Page 34 of The Alpha's Stolen Mate

Gabriel waited outside as Healer Nia checked my vitals and assured me that an accelerated heart rate was normal for someone who just woke up from a traumatic event because of the nerves and confusion. I wasn't sure that was why my heart was racing, though.

She also told me that my shoulder wound was already getting better, thanks to the accelerated healing of a shifter. Our injuries mended much faster than a human’s. If our wounds weren’t life-threatening, most of them would mend overnight. But our scars from bites of other shifters would never fully disappear like our regular scars did. It was almost like the magic within us that allowed us to shift into our wolf forms, wanted us to remember an injury from another wolf. That way, we would train harder, so it never happened again.

Healer Nia wanted to keep me overnight to monitor me. When she told me I’d always have a scar, I glanced down at the Rogue's faded bite mark on my arm.

Anger tore through me.

I was full of scars from men.

Healer Nia excused herself, and Gabriel walked back in, followed by my mom. He waited in the corner of the room while my mother came to me and held my hand.

“Grayson is fine,” was the first thing she said.

The leftover tension seeped from my body. Although Gabriel had already said my son was safe, the assurance was different coming from my mother.

“Aunt Mia?” I asked. “And Dad? How’s Dad?”

“Your aunt is safe. Healer Nia said that you’re going to have to spend the night here, so Gabriel found us an extra room to sleep in tonight. Grayson is already fast asleep.” A look of happiness flitted across her face, but it faded and was replaced with one of deep sadness. “Your father is…stable. For now. I went in to see him, and it was…” She swallowed and closed her eyes, tears running down her cheeks. “But you need to focus on recovering, and you can see him tomorrow.” She patted my hand, and her lips turned up in a watery semblance of a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

I wanted to tell my mom that her husband of almost thirty years would be all right, but I didn’t want to make a promise I couldn’t keep.

I squeezed her hand, knowing that wasn’t enough, but it was the only small comfort I could give her.

“What did you tell Grayson about what happened?”

Although I wanted nothing more than to hold my son in my arms, it would be selfish of me to wake him up.

“Just that you got hurt, but not as badly as his Grandpa. I promised him that he would be able to see you tomorrow morning. Now, get some rest, sweetheart. I love you.”

She leaned down and pressed a kiss to my forehead.

When my mom turned, she jumped a little when she noticed Gabriel was still in the room with us.

“I was hoping I could speak with you, Summer,” he said.

My mother stepped to the side, blocking me from Gabriel’s view.

“She needs to rest,” my mom said firmly. “If Summer wants to, she will speak with you in the morning.”

I laid a hand on my mom’s arm.

“It’s okay. I want to talk to him,” I said.

She looked back at me.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. Go get some sleep, Mom. I’m sure you’re exhausted. We can all visit Dad together in the morning.”

After a moment’s hesitation, my mom nodded.

“We’re staying in the room across the hall,” my mom told me. “Call out if you need anything.” She looked pointedly at Gabriel.

“Thank you, Mom,” I said, trying to convey through my expression that I appreciated her trying to protect me.

But Gabriel and I had to have this overdue conversation.

Once my mom left, Gabriel sat in the chair by my bedside.

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