I felt a hand brush across my face, sweeping my hair aside. I could tell the fingers were being careful not to touch my skin, and he simply brushed my hair back.

My head shot up and I was surprised to see beautiful sparkling blue eyes staring back at me. I couldn't believe it, he was actually awake, and looking at me!

"You're awake!" I said. Holding myself back, struggling not to scoop him up into my arms, which would most definitely scare the shit out of him!

He tried to talk but ended up coughing so I gave him a glass of water, the doctor set on the table before he left. He said if he woke up, he would definitely need it.

It was when he handed the glass back, I swore heart stopped.

"Thank you!" He said so quietly, but I heard him. His voice was so soft, so delicate and so sweet. I needed to hear more, I wanted to hear him again.

I had so many different thoughts racing through my head as I looked at him. But after setting his glass down, I asked the one thing I've been dying to know, his name. I needed to know the name that went with this beautiful face.

"What is your name?"

"Aiden." He replied. It was still just a whisper, but it was a little bit louder.

It was the most beautiful name I had ever heard that I just had to try it out and see what it felt like saying his name.

"Aiden." I said, his name dancing across my lips. A name had never felt so good rolling off my lips nor did a name ever bring me such happiness. I felt a smile spread across my face.

....

I told him how we found him, and what happened. I told him how long he was unconscious and I watched his reactions to everything. One thing I definitely noticed is he never looked me in the eye. He would look at my face every now and then, but I could tell that was a struggle. When he did look at my face, he never looked at my eyes. A telltale sign of how he was treated by his pack. One of the first signs we notice when an Alpha is treating his pack members in a manner he shouldn't be.

"W-who are you?" He asked.

"My name is Thaddeus, Alpha of the Midnight Moon pack."

Once I said that his eyes went wide.

He started breathing fast, almost as if he couldn't catch his breath. He began to tremble as tears rolled down his cheeks. I wasn't sure why he was acting this way. I know it couldn't be my name, or the name of my pack, unless someone told him lies.

Whatever the reason was, I needed to calm him down, since he looked like he was getting ready to have a panic attack.

I put my hands up to try and calm him down, but that made it worse and he scooted away, out of my reach.

I locked the wheelchair in place and climbed out of it, sitting on the edge of the bed. I went to reach for him, but he flinched.

But then he looked at me again and started calming down.

That was when I noticed he was looking at my legs. I saw his eyes move from my legs, then to the wheelchair, and back to my legs.

I don't normally get uncomfortable when people look at me like that. I don't normally care what people think.

But seeing my mate look at me like this...

I can already tell he's disgusted to be mated to someone in a wheelchair, someone who can't even use their legs.

It's happening again. I knew no one could ever want a mate who's stuck in a wheelchair.

I sigh and let my head drop, and close my eyes as I put my hands back in my lap. I knew this would happen, I just hoped it wouldn't.

My heart ached, my wolf whimpered in my head and I struggled to keep strong and not let the tears fill my eyes.

I figured it's best if I leave him alone. I didn't want to scare him anymore than I already have, and I wanted to leave while I was able to hold my tears back. I didn't want him to see me cry. It's already bad enough he had to see my legs.

"I'll take my leave now and let you rest." I told him.

I started to move, to get back into my chair, but I stopped when he suddenly spoke,

"Wait!" He said and I felt Aiden touch my arm. I instantly froze, the amazing tingles, instantly shot out everywhere.

I looked up and he almost seemed to be in a trance. He kept his hand on my arm as he stared at it, with his mouth slightly open.

He almost looked in awe, like he wasn't expecting it, or didn't know what it was.

After a few moments, he slowly pulls his hand back.

"What was that?" He asked.

"It's the mate bond.... I'm your mate." I said.

Did he not know I was his mate? I mean, this is the first time he felt the tingles I suppose. But couldn't he smell my scent and recognize I was his mate? I couldn't help but wonder if he even knows what a mate is.

Before I could even open my mouth to ask him, there was suddenly a knock at the door.

Xander popped his head,

"They're here." He said, his face lighting up as soon as he sees Aiden is awake.

He walked in with a large goofy smile on his face.

"Hey kid, it's good to see you're finally awake!" Xander said.

Aiden seemed to scowl at that, which actually surprised me.

Guess he didn't like being called a kid! I thought, almost wanting to laugh, until I saw Aiden tensed up, and look down into his lap. Almost as if he was afraid to make eye contact with us, or afraid of the interaction he just had.

"I have a meeting I have to go to, I'll be back in a little while. I'll have someone bring you something to eat." I said to Aiden.

It almost slipped my mind that I have a meeting today with Alpha Michael from River Pack. Their pack borders our territory on the west side. We have an alliance with them, and he's also a really good friend of mine.

They have been seeing a lot of rogues along the river on their side, and other suspicious activity that looks like scouts.

It also happens to be where we found Aiden. I have a feeling this might have something to do with him, which makes this meeting that much more important to me. I need to get to the bottom of this and fast.

I paused when I got to the door and looked back at him. He was still sitting on the bed, looking at his lap, but glanced up at me. Our eyes met for just a moment before he quickly looked back down.

Goddess, I really didn't want to leave him, but I really need to talk to Michael. I took a deep breath, before forcing myself to leave.