Chapter 17

                                    

                                          
Mila climbed slowly and carefully out of the bathtub. The last thing she needed to do was slip and fall. That would be the cherry on top of her crappy cake. The water had been soothing, and she hated to get out, but it was getting cold and Riley had told her that Max and Rebekah were coming over soon to take her to her apartment. At least she'd had a bit of time to relax and get lost in her book. She'd managed to not think about Ethan for a little bit.
She could do nothing fast one handed. She was slow and awkward, and everything was now a chore. She stared at herself in the mirror, shuddering a bit at the mess of her face. She didn't know if she should attempt makeup or not. Her body was a mess as well, her torso a colorful array of bruises in different stages of healing. It still hurt to breath a bit, but she'd be okay. As long as no one hugged her too tightly.
For the moment, she walked back out into the bedroom and slowly pulled on her clothes. Even that was a chore that was taking her much too long, and she sat down on the bed in frustration, fighting back tears. She typically wasn't one to cry, but after the last few days and everything that had happened, it felt like the tears were always there, right below the surface. She was so frustrated and miserable.
Riley knocked on her door. "Mila, can I come in?" she called.
Mila huffed. "Yes." She was going to need help, whether she wanted it or not. She couldn't go out half naked.
Riley opened the door and looked at her half-dressed cousin. "Do you need help?"
Mila swallowed back the tears. "I feel helpless. I can't even put on a bra."
Riley walked in and grabbed Mila's socks, sitting down in front of her on the floor and pulled them on. She helped her cousin finish getting dressed. "Please ask for help. I truly don't mind. You don't need to struggle."
Mila nodded, brushing back tears. "I need to put on some makeup," she muttered. Her face was so sore that she really didn't want to.
"Don't bother. It's just for a few hours, and Rebekah has already seen your face. It looks better today anyway." Riley sat down on the bed and gently hugged her cousin.
"I hate being so helpless," Mila said, resting her head on her cousin's shoulder.
"I know. But I'm glad you're here, where you have family to help you," Riley said. "Come on. Let's finish getting you dressed then go watch some TV until Max and Rebekah get here. How's the book going?"
"Pretty good. I'm about ten chapters in," Mila said with a smile. It had been a good distraction from everything going wrong in her life.
"Good. You really like those books, don't you?" Riley said, walking out into the living room.
"Yes. It makes me almost wish it was all real," Mila muttered, easing herself down on the couch. "I wouldn't mind having a man who adored me like that."
Riley smirked to herself. "Yeah that would be kinda cool."
***
Nick watched Noelle's eyes lock on his as he entered her. She sighed with pleasure. Even after almost twenty-four years as her mate, he couldn't get enough of her. His life had come alive over those years, and not many days passed when he wasn't making love to her. Life before her had been rather mediocre but life with her was amazing and he loved every second of it.
His lips found hers as he continued his rhythm, then he broke off the kiss to pick up his pace. He knew how she liked it, and he could already feel her orgasm approaching, as she cried out. It triggered his own orgasm and he groaned as he slowed a bit, watching her beautiful face. 
A few moments later, he pulled her warm body against him to cuddle for a bit. They were both saited. For now. He would definitely be back inside her before the day was over. "Have you told anyone?" he whispered near her ear, his arm wrapped around her.
"No, but I might tell Ethan before we leave," she said, snuggling back into him.
"Okay. I don't envy your brother one little bit," Nick said quietly. He couldn't imagine going through the emotions Ethan had to be experiencing. Knowing someone had hurt his mate like that, and he was powerless to do anything about it or even go to her because she was human and he risked ruining everything. It was such a a fine line.
"I don't either. Ethan has amazing control though," Noelle mused.
"I know he does. He always has, but his anger is simmering underneath it all right now. And I can't blame him one little bit," Nick said. He'd lose it if he knew someone was beating the crap out of Noelle. If it was a wolf, they'd be dead. Very dead.
He'd known Ethan had been off his game yesterday, when they'd sparred. He'd been angry, and Nick knew something hadn't gone well with his date, though he didn't ask. Ethan would tell them when he was ready, and he had after. But it was way worse than Nick had thought it was going to be.
"He wanted me to come spar with him," Noelle said with a small yawn.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing. He linked me while we were having sex, so I didn't respond," Noelle laughed.
"Which means he probably knows what we were doing," Nick smirked. He didn't care; he just thought it was funny how Ethan got exasperated with them at times. He was about to learn though why they were always together; always wanting to be in each other's arms. There was nothing like it. They both craved each other.
"Not my problem." Noelle shrugged.
"You don't need to be sparring with him anyway." Nick kissed her neck and she turned in his arms so he could reach her lips.
"I won't," she said between kisses.
An hour later, Nick was out of bed and getting dressed. He'd ended up inside her again, his favorite place to be and now she was sleeping. He knew she was tired and happy she'd get some rest in while he was gone. She needed the sleep.
He had to get downstairs to go with Max and Rebekah anyway. He left the room and headed downstairs and outside. Max already had the truck pulled up and Nick climbed in behind Rebekah. Max glanced back at him with a smirk and Nick just smiled.
The drive to Riley's house took less than fifteen minutes. Riley walked out onto the front porch right after they pulled up and stood waiting for them. He watched her gaze dart over him and she bit her lip and stepped off the porch. "You brought help?" she asked Max a bit warily.
"This is Nick. He's Alpha Ethan's sister's mate," Max told her.
Riley eyed him again thoughtfully. She could almost guarantee Nick knew everything. The question now was, what did Max and Rebekah know. Ethan had to know what was happening or he wouldn't have sent Nick along, or at least that's what she was assuming. She looked back at Max. "What do you know?"
"We know that Alpha Ethan is Mila's mate," Rebekah told her softly. "And we know that you're aware of it too."
"How did you find that out?" Ethan had to have told them. Her gaze darted back to Nick, who was watching her.
"Ethan is currently the Alpha of Alamo Pack and I told him I was coming out here to help get Mila's things. He put two and two together," Max explained.
Riley nodded. "So basically, the only one who doesn't know is Mila?"
"No one in Alamo knows except Rebekah and I and it needs to remain that way," Max told her.
"Why?" She really couldn't wrap her head around all of this. She felt like she was the one outside of the entire thing. Well her and Mila. They all knew something that she wasn't allowed to be privy to and it was annoying.
"It's complicated, Riley."
She frowned in exasperation. "That's what Ethan said."
"He's not wrong," Nick said.