Joey didn’t feel anything. He said, mostly to Collins and Dr. Olsen, who nods as she fixes up my leg because the last thing I want is another infection.
For about 30 minutes, they kept inflicting pain on both of us and every single time, I felt pain and sometimes Joey didn’t. It got progressively worse as time went on and the last few, I’ve ended up screaming in pain because of how bad it was. All of a sudden, I felt so much pain in my left leg that I started to thrash around as much as I could in the restraints and a scream left my lips.
Kade, calm down ! Collins yells over me as he places his hands on my chest to help calm me down.
I-I can’t ! I said through clenched teeth as my breathing starts to fail on me, making my chest burn from lack of oxygen. My head starts to spin and everything is looking like two, making me freak out even more as my screaming ceases due to me not even being able to breathe.
I knew that I was having a panic attack and the restraints were making it worse since I felt trapped. Trapped in my own body, trapped in one spot, trapped from everything. I tried to reach something so I could get a grip on real life but my hand couldn’t reach anything.
Kade ? Raphael asked, reaching his hand out to touch my shoulder.
He’s having a panic attack. Take the restraints off ! Collins yelled as soon as he realizes what is going on. All three of the people rush to take all the restraints off of me. As soon as I am able to get up, I fall down to the floor and pull my knees to my chest as I shake with fear and panic.
Brody, get Joey in here right now, Collins demands as I continue to shake in my little ball on the ground. Dr. Olsen kneels next to me and pulls the monitors off of me to help deal with the panic that was still coursing through me.
The door burst open and I looked up to see Joey search the room for me before he kneeled down next to me to pull me into his arms. You’re okay, baby, you’re okay. I’m right here, I’m not leaving your side.
I turn in his arms to dig my head into his shoulder to smell his scent so I would calm down as much as I possibly could right now. I hear some shuffling throughout the room but only focused on the man who’s in front of me.
I love you, I’m so sorry. I should’ve listened to you and not walked into this building. I’m so incredibly sorry, he whispers to me, running his fingertips up-and-down my back. He stood up, making me reach for him before he picked me up and set me on the table so I was off the floor.
When he picked me up, I felt the ache in my chest all over again and my breathing was starting to cut off again. I reached out to Joey and he grabbed my hand as he tried to figure out what was going on. I opened my mouth to say something but only a choked noise left, scaring even me.
My head fell down to my chest as I tried my best to find my breath and once Joey realized what was going on, his hand went to the back of my neck and he forced my head between my knees which filled my lungs with air as tears started to fall.
What the hell is going on ? Raphael asked, stepping towards us before Joey snapped his hand out to warn him off from taking another step.
He stopped breathing because he was scared and you all just stood there like idiots and let him suffer alone, my mate snapped at everyone in the room as he reached over and grabbed a tissue to wipe away my tears.
I’m so sorry, Joey. You two can leave whenever you’re ready. Collins said to us as he grabs the clipboards to read over the information they gathered.
We can leave whenever you’re ready, Joey tells me.
Now, I’m ready now. I want to leave, I demand, not wanting to spend one more minute in this place with the doctor or the elders just staring at me and wanting to hurt me to get the information they think they need.
Joey put his hands on my waist before helping me off of the table. He guides me out of the room without saying a word to the people who were in there and doesn’t say anything until we’re sitting in his car.
I am so sorry, he tells me, putting his forehead against the steering wheel with a loud sigh. I reach over to place my hand on his shoulder and lean my head against my arm. We sit like that for a few minutes before we hear car doors closing, which meant there were either people here or leaving.
Once Joey heard, he lifts his head up and gets out of the parking space as fast as possible so we don’t have to see any of their faces again today. Within a few minutes, we’re on the highway on our way back home. He reaches over and grabs my hand in his before bringing it up to his lips to kiss.
I love you, I whisper to him and a small smile graces his lips before he holds my hand to his cheek with a sigh. We drive home in a comfortable silence as both of our minds are wondering about what had just happened to us and as soon as we get home, he puts the car and park and looks over at me.
Are you okay ? Like actually okay ? He asks me, squeezing my hand tightly.
I’m okay now, it just became a lot at one time. It’s nothing you could’ve prevented or I could’ve prevented. You don’t need to blame yourself, okay ? This isn’t your fault.
He shook his head. I could’ve prevented it. I made us go in today when I knew that they would do horrible things to us. I could’ve fought back but I didn’t and it got us hurt in the end and that isn’t what it needed to come to and-
I cut him off from his rambling and grabbed his face so he was looking at me. It’s okay, Joey. You were right, they would’ve made our lives hell if we didn’t, but it’s over and done with. We don’t have to think about that anymore.
He moves forward and sets his forehead against mine. We sit like that for a few minutes with me running my fingers through his hair while whispering sweet things to him. All of a sudden, he lifts his head up and looks around and the first thing I can think that it’s a rogue attack.
What’s going on ? I ask him.
Two wolves are fighting in the courtyard, come on, baby. You’ll be fine, but I don’t want to leave you alone, he tells me as he rushes out of the car as do I. He grabs my hand as we run towards the courtyard, which isn’t too far away.
Once we come into view of the courtyard, I see a black wolf and a brownish-yellow wolf fighting with people standing far away from them. As soon as we get there, Cody runs out with Melissa following behind. Joey points me to Melissa and I immediately go towards her while he deals with the two wolves.
Joey and Cody walk up and pull the wolves apart with as much force that they can with their human forms. The black wolf that Joey was pulling off immediately responds to being touched by someone unknown and tries to bite his hand, which makes my mate jump back in shock while Cody steps up and pushed the wolf down.
I try to run over to Joey, but Connor runs over to me and holds me back. He’s okay, I promise you that he’s okay. We don’t want you getting hurt.
He hands me back over to Melissa who wraps her arms around my shoulder as I look back over at my mate and Cody, who yells at the wolves to shift. They both do and immediately someone throws towels at the boys to cover themselves up.
You two will be dealt with in private, Joey said to the two boys before turning to look at the large group that was still forming. this is the third fight this week and it’s not something we will tolerate anymore. If there is one more fight, big or small, in the next two weeks, hunting will be on-hold for a month.
Everyone started talking to each other, furious that the leaders were threatening their hunting. I saw some men start to step up but were pulled back by other members of the pack. I whimper as fear rushed through my body that someone could hurt Joey.
We don’t care who are the ones fighting. Any fight whatsoever within the next two weeks will be met with consequences to the whole pack, Cody says, crossing his arms.