Healing His Mate

Aaliyah POV

No Aaron! You will not break our bond. I don’t accept that! I yell into Aaron’s head.

You don’t have to, he tells me with a deepening sadness washing over his entire being as he and his wolf accepts this fate, I promised to protect you and I will not break my promise.

If you break our bond, I will have to relive every moment of pain I have ever felt before, I argue, I will be completely lost and you won’t be able to bring me back this time. We won’t be able to touch each other again without living through that pain. Please don’t condemn me to that life.

Angel-

No! I cut him off, You said that you love me. I know that you want to protect me but leaving me isn’t the way to do that. You said that you love me, but if you break our bond, I will know you lied.

His deep growl echoes around the room as I look through his eyes to see a few people wearing scrubs moving things around to prepare him for surgery.

I love you Angel. Do not ever doubt that.

Then don’t even think of breaking our bond. I rather die with you than live in a world where we are not connected.

I feel the tear slip down his skin, I can not be the reason you have to feel this pain. I can prevent it.

But that isn’t preventing it, I want to smack his stubborn head.

What would you have me do? What will protect you?

You will. You are so strong and you will hold on until Zach gets to you. Your mom will heal me as you get hurt, I tell him, You are my strength and I know you are strong enough to keep us both alive.

But the pain-

I’ve lived through pain before.

But you shouldn’t have to. Our bond is the reason you will.

I love our bond, I interrupt him again, Our bond made me whole again.

I feel his sense of calm run over us both as he digests my words. I know how much he loves me and I know he will do anything to protect me, even if it kills him.

But breaking our bond is wrong.

Our bond is as unique as it comes. We are connected at all times, even with that drug in his system. We are still in Sharing, Yes, we share injuries but we also can share experiences. Our minds are always connected in a way that I never knew could be possible.

Our bond is my safe haven and he can’t take that away from us.

Safe haven, the thought crosses my mind as I feel an idea start to form.

Angel, Aaron calls as he turns his eyes to watch Dr. Anderson walk back into the room.

“I hope you’ve said your goodbyes,” his sinister smile lingers on his face. A nurse walks over and downs his hands with latex gloves.

Aaron’s growl vibrates his body.

My mind races as I try to come up with an answer. It has to be our bond. We are still connected.

My mind stops for a second as the thought clears.

We’re still Sharing.

Aaron doesn’t hear my words as the doctor moves closer.

Walking over to the table, he picks up a scalpel and holds it against Aaron’s chest, “It’s time to see what makes you so special.”

I’m sorry Angel.

His eyes close as the knife breaks his skin.

No! I scream.

Latching onto his mind I turn around to the door behind me. Pulling as a hard as possible,I drag him away from the moment.

I take him from the agony and the fear. I remove him from it all.

I push him through the door.

*****

The blinding white light recedes from our vision as the colors around us move into focus. I clutch onto his Aaron’s hand as right as I can so he doesn’t let go.

“Aaron, open your eyes,” my words are soft and hopeful as I take in the world around us. We are standing in the woods near our home. I can see our house about 20 yards away and the trees stand tall around us.

“I don’t understand,” Aaron breaks the silence.

“Our bond keeps us connected always,” I try to explain, “You told me that we could visit each other the way we do because our bond is still sharing.”

“I felt you pull me through the door,” he reflects, “You brought us into your mind.”

I nod my head in agreement.

“Why?”

“When I was trapped, I couldn’t feel anything on the outside of our joined minds,” I say, “And I don’t feel any pain now.”

I try to feel out to my body, but I sense nothing. No pain or injuries. I feel completely safe.

He takes a second to feel out his own mind, “I can’t feel anything either.”

My lips break into a shaky smiles as I let go of the breath I had been holding. I throw my arms around Aaron’s neck. I laugh loudly as he picks me up in his arms to hold me closer.

“You found a way to protect both of us.”

I lean my forehead against his, “Promise me you will never even think of breaking our bond again.”

“I-”

My sob cuts off his words, “I thought I was going to lose you completely. I don’t want to live if you are not with me, my Aaron. Please don’t ever do that again.”

He leans forward to place a soft kiss on my lips, “I promise I will never make such a rash decision again and I will not leave you. The second you are within reaching distance, I am going to wrap you in my arms and never let you go. We will never be apart.”

“I love you,” my voice wobbles at the fierce look in his eyes.

“I love you too,” he kisses me again deeply. Our tongues battling and our hands clutching one another as if we are about to be torn apart and the last thing either one of us wants to feel and taste is the other.

After what feels like an eternity, he reluctantly pulls away. I hear the creek of our front door open behind us and a voice speaking in the distance.

His voice.

“Which memory is this, Angel?”

“I wanted to feel safe. So when I pull us through the door, I focused all my thoughts on the feeling and it brought us here.”

Turning slightly in his arms, we both look over to see another version of us. They are walking together down the porch steps. Aaron’s arm wrapped tightly around my body and I take one shaky step after another.

I look ready to bolt at any moment, but Aaron just keeps talking to me as if everything is going to be alright. He talks about his parents and the pack. He explains out the pack land is laid out and the different types of shifters that have decided to join. He tells me over and over that the hunter won’t find me here and that he will protect me no matter what.

“This is the first time you walked me around the pack lands,” I explained as we watched the other version of us, “I was so terrified, but you were so patient. You kept me close to you and didn’t laugh when I was being ridiculous.”

“You jumped a mile when the small pups ran by. I remember you wouldn’t stop shaking until we got to the lily field. I felt your body completely relax into mine and all I could think about was how happy I was to have found you,” he kisses my cheek, “Why did you pick this memory?”

“Because this was the first moment I truly felt safe. I spent so long being afraid of everyone and everything. But when you held me and told me I was safe, I actually felt like you are telling the truth. You made me feel safe.”

He kisses the side of my temple again as we continue watching our other selves.

“I’m happy you feel safe with me. You are so strong and resilient,” he says before taking a second to drop the bomb, “Which is why you’ll be protected here.”

“What? What do you mean?” I turn toward him, digging my hands further into him so I won’t lose my grip again.

“The doctor had started cutting. Do you feel any of it right now?” He asks, avoiding my question.

“No but neither do you. That’s why I brought us here. To keep us both safe.”

“But I have to go back.”

“No!” I screech, hugging him closer.

“Angel, I have to. I don’t know how close Zach and Thatcher are but they should be to the building. I need to be awake when they get there. I need to make sure the doctor dies.”

“Revenge isn’t worth it,” I try to argue, but his eyes stay hardened on his choice, “Please don’t.”

“You deserve justice, my love, and I will make sure you get it. Anderson doesn’t get to live any longer.”

“But I’ll be trapped in my mind again. I won’t be able to get out,” I grasp for any straw I can to make him stay with me.

“But you’ll be in this memory, where you are safe. You won’t feel any pain or fear, and once it’s done, I’ll be back at your side and I’ll bring you back again.”

“But what if you don’t? What if I can’t come back or I get lost in a different memory? You saw most of them from before. I’m not safe to wander in my own head,” I lean my forehead against his, “Please don’t leave me here.”

“We can’t stay here forever. Eventually we have to let go,” Aaron whispers softly, “I’ll go back and kill him. Then I’ll come for you. I promise.”

“Aaron don’t.”

“I love you my Angel. I’ll see you soon.”

With one move, he pushes against my hold, separating us. I’m left standing in the trees, alone and without my mate beside me.