“You are very welcome,” he said as he placed the cup on the stand next to her bed. “You know that within a half an hour your room is going to be bombarded with visitors, right?” He asked with a touch of humor in his voice.
“I know.”
“If you need any more rest you let me know and I will kick them out of here. They have been loitering enough.”
She let out a small laugh but stopped quickly when the action caused her stomach to protest. Any little movement caused an intense burning pain in her lower abdomen. She placed her hand over the location and was overcome by an extreme sense of loss. Ryan had explained that when Jake stabbed her it caused an early termination of her pregnancy; in other words: a miscarriage. She just found out she was going to be a mom, was a little excited even though she was dreading telling Jake, but now it was taken away from her. It wasn’t fair! To have something promised to you and then taken away by a selfish act was the worst thing in the world.
Ryan also explained how Luc felt guilty for what happened to her. She vaguely remembered hearing a conversation where he expressed those feelings, but she didn’t blame him. It wasn’t his fault. She would have to try to get him to understand that she didn’t hold anything against him. She was thankful that he was able to tell Wes his thoughts and thankful that Wes listened to him so they could all take action to help her. She was so blessed to have such wonderful friends like them. They were more like her family and she didn’t know what she would do without them. Well, Cole, Brielle and Max were actually her family, but she was just as close to the rest of them as she was to those three. She wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for Luc and Wes, so it was ridiculous for Luc to even feel guilt. But if she were to be honest with herself, she could understand. Luc was an extremely sensitive and emotional man who felt things more deeply than anyone she had ever known. He carried the burden and feeling of responsibility of the world on his shoulders. It was as if he felt he was the one responsible for the safety and well-being of everyone he cared for and loved. He and Wes were both such sweet men. She just wished she would have met them before she gave such a huge part of herself to Jake. She wasn’t sure if she would ever be whole again; Jake took so much from her and she allowed him. She couldn’t give herself to another man just for him to turn out to be just like Jake. She knew she wouldn’t be able to survive another relationship like the one she was in and, therefore, she wasn’t going to be entering into any relationship ever again. She would rather live the rest of her life as a single woman than to give any man that kind of control over her, no matter how sweet and caring he was. She would be there for Wes and Luc, as a good friend, but nothing more. She just hoped they could accept that because she knew that they felt something for her. She truly cared for them, and that scared her, because feelings led to commitment and commitment led to control; she wasn’t giving it up to another person no matter what her feelings were.
All the thinking was causing a headache so she let Ryan know that she was going to take a little nap and that she would talk to everyone when they got there. He agreed and tucked her in before leaving the room.
********************
It didn’t seem like it was that long that she was resting before she heard the door to her room open. She slowly opened her eyes and after allowing them to adjust some to the light she was able to see the forms of Wes and Luc.
She tried to sit up but the pain in her stomach hit her again and she laid her head back down.
“Cassie, don’t move. I don’t want you to hurt yourself. Just let your body rest,” Wes said in way of greeting her.
“Thank you, it hurts so much to use the muscles in my stomach,” she said as she glanced from Wes to Luc who was standing closer to the door than to her bed.
Luc looked at her and offered a small tilt of his lips, a small smile, before he calmly walked to her bedside and lifted her hand into the folds of his large ones. “You don’t know how relieved we are that you are awake. We have all missed seeing your beautiful face around,” he told her as he sat on the chair that Wes pulled up for him.
“I’m still so tired and sore. Ryan said my body still needed the rest in order to heal more quickly.”
“Ryan is right, Cassie. Your body went through a lot, and not just that night either. You have suffered so much with Jake it is a wonder you ever left the house. I really wish you would have told us sooner, sweetheart. I wish I could’ve done something to get you from him before this happened.” Wes’s voice hitched a little at the end of his sentence and she could tell he was getting emotional. She felt bad that they were suffering through guilt at not helping her, but she was just trying to protect them.
“Wes, I couldn’t tell you guys, any of you. If I had told anyone and you tried to help me then he would have come after you. I didn’t want to put you in jeopardy. You are all my family and I love you.”
“Cassie, darling, don’t you know that we would rather him kill us knowing you were safe and away from him than for you to have gone through everything that you went through, alone?” Luc asked her. He was such a soft spoken man and she could feel the emotion in his words.
“But I didn’t want you to have to do that.” She was crying now. The last thing she wanted was for them to have given their lives for her. They were such selfless creatures. “I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself if anything had happened to you guys, so I dealt with him to protect you.”
Chapter 11: Wes
“My God, sweetheart; do you have any idea how frustrating that is to hear? You are to be cherished and cared for. You should have told us; any one of us would have gladly given that mother…would have gladly given him a piece of our mind and taken care of him for you. It hurts me, and I know it definitely hurts Luc, to know that you felt that you needed to protect us by being his punching bag.”
It hurt to see the once vivacious and outgoing Cassie sitting in a hospital bed; seeing her withholding her emotions from the world to protect them from the evil that is Jake. No one has a right to turn Cassie into what she has become. Jake really did a number on her but Wes was going to work, diligently, with Luc to bring her out of her shell and break down the walls that she had created.
