Fate & Fur

@ BearGirl

Aiden tugged Bailey into a tight hug as he realized she was awake, holding her at arms length for a moment to give her a quick scan and make sure she was alright before pulling her back into his arms. "Thank God you're alright.. I'm so sorry I wasn't there." He breathed in relief, trembling a little from his adrenaline and anxiety. He'd been so terrified that he'd lose his mate, and even though he might have been reckless running off alone, he wouldn't have been able to live without Bailey.

Scooping her up into his arms Aiden began to carry her out of the apartment Sandra had dragged her to, walking as fast as he could down the street toward their own apartment building. He hated how close she'd been, and would be angry with himself later about not realizing she was there sooner, but for now he had to worry about Bailey. Once safely in their own apartment he set her down on the couch, wrapping a blanket around her securely before he went to get medical supplies, returning so he could begin treating her wounds.

"Sandra... She.. she kidnapped you. But she's gone now, and you're safe, and she'll never bother you again." Aiden stated simply, hands shaking a little as he struggled to thread a needle, knowing Bailey likely needed stitches for the wound on the back of her head.

@ katahdin

As his arms wrapped around her body tightly, Bailey could feel tears beginning to come to her eyes. Her arms wrapped around him and she leaned into Aiden completely. While she didn't know what exactly was happening, Bailey knew that it had to be pretty bad for Aiden to react like this. And all she could feel was some fear, worry, and confusion over the situation. "I'm sorry," She whimpered back to him. "I shouldn't have left the packhouse. I'm so sorry. I just-I just felt so sick."

Once she was scooped up into his arms, Bailey buried her face and body into his chest as much as she could. She didn't bother to look around as she was carried out of the building and down the street. Especially since Bailey was feeling quite sick, not just from the wound on the back of her head or the ache in her body. Though her head did start to peer out when she felt Aiden open up a door, realizing that it was the entrance to their own building.

Even though Aiden set her down on the couch in their own apartment, it took Bailey a few moments to actually release him, not wanting to let go. But she did and was quickly wrapped up tight in a blanket. Her big, tearful eyes were completely focused on Aiden as he spoke. "I... I didn't even see her. I don't even know what happened. I just..I was just walking home and then I woke up to see you."

Her eyes shifted down to his shaky hands trying to thread a needle. She winced at the thought of him giving her stitches, being able to figure out his intentions quickly. "Love....I don't think that is a good idea."

@ BearGirl

Aiden looked up at her as she said he shouldn't, sighing as he set the needle down. "At least let me clean and dress it.. It might not even need stitches, I can't tell. But we can go to the bathroom and wash the blood out, and if you need stitches I'll have James come do it." He explained, standing with her to lead her to the bathroom, where he was as gentle as he could in rinsing the blood from her hair out in the sink, wincing a little every time she did.

"It's ok, love.. I've got you." He murmured reassuringly, and after drying her hair a bit and making sure the wound really didn't need stitches, grabbed some gauze pads and gauze to bandage it up, making sure the bandages weren't in her eyes and was perfectly secure before leading her back to the couch, where he sat down with her in his lap and just held her.

"She's gone now, and won't ever hurt you again. You'll never have to worry or be afraid ever again." He reassured her as he held her, pressing gentle kisses to her face. "Do you need anything else? I know you said you weren't feeling well.."

@ katahdin

Bailey agreed when Aiden said that he would clean and dress it. She didn't know how it looked at the back of her head but it certainly sounded better than getting stitches in her head without any kind of numbing. Though as he washed out the blood and cleaned her wound, Bailey was even more positive that she didn't want Aiden to stitch her up as that hurt like a motherfucker. But she was thankful for the help and even more glad when it turned out she didn't need them at all.

Luckily, soon it was all over and Bailey was sitting in his lap. She pressed herself as closed to Aiden, knowing that they both needed the comfort in that moment. But as Aiden started to talk about Sandra again, her eyes lifted up to meet his. Her hand moved against his face, her thumb running over one of the dried spots of blood on his cheek. "Gone from here or...gone gone?" Bailey whispered gently.

"I just need you," Bailey whispered to him. "I think I just ate something really bad. I've just...I've just had nausea and the worst headache. Just stay here with me."

@ BearGirl

Aiden had his nose tucked into her hair as he held her close, rubbing her back gently as he tried his best to comfort her. Although, he was likely doing it as a comfort to himself as well, since he looked quite shaken. When she lifted her head he was staring off at the door, as if expecting it to open, although when he felt her fingers at his cheek he turned his eyes to her, his eyes softening as he looked at her.

