Predator

08.

"I'm really sorry this all happened," Ryan spoke softly to his father whose shirt was stained with the blood of his brother, the one who attacked Neela, the one who cursed Ryan, the one who betrayed his whole family all because he killed his own mate. "Don't worry about it. He's dead. You didn't cause it this time," Damien spoke with his voice dead. He was angry at everyone, especially himself for not being able to protect Neela.

"Her hand—it's just dead." Sean spoke from a chair that sat at the corner of the room. Neela's right hand had stitches and was wrapped in a cast, her hand draped over her chest.

This time, they were in a real hospital. Sean couldn't do anything as he was too angry and couldn't focus on anything, none of the other boys had a medical thumb.

"I touched her and I didn't turn, that's a good thing, right?" Ryan was laid on a little couch that was right next to the doorway. He decided to take Neela's pain and it caused him to lose a bunch of energy. "For now," Damien spoke with his arms now crossed over his chest, "but you need to work on controlling it when she isn't injured."

"Aunt Gigi told us to bring Ryan over when Neela heals, she said that she'd help in training him," Caleb finally managed to speak up.

~~

It was about 3 in the morning, earth time, when Neela finally woke up. The only person who was there was Ryan but he was trying to regain his energy back.

Her throat was dry and her vision was hazy. She just kept her back on the bed while trying to gain some understanding of where she was but her eyes only wanted to keep shutting. Neela couldn't tell if she was alone but she kept attempting to say someone's name, the most common being Ryan's.

A few minutes passed and by that time, Neela had been driven to tears. She was scared, she could barely move her body, and felt like she was alone. She could see shadows out in the hall but none of them were coming in no matter how hard she tried to make her register louder.

Slowly, Ryan came into Neela's line of sight and her vision cleared right away. "What's wrong? I'm here," despite his sleepiness, Ryan made it his priority to help Neela keep safe and calm. Neela tried to speak her fears and worries, but her voice just came out as scratchy squeaks which prompted Ryan to shake his head and put a finger up to his mouth. "You lost your voice, angel. Too much screaming. I don't want you to speak for a bit, okay?" He spoke out loud as he made his way to the bathroom to fill up a gallon jug the nurses put in the room.

Ryan filled up a little styrofoam cup and put it up to Neela's lips, which she quickly chugged down. "Can you remember what happened? The chandelier falling, breaking your hand?"

Neela slowly nodded. "That's great," Ryan smiled while sitting back on the couch he was previously sleeping on. "It's very badly broke. You're not allowed to use that hand until it's fully healed, okay?" Neela nodded again with a few tears still escaping from her eyes. "What's wrong? You can talk to me in your head, just think about what you need to say, I'll hear it."

No one came to help me. I didn't know where I was.

"It's okay, I'm here now. Hospitals in this realm aren't that helpful to humans." Ryan could hear Neela release a shaky sigh, "do you want me to sleep next to you?"

Neela wanted to nod her head, to be brought into Ryan's arms so she could feel safe, but she couldn't. Your hands, you don't have gloves. Neela pouted as she looked at Ryan's bare hands, the same ones who have attacked her many times, who have left her bruised and scarred.

Ryan stood up and walked over to Neela and stood at the left side of her bed. "I don't care about that. I can control it, I'm trying to." He leaned down on the side bars that were mounted up so Neela couldn't fall out of bed, "please?"

Neela was having a mental battle. She was told that she could easily trust Ryan and all the people she lived with! She's tried to in the past but all that got her was scarred and ruined physically and mentally.

"Jesus Christ-" Ryan cut off Neela's vehement thinking which made her jump at the sound of his sudden loud voice, "calm down, your thoughts and heartbeat are both off the walls. If you don't trust it, you can just say it. I'd be hesitant as well."

I'm hungry. Neela changed the subject at hand and looked at Ryan with pleading eyes to just drop it. "The hospital's closed, chips are gonna have to work right now until father smuggles you in some real food."

~~

"Let's set you up," Ryan came back in the room holding two bags of chips, a bottle of water for Neela, and a can of soda for himself. He set the bags and beverages down on the mini dresser that held his and Neela's belongings.

Neela thought he was going to leave to pull up a chair, but no. Ryan settled his large hands behind Neela's back, his fingers felt airy against Neela's skin, he was so much more warm like that. "Look at me," Ryan demanded in a gentle voice.

Ryan's breath hitched when his brown eyes met with with Neela's hazel ones. If he had a heart, blood would be pumping throughout his body all too quickly. It's like he kept falling in love over and over again every time their eyes met, and he wouldn't change a thing. Ryan slowly caressed the scarred skin on Neela's arm while he whispered in her hair. "Can you feel what's touching you?"

Neela kept her sight focused on their touching skin, she had refused to meet his eyes. She kept thinking that she knew the beats would come, it was only a matter of time. The hits, nor the harsh words ever came. You won't hurt me, will you?

With a bright smile, Ryan shook his head when Neela looked up at him again. "No, I won't," he slowly moved his hand up to hold Neela's warm cheek. He enjoyed this so much, words couldn't explain the emotions that he felt in his head, his stomach, even his dead heart. "I've been feeling different since he died. It feels better. It wants to be free, but it feels easier to control now."

"I can feel your warmth," Ryan gasped and brought his face closer to Neela's, "your blood, I can feel it. It's like a masterpiece," all of Ryan's focus was on the warm liquid that was just under his mates skin.

The same liquid that made her lips have the soft, red tint they have. The same liquid that would just pour out of her body when she was injured. The liquid that courses through her veins. Oh how it would pump faster if Ryan did the slightest touch to her. He would especially love the liquid if she grew bashful and it would travel up to her cheeks. Anyone could feel Neela's warmth, anyone could be hypersensitive to her blood, her mate or not.

Ryan snapped out of his transfixed state by a question that Neela had asked, a question he would never forget.

"Of course we can try it again," he smiled.