“I had to,” I replied.
Richard would have kept coming back and it would have put my pack members in danger. An alpha’s job was to protect their pack members. I’d fought Richard to keep my pack members safe.
“You have to realize that at some point you aren’t alone in this,” he said softly, and it struck me somewhere deep inside. “You have people who love and care for you. Some of us would die for you.”
I felt the sting of tears. There was no stopping the tear that slid down my face.
There had only been a few people who had cared for me but my father had ensured that they weren’t around to protect me from him. I’d felt so alone and it was hard to realize that things had changed.
“I didn’t mean to make you cry,” he murmured.
I swallowed hard and let out a breath as he brushed the rest of the tears from my face.
“I know,” I said.
At that moment Blake returned with Cade and Scarlett. Scarlett ran over to me and hugged me gently.
“I’m so glad you’re awake,” she whispered as I hugged her back.
Despite all the stuff that had happened between us, our friendship had survived.
“Me too,” I whispered as my eyes lifted to see Cade standing just behind Scarlett.
“Next time, you come to us for help before you do something stupid,” Cade lectured me. Scarlett pulled away from me and elbowed her mate in the side.
“What I’m trying to say is that you’re a part of our family whether you like it or not and we look after our family.” Cade had taken my betrayal hard because I’d hurt his best friend, so what he said made my eyes glisten with more tears.
“Okay, everyone,” Blake’s voice cut across the room. “It’s time to leave. She needs to rest.”
I was tired. I was still dealing with the all the emotions I was feeling when Blake returned to sit beside me.
“I need you to promise me something,” he said cryptically, and I nodded. I’d do anything for him.
“You have to stop trying to do everything yourself. Taking on Richard like you did nearly cost you your life.”
I felt my guilt at the decision I’d made.
“You’re the bravest person I know, but it’s okay to need help and to depend on the people who love and care about you.”
I nodded. He was right.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Keri
I sighed as I adjusted in the warmth of Blake’s embrace. It had been two days since I’d woken up and I’d been released from the medical center with strict instructions from Curtis to take it easy. Blake had assured him he would ensure I followed his instructions. I was just happy to be back in my room and Blake had slept beside me. After nearly dying, every moment with Blake I treasured because there had been more than a few times when I’d been convinced I would never see him again.
You awake?Blake asked through the mind-link.
I opened my eyes and smiled at him as I wrapped my arm around his waist. I was lying on my side, tucked into his arm with my head using his chest as a pillow.
You are so beautiful, he murmured.
I reached out and touched his lips with my fingers. Every touch and kiss meant so much more than it ever had before.
I love you, I said to him through the link.
I never tired of saying those three words to him and I never tired of hearing him say them to me.