“I know Wes, but I had to do something. He threatened to kill everyone I love if I ever told anyone or left him. I didn’t want to see my loved ones suffer because I got mixed up with the wrong man.”
Wes watched as Luc reached for her hand, “Cassie, I wish I could make you understand that by knowing you went through the abuse still makes us all suffer, in here,” Luc touched his hand to his chest, “Knowing that you closed everyone off emotionally to protect them? That hurts. I understand, and so does everyone else, but it still doesn’t make what you went through ok.”
“No, it doesn’t. You are right. But in my mind I was doing what I could to keep you all safe. You have to believe me; please don’t be mad!” She was hysterical now; sobbing uncontrollably. He rushed toward her and wrapped her in his arms. He felt her stiffen at first but then she eventually eased into his hold.
“Cassie, sweetheart, we aren’t mad at you. We just wish you would have trusted us to help you,” he rocked her back and forth as if comforting a baby while Luc held her hand.
“I do trust you guys,” she paused to catch her breath, “But I didn’t trust, I don’t trust, Jake. He is unpredictable.” She pulled away from him but didn’t fully leave his arms. “Does he know where I am?”
“Sweetheart, if he did then he isn’t going to get near you. Wes has set up some of his men to guard you around the clock. Ryan and Max spoke with the hospital administrator and they were given approval to have security guards at your door.”
Cassie looked back and forth between the two of them before locking eyes on Wes, “You guys did that, for me?”
“Of course we did. None of us are willing to take the chance that the psycho will get to you again and finish what he originally intended. Luc had upped the protection at his compound; where we will
be taking you when you are discharged. Brielle and Dani, as well as their men, have all moved onto the premises. No one is going to hurt you ever again.”
Cassie offered him one of the tenderest smiles he had ever seen; it nearly took his breath away. She still didn’t have the light back in her eyes but he knew, now, that Jake hadn’t taken her love. Somewhere, deep within, Wes knew that the sweet little, lovable, vivacious Cassie he knew in childhood, still lived; they were going to bring her out.
“Has the doctor been in yet to speak with you? Do you know when you get to go home?” Luc asked Cassie and Wes was interested in knowing the answers to those questions as well.
“Yes, the doctor was in right after I woke up. He said I need to be monitored here at the hospital for another day or two. If I do well during observations then I can be discharged but will have to come back within a week for a check-up.”
“Well, If you don’t mind,” Wes never got to finish his thought because right then the door opened and in walked Brielle and Dani.
They both ran over to Cassie and pulled her into their arms as all three of them were crying.
“Oh my God; I thought we were going to lose you Cassie!” Brielle said.
“You scared the crap out of us young lady. Don’t think of doing that again,” Dani playfully chastised Cassie.
“I am so sorry you guys. I didn’t mean to scare you,” Cassie covered her eyes as she cried. Wes felt helpless toward Cassie when Brielle and Dani were around. They were take charge women and he knew that Cassie was in good hands.
Wes caught Luc’s eye and motioned with his head toward the door. Luc nodded and began to stand up when Cassie looked up. “Are you guys leaving?” She asked Luc.
“We will be just down the hall. You need your girl time with Brielle and Dani. If you need one of us just have the girls come and get us, ok?” Luc answered her question.
Cassie nodded her head and shyly smiled at them, “I will. Thank you for being here for me.”
“Cassie, sweetheart, there is no place more important for us to be than right here with you.” Wes replied, and then he and Luc left the room.
Chapter 12: Luc (In the hospital waiting room)
The men were all sitting around the waiting room, relaxing, while they waited for Dani and Brielle to finish their visit with Cassie. Luc couldn’t believe that their Cassie would blame herself. She was such a caring, beautiful, generous and gentle creature and she didn’t deserve for anyone to raise their voice in anger toward her, let alone their hand. For her to think that she needed to take all that abuse in order to save them; that thought was ridiculous! That bastard, Jake, deserved to rot in hell for what he put her through and Luc would be very happy to help him get there. Once they found him he would pay. So help him, if that animal ever came near Cassie or caused her any kind of stress ever again he would die! And he was pretty sure that he wouldn’t be alone in the killing; each of the men around him would gladly assist him.
“Cassie said that the doctor wants to keep her under observation for another day or two before discharging her,” Wes was explaining to the group.
“That’s normal, especially since she was in the coma for a good 6 days before waking up. They like to observe patients to see if they detect any possible damage caused while the body was in the deep rest. In Cassie’s case they are probably wanting to guarantee that there will be no infection setting in after her miscarriage,” Ryan was filling them all in on usual procedures for trauma patients.
“Are you all ok with moving in with me at the compound?” Luc was worried that they would feel claustrophobic being closed in behind the walls surrounding his place. The last thing he wanted to do was cause more stress than they were all experiencing right now.
“Believe me Lucien, we are more than ok with staying with you; especially Brielle and Dani. They love knowing that as soon as Cassie comes home they will be there for her. Thank you for allowing us to impose on you,” Max responded.
