Ashlyn
After what had just happened, I just wanted to be alone. I didn’t care that I was bleeding, and I didn’t want to go to the hospital. I wanted to go to my room and forget this day had ever happened. The pain in my body was bad, but the pain in my heart was unbelievable.
I couldn’t control the buildup in my chest or my emotions. I just needed to get to my room and cry out my sadness. Right now, I am over everyone. Everyone always seems to hurt me and I’m always forgiving and understanding. I’m too nice for this cruel world and these cruel people.
I went up to my room, and I went straight into the bathroom to get myself cleaned up. I was emotionally, physically and mentally exhausted from not only today, and I just wanted to crawl into bed. I’d worry about my plan for where I was going tomorrow.
I turned the shower on and was looking at my reflection in the mirror. When did I get a white dress? When I notice I wasn’t dressed the same as before. Whatever, I guess it doesn’t matter, anyway. I found a brush and brushed out my hair. When I was done, I stripped the dress off and hopped into the shower.
The hot water felt great on my achy body. Even my back didn’t hurt as badly as earlier. Standing under the water until it was no longer red or pink. I had to drag myself out of the shower, as it was too much work to actually get myself organized. I just wanted to flop on my bed and go to sleep. Being asleep was better than having to deal with all this crap.
After I got out of the shower, I tried to check out my back and other wounds in the mirror. Most of the open wounds were now closed up and mostly only bruises and scabs remained. Thank the goddess, I was done with stitches.
I dried my hair as much as possible and ran a brush through it. I pulled it back into a French braid, wrapped a towel around my body, and stepped into my bedroom. Mason was sitting on the edge of the bed.
“What are you doing here, Mason?” I asked him, annoyed. I crossed my arms across my chest.
“Ashlyn, I understand that you’re upset but….” He said, but I didn’t give him a chance to finish.
“Upset? Really? That’s what you think? You rejected me. My aunt doesn’t believe me and I fought to stay alive just to deal with all this bullshit. Nothing I have ever done has been good enough.” I yelled at him. I started walking to my closet to find something to wear.
Mason got up from my bed and I was hoping he was going to leave, but he wrapped his arms around my waist and rested his head in the crook of my neck. He breathed my scent in deeply, and I couldn’t help but lean into him.
“I’m so sorry, Ashlyn. I was wrong to not believe you or hear you out. I took out my anger and frustration out on you and I shouldn’t have done that. Please forgive me?” He whispered and kissed my neck softly. I was trying to hold back my tears. I didn’t know what to say to him. What happens next time he’s pissed off and I’m the one in his way?
“I’ve been so worried about you. I’m so sorry I wasn’t there to protect you. I promise I’ll never leave your side again.” He whispered in between soft kisses on my neck. Mason pulled away and turned me around to face him. He then rested his forehead against mine.
“Please say something?” He pleaded. Wrapping my arms around his waist, I started sobbing into his chest. I didn’t know what was going to happen to us, but at that moment, I didn’t care. Chasing any comfort, needing someone to care about me. I had been through so much and I just couldn’t take it anymore.
“Baby, it’s okay now. I’m so sorry.” Mason whispered to me. He wrapped his arms around my neck and was holding me tight to his chest.
“I’m so sorry, Mason.” I cried out to him. He pulled away just enough to capture my cheeks in his hands so that I would look at him.
“Ashlyn, you have nothing to be sorry for. I fucked up and I’m prepared to spend every damn day of my life making it up to you. Please believe me?” He pleaded, and I nodded. He let go of my cheeks and rested his face in my neck.
“I was so worried about you. I thought we would never find you.” His voice cracked and I could feel his tears running down my chest. I squeezed his waist tightly, as hard as it was for me. The unknown of not knowing would have been hard. I couldn’t imagine not knowing what happened to him, if he was ever to go missing.
We stood there holding each other for a few minutes until we both could calm ourselves down. I was ready for a nap, as I was now even more exhausted from coming down from my adrenaline rush.
“Mason?” I asked.
“Hmm,” he answered.
“I need to lie down now.” I told him. He pulled away from me. I turned to walk into my closet to grab something to sleep in. Finding a pair of panties and an oversized shirt that went down to mid-thigh. I walked out to find Mason standing by the bed.
I walked over to the other side and climbed in under the blanket. I was lying on my side, turned into the bed. Mason came over to kiss my forehead.
“You get some rest, beautiful.” He whispered. But before he could leave, I called out to him.
“Mason, would you stay?” I patted the space beside me. He shut the lights off and wandered over to the bed. He undressed until he was only wearing his boxers and climbed in beside me. Once he was lying down on his back, I moved my head to his chest and rested my arm over his waist. I was breathing him in, and it didn’t take me long until I was asleep.
Prince Mason
I followed Ashlyn up to her room after she left the backyard. Even if she didn’t want medical attention, I still wanted to make sure she was okay. She had lost a lot of blood and I also needed to speak to her. When I got to her bedroom, she was already in the shower, so I sat on her bed and waited.
What did Prince Derek mean about Ashlyn being an elemental? And what the hell was she able to do? And her wolf was white? I had so many questions, but first I needed to fix our relationship. I hated being disconnected from her. Mates usually find each other, mark and mate within the first week. And here we are, almost five weeks in and we’ve only kissed once and have barely spent time together.
She finally came out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel. I could see all the bruises and cuts all over her body where the towel wasn’t covering her. It was hard to see the aftermath of what she went through. She looked pissed and I honestly couldn’t blame her. I knew she wanted me to leave when she was walking over to the closet, but there was no way I was going to do that. I needed her to know that I’m here for her and that I’m not going anywhere.
She allowed me to hold her and explain my side of things. Even though my side was, I’m an idiot, and she is way too good for me. I’m glad that she heard me out, at least. She told me she needed to lie down, and I was disappointed, but I understood she must be tired from today.
When she walked out of the closet in only an oversized shirt, she was really testing me. First, a towel and now just a shirt. I didn’t care that bruises and cuts covered her body. She was still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.
When she asked me to stay, I was surprised, but I didn’t hesitate to shut off the key light and strip down to my boxers. As soon as I laid down in bed, she snuggled into my chest and was asleep within minutes.
I snuggled into her, resting my head on hers, breathing in her scent. This moment has to be one of the happiest moments of my life. Even being interrupted by Brandon couldn’t ruin it.
“Yes, Brandon.” I opened the mindlink.
“How is she?” He asked.
“She’s sleeping. I’m going to stay with her until she wakes.” I told him. And I closed the link.
It didn’t take long for my heart rate to settle and my breathing to even out. Sleep took me quickly and with a smile on my face.