Ellie POV

The only thing I feel as my eyes refuse to open is the electricity of Axton's touch. I can feel him hold my hand. I want to smile and squeeze his hand back, but my body refuses to cooperate.

After trying to wiggle my fingers for what I think is twenty minutes, I start to focus on the sounds I can hear in the room. The beeping of what I assume to be my heart monitor is constant in the background as I hear mummers of noise coming from outside the room.

I am in the hospital, but I can't remember why. I want to scrunch my face in annoyance as I try to remember what happened to land me in a hospital bed.

I feel Axton play with my hair as he leans over me. I can smell his perfect scent of honey and woods coming off him, "Please wake up, El. Please," his voice cracks, "I need you to open your eyes, baby."

I just want to tell him that I am trying. I am trying everything to get my body to respond but it isn't working. I am yelling at my body to squeeze his hand back. Anything to show him I am here.

I hear a creek, which I assume is the door opening.

"Is she awake yet?" Sawyer asks. I'm assuming Axton shakes his head no as Sawyer continue, "She'll wake up, Axton. Don't worry, she's strong."

"Thank you, Sawyer."

"Anytime," she says, "Zea has been trying to see her for almost an hour, you know."

"I know. I didn't want to let her see El covered in blood after her last surgery. You can let her in."

I hear a light patter of my little girl as she comes rushing into the room, "Is mommy awake?"

"Not yet, sweetheart," Axton answers her.

"Will she wake up soon?"

"I don't know," he says, "That's up to her."

"Can I help her?"

I can feel Axton's hesitation, but I know he gives in as I feel Zea's hand rest on my arm. I feel warmth for a few seconds before she stops, "Did it work?" Axton asks.

"It worked," I answer him before even realizing my mouth actually opened. I peel my eyes open slightly as I stare at both of their bright blue eyes as I give them both a small smile.

"Mommy, you're awake!" Zea screams as she jumps onto the bed and gives me a hug. I wince as I squeeze her back as hard as I can. My entire body is still sore, "I thought you were gone."

"Never," I tell her as Axton moves to hold both of us. I melt into his embrace as I focus on his heartbeat.

When he pulls back, Zea moves to sit at my side on the bed instead of on top of me as Axton holds onto my hand, "Thank you for waking up."

"How long was I asleep for?" I ask, noticing the dark circles under his eyes.

"Two days," he tells me.

I squeeze his hand as he tells me that. I have been out for two days, "What happened, Axton?"

His eyebrows move closer together as he gives me a confused look, "Do you not remember what happened?"

I shake my head as I tell him what I know, "I remember being taken by Cortez and I remember him and Rolfe tor-" I stop mid-word as I notice Zea is listening intensely, "I remember both of them. Then something happened."

Axton nods his head slightly, "I found you Ellie. The pack and I took the bunker and I found you in one of the rooms. We got you back."

"You found me?"

"I just got you back. Do you think I will honestly let you go that easily?" Axton asks as he leans forward and kisses me.

"Daddy defeated the bad guys," Zea states confidently.

I smile at her, "Because that's what mates do."

*****

After Jade examines me, I am finally released from the hospital. Axton practically carries me all the way home. I watch Zea run into the house, screaming about getting her snow stuff together as more flurries fall.

"You know, Jade said that I am fine," I tell him as we walk into the house and he places me on the couch, "I can walk myself."

He just shakes his head at me, "I am not taking any chances."

"But-"

"I'm going to make you some tea or coffee or something. Just stay there," he says as he starts to leave, but I grab his wrist before he can get too far.

"Axton, I am fine," I tell him.

He lets out a deep breath before bending down in front of me, "I almost lost you, Ellie. I could feel every ounce of pain when you were gone. Just the idea that you are hurt is driving me and Knox crazy. So, can you please just indulge me and let me take care of you?"

The look he gives me is so cute and pleading, I just nod my head. His smile lights up his face as he runs into the kitchen before coming out five minutes later with a cup of hot chocolate. He hands me the mug before joining me on the couch, pulling my legs over his.

He rubs his hand up and down my leg in deep thought before finally asking what I know is on his mind, "Ellie, you said that you remembered Rolfe. Did he tell you why he would do this? Why he betrayed his own family."

I give him a sad look as I reach one of my hands to hold his, "He did it because he had lost his mate," I tell him before retelling the story that Rolfe told me, "Everything he did, he did out of heartbreak."

"I trusted him. I told him everything growing up," Axton says.

"I know," I tell him. We sit in silence for a few minutes before I ask him how he found me.

"Well, it turns out that your brother's mate and Michael are siblings."

"Wait, what?" I almost scream, "I knew Aurora had a brother, but I had no idea it was Michael. She told me he went missing years ago. Wait, why is Aurora here?"

"She and Michael did a spell to track Cortez. Since she was the one who cursed him, they were able to track the curse, so I could find you," he tells me as he pulls me closer to him, "But there was a cost."

"What do you mean?" I ask him.

"In order for the spell to work, apparently Michael had to give up his magic."

"He gave up being a warlock?"

"I talked to him after we got back. He knew what he was doing and what the cost would be. He wanted to fix the mistakes he made," Axton tells me as he leans closer, "And he wanted to make things right with Jade. He needed to earn her trust back after betraying her."

"And did he?" I ask him, fully aware of his closeness.

"I think everything will work out with them," he says.

"So, what about us?" I ask him, unsure of what happens now. I have been running and hiding from Cortez for so long, I don't know what comes next.

"Now," he leans forward, "As Zea would tell me, we live happily ever after."

"Oh, is that what she would say," I laugh.

He laughs with me before pulling me in for an electric kiss.

"Mom! Dad!" Zea yells as she comes running down the hall as we separate. She has every single piece of winter clothing imaginable on. From pink mittens and snow pants to the three scarves she wrapped around her neck, "I found my winter clothes!"

I can't help but laugh, "Are you sure you're going to be warm enough?"

Axton laughs next to me.

I get up from the couch, placing the empty mug onto the table. Walking over to Zea, I crouch down in front of her.

"Mommy, can we please go play in the snow?"

I bite my lip as I pretend to think about it, "I don't know. If we go outside and play in the snow, what will your dad do?"

She tilts her head to the side before her face lights up, "He could come play in the snow too!"

We both turn to Axton as he plays along and puts a thinking look on his face, but I can see the smile beneath it, "I don't know."

Zea is practically bouncing, "Please daddy! Come outside with us," she says before putting on her award-winning pout face.

We both start laughing as she does that.

"Let's go," I tell her.

Before I can even put my boots on my feet, she is out the door and jumping into the first pile of snow she sees. She laughs as she starts rolling in the snow. I laugh along with her as I walk out onto the porch.

Axton comes up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist, "This is what I want every day," I give him a smile before he continues, "My daughter happier than ever and my perfect mate in my arms."

My smile grows even more as it matches his. I turn in his arms to face him, "I love you Axton."

"I love you too, Ellie," he says before he pulls me closer for another kiss.