“You are not an imposition to me. You are all family to me now and having you move in to my place so we can all help keep one another safe if the least I can do for you guys. If I lost any one of you I am not sure if I would ever be ok again. You are each ingrained in my soul now, although Cassie and Wes are more so than anyone else. I am just glad that my ancestors lived with one another and built the compound in such a way that each of us has our own living quarters; each have our own privacy,” Luc told them. What he just admitted to them was the hardest thing to admit aloud and every bit the truth from his heart.
“You could say that again,” Cole laughed. “Your ancestors were smart and I am so thankful for them.”
Luc turned his attention to Max, “Have you, Cole and Brielle had any luck selling your place?”
“We have had a few offers but we were thinking about having Brielle’s and Dani’s parents move in to the place. Our house is quite a bit closer to your home than their house is.”
“That is great thinking! They would be close enough to visit the girls and any future kids you all add to the family,” Wes said. That had all the men laughing. Luc had a feeling that it wouldn’t be long before Dani, Ryan and Adrian added little ones of their own to the pack; and he had a strong feeling that Brielle, Max and Cole would be increasing their family’s numbers again soon. Each one of them was so much in love with their mate; it was comforting seeing that there were happy bonding relationships out there in the world. His mom was not so fortunate in her bonding mate, but she loved him and his brother until her dying day. His father was a bastard toward her. He was exactly like Jake, beating his mom every single day. His mom, however, did not have close friends or family there to protect her and one day his beating took her life; Luc returned the favor and would gladly return it to Jake for Cassie.
“Well gentlemen, I need to get back to work. My break is over. I’m working a double, so I’ll be able to check in on Cassie throughout the night for you,” Ryan told Luc and Wes as he stood up, stretched and then said his good-byes to them before heading back to his station.
Luc, Wes, Max, Cole and Adrian were all drinking their sodas when Brielle and Dani walked into the room. He instantly stood up, “Is Cassie ok?” He asked them.
Brielle smile at him and nodded her head, “Yes, she is fine. She really wants to go home but she understands that they need to make sure everything is fine before letting her go. She is resting now,” she said as she leaned on Max’s shoulder. Dani was sitting happily on Adrian’s lap; every one of them looked peaceful and that knowledge caused the tightness in his heart to loosen up.
“Would any of you like to go in and see her before Wes and I go back in?” he asked the men.
“No, we’ll let you guys go back with her. Your heart is racing, I can tell. You need to be near her. We have our women, go be with yours. We’ll see you at home later,” Cole answered for the entire group.
“Are you guys sure?” Wes asked them.
“Yes, we are sure. Go, get out of here!” Adrian laughed.
Luc and Wes said good-bye to the guys and gave them girls a hug as they left; then he and Wes walked to check on Cassie.
Chapter 13: Cassie
“Welcome, Cassie. We have been waiting for you,” the voice said. She heard it before she saw the glowing form.
“Who are you and where am I?” she asked the form; watching intently as it took shape. The creature was tall and slender with translucent skin. The eyes were a clear gray and it was almost as if you could see through to the creature’s soul. She crept over to touch the form and the hands were warm and soft to the touch.
The creature starting to chuckle as it asked, “You are a curious one aren’t you?” it patted her hand as it continued saying, “I am your Guardian, my girl. I have been watching you since your time began.”
“Why am I here?”
“Because I had to speak with you, my dear; I know you are hurting and you need me. It is my duty as your Guardian to watch over you and make sure you are m
ade aware of the dangers ahead. Until now you have not been able to reach me; your shield that you put up to guard your emotions was blocking you. Now that you have begun to break it down I can make contact with you. I am so very grateful that Luc, Wes and the rest of them were able to get to you in time. There is so much we have planned for you, for your future; your children and their futures as well. You are not yet ready, but when you are, you will mate and bond with Wes and Luc,” when she began to protest, her Guardian held up its hand so it could continue, “I know you may think that you will never be ready but you will; one day you will realize that they are as much a part of you as your soul is. They are an essential part of who you are to become; they are a part of your destiny,” her Guardian held her hand, softly, and guided her along the pathway near a beautiful pond.
“What is my destiny?” she had to ask.
“My dear, it is not for me to tell you; it is for you to find out by living your life. Do not close off those who love you; trust again. You will make mistakes along your life but you will learn from them and overcome them with the help of your Celestial Mates. But first you need to learn to trust them; allow them to aid you in conquering your fears. Second, you need to live; live your life to the fullest without holding back. You will stumble, you will fall; but you will succeed and accomplish great things. But you will not do any of that until you trust those men, Wes and Luc.”
She hung her head low, “It is hard to do that. I thought I could trust Jake but he let me down, big time.”
“My dear, he was not for you. He needed to do that so that you would then become free to live your destiny. Use your time, now, to heal and recover. Deepen your relationships with those you love; accept the love they give you in return. You must learn to accept that you are worth more than you have ever believed you were. You are a strong, intelligent, beautiful woman, Cassie. You will do many wonderful things and leave a legacy to rival the best of them. Take it one day at a time. Now, you must go,” her Guardian stretched out its arm and extended its hand down a long, narrow lit path.
Conquering Cassie: The Celestial Mating Series Book 3 Page 4