"I promised I'd never let her hurt you again.. I kept that promise, Bailey." He murmured, leaning into her hand before tugging her close as she said that she just needed him, gently cradling her against his chest. "I won't leave you, I promise."

@ katahdin

"I'm sorry that you had to do that for me," Bailey whispered into his chest as Aiden held her close to him. A sort of uneasiness sat in her stomach. Although it felt wrong, Bailey did certainly feel a lot safer now that she knew Sandra could never come back and hurt her. Never could come back and kill one of them. Which she had greatly feared. It felt wrong to feel better now that someone was dead. And Bailey also felt horrid knowing that Aiden had done that all for her. She hoped he wouldn't grow to regret it.

"But thank you," She whispered, even softer than before. Bailey was grateful, she just hoped it wouldn't naw at him. Her whole body buried farther into him, clinging onto Aiden tightly.

@ BearGirl

Aiden shook his head a little when she apologized, cradling her against his chest as he kissed her head. "Don't be sorry. I'd do anything for you, Bailey, especially to keep you safe." He murmured, standing with her in his arms to carry her to their room, where he tucked them in under the blankets, making sure she was safe and comfortable before he let himself relax.

"You should rest.. We both should. I sent a text to James explaining what happened, he's got everything covered, and there are extra people out on patrol just in case.. But we're safe, and need to rest." He urged, keeping her tucked into his chest as she clung to him, rubbing her back soothingly.

@ katahdin

A small whimper left her as he told her not to be sorry. She couldn't help but be so. But Bailey could find herself a bit at ease knowing how Aiden felt. So as he carried her, she stayed close. And even as he tucked them in, she continued to cling to him. And she really only started to feel at ease once she was tucked close into Aiden's chest as he rubbed her back, now feeling him beginning to relax against her as well.

"I'll try..." At first, sleep felt like an impossible feat. But her pounding head and the sick feeling in her stomach pushed Bailey to get some rest. Though she only felt comfortable enough to do so with Aiden wrapped around her tightly, being able to hear the beating of his heart. Soon she had drifted off, sleeping soundly against him.

@ BearGirl

It didn't take long for Aiden to fall asleep after he felt Bailey do so, keeping his arm wrapped securely around her and her body tucked in against his chest. Luckily her wound would heal quickly, but he worried about how she'd mentally recover from this. After all, she'd been kidnapped by someone who'd wanted to kill her, he couldn't expect her to just go back to normal, even if Sandra could never hurt her again. But he'd do everything in his power to protect her and keep her safe, and he'd gladly help her through whatever she needed until she felt safe and better.

Aiden slept most of the day away, only waking up around dinner time when his hunger became too much to ignore, although he didn't dare move in case he woke up Bailey, rubbing her back soothingly as he adjusted the blankets around them.

@ katahdin

It was past dinner time when Bailey started to wake. The growls of hunger that were beginning to come from Aiden caused her to stir. Though as Bailey came back to consciousness, she could feel that she was quite hungry as well. "Aiden," Bailey whispered as she lightly pushed her head against his chest. A little sigh left her lips moments later as she tried to find convince her body that it was time to wake up.

"We should eat." She mumbled lightly. But the moment she felt Aiden start to move from under her, Bailey suddenly had a death grip on him. Panic started to rise in her small frame. "Don't leave me alone."

@ BearGirl

Aiden looked over at her as she began to stir, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead as he pulled her closer. "It's alright, my love. I'm right here." He murmured as she woke, pulling back just enough so that he could look at her when she suggested that they eat, giving a little nod as he started to move out from under her so that he could stand, but once he felt Bailey's tight grip on his shirt he froze, nodding quickly as he settled back down next to her.

"I'm not going to leave you, Bails. I promise." He soothed, pressing another kiss to her forehead as he gently rubbed her back. "I'm going to stand up though, ok? And once I'm up I can carry you to the kitchen and put you on the couch while I make dinner. Or you can get on my back and I can keep holding you while I make dinner, but you'll have to help me. Ok?"

@ katahdin

It took Bailey a moment before her grip on his lightly and her hands slid down his body. "Okay," She whispered back to him, but still looking up at Aiden nervously. The only time bad things happened to her was when she wasn't with Aiden. It seemed like was the only thing that stopped the world from hurting her.

Even as Aiden got up out of bed, Bailey had a hand on him. And once he was ready for her, Bailey moved up and wrapped herself around Aiden as she got onto his back. Her cheek laid against his shoulder as she let out a small sigh of relief once she was re-attached.

