(Pic above is what I imagine Thaddeus to look like after coming out of the river) :)

After training this morning, Xander and I decided to head out to the river. Even though I'm in a wheelchair it's one of my favorite things to do. I actually love swimming in the river. I go there all the time with Xander or Marcus. It's fun and great exercise.

After strapping my legs together at the knees so my legs don't flail all over the place. I put on a waist belt that helps keep my lower body upright and balanced. Xander then helps me into the water.

I lost track of how long we were goofing off in the river when Xander points behind me, "hey man, what the hell is that?" He says,

I turn around to look and we both see what looks like a dead body floating down the river.

Once the body got closer to us we could tell it was a small male.

Xander walks over and drag him back over to me so we can see who it is.

We needed to make sure it's not someone who belongs to one of the packs around us or heck even ours.

Once he got closer to me I could see the person's been through hell. There were bruises all over his face. His lip was busted, blood coming from his nose, and his eye was swollen shut. Not to mention all the bloody bite marks on his torso and the rest of his body.

I reached out to grab him and as soon as my hands touched him I felt the tingles.... the little electric zaps that I thought I'd never feel.

I withdrew my hands so fast you would have thought it burnt me.

I took in a sharp breath of air at the same time withdrawing my hand. I quickly looked at Xander who looked at me curiously. "What's wrong man, are you okay?"

I looked back down at the person he was holding afloat. I slowly reached my trembling hand out to touch him again. My heart was racing in anticipation.

As soon as I touch him there they were.... The tingles, the little zaps.

I looked back up at Xander with wide eyes and whispered, "mate!"

I instantly grabbed him from Xander and held him to my chest trying to see if he was alive. Xander grabbed ahold of me keeping me in place while I tapped his cheeks a few times trying to wake him up, but nothing. I put my ear to his chest because I couldn't hear anything over the river.

Thank goodness I can hear the soft faint little thumps of his heart. I sighed a breath of relief and handed him back to Xander. "We have to get him back to the pack hospital now!" I said to him.

I yanked the straps off my legs and shifted instantly shredding my clothes and belt around my waist.

I had Xander lay my mate on my back and secure him with the strap that was around my knees and took off toward the pack hospital as fast as I could.

I linked the hospital on my way there so they were waiting outside when I got there.

Xander showed up moments later with my wheelchair.

I quickly went into the room where they were working on him. When I went into the room I was terrified when I saw his little body so battered, beaten and lifeless.

I know they were just trying to help him but seeing hands all over him upset my wolf and caused me to growl loudly. Everyone immediately stopped what they were doing and bared their neck to me.

I immediately apologized and told them to continue. The doctor turned around and said "I know you're really concerned about him but it's best if you leave the room and let us work on him."

I know the doctor was right but my wolf was on edge.

"Make sure you save him, that's my mate and your future Luna I said sternly."

The doctor's eyes went wide before he spoke.

"Yes Alpha."

I turned and left the room knowing I needed to leave in order for them to be able to do their job.

He ended up needing surgery for internal injuries so I sat in the waiting room for what felt like hours.

I had so many thoughts racing through my mind at the same time.

I was terrified, what if he didn't make it? Who did this to him?

I was so angry and pissed who could possibly do this to him, who would dare touch my fucking mate!

He was the most beautiful precious thing I've ever seen.

Thinking of him in my arms makes me so happy but at the same time terrified.

What happens when he wakes up? What if he doesn't want anything to do with me? What if he sees that I'm a guy and I'm in a wheelchair then thinks I'm pathetic just like my last mate did.

I couldn't handle another rejection like that. I couldn't handle somebody looking at me like that again. I don't know what I would do.

What if he doesn't make it?

While lost in my thoughts the doctor finally came out and my head shot up to look at him.

He looked a little nervous which made my stomach drop instantly.

It scared me and I yelled,

"what's going on? Is he okay?"

This made the doctor flinch. He put his hands up to calm me down.

"Yes, yes he's okay. He made it." He said

He sat down next to me and was quiet for a moment.

"You said he's your mate right?"

"Yes that's correct, he's my mate."

"Okay, well you should know the extent of his injuries then."

He said then pause for a moment.

"It looks like he's been abused for quite a long time.

He has old and current scars. You can also tell that he has had numerous broken bones in the past. Some of them which have not healed properly. He has a lot of internal scarring, new and old injuries.

A werewolf would have normally been able to heal themselves completely from these kind of injuries. But he's severely underweight and malnourished along with severe dehydration.

I think this has been going on for quite a long time. I think this is one of the reasons he has not been able to heal properly. His wolf has probably been kept in such a weakened state he has not been able to heal properly.

He also lost a lot of blood and needed a blood transfusion.

I can't believe he actually made it. If I was to guess it looks like he's been suffering for at least 8 to 10 years by the looks of some of the old scars on his bones...

I couldn't find any evidence indicating rape.

Right now he's still unconscious and probably will be for a while. I'm not sure how long he's going to be unconscious.

It could be hours days or weeks.

His body went through quite a traumatic experience and needs to rest so he can recover.

I'm terribly sorry, I wish I had better news. But he did make it and I will do everything to make sure he recovers properly."

The doctor said, giving me an apologetic smile before standing to leave.

I sat there for a few minutes to digest everything I was told.

Xander put his hand on my shoulder giving it a slight squeeze. I jump slightly forgetting he was there.

"He's going to be okay!" Xander said.

"I know he's been through some shit but he has you now. I know you want to see him now so I'll head back to the pack house. Link me if you need anything."

I slowly went into his room and couldn't believe the sight in front of me. It's crazy how you can feel two completely different emotions at the same time.

First I was heartbroken by seeing him in this condition, laying there so helpless and broken in that bed.

The other was he simply took my breath away. He was beautiful, absolutely breathtaking. Even in the state that he was in. I couldn't believe the moon goddess gave me someone so perfect.

Goddess I hope he accepts me.

But what if he doesn't.

What if he rejects me too.

My feelings are all over the place I don't know what to think.

The only thing I know for sure right now is, it breaks my heart to see him like this. My wolf whimpers in my head as we look at our broken mate.

Once I'm right in front of him I take his hand in mine and I reach up and gently cup his face with my right hand and feel the tears fall.

I rest my forehead on his arm and silently cry for him.

I tell him I'm so sorry this happened to him.

I tell him that everything's going to be okay now.

I tell him he's safe, that he's with me now and I will take care of him and keep him safe.

I tell him I will never let anyone ever hurt him again.

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