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"I don't care if he did deserve it; you need to realize when the guy isn't even fighting back, something's up. He was taking the beating, not fighting back, and if you have taught me anything, control is one of a wolf's greatest strengths. That wasn't control, Thorn, and it was unnecessary."
Thorn adjusts his clothes and eyes me with satisfaction. I can feel the blood running out of my nose, and my eye on the left side is swelling where he landed his first punch. I wipe my nose with the back of my hand just as Eli comes over with a cloth so I can clean myself up. My ribs are bruised for sure, but I'll heal in a few hours.
"Don't regret it." Thorn crosses his arms and stares down at his sister. The height difference is funny, considering Paige is at least a foot shorter than Thorn, who is a big guy. Eli snorts at that, which makes me look in his direction. He just shrugs his shoulders. He did warn me, after all. Paige lets out a sigh as she turns on her heel and heads to the fridge.
"Fine," she says as she pulls open the freezer drawer; she rummages around and then pulls out a bag of frozen peas. I expect her to take that to her brother for his hands, but she walks right by him and comes up to me. She is staring at me, not like I disgust her or like she hates me, but like she actually cares. She gently puts the bag on my swollen eye, I can't help but place my hand over hers, loving how close she is. I have to bend down a little so she can reach, but she is caring for me. Maybe there is some hope.
Quietly, she says, "Hold that there for a second."
I nod my head because I am at a loss for words. Turning around, she looks at Thorn again, who is glaring at me. Eli, Quinn, and Maddie have somehow disappeared in the chaos, but Thorn isn't leaving just yet.
"I think you need to go for a drive. Leave us to talk for a bit."
Thorn uncrosses his arms and stands toe-to-toe with Paige. "The hell I am!"
My wolf and I don't like the aggressive stance, so without thinking, I walk closer to her and wrap my arm around her waist. She relaxes into me, intentionally or unintentionally, I don't know. She turns to look up at me.
"I've got this." She pats my hand that is around her waist. It's a good sign she hasn't ripped my arm off and pushed me off to the side.
"He's my mate, Thorn." She says it softly, likely to keep the intensity that is Thorn to a minimum.
"What the hell, Paige? We spent an hour talking this morning about this jackass, and you couldn't tell me he was your mate?"
"I know; I'm sorry, but I have been dealing with a lot, and it was a shock to me, too. He won't hurt me; he can't. We're mates, but we need to talk…alone. If you're hanging around, we can't work through our own stuff." Does she want to work through this? My wolf is happy at the prospect of actually getting a chance.
"I don't like this, Paige." He pushes his hand through his jet-black hair, like Paige's. "But you are a woman, and if you need to talk to fuckity pants, then I guess I won't stop you."
I have been quiet the entire time, but that deserved a response.
"Yeah, I censored my real thoughts." He glares at me.
"That was censored?" What was the uncensored version?
"Okay, boys." Paige puts her body further between us, probably afraid another fight might break out. "Thorn, I think you need to leave for a bit. I'll let you know when to come back. I'll be safe, I promise." I'm happy she finds safety in my presence, although maybe she just plans to kill me and I'm not aware of it. I wouldn't see it coming, that's for sure.
"What about everyone else? Why am I the only one that has to leave?" He kind of sounds like a child, but I get why he doesn't want to go.
"They already left. But you two have been in a staring contest for the past several minutes and didn't notice." I look around and don't see anyone. Sure, they could be upstairs, but I suspect they left to give us time to work through our stuff. Thorn begrudgingly heads for the door, grabs his coat off the hook and starts to head outside. Before he closes the door, he looks at me with a terrifying intensity.
"You do anything to hurt her, and I will make your last day alive one of extreme pain and torment." I shiver at the prospect because, damn, that guy is frightening, and I believe every word he says. He shuts the door, leaving Paige and I alone in the house.
"He didn't really mean that."
"Yes, he did. Here, let's go. Sit on the couch so I can look at your injuries." She leads me over to the couch and sits me on one end, taking the seat directly beside me.
"Where does it hurt?"
"Everywhere." She chuckles at that as she looks at my forearms, which have some bruising from deflecting some of the hits.
"Damn, he did a number on you." I try to adjust myself, but wince at the movement of my torso. "Let me look at your sides. I saw him hit there several times. Lean back."
Doing as she says, I lean back on the couch with the bag of peas still on my eye. They are getting a bit mushy because they are thawing, and I likely don't need them anymore, seeing as my wolf is working to heal me. She lifts up my shirt and sucks in a breath. I can't help but look at her as she assesses my torso; her breathing is becoming a bit shallow, indicating she is turned on and not just clinically looking at my injuries. She is so beautiful, with her gorgeous eyes and full lips; I can't help but lick mine as I stare at hers. My body screams at me to lean in and kiss her, to fulfill every fantasy I have ever had of her. To hold her curvy body to lean into her soft curves.
She brings me back to reality when she comments, "That's a lot of bruises."
I turn just slightly to position myself in front of her. She is battling with our attraction just like I am; she is trying to act calm, but the redness on her chest is giving her away. But that can't be the first thing I act on. We need to talk before anything else.
"It'll heal."
