Chapter 31
Chapter 31
Regan POV
The tub looks so inviting. I eagerly strip off my clothes, wincing the pain, and start the water. All I can think about is that the water will help with the pain, and now that nobody is in my room, I begin to scrub the makeup off my face, wanting to see how bad I look beneath it all. My bruises have faded. They aren’t gone completely but they aren’t as dark as they were when I first applied the makeup. My body on the other hand…istered with purple and black bruises. My ribcage is throbbing and part of me wonders if I have a broken rib or two. As the water fills the tub, I awkwardly climb in and sit down, exhaling sharply and leaning back, the water soothing my sore and tired muscles. The toll of the day is beginning to wear on me as 1 stay there, listening to the sounds of the water rippling.
This was beyond heaven. I couldn’t remember the last time I had taken a relaxing bath, without worrying about what needed to be cleaned or cooked for dinner that same day. I looked down at my toenails and wrinkled my nose. I would need to put some nail polish or something on them, I thought absent–mindedly. They looked a little ugly, as pale and brittle as they were. I turned the water off and soaked in the bath, unaware of the amount of time passing by, only knowing that it had turned dark outside the window as I gazed upon it. It was beautiful. I could see the stars twinkling in the night sky as I stared up at it Part of me didn’t want to get out of the tub, knowing that the pain would only return the moment I did so and most likely with a vengeance as well.
I finally acknowledged that I couldn’t spend forever in the bathtub as the water began to grow cold and gritted my teeth and touched the edges, pulling myself to a standing position and climbing out. I released the plug, letting the water drain, and wrapped a towel around myself, hobbling into the bedroom. It seemed as though the pain had come back even worse than it had been before. I gave a low moan, glancing around the room. My clothes had been placed carefully on the side of the bed in a large duffel bag and I rifled through them, grabbing myself some sweatpants and a shirt. I was about to take my towel off when the door burst wide open, startling me. Had I forgotten to lock it in my haste to check everything out? Shit. I swore and turned around, clutching the towel tightly, but it was already too late as the twins halted in their tracks, their eyes narrowing and beginning to darkey slightly as I trembled in the gaze. Fury overtook their expressions. I knew that I was in trouble now as I stood there, motionless.
Fuck. I had been hiding these injuries all day, knowing that it would cause a reaction if I were to let something slip or if they accidentally saw something. The twins looked speechless for a moment but it didn’t last long. Xavier was the first of the twins to move, his eyes wide and horrified. He moved forward, cupping my cheek as I turned my face away, his sharp inhalation of breath following me as I avoided looking at him.
“Who did this?” he growled, as Xander moved forward a little slower, his movements stiff in comparison to his brother’s. “Who dared to lay a hand on you? Tell us” he demanded, a fierce expression coming over his face,
I hesitated, wondering if it was better to lie or to tell the truth. I told the truth, would they even believe me? I doubted it, after my past experiences with them. Besides, telling them that my father had done it, did nothing but fill me with shame.
“It’s nothing.” I eventually told him, lifting my face to look him directly in the eyes, without blinking, “I fell down the stairs,” 1 told him evenly.
“You fell down the stairs” Xander echoed, his voice angry as he stared at me. “Cut the crap, Regan. Those bruises aren’t from falling down anything. I can see fingerprints on you” he exclaimed as I clutched the towel harder, his gaze sharpening as he raked his gaze over me.
I was beginning to feel uncomfortable with their eyes peering so intently at me, looking over my body carefully as though trying to memorize it. Xander’s hand reached out and touched my side and I let out an expletive, jerking instinctively from the sudden sharp pain rising inside of me. That hurt. More than I cared to admit. I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to look back at them both with a calm expression.
“See” Xavier’s voice was cold. “That’s not just some injury. You could have broken ribs or something much more serious” he added with a frown.
“Pull the towel down, Regan
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Chapter 31
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Xander’s voice. It was quiet and deadly serious at the same time blinked at him, feeling my body beginning to violently tremble all over. Surely Xander had to be joking if he thought that I would do anything of the sort that he had just commanded? I shook my head in denial. “No” I whispercil, as he glared at me “I’m not going to..”
“Do as he says” Xavier’s voice now, demanding and authoritative “Let us see how bad it is” he growled.
I shook my head again, unable to believe their audacity. Were they crazy? I was not about to let them see me naked. No way in hell I gripped the towel as though it was my lifeline, my knuckles turning white. What were they doing in my room anyway? Why hadn’t they knocked before they entered? I glared at them both.
“I am not dropping the towel, I said icily “and for the record, before you come into my room, you are supposed to knock, Will you both please leave now?
I was almost begging them to go, but they ignored my request, glancing at each other irritably.
“I thought she was moving funny before, but now I know why” Xavier muttered to Xander who was nodding, a thoughtful expression on his own face.
“You must have been in pain this whole time. Why didn’t you say anything” Xander demanded annoyed.
I blinked. “Because it’s none of your business” I spluttered, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
Since when were t
they this concerned about me? This was so different to how they usually treated me that it was taking me
aback.
BUB
Couldn’t they see how ridiculous this conversation was? All I wanted was for them to leave so that I could change into a fresh set of clothes.
“But it is our business because you are our mate.”
“Stop saying that I hissed, drawing my shoulders up and looking them right in the eyes “I might be your mate but that doesn’t mean I’ve accepted you yet. As for these bruises,” I gestured to them, my lip curling back in disgust “they are nothing in comparison to some injuries I’ve endured. Please, leave it alone” I begged, feeling tired now and drained emotionally as well as physically.
“Tell us who did it Alyssa” Xavier’s tone is brooking no arguments.
I want to weep. Once I would have given anything for somebody to care this much, but now it’s almost too late. They’ve had years to realize what’s happening underneath their noses. Years grow angry.
“Why do you care?” I shouted out in exasperation “You’ve never cared before. None of you have. All of a sudden, I’m supposed to believe you give a damn. Why? Because of this stupid mate bond,” I was almost sobbing by now, wracked by pain and feeling beyond frustrated. “Should I count the times you physically hurt me as well in those injuries” I accused watching as pain shot through both of their faces.
“We care” Xander’s voice was low. “We know we hurt you, but were trying to make it right. Please, Alyssa, you don’t look good” he added with concern.
I didn’t feel good. I felt as though my body was swaying, heat flooding through me. The pain that I had been feeling all day was suddenly excruciating and my tiredness was on a whole other level. I waved a weak hand at them, feeling off balance. Xavier moved, scooping me up in his arms and glancing at his brother.
“She’s hot. She’s got a fever” he muttered.
I felt Xander’s hand on my forehead as my eyes began to wearily close, unable to keep them open any longer and so, so tired.
“She’s burning up. Something’s wrong. We have to get her to the hospital right now” Xander’s voice sounded panicked.
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I felt myself being cradled against Xavier’s chest as I snuggled against it and then darkness consumed me and I knew no more as I succumbed to it gratefully, not wanting to feel the pain any longer. At least now, I was in no state to answer any more of their questions and I was freed from that burden.
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Chapter 32
