Chapter 8

The doctor looked at us with a gentle smile.

Doctor: I pay her a hundred dollars every day she works.

I watched Zach as he calculated in his head what we owed Amelia. In ten years, she hadn’t taken a single day off. That meant we owed her three hundred and sixty-five thousand dollars, plus interest.

Zach’s POV

Amelia’s eyes went wide with panic, darting ceaselessly between Alex and me. She tried to sit up but fell back onto the bed. I sat down gently beside her. I tentatively reached out to brush the hair stuck to her cheek away from her face, but she looked at me in fear. Disheartened, I let my hand drop, but I decided to speak to her softly.

Zach: I know you don’t trust us—we understand that. We also understand that you’re afraid of us...

Alex: We deserve it. We were awful, cruel, even brutal to you, and...

Zach: We are truly sorry. Please, Amelia, don’t reject us...

Alex: Give us a chance to make amends.

Her lost gaze kept shifting back and forth between my brother and me. She was trembling before us, her eyes filled with unshed tears. Just then, her stomach growled loudly, making her blush. I grabbed the phone by the bed to ask for the meal tray I’d ordered earlier to be brought up.

I saw her go even paler and realized she thought we were going to eat in front of her just to torture her.

Zach: Is there something else you’d like, Amelia?

I saw confusion wash over her face.

Zach: Do you want to sit up and eat?

She furrowed her lovely brows as she looked at me. I gently slid my arms under her back and lifted her up in the bed while Alex tucked pillows behind her. There was a knock at the door, and Alex went to open it and take the tray. He returned to the bed and set it down between us, resting it on Amelia’s legs. Seeing that she wasn't moving, I picked up a piece of meat and gently brought it to her parted lips. Taking advantage of her surprise, I slipped the piece into her mouth and withdrew my fingers. She chewed slowly, looking at us in disbelief. Once she had swallowed the bite, she spoke:

Amelia: I don’t understand. Why are you doing this? You hate me!

I felt my heart crack and was unable to answer. Alex cleared his throat and replied, his voice thick with emotion.

Alex: No, Amelia, we don’t hate you. We were stupid to treat you that way, and we regret it bitterly. You have every reason in the world to reject us, but please, give us a chance to prove that we deserve to be your mates.

I saw a tear slide down her cheek and reached out a trembling hand to keep it on my fingers. Then I spoke:

Zach: It must have been terrible for you—everything we did, and having to go through the transformation alone. We’re sorry we weren’t there for you, but we promise to be by your side now. Please, give us a chance to earn your trust and respect.

I brought another bite to her lips, and this time she opened her mouth to take it. She was still looking at us in disbelief, but the fear was slowly fading from her eyes. She glanced around, and I saw her frown.

Zach: We’re in a private wing of the estate—a three-bedroom suite the three of us are sharing while we wait for you to forgive us.

Alex: We bought you some things, too—clothes, soap, hair ties... basically, if you need anything at all, just tell us and we’ll go get it...

Zach: Or we can take you shopping; it’s up to you.

She reached a trembling hand toward the tray but stopped when she saw us watching her. I gave her a gentle smile and said:

Zach: Eat. I had this tray brought up just for you.

She picked out a plump grape and a piece of cheese, savoring them slowly. My Wolf was pacing impatiently, but I kept him in check. He was clamoring to mark her, but I knew it wasn't the right time; I couldn't force her.

Amelia: I still don’t understand. I’m an orphan, I have nothing, and you guys...

Zach: We’re your mates. You’re an orphan, sure, but that doesn’t matter. You don’t own any assets... for now. But I’m going to open a bank account for you and pay you the wages my parents should have paid you. But that’s not important... whether you have money or not doesn’t matter to us...

Alex: You’re our mate; you’re our everything. That’s what matters!

Amelia: But...

Zach: Look, we know it’s hard for you to accept us—that you didn’t want a mate; you’ve told us that before. But for us, it doesn’t matter where you come from or what you own; you represent everything we ever wanted in a mate.

She swallowed hard and looked at us again.

Amelia: And the others? Your fan club?

Zach: "We broke up with our girlfriends a few weeks before becoming Alphas. As for the others... well, word must have spread that you’re our mate; they should leave you alone. If not, just tell us and we’ll handle it."

She moistened her lips, and my gaze was mesmerized by the pink tip of her tongue. God, I hoped she’d say yes.

Amelia: "Okay, I’m willing to give you guys a chance..."

My brother and I each took one of her hands and simultaneously planted a kiss on her palm, making her jump.

Alex: "Do you feel better? We’re going to have the doctor come in to remove your IV and examine you, just to make sure everything is okay—alright?"

She nodded, and we waited for the doctor to arrive. He confirmed that Amelia was well on her way to recovery but needed to rest and, above all, eat properly. When she tried to get out of bed, I was afraid she might fall, so I held out my hand to help her up. She looked at me in surprise, glanced at my outstretched hand, and then gently slipped her hand into mine. My wolf was ecstatic. She was willing to give us a chance. And we weren't going to let her down. I gently led her toward the closet in her room and opened it, watching for her reaction. Her eyes went wide, and she looked back and forth between Alex and me.