Chapter 4

Terrence found himself in the hospital close to Alton Academy. It was the only place he could think of when asking his men to tell one of the witches to create a portal for him. He had no idea how his parents might have treated Azalea had he taken her to his own pack clinic. 

Carrying Azalea into the hospital he went to a nurse.

"Please ... it's an emergency! My friend and I were driving and we had an accident. It was a hit and run driver!" Terrence explained quickly, hoping the nurse did not ask too many questions. 

The nurse quickly had some paramedics take Azalea on a stretcher into a room.

"You have to fill this form out," said the nurse handing it to him. “We need to know what pack she belongs too as well.” 

 After filling it out and writing all the information he knew about Azalea, Terrence went into the room where Azalea was being examined. He’d written that she was a member of his pack, and knew that since he was the future alpha of the pack, the hospital would not ask too many questions. 

She was still unconscious but there was a doctor there.

"She'll have to get stitches on her stomach, she’s got a broken rib which punctured her lung and her arm is broken pretty badly and healing at a bad angle. We will have to reset her arm. I'd say she was attacked," the doctor said, looking closely at Terrence and taking in his bloody clothes. However, it was more than apparent that his patient needed immediate attention so he took Azalea into the operating room and Terrence knew he needed his friends near him. The only one who wasn’t busy with the after math of the battle was Sean who asked a witch to open up a portal for him so he could be near Terrence.

“Sybl retreated after you left with Azalea,” Sean explained, looking solemnly at his best friend and future alpha. 

Terrence sighed forlornly. 

“So everyone knows it’s Azalea that was Sybl's secret weapon?” Terrence queried sadly. 

Sean chose his next words vary carefully, fully aware of Terrence's past with her. 

“Well, Remi, Silas and I knew. Her red-hair gave it away immediately,” Sean explained.”We made up your core-team and were the only ones actually paying attention to your fight. But apparently Sybl retreated the minute you took her away. Everyone figured there is some sort of history if you left the way you did. Silas was also there and started cursing the hell out of Sybl and her warriors.”

 Terrence laughed bitterly, yup that sounded like Silas all right. Sean waited with him in solitude and after what seemed like hours, Azalea was brought out. 

"She'll be conscious within a few hours," the doctor replied. "She's out of the danger zone now. Her ribs are healing properly too."

Terrence waited by her bedside. Sean had left by now and it was the middle of the night when Azalea stirred.

"Oww," she groaned.

Her eyes were closed and her hands reached for her ribs that were badnaged up. 

"Azalea! You're all right!" Terrence exclaimed and hugged her. 

When Azalea heard those words and that voice, her eyes flew open immediately. Azalea thought to herself that she must be dreaming. But when she felt those all too familiar arms around her, she knew it was Terrence. She stiffened as his all too familiar scent hit her. Ofcourse he’d had it masked earlier withs ome stupid spell. Her eyes glowed yellow as she realized that he was her mate. Terrence was her destined mate!

But that didn’t undo the past. She quickly checked to make sure that her scent was still masked. He wouldn’t be able to tell she was his mate as long as the spell on her did not wear off. It was a neat bit of magic done by Sybl, much more effective than temporarily masking one’s scent with sage. 

She pulled away from Terrence in anger.

"Where the hell have you taken me?" she hissed.

"You're at the hospital close to Alton Academy. I brought you here when you fell..." Terrence said quietly.

"You mean when you attacked me," Azalea retorted, looking around the hospital room. "Take me back!" Azalea exclaimed and noticed that her arm was in a cast. "I hate you! Go away!" Azalea shrieked with tears freely flowing down her cheeks. "You are a self-centered, ignorant bastard and I hate you! You used me and played with my feelings!" she exclaimed sorrowfully and let the silence linger between them. Finally, in a much quieter tone she whispered out, "Why?"

"Azalea I didn't use you. I used to and still do love you," Terrence whispered out.

"Liar! Then why did you break up with me? And you never told me you were the future Alpha of The Aberdeen Pack! Was it all a stupid joke to you?!" Azalea asked, still yelling at him.

"Azalea no! There was no joke! It was all done to protect you! I was supposed to become an Alpha and my mum…she said our pack would never accept you…" he explained pitifully. 

"Damn you Terrence! To protect me from what? I'm a big girl and can take care of myself. You.... you were always a mummy’s boy,” Azalea replied with a grumble, then went on in a sad tone, "The very next day my parents died. I was all alone in the world after that day. It seemed as if everyone I truly cared for had left me. My best friend Klarissa had already left to be with King Daemon and begin training to be our kingdom’s Luna Queen. I could not and would not burden her with my issues. Then Sybl came and offered me a second family, a home and protection. She was the only one there for me after that terrible day. I almost committed suicide once when it all became too much to bear. Then who was there for me? Sybl and her dark coven...my dark coven!!" 

Tears were running down Azaleas face and her eyes had become red.

Terrence made a move to hug her.

"Don't you dare touch me Terrence Edward Evans! I hate you! I hate you!" she said while using her unbroken arm to pound her fist on his chest in hopes of hurting him, but Azalea was too weak from battle and her blows felt like nothing to Terrence.

"Ssshhh Azalea I'm sorry I really am," he replied and pulled her into a strong hug. 

Azalea made one last weak effort to pull back but she was to exhausted. Exhausted from her fight, exhausted from hurting for so long, exhausted from pretending she did not enjoy the thrill of being in Terrence's arms. Terrence who she now knew was her mate. Because due to her human genes, she hadn't shift until she turned 18. And she could only sense her mate after she shifted. Terrence had not been able to sense her as his mate either because she hadn't shifted yet when they'd been dating. 

 She sat there with Terrence hugging her and her head on his chest while she cried silently. She finally let go and was letting out all the pain she had been feeling ever since they had broken up while Terrence ran his fingers through her hair whispering soothing words to her. When Azalea had finally calmed down, Terrence lifted her head up slightly so their lips were inches apart and Azalea hesitantly brought her lips up to meet his. Their lips met and Azalea felt as if everything was suddenly alright. As their kiss grew, she felt Terrence stiffen and suddenly tear his lips away from her. 

“Mate,” he growled out, eyes flowing yellow and surprise evident on his face. 

Azalea grimaced, realizing that she'd forgotten that if he kissed her, he would have sensed her immediately as his mate.