Page 21 of Protected By The Polar Bear

I nod, and Elle takes my hand, leading me over to a chair. I’m not sure how long we sit there before a doctor walks out, giving us a tired smile.

“For Ash Martin?” he asks, and I leap to my feet.

“Is he okay?”

“He’s stable now and should be out of the anesthesia soon. He’ll need to rest for a bit, but I’m confident he’ll make a full recovery in the next few days.”

I see the doctor’s eyes flash, and I know he’s a shifter too. I start to relax and lean back against Elle.

“Can we see him?” I ask, and he nods.

“For a little bit. Visiting hours end soon.”

“Tessa, you go back,” Flint says, surprising me.

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, you’re who he is going to want to see when he wakes up.”

The other guys nod, and I look at Elle. She gives me a smile, nodding for me to go and I turn and follow the doctor down the hallway and into Ash’s room.

The lights are mostly off, and I move over to the side of his bed.

“Let us know if you need anything,” the doctor says before he turns to leave, and I nod.

“Thanks.”

He smiles kindly before he turns and heads out of the room. I turn back to Ash and take him in. He looks pale and so fragile as he lays in the hospital bed.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper as I take his hand in mine. I wish I hadn’t pushed you away. I wish you had opened up to me and that things were different.”

His eyes flutter and I tense, waiting to see if he wakes up. He blinks his eyes open a moment later and his eyes meet mine.

“Mate,” he says, his voice low and rough.

“How are you feeling?”

“Sore. Tired.”

I nod.

“Did they get the guys?” He asks, and I nod again.

“Yeah, they’re downtown at the station. They said they were drunk.”

“Idiots,” Ash growls, and I nod.

“At least they’ve been arrested.”

He nods, and we stare at each other for a second.

“I’m sorry,” he says finally, and I blink.

“I’m sorry, too.”

“It’s my fault. You have nothing to apologize for. I’m the idiot who pushed you away, who refused to talk to you and just told you what was going on with me and my childhood. I should have just trusted you from the beginning. I mean, I know you’re a good person and trustworthy, but I just let my insecurities get in the way.”

“Ash,” I say, but he shakes his head.

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