Wrong Turn, Right Path

Chapter 10 - Nick's POV

"You don't have to be an ass about it. No, I don't think she's weak." I sigh still working around the headache that always follows a shared memory. The more emotional the memory the longer it takes to recover. Right now I want to wrap my arms around her but after yesterday I don't think she would welcome my touch.

There was a knock on the door and we looked over to see Blake and Peter there. "Hey Alphas, The ladies are all in Jemma's room. Why don't we go see them before breakfast?" Blake suggests

Peter rolls his eyes "You just can't stand to be away from Shay. You would think you were newly mated instead of being together for 6 years." Peter teases.

"Hey, I love my mate and I just want to be near her is that so bad?" Blake shoots back.

"Yes it is if you are sharing a tiny ass cave with someone and you being near her means you letting your animals get freaky." I say from the couch, "No one wants to see that!"

Everyone starts laughing including Blake. "Just wait until you find your mate then you'll understand how hard it is to stay away from them and keep your hands, or paws, to yourself." Blake said with a smirk

Mitch glanced at me as I mutter under my breath "If only you knew"

"I'm sorry, what was that Alpha?" Peter said grinning at me like a fool.

"Fuck off Peter." I threw a pillow from the couch at his head.

He laughed as he dodged it. "I think someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Or is it that you woke up in the wrong bed altogether?" He taunted me.

"Lay off Peter, it's obvious Jemma's his mate but after his stellar performance yesterday especially at dinner he doesn't know how to approach her." Blake said then dodged the pillow I threw at him. He shrugged "What you didn't think I wouldn't notice the glares you've been tossing at my brother? Or the fact that you released your Alpha aura on the whole damn dining room while staring her down? Which by the way I noticed you looked away first." A growl being the only response I gave him.

"You act like this is a secret." Peter said "Everyone has noticed the way you've watched her since you got here."

"Let's go." Mitch said and stood up and walked out of the room the rest of us following. Me shoving Blake and Peter out of the way making them laugh again.

As we made our way down the hall I noticed the door to her room was wide open and I heard voices floating out.

".... they don't make me feel sexy." I hear Jemma's voice and my body immediately responds.

"What doesn't make you feel sexy?" I ask leaning against the door frame startling all the ladies and causing Jemma to yelp.

She looks up at me and stammers "I... uh...." I see she is holding black scraps of fabric that wouldn't cover much. My mind starts to conjure images of Jemma in nothing but the black scraps. She looks significantly more healed. Her swelling is all gone, she's not wearing her sling, she's sitting on the floor and doesn't look to be in pain. My prayer was answered, I woke up sore but she woke up more healed. That's a trade that I would make every single day.