Chapter 25 - Forgiving The Past Is Easier Said Than Done.

Natalia's P.O.V.

"How are you feeling Luna? Are you in any pain or discomfort?"

Luna? who the hell is he calling Luna?.

"My name's Natalia and yer, I'm in quite a bit of pain actually"

That's the understatement of the century, I'm in so much pain that I feel like crying.

"Ok Luna, I'll give you something for that now"

What the f**k? is he deaf?.

"Don't call me Luna, I'm not your Luna"

"Sorry ma'am but I have too, I've been ordered by our alpha to do so"

Oh, have you now, wait until I get my hands on that bastard.

The doctor pulls out a needle and injects me with it, I immediately felt the effects of the pain medication and sighed in relief when I felt all of the pain and discomfort in my chest and head quickly disappear.

"Hmm, that feels better"

I rest my head back on the pillow and close my eyes, the pain I had in my chest was so excruciating and it felt so good to be rid of that pain, well, for now at least.

The pack doctor leaves my room after doing some checks on the machine next to me leaving me alone with my very happy friend.

"How are you really feeling, sweetheart?"

Brody sits down in the chair next to my bed and gently grabs hold of my hand.

"I'm fine, I swear, I was just in more pain than I let on, that's all"

"You better not be lying to me, Nat"

"I wouldn't lie to you, Brody"

"I know you wouldn't"

He kisses the back of my hand and smiles.

"You had us all worried you know, we thought you'd never wake up"

"Really? How long have I been out?"

I was expecting him to say that I'd be in a coma for a few months or maybe even a year because that's how long it felt like for me but I was thrown when he told me the length of time that I was actually in a coma for and I honestly thought he was joking with me.

"Two weeks"

"What?...two weeks? you're lying"

"I'm not lying sweetheart, I promise"

Oh my god, two weeks....it felt more like two years, I look around the room and see that it's empty except for myself and Brody, where the hell is everyone?.

"If you're wondering where everyone is well, Emily and Amy have gone shopping with Charlotte and the guys are torturing a rogue, well they were, they're probably on their way up here now"

"Huh, what do you mean?"

"Well, when you came around, I mind linked Angelo to let him know that you're awake and he said that they're coming up to see you"

"They?"

He nods his head.

"Angelo, alpha James and alpha Cole"

What?...Cole's coming here? oh god I don't think I'm ready to see him just yet.

My heart was beating a mile a minute and it got worse the more I thought of Cole, the last time I saw him he was declaring his love for me and has continued to do so every day for the past two weeks, he's also expressed how desperate he is for me to forgive him and has even mapped out a whole beautiful future for us if I do, not to mention the fact I've got that scene which I saw in my coma constantly playing in mind reminding me of what could be.

"Nattie...Nat, are you ok?"

I opened my mouth to answer Brody but before I could say anything, the door burst open startling us, I looked over at the door and my heart raced even faster when I saw Cole standing there looking sexy as f**k with a huge smile on his face.

"Hey Nat"

"H..hi"

The room fell into an awkward silence, I felt extremely uncomfortable having my ex-mate look at me with so much love whilst my ex-lover was looking at us with a huge smile on his face.

"Hey guys, I'm gonna go and get me something to eat, do you guys want anything?"

Cole shakes his head.

"Sweetheart, what about you?"

"Where are you going?"

"MacDonalds probably"

"I..I'll have my usual then"

"OK"

Brody leans in and kisses my forehead earning a deep growl from Cole.

"Calm down, alpha, she's all yours now"

"Brody"

I gasped pushing him away from me and he chuckled.

"Be good you two, don't do anything I wouldn't do"

"That doesn't leave much, does it?"

Brody blows me a kiss and I flip him off, he leaves the room chuckling and I rolled my eyes, that boy is such an asshole.

"So, erm..."

Cole said whilst nervously scratching the back of his neck.

Aww, he looks so adorable when he's nervous.

"How are you?"

"I'm fine, the doctor gave me some medication before so I'm...ouch!!"

"Here, let me help you"

Cole rushes over and helps me to sit up, so much for me being out of pain.

"Thanks"

"So, what were you about to say?"

I look up at Cole who is smirking.

"Shut up, idiot"

I say with a slight chuckle as I slap his chest, I lean back into my pillows as I watch Cole sit down in the chair next to my bed.

"Where is everyone? Brody said you were coming here with Angelo and alpha Jay"

"Yer they did, they're outside talking to their mates, Angelo doesn't need to be in any more hot water with Emily so he made sure to call her as soon as Brody mind linked him"

"What do you mean? What's going on? They're not fighting are they?"

I could feel myself getting worked up but calmed down when Cole grabbed hold of my hand and gently caressed the back of it with his thumb.

"Calm down babe, they're fine, they just had a lovers tiff that's all"

"A lovers tiff?...why were they fighting?"

Cole was acting shifty which I didn't like because I know he's hiding something from me.

"Cole, tell me what's going on?"

