My Step-Dad Is My Mate
Chapter 13

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I touched my neck subconsciously and the place I touched, hurt likehell. 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 somuch. You didn't accept it."

I nodded in understanding and didn't say anything as my mindwandered to Aiden. I knew he saw Richard and I kissing, I just hopedhe'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 fornow.

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

“I'm a horrible mother. How did I not see it? I've had a..mate. I shouldof known you and Richard were mated. And I married him and...Oh myGod. I can't imagine how much that must of hurt you Dani. How much Imust 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'tchange the past, only work to make a better future. And I'm sorry fornot 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 shoulderto see him standing by the door. I'm so going to talk to him before hegets the wrong idea about Richard and me.

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

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

Aiden stood still by the door with his arms folded and staring at me. Ohmy God I feel so self-conscious. I mean I am in the hospital andprobably 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 orsomething.” Aiden whispered into my hair as he held onto me tight andI felt myself melt into his warmth.

"I'm okay. I thought you were mad at me." I whispered and Aidenabruptly 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 tostress about it. I can only imagine how good it must feel to kiss yourmate and I'm glad you got to experience that, despite the fact he was agrade A asshole.”

I giggled at his little insult.

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

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

"Really?"

I nodded and fiddled with my fingers.

"I may not be your first kiss but I would love to be your second" Aideninched closer to me, "Third" He was now just a few mere inches awayfrom my face, his eyes flicking down to my lips as he licked his, "andyour 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 andnodded to the doctor as a way of saying 'Hello". His relaxed look he hadwith me was now gone and replaced with a more professional andserious 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 linkand 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 Itouch 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 withthe acceptant of the receiving female aka you in the case. Now, sinceyou didn't accept you're body is fighting against it but fighting amarking is a very difficult thing to do so it caused you to black out dueto the over shock.”

I took in her words like a drink of water and I felt like I was choking. Ican'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 noddedfervently.

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

Aiden coughed and I opened my eyes wide. Someone has to mark overit? Who the hell am I going to replace to do that? I mean I would ask Aidenbut, he has a mate somewhere out there and I wouldn't want to ruin hischances with her by him marking me no matter how much he may likeme. When he replaces her, he won't remember those feelings, they'll begone.

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

"I'm sorry. Get some rest and take 2 of these pills, Naproxen. It will helpwith 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 Ilaughed

"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 andget 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 leaneddown near me and placed a lingering kiss on my forehead then exitedthe 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 Icouldn't link him but I could feel his presence so I knew he was at leastalive.

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

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