?" my father yelled, spit flying from his mouth. "My daughter will never be having children with a dirty mutt like you, and she is never moving in with you either, I will not allow it,"

My heart stopped, my eyes switching to Alpha Allen not even a nanosecond after. A small muscle in his jaw popping out, his eyes flaring fire yellow. "Mr. White, I am treating you with complete respect and politeness, I would appreciate it if you would return the gesture. And also, I would like to remind you, that in public anti-Lycan remarks like that would be followed by a most unpleasant punishment, that might not only affect you. I'll do everything to protect Paige, of course, but your wife I wouldn't be able to shield from whatever punishment you may receive,"

My father glared at him with murderous eyes. "Are you threatening my wife?"

"I am not, Mr. White, I am merely warning you about the consequences. Hurting your wife would hurt Paige, and I will never let that happen, not if I can prevent it,"

They stared at each other, both looking like they were ready to rip each other apart. After half a minute of silence, my father caved in on the staring and turned his eyes to me with a worried frown.

"My love," I turned my head to Alpha Allen, who was also looking at me now. "I have a few things to tend to, and anyway I believe it'll be best if I leave you and your parents alone for a while. I'll be pack around 7, then the four of us can all eat dinner together. How does that sound?"

I cleared my throat twice, chirping up a quick 'fine'. He nodded and bent down to kiss me forehead. He gave both my parents a short nod each, before he walked out, slamming the door a tad too loudly behind him.

A/N

Hello, my wonderful readers!

I have almost reached 50 k reads, and it honestly amazes me. I thought I would get, if I was incredibly lucky, maybe 1-2k reads. This is unbelievable, and I love you all so so so much, and I hope you are enjoying my story.

Question for you guys: What's your favorite movie(s)?

Mine are The Mummy movies 1999-2008, and all of the Jurassic Park movies.

(Honestly not so) Fun fact about the writer: My back and shoulder is fricked up after remodeling my room all weekend, moving furniture and carrying heavy stuff up/down stairs :-/

Remember to vote and comment if you enjoy my story <3 I love reading the comments especially.