"Damn it!" Kyle hissed, trying to wake her up. He saw her face was wounded, and it wasn't a normal wound. It was certainly a claw. A werewolf's claw. He could tell that right away.

"Ashlee, wake up! Change your clothes." He gently stroked her cheeks in an attempt to bring her back to consciousness.

After repeatedly trying, Kyle sighed. He carefully stared at her face and frowned. 'Isn't she going through enough already?' He thought, tracing along her wound.

Carrying her into his arms, he walked to her room. With a swift move of his leg, he opened the door to her bathroom. Filling the bathtub with warm water, he placed her inside.

"I... She needs to take her clothes off." His heartbeat raced. Taking her clothes off. If he did that... She would be mad. But that's not what he should be worried about right now.

The only thing that mattered was having her safely recover. He abruptly, unsure, started undoing her clothes. Taking off her top, then her jeans. He tried to keep his eyes away.

But he needed to take off more than that. Her undergarments were also drenched, and she could catch a bad cold if she stayed like that. Nothing felt like he didn't want to do it. He certainly wanted to, but he had to do so without losing control. His wolf's urge to touch her wasn't helping. It couldn't be easy for him.

"Okay. Here I go." He sighed, closing his eyes, biting back his urge. His wolf's urge to touch her. He carried on with it.

After taking her clothes off, he ran out of the bathroom. Breathing heavily, he shook away the thoughts that were creeping into his mind. His wolf must really be eager to get her, he thought.

"I need a towel or maybe a robe too." Kyle muttered, finding one. But he couldn't find a robe. So, he went with an oversized t-shirt of Ashlee's.

"Come on... Ahh.. I'm sorry." He quickly squeezed his eyes shut. Seeing her lying naked in the tub filled with water. She still wasn't awake. Not a good sign, but either way, he went with it.

Calling Esyn to heal her would cause trouble at home. They would be furious about their Alpha leaving to meet his mate. He was frustrated and wanted to rip the person who did this to her apart.

But to know who it was, Ashlee needed to wake up first. He picked her up, dressing her properly. But he forgot to put anything under the t-shirt.

He placed her on the bed as gently as he could, as if she were made of crystal. Touching her forehead, he checked if she had a fever. She did, perhaps. But it was mild, fortunately.

He went to her drawer, where he knew she kept medicine. Taking out the box, he got confused, looking at different kinds of pills. Which one would suit a fever? He guessed, hoping he didn't mess up. He made her swallow the pill down.

After putting the box back in its place, he bent down in front of her face. He traced her wound again, feeling uncomfortable in his chest.

"Why are you so careless? Huh?" He muttered, stroking her nose gently.

Watching her sleep peacefully, even though she was so hurt, he fell asleep beside her. On her bed. This was the first time since that night that Kyle slept so peacefully, without having any kind of nightmares.

Sunshine crept through her window, striking her eyes. She growled in pain as the light hit. Slowly, she opened her eyes, seeing a familiar ceiling above her head and a blanket over her. She was stunned.

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"How... Who?" She remembered coming home and laying on the couch, feeling too weak to move.

Even her clothes were changed. "Am I missing something?" she muttered, looking at her bare legs and realizing she had nothing on under the t-shirt.

Instantly, a heavy, bulky arm rested on her waist. Her heartbeat raced. She gulped, turning her head around. Kyle was sleeping calmly next to her.

Her eyes widened. What the hell happened? Did I? Why is he sleeping with me?

All kinds of weird possibilities flooded her mind. Then she realized his hand was moving, pulling her closer to his chest. Is he awake?

Ashlee screamed, pushing him away. He almost fell to the ground, but luckily, she didn't push him that hard.

"For the fuck's sake!" Kyle groaned, rubbing his eyes. He opened them slightly and realized he had slept beside Ashlee. She was looking at him, baffled, pulling the sheets tightly over her chest.

Why tho? I dressed her properly.

He moved, attempting to touch her forehead to check if she still had a fever. Ashlee quickly jerked her head away.

What the heck is he doing?

What's wrong with her?

"Let me see," Kyle growled, stepping closer to her and bending down on one knee. He touched her forehead. Her cheeks burned like hell, and her wound stung.

"You're all good now," Kyle told her. She understood now—he was checking if she had a fever. Did I have a fever? she questioned herself.

"I'll be downstairs. Come after you're ready," Kyle said, starting to walk away.

"Wait," Ashlee, unsure, called him to stop at her door.

"What... What happened last night?" She lowered her head and asked him, biting her lower lip. He didn't say anything for a moment, then she looked up at him.

"Come down, and we'll talk about it," Kyle said, then left.

"Talk about what?" Ashlee tilted her head in confusion as she got ready. She cursed herself for not being more careful. She wasn't in her right mind. She couldn't remember what happened last night. What if something did happen?

Ashlee came downstairs and saw the food on the dining table. The smell filled the whole house. Astonishingly, she had never seen someone make so much food at home.

"What are you doing?" She asked, standing awkwardly, watching Kyle in an apron, holding a pan.

"I made you breakfast. Have some." He smiled softly at her and pointed to the table.

"That's for me?" Ashlee asked, stunned. Someone actually made her breakfast, which was something new for her. Not even her mother had time to make her so many delicious things.

"Of course. There's no one else except us." Kyle chuckled, keeping the mood light.

Ashlee excitedly stepped toward the table and took a seat. Before eating, she realized something. Did something really happen? That's why he was smiling at her and making her this much breakfast?

She quickly jumped off the chair, standing beside it, awkwardly looking at her hands. Cursing her life decisions, she didn't even know what happened yet, and she was acting like this.

Kyle was confused by her behavior. So, he stopped, took off his apron, and stepped toward her. She took a step back and chuckled strangely.

"What's wrong?" He asked, concerned if she was hurt or in pain.

"N...nothing." She stuttered, looking at the floor.

"Are you hurt? Show me." Kyle stepped closer, and she quickly ran backward.

"Show you what? Where?" She stiffly stood there.

"Show me if you're hurt somewhere." Kyle stepped closer, and she backed away again.

"No, I'm not." She sternly replied, staying in her position.

"Then what is it? You don't like the food?" He asked, pointing at the breakfast, frowning. He had done his best making it.

"No, it's not that." Ashlee bit her lip in frustration.

"Then what is it?" He asked, still very concerned.

"Did..." Ashlee sighed and continued, "Did something really happen between us last night?" She asked, rapidly blinking her eyelids.

"What?" Kyle was shocked by her question. What is she thinking?

"Of course, nothing happened," Kyle huffed, taking a seat to eat his food.

"Then why did you make me breakfast? Isn't that what people do after they do something at night?" She awkwardly sat beside him.

"Can't I make you breakfast normally?" Kyle asked, shoving a spoon in his mouth.

"Nobody does that." Ashlee rolled her eyes at him. She took a spoon and hissed while eating it. Her cheek was swollen a bit, but it hurt like hell. Kyle instantly noticed it.

"So, would you like to enlighten me on what happened to your face?" he asked, leaving the food and folding his arms over his chest.

"Why would I? Are you my guardian or something?" She scoffed, brushing him off.

"Ashlee, I'm not in the mood to fight with you over this. Just tell me who did this," he said, his words clear and firm.

"None of your business." Ashlee smiled tightly at him and touched her wound to check if it was healing yet.

Instantly, Kyle turned her chair around to face him. He looked dead in her eyes, staring at her wound. His expression was way more serious than ever. That made Ashlee nervous.

"Who was it?" He demanded a clear answer.