Chapter 7

Forest's POV

I knew something was wrong from the minute I walked into school. My wolf was restless telling me to check on Aria. Something's wrong with mate. Where is she, He hissed.

 But it would all be ok. I have maths first. Aria would be sitting next to us and my wolf would stop hissing in my mind.

But maths came and went and she didn't turn up. She must be sick. It doesn't mean she's in danger. Who are you trying to convince, my wolf snarled me or yourself. But in truth I was worried about Aria as well. Something about today felt, well it felt off. Like something bad as going to happen. No nothing bad is going to happen. If I just ignore it it will go away. 

Last time she was missing when she came back she was limping. She tried to hide it from me but I noticed. I noticed everything. She had scars all over her arms and legs. No one else noticed, but I did. She was my mate, I noticed everything. 

The way she flinched away from her dad's text or ran from the classroom at the sight of her brother. She was scared of them, no she was terrified.

 I wished she knew all about my world, so I could take her away from that world and bring her to mine, fill her life with love and adoration, keep her safe and show her all that life can be.

But for now I have to be patient, I have to look after her from afar before she is ready for my world. But when she is ready. I won't miss one second with her. 

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When a week had passed and Aria still wasn't back at school I started to worry about her. Where is she? My wolf had been acting up all week. Relentlessly yelling and snarling in my mind. Mate needs our help. Mate needs us. Stop just sitting around and HELP MATE. 

I knew my wolf was right. I hadn't seen Aria all week and when I saw her brother the smirk that he constantly wore did nothing to reassure me or my wolf. The feeling that something was wrong was still hovering around, making me feel uneasy.

I debated going round to her house and checking on her but I wasn't sure if it was needed. My wolf was begging me to see her but the final straw was when I over heard a conversation between Tyler and his friends in Geography. 

"We got her good and proper," Tyler laughed, "Did you hear her scream." My blood started to boil. If they were talking about my mate.... "My dad's decided she's too much hassle. He's planning on getting rid of her as we speak."

 No they can't be talking about Aria. Not in that way, surely, but then. "Soon I'll no longer have an annoying little sister, and we will finally be happy again." He laughed, a horrible sound that rubbed against my wolf like nails on a chalkboard. 

I couldn't get out the classroom fast enough. The boys just confirmed what I knew. I knew if I didn't get to Aria soon I would loose her forever. I had known it all day, all week. I was trying to ignore it but my wolf knew, I knew. I shouldn't have ignored it. If she dies it will be all my fault. I will never forgive my self.

As I ran out of school I called my parent, telling them to meet me by Aria's house. I ran at an inhuman speed, not caring if anyone saw me. My eyes flashed bright blue, I was keeping my wolf in. Just.

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I reached her house and ran straight for the door, ripping it off it's hinges. My parents weren't here yet but they would be soon. I was counting on it.

I ran into the house, looking around, looking for Aria. I searched all the downstairs rooms but she wasn't there, but then, from a door I didn't notice the first time, there came a blood curdling scream. 

I rushed down into the basement and the sight I saw made me loose control of my wolf. Aria's own dad, with a blood stained knife and matches, not trying to save her, or look after her. Trying to kill her. Well, my wolf deadpanned, that would be why she's scared of him.

My wolf bounded down the steps and threw her dad across the room, not caring where he landed as long as it was away from our mate, he wanted blood, to kill the one who would hurt his mate. But no, Aria needs us, she looks so close to death as it is, her skin a ghostly white and her lips were turning blue. Her eyes were fluttering as if she could barely keep them open. We need to save her. There is no other option. 

I shifted back and pressed my hand to the slash on her neck, trying to save her. It would need stitched but I just had to keep her alive until my parents got here. I couldn't loose her. She was my love, my life, my luna.

 I couldn't like without her. Nothing in life would be the same without my mate. I didn't even realise it but she'd filled a hole in my chest I never knew I had, she was my other half and she made me full.

Aria was still awake, just. From the look in her eyes she didn't believe what she was seeing to be real. I suppose that's a good thing.

I could see her slipping away from me, every second she drifted a bit further, getting further and further away.

"No Aria, stay with me, don't leave me," I didn't know if it would help, but I didn't know what else to do. I couldn't live without my beautiful mate. "You can't leave me. I love you, my luna, my love." 