I looked at him intently waiting for him to speak, I could tell he was hesitant and didn't want to tell me but when he realised that I wasn't gonna stop asking until he told me, he gave in sighing in defeat before telling me everything that happened between my brother and his mate after I was attacked.

I felt guilty that my brother and Emily were fighting because of me and I guess it showed on my face because Cole was quick to tell me not to blame myself.

"If anyone's to blame babe, it's Angelo"

"How do you figure that out?"

"Well, if the roles were reversed and it was Emily laying in this bed instead of you...then I wouldn't waste a single second in telling you about it"

My heart skipped a beat as I looked at Cole, he looked deep into my eyes and I saw so much love in his eyes for me, I tried to look away, I wanted to look away because I didn't want to get sucked in, he's caused me so much pain and I don't wanna put myself in a position where he could put me through anymore.

"Nat, I wanna..."

"HOLD ON, EMILY, DON'T GO IN YET!!"

"WHY?"

"BECAUSE I SAID SO, JUST WAIT A FEW MINUTES!!"

"NO, I WANNA SEE MY BESTIE!!"

"EMILY!!....EM!!"

The door bursts open and my very happy best friend comes in with my brother not too far behind her.

"Nattie, oh thank goddess you're awake, please don't leave me alone with these stupid boys ever again"

"Oof, aahhh!!"

I groaned in pain when Emily practically jumped on my body wrapping her arms around me, well as best as she could.

"Watch it, Emily, Jesus"

Cole growled angrily at Emily but he was ignored by her.

I started to feel some mild pain and a lot of discomfort in my chest, even though Emily is a small girl and weighs next to nothing, it's still not a good thing having something this heavy weighing on my wound.

"Erm Em...c..can you..."

I struggled to get out but luckily Angelo caught on to what I was trying to say and he managed to pry his little mate off me.

"Sorry Nat, I'm just so excited to see you awake, life has been so boring without you"

"Hey, what are you talking about? you've been spending time with me"

Angelo whines like a little baby, Emily looks at him for a brief moment before returning to look at me.

"Like I said babe, life's been so boring without you"

Myself and Cole chuckled at them.

"I've been so bored, Nat that I've even started hanging out with him"

Emily nods her head towards Cole and I was shocked.

"Wait, you've been hanging out with him?"

She nods her head and her face looked normal which is odd considering that Emily can't talk, look or even think about Cole without looking disgusted.

"Yer, I never realized how boring he is until I started hanging out with him"

"Hey, I'm not boring"

"Yes you are, all you ever talked about was Nattie, Natalia's this, Natalia's that, do you know how beautiful Natalia is? she's so perfect, I love her so much"

The sound of a throat clearing next to me caused me to turn my head and when I did, I saw Cole glaring at Emily which only intensified when she muttered something under her breath which she didn't think any of us heard but we did.

"How else do you think you're gonna win her back unless she knows how you really feel, moron?"

"Babe, watch who you're speaking too, he's your alpha, remember"

"I don't care, he can't touch me, Angelo"

"Oh yer and what makes you think that, Emily?"

Cole asks sounding pissed.

"Because I'm your brothers mate and the Lunas best friend that makes me untouchable bro"

We all chuckled at her even Cole chuckled slightly.

I didn't click on to what Emily said until it was too late and by that I mean when I went to pull her up on it, the pack doctor came in wanting everyone to leave so he could do a routine checkup on me.

Cole didn't want to leave but he was practically dragged out by Angelo but not before giving me a kiss on my forehead which had me blushing bright red and a warm fuzzy feeling to erupt in my chest.

The pack doctor checked me over and he said that I'm free to leave the hospital as soon as my wolf heals me, I asked him when that could be hoping that it would be soon so I can get out of here but my hopes were dashed when I saw the look on his face and I felt like crying when he said that he doesn't know because I was stabbed with a silver weapon and it's impossible to indicate when my wolf will wake up to heal me.

After the pack doctor left, I had a nice long, hot and very much needed shower, I then changed into some fresh pyjamas and went back into my room just as Brody walked in with two big MacDonalds bags, I knew I loved this boy for a reason, anyway, we sat on my bed and ate our meals as we talked about numerous things.

I could tell Brody was itching to talk about Jason but he was trying hard not to bring him up in case it upset me but I couldn't take it anymore, the boy is literally acting like he's got fire ants in his pants whilst he's eating his burger.

"So, how's everything with Jason?"

Brody was shocked that I asked him about his mate and started to choke on his burger.

"Are you ok?"

I asked whilst gently patting his back.

"I'm fine"

He said with a raspy voice before taking a sip of his drink.

"Me and Jason are good...really, really good"

"Really?"

I didn't believe him because his neck is bare and I thought they would've marked each other by now especially if they're doing so good like Brody claims.

"Yep"

"If you're good then where's your mark?"

Brody's head snapped up to look at me and I had to stop myself from chuckling when I saw tomato sauce on the side of his mouth, I lifted my hand up to his face and wiped the sauce away with my thumb.

"The last time I saw you before I was attacked you looked so happy to go and be with him that I thought you would've been marked and mated within the hour"

I wipe my thumb with my napkin as Brody takes another sip of his drink.

