Born Mine
Chapter 90

By the time I came around, there was a ringing in my ears. My head felt fuzzy like someone had stuffed cotton into it and made it into a demolition site. There was something wet at the side of my head and I lifted my heavy hands to it. My fingers came back sticky and stained with blood. I could hear a faint sound like someone was calling my name and I knew it was coming from my phone but I couldn't replace said phone. I tried using my eyes to look around and I saw it on the floor but I couldn't lean over to get it.

The airbags in the car were deployed and I had to replace my way around it to my seatbelt. My fingers shook and it felt like I was in someone else's body trying to control it but I was finally able to get it off. I tried to push open the door but it was stuck and that was when the magnitude of what happened crashed down on me. I looked around and realized I had crashed straight into a tree. I was a bit grateful because it meant I didn't go off the cliff.

My side of the door must have slammed into the tree which explained why it was so hard to open. I dragged myself over to the passenger seat and tried the door- it opened. I let out a sigh of relief and leaned down to pick up my phone which had gone black then dragged myself out. My legs gave out and I crumpled to the floor immediately. It was then I realized that my leg was bleeding as well. There was a sharp piece of metal protruding from my thigh. I didn't want to know how it got there, I just wanted to get away from the car.

I dragged myself as far away from the car as possible and assessed the damage. From where I was on the ground, it didn't look as bad as I thought it would. The hood was crumpled and it was smoking. I could only imagine how pissed Darius would be when he found out what I did to his car. I knew without a doubt that Serena had called him to let him know what happened so I wasn't at all surprised when a few seconds later, I heard the revving of engines. I saw three bikes and a large neon green car approaching from a distance and I allowed my head to fall back against the cold ground.

Darius was the first to reach me and he was muttering curses under his breath. He got to me and it was as if he couldn't bear to touch me. He reached out for me but at the last minute, he pulled back. I saw him rip a piece of his shirt and tie it around my thigh to stop the bleeding before finally lifting me off the ground.

"I'm sorry about your car," I muttered as the adrenaline began to wear off and the searing pain in my leg hit. "I should have been more careful."

"I don't give a shit about the car," he practically spat as he lifted me into the back of the-car. What the-nen' happened!""

"Someone messed with the brakes."

Silence descended in the car. I lifted my eyes long enough to see Ian glance at me through the mirror. He winked at me and I couldn't help but smile despite the pain I was feeling. He floored it and I knew he was breaking at least fifty different speed limits as he drove to the hospital.

I couldn't hear the other bikes so I turned to Darius. "Are the other following?"

"No, they're trying to replace out what the hell happened with the car," his answers were clipped and I could tell that he was pissed judging by the way he clenched his jaw and avoided my gaze.

I knew it was about the car so I stayed silent the rest of the ride. I didn't want to give him any more reason to be upset with me and by the time we got to the hospital, I was so tired that I just wanted to close my eyes and sleep. I wanted to apologize once more for the car but I was unable to due to the tiredness and the next thing I knew, I was being wheeled away from them.

By the time I opened my eyes again, I was overwhelmed by the smell of antiseptic and bleach. The white walls and the brightness from the lights blinded me for a split second and it took me a minute to remember that I was in the hospital. There was a doctor who was checking the IV I was hooked up to and I momentarily mused about how I had spent more time in the hospital in the last three months than I had in my entire life.

"You're awake," the doctor said when she heard my snicker. "The Alpha will be pleased. He hadn't left your side since you were brought here. He only left because he had to speak to your grandmother. She is a feisty old woman. She almost beat up one of the residents because he wouldn't let her see you."

I could picture her doing that and the corner of my lips tilted up. The doctor handed me a small cup of water with a sippy straw so I could refresh my throat. I took it from her with a grateful smile and she walked out of the room. I was barely done with my water when Darius and Ian rushed into the room.

"You scared us for a moment there," Ian spoke first they made their way over to me. "Serena was about to lose her mind when you called. Thankfully, we were at the bar so she didn't have to look far. Are you good?"

"I'm pumped with pain meds right now so I can't feel a thing. I'm dreading the moment it wears off. I can't imagine being off my legs for a while."

"It is only going to be a few days. Werewolf blood can do amazing things in the human body."

I knew immediately that Darius was responsible for the werewolf blood. There was no way he would let someone else donate to me. I was shocked that despite his earlier anger, he was able to put it aside long enough to think about making life easier for me. I didn't deserve Darius and it was made more obvious in that moment.

"Thank you," I told him and that broke whatever barrier was between us.

He crossed the remaining length between us and ran his hand through my hair. I felt a slight tremor in his hands as he touched me and I wasn't sure if it was from fear or anger or maybe a combination of both. I could tell there was a lot he wanted to say but for some reason, he wasn't saying them. I assumed it was because he was still angry so I decided to breach the gap with an apology.

If you're loving the book, nel5s.com is where the adventure continues. Join us for the complete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! "I'm sorry that I wrecked your car," I began softly, "I should have never taken it out without telling you. I should have never driven in the rain. I didn't realize that this would happen. I just needed to-"

"Will you just stop!" I was taken aback by the harshness in his voice. "How fickle do you think I am that I would be bothered about the car in a time like this?"

"You were upset."

"Of course I was. Someone tampered with your brakes and you could have died. I'm still upset about that. I don't care about the stupid car. I can always get a new one but I cannot get a new mate. Why can't you get that through your thick skull?"

I didn't know what to say. My mouth had dried up and I just stared up blinking at him. Darius muttered a curse under his breath and ran his hands through his hair. I could tell he was fed up with me and the way he was staring at me, it was like he wasn't sure whether to strangle me or kiss me. He decided on the latter because he leaned down and kissed me deeply.

By the time he pulled back, I was breathless and I realized that we were alone. Darius ran his finger down my bottom lip and pulled away from me.

"I love you, Leindra and if anything happens to you, I will never be able to forgive myself. I should have been watching you, I should have been with you. None of this needed to happen."

"It's fine," I managed out. "I'm safe and I didn't die."

"Don't mention that word," he pressed his forehead against mine. "The guys are searching your grandmother's house to see if any evidence was left behind. She doesn't have security cameras but some of her neighbors might. If anyone tampered with your brakes there, we will replace out."

I could have let him believe that was the only place I visited, I could have stayed silent and just pretended that everything was fine. I was tempted to do so. A voice urged me

to stay silent and just silently remove myself from trouble but I couldn't bear to lead Darius' men on a wild goose chase. I knew that wasn't where my brakes were tampered with. I knew they would replace nothing so when Darius turned to leave, I grabbed his arm.

If you're loving the book, nel5s.com is where the adventure continues. Join us for the complete experience-all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! "You're checking the wrong place," I told him and he turned to me in confusion. "What are you talking about? Amy told me that you went to see your grandmother."

"I did but I left there and my brakes were perfect when I did. I went to see Brandon and it was after I left his house that I realized there was a problem." Darius stayed completely silent. In fact, it was like he wasn't breathing. I willed him to say something, to tell me he wasn't upset or to say that everything was fine but he didn't. He just stood there staring at me as if waiting for me to tell him that it was all a joke and I didn't really go there.

"You went to your ex-boyfriend's house alone without telling anyone," he repeated as if to be sure. "While you were there he messed with your brakes."

"He didn't do it, he was with me the entire time."

"Of course he was."

He stood to his feet and began to walk away. "Darius, please wait."

"I need five minutes or I'm going to say something that I will regret."

Without another word, he turned on his heels and walked out of the hospital room.