My Step-Dad Is My Mate

I fought against the feeling to just sleep some more and forced my eyes open, only to close them again due to the amount of light that flooded the room.

Slowly, I opened them again, giving my eyes time to adjust to the room then looked around. It looked like a hospital room and damn, it smelled like it too. God, I hate hospitals.

"Dani! You're awake." A soft voice said to me and I identified it as my mother's.

"Mom." I croaked out due to the fact my throat was dryer than the Sahara desert.

"Here." She said and handed me a glass of water which was near my bed on a stand. I greedily grabbed the glass and gulped down the water. My throat felt immediately better and I handed mom back the glass.

"What happened?” I asked her as I slowly sat up, noticing the 3 needles in my arm causing me to cringe. I hate needles too.

"You blacked out because of the mark.” Mom said, still looking kind of upset about the entire situation she had just learned about.

I touched my neck subconsciously and the place I touched, hurt like hell. He really did it. He marked me. Asshole.

"God, that hurts.” I mumbled and put my hand down.

"He marked you against your will" Mom said, "That's why it hurts so much. You didn't accept it."

I nodded in understanding and didn't say anything as my mind wandered to Aiden. I knew he saw Richard and I kissing, I just hoped he'd believe me if I told him it didn't mean anything, that he kissed me. But that 'he kissed me’ line is pretty cliché right? Well, it's all I have for now.

“I'm sorry." My mom said softly and I opened my mouth to speak but she continued.

“I'm a horrible mother. How did I not see it? I've had a..mate. I should of known you and Richard were mated. And I married him and...Oh my God. I can't imagine how much that must of hurt you Dani. How much I must have hurt you this time. I'm so sorry. I'm so so sorry." By the end, my mother was in a full on bawling mode and I felt like crying too. "Hey" I said and she looked at me. "It's okay mom. It really is. We can't change the past, only work to make a better future. And I'm sorry for not telling you the truth.”

My mom rose from her seat near my bed and gave me a gentle hug. Aiden’s scent filled my nostrils and I peeked over my mom's shoulder to see him standing by the door. I'm so going to talk to him before he gets the wrong idea about Richard and me.

"Mom, can I talk to Aiden alone?" I whispered in her ear and she nodded a bit then pulled away.

Mom sent me a small smile then exited the room, also sending Aiden a little smile.

Aiden stood still by the door with his arms folded and staring at me. Oh my God I feel so self-conscious. I mean I am in the hospital and probably look like something God spit up but damn.

"H-hey." I stuttered and mentally slapped myself.

"How are you feeling?" He asked me.

I shrugged."Been better."

Aiden shook his head. "Fuck it." He mumbled and rushed to my side, embracing me in a right hug.

"I was so worried about you Dani. I thought he had killed you or something.” Aiden whispered into my hair as he held onto me tight and I felt myself melt into his warmth.

"I'm okay. I thought you were mad at me." I whispered and Aiden abruptly let me go, looking at me confused.

"Why would 1?"

I looked away.

"I know you saw Richard and I kissing..."

Aiden sighed. "Yeah I saw but I saw he kissed you so I'm not going to stress about it. I can only imagine how good it must feel to kiss your mate and I'm glad you got to experience that, despite the fact he was a grade A asshole.”

I giggled at his little insult.

"I regret it..I wanted you to be my first kiss.” I mumbled as heat rose to my cheeks.

Aiden released my from his hold and sat neat my feet with a smile on his face.

"Really?"

I nodded and fiddled with my fingers.

"I may not be your first kiss but I would love to be your second" Aiden inched closer to me, "Third" He was now just a few mere inches away from my face, his eyes flicking down to my lips as he licked his, "and your last.”

"Okay, how is the patient doing?"

I leaned back fast as hell to see a doctor entering the room. Damn, again?

Aiden sighed once again and got off the bed, standing next to it and nodded to the doctor as a way of saying 'Hello". His relaxed look he had with me was now gone and replaced with a more professional and serious one. I guess because she is a member of the pack. Betas I swear. "Oh....I interrupted something didn't I ?" The doctor said with a blush. "No." "Yes." Aiden and I replied at the same time and I glared at him. "Don't make her feel more uncomfortable.” I said to him via our link and he snorted out loud, making the doctor look at him with wide eyes. Aiden coughed awkwardly and looked around the room.

"Okay well. How are you feeling Danica? Any pains? Oh I'm Dr.Idris." "Oh well nice to meet you and yeah my neck hurts really bad when I touch it. What's going on? Is it the mark?"

"Well, yes. You were marked against your consent is that right?"

I nodded and Dr.Idris looked st the clipboard in her hands.

"Well, as you should know a marking is something that must done with the acceptant of the receiving female aka you in the case. Now, since you didn't accept you're body is fighting against it but fighting a marking is a very difficult thing to do so it caused you to black out due to the over shock.”

I took in her words like a drink of water and I felt like I was choking. I can't believe Richard would do this to me.

Well, he is a slimy little shit so I should of seen this coming.

"Is there any way to get rid of the mark?" I asked and she nodded fervently.

"Well two ways. In the early 1 700s, vampire blood was used to get rid of unwanted marks by rubbing it on it but since vampire are scarce and the procedure can also be deadly, the only choice you have to let someone mark you over the mark."

Aiden coughed and I opened my eyes wide. Someone has to mark over it? Who the hell am I going to find to do that? I mean I would ask Aiden but, he has a mate somewhere out there and I wouldn't want to ruin his chances with her by him marking me no matter how much he may like me. When he finds her, he won't remember those feelings, they'll be gone.

"And there is no other way?" I asked again just to be sure and she shook her head.

"I'm sorry. Get some rest and take 2 of these pills, Naproxen. It will help with the pain you might feel within the next hour or so.”

I nodded and took the pill bottle from her.

“Beta.” She nodded to Aiden in respect then left the room.

"Just when I thought I would of gotten my kiss.." He mumbled and I laughed

"Third times a charm." I winked and Aiden bursted out in a full grin. "Well that third time will have to come another time. Take the pill and get some rest sweetheart.

I'll be back to check on you later, I promise.”

"Thank you for being here Aiden."

"Where else would I be?” He replied and I smiled shyly. Aiden leaned down near me and placed a lingering kiss on my forehead then exited the room, leaving me in a blushing hot mess.

Who would of thought a kiss would make me feel so...baffled?

I wonder where Richard ran off too and why. He blocked me off so I couldn't link him but I could feel his presence so I knew he was at least alive.

My hand absentmindedly went to my mark, making me hiss in pain as it started to burn again.

I'll get rid of this one way or the other.