"I wanted too...I really, really wanted too"

"Then why didn't you?"

Brody was silent for a minute, he looked so awkward like he didn't want to talk about this but I was determined too, Brody isn't just some guy I was having sex with, he's one of my best and closest friends and his mate is someone who used to beat and torture me, we need to talk about this so that he's not caught in the middle or ends up in a position where he's forced to take sides to the point that he'll eventually have to choose one of us and I'll be damned if I'm gonna lose him because of Jason.

"We didn't mark each other because...I wanted to wait"

"Wait?...what do you wanna wait for, the next full moon?"

Brody chuckles as he looks at me with his handsome smile plastered on his face, his smile didn't reach his ears which saddened me.

"Tell me the truth Brody, please"

Brody looked deep into my eyes and I could tell that he was being hesitant but he eventually told me why and I was confused by his reason.

"You...we haven't marked each other because of you"

"Me?....why me?"

He looked down and sighed.

"Well, at first...at first it was because I wanted you both to get along with each other, I don't wanna lose either of you but I knew I'd lose at least one of you because of your hatred towards him but then...."

He fell silent and I was worried when I saw pain in his eyes, I grabbed hold of his hand and gently caressed the back of it with my free hand.

"Then what?"

"Then you were attacked...I stayed at the hospital for as long as I could until Cole sent us all home to get some rest, I went back to the packhouse and searched everywhere for Jason but I couldn't find him anywhere, it was only after one of the pack members told me he was in the gym that I found him and when I did....he was a mess"

"What do you mean?"

He looked down at our hands and sighed.

"I found Jason beating the crap out of a boxing bag, his hands were all cut up and bloodied from the metal that was exposed due to the incessant beating that he'd given to the bag and..."

"And what?"

Brody looked up at me and I felt bad, he looked so anxious and worried.

"He was crying, Nat...he was a crying mess"

"What?"

I look at Brody shocked, Jason isn't an emotional person and he never cries and I mean never, it probably explains why him and Cole get on like a house on fire, two emotionless robots together as best friends and leaders of a pack.

"Brody, I've known Jason ever since I can remember, he doesn't cry"

"Oh yes he does babe, I saw it, he was crying like a little baby"

"But why?....why was he crying?"

Brody cupped the side my face and caressed my cheek.

"He was crying because of you, Nat"

"Huh...wh..what do you mean?"

Brody lets out a sigh.

"Natalia....Jason told me everything that he's put you through or helped put you through...I was so pissed with him and I wanted to hurt him but I knew it would've been a waste of time because he was already torturing himself"

I was shocked, I can't believe Jason told Brody everything.

"He thought you were going to die babe...we all did, I mean you were stabbed with a silver dagger sweetheart, the chances of you surviving that were very, very slim, Jason...Jason was heartbroken....he didn't want you to die"

"Why because it would've hurt you?"

He shakes his head no.

"He just didn't want you to die"

I narrowed my eyes at him suspiciously, call me a sceptical Sally but I find it hard to believe that Jason has gone from hating me to crying over me and all because I nearly died.

"Look Nat, I know that you probably think I'm just saying this because he's my mate and because I want you both to get along but I'm not ok....Jason really regrets everything that he put you through and he wants you to forgive him, he knows that he can't change the past, sweetheart....alls he wants is a chance to make up for it"

I scoff as I roll my eyes, there are more chances of me flying to the moon than me ever forgiving Jason Ramsey.

"He regrets everything, Nat, I know he does"

"Oh yer and how do you know that, Brody? because I've got a feeling that you've told him you'll only start the mating process with him once he's gained my forgiveness, am I right?"

Brody stiffened at my words and I knew I was right.

"Yes you're right in a way but not exactly"

"What do you mean not exactly? either you told him you guys will mate after I forgive him or you won't if I don't which is it"

Brody let's out a frustrated sigh.

"Yes, I did tell him that we can only mark and mate when he's gained your forgiveness BUT I also told him that he had to genuinely want your forgiveness and not just want it because he gets me and my mark"

"How do you know Jason wants my forgiveness?"

Brody smiles sadly.

"Because of his eyes...I saw the same look in his eyes in the gym that I saw when Cole was carrying you through the pack gardens full of blood and unconscious...he was broken, Nat...he was so broken, sad and regretful, that's how I know he genuinely wants your forgiveness, sweetheart"

I look at Brody intently, I was about to ask him a question and his answer depends on whether or not I can even consider giving Jason a chance.

"Do you know about what happened at Cole's alpha coronation?"

Brody didn't answer me but I could tell from the look on his face that he knew and that's when I realised that Jason may just be turning over a new leaf, as much as I hate to admit it.

Jason and Brody haven't had the easiest of starts to their relationships but I know that Jason loves him because I saw it in his eyes at the funeral and I doubt that he'd tell Brody all of the dirty and vile details of our past if he was the same old Jason knowing full well that he could lose his mate for good because I know for a fact that I wouldn't want to stay with my mate if I found out that he was trying to have sex with an underage girl.