As I said those three simple small words I realised, it was true. I did love her. I loved her and I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her, so she couldn't die.

 I wouldn't allow it. But I could see her drift away from me again. This time falling into a deep sleep.

Just then my parents ran in. I gathered Aria in my arms and ran up the stairs and into the car. My mum and dad followed, driving off home as quick as possible. I kept my hand to her neck, to slow down the blood flow and to listen to her pulse, to make sure her heart kept beating. 

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Once we were back at the house it was a blur. My mum helped the pack doctor stitch her neck up and dress some of her cuts and burns. My wolf nearly took control, she had so many cuts, scars and burns all over her beautiful body. 

I should have got her away from there sooner. I should have kept her safe. I should have done so many thing differently. And from now on I would. Her safety comes first, even if I have to tell her my secret.

I was snapped out of my thoughts when they were done sanitising the infected wounds the help her heal, then wrapping her cuts up. She looked like a mummy.

 I took her up to my room to tuck her in my bed, she could have stayed in the guest room but I wanted her in my territory, surrounded by my scent, where she will be safe.

"When will she wake up," I asked my mum, who had followed me up.

She sighed before answering, "I don't know. It may be tomorrow it may be next week, it may be even later then that. I just don't know... Just prepare for the worst."

 I knew what she meant, that she may never wake up. But I just couldn't think about it. She was mine and she had to wake up. I was lost without her. 

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A week passed and she still hadn't woken up. Most of her cuts had healed, even the infected ones, but they had scarred, adding more scars to her beautiful body. 

I was disgusted when I saw all the scars, not because she wasn't beautiful but because of the pain she must have gone through to get them all.

 I wished I could have stopped it all from happening. I wished she would wake up so I could get rid of her pain. I wished I could take her as my mate and luna now, and then just show her love and happiness for the rest of her life. 

But her eyes stayed shut and she stayed oblivious to my world.

"Come of Forest you have to eat and I need to re dress her wounds." My mum said from the door way. I hadn't left Aria's side all week apart from to eat and for mum to re dress her wounds. I knew I needed to look after myself, but I couldn't, not with my mate laying helpless on the bed.

School had been calling all week, last time they saw me was when I ran from the class room. Dad took the calls, saying there had been a family emergency and I would miss school for a while. 

To be honest I don't know if i'm ever going back. Once Aria is awake I will bring her to the pack school with me, that way she wouldn't have to see Tasha or her brother ever again. 

But for now I am being sent the school work, which I do sitting next to Aria. 

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Another two weeks passed and still Aria didn't wake up. I felt the darkness consume me without the light of my mate to keep me sane.

 Dad tried sending me back to school once but I couldn't concentrate and I nearly strangled Tasha because she disrespected my mate.

 To be honest it could have been a lot worse. I wanted to strangle a teacher for making a joke about Aria's absence but I settled on Tasha instead.. After that Dad decided probably not a good idea to make me leave my mate's side, even for school.

Please wake up Aria, I need you. Please don't leave me. I silently begged. There was no point begging out loud, I had been doing that all last week.

My mum came upstairs to check on Aria. She had healed a lot these past weeks but she was still covered in scars. A silent reminder of her terrible past and my inability to protect what was mine.

"She is healing fast, almost all her cuts have healed up and some of the scarring has faded, although it may never go properly." My mum commented while retying the bandages.

I didn't say anything. There was nothing else to say.We had spent weeks of me blaming myself and my mum and dad telling me I couldn't have known and that it wasn't my fault. They had given up trying to change my mind. I could be very stubborn when my mind was set on something.

 My mum walked silently out the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

"Please wake up Aria," I begged, grabbing hold of her hand, "I'm lost without you, I love you."

Then finally my pleas were answered. It was only light squeeze of my hand but it was enough to send my heart souring into my throat. 

"Aria?, Aria can you hear me?" I begged, hoping that she would finally wake up. She didn't squeeze my hand again and I thought I'd lost her.

Suddenly I was met with the beautiful blue eyes of my mate. I felt tears of joy coursing down my face. I wanted to yell with joy and relief. 

"Welcome back to the world of the living."