@ BearGirl

Aiden was more than willing to give in to Bailey's requests, kneeling down on the floor once he'd gotten out of bed so that she could more easily crawl from the mattress onto his back. His arms hooked under her legs once she was on his back, and only once he was sure that she was secure did he stand, pressing a little kiss to her her arm before he walked into the kitchen with her.

"What would you like for dinner? May I suggest something easy to make? Or we can order out, if you'd prefer that. That way we can sit on the couch until it arrives." He suggested, looking at her with a little smile in the reflection of a mirror she'd hung up on the wall that led from the kitchen to the living room. "You're safe here, Bails. I've got you." He murmured reassuringly, hand squeezing her leg gently.

@ katahdin

As she as lifted up, Bailey hummed tiredly as he pressed a kiss against her skin. Her thumbs lightly rubbed against his sides as she held on. Her head turned to glance around and Bailey looked back the reflection of Aiden smiling at her as they walked past the mirror.

Bailey held onto him tighter, feeling the anxiousness rise up in her as Aiden told her she was safe. Tears started to fill up her eyes and Bailey buried her face into his back. "I know." She whimpered to him before tears started to fall from her eyes, falling into the back of his shoulder. "But why don't I feel safe?" Bailey started to sob into him. "You're here with me but...if I walk away for just a moment then...then...I don't want to die."

@ BearGirl

Aiden's smile disappeared as soon as he saw her tears, backing up until he could set her down on the counter before turning around so he could wrap his arms around her tightly, cradling her against his chest. "Hey, hey, it's alright." He soothed, pressing gentle kisses to her cheeks before wiping away her tears.

"There's nothing wrong with being scared, or anxious, Bails. You were kidnapped. You've been tortured. It makes sense that you don't feel safe. But I promise you that you are, and that I'll help you through this. We'll get through this together, ok? Sandra can't hurt you anymore. She's gone forever, I made sure of it." He promised, cradling her face in his hands gently. "Think about happy things. Like brownies, or puppies. Or the fact that we're going to be married soon. Think about how great that will be."

@ katahdin

"It's not alright," Bailey said back to Aiden as he wrapped her up tightly. She didn't wrap her arms around him, instead holding onto herself as she leaned into Aiden. While she certainly did want his comfort, Bailey wasn't feeling any better about any of it. "I just... I just keep thinking that we're done. Every step of the way, I thought I was done and then they kept coming back again and again and now Sandra alone keeps coming back again and again."

"W-what if you think she's gone but she's actually not?" Bailey said as she continued to cry into him. "O-or one of others in her old pack. What if t-they want to -a-a-avenge her? What if she got a new pack, Aiden? And they come here?" Bailey started to cry harder when he mentioned them getting married soon. "I-I-If I make it! O-or if someone doesn't c-hic-come and ruin it!"

@ BearGirl

"Bailey, I promise, we're done. No one is going to come back, I swear to you." Aiden promised pressing a reassuring kiss to the top of her head as he rubbed her back soothingly. He pulled back a bit though when she began to say that Sandra would come back to get her, taking her head into his hands as he looked her in the eye.

"Bailey, I need you to listen to me, ok? I need you to calm down. Follow my breathing." He said, taking a deep breath in before letting it out, waiting until she started to do the same and to see that she'd calmed down considerably before he spoke. "I know for a fact that Sandra is gone. I ripped her apart myself. She's never, ever going to hurt you again. And she was working alone. She was half starved, didn't have the scent of any other wolves on her. She's gone, she was working alone, and no one will ever hurt you again Bailey, I swear it."

@ katahdin

Bailey followed easily as Aiden held onto her head and lifted her gaze to his. Though she found it very difficult to focus on him through her tears, only able to make out a blurry figure in front of her. But the hands that had been holding tightly onto her sides reached out and grabbed onto his shirt hard.

All she offered was a few nods as Aiden told her to listen and follow his breathing. It took some time but Aiden was able to get her to a place where her crying was at a minimal and she had calmed down from where she had been. And now that she was there, it was a lot easier to hear and take in what Aiden was telling her. As Aiden spoke, Bailey could feel her heartbeat slowing back down to a normal rate. Sandra was ripped apart, even she can't survive that. And, although whether or not she was working alone made Bailey feel uneasy, she could tell that Aiden felt confident about that fact.

One of her hands reached up and rubbed her eyes as Bailey was trying to get herself to stop crying. It was too difficult for her to do at that moment, her heart and chest still twisted up tight. But Aiden's words did make her feel better about Sandra. At least she couldn't come back. Even Sandra can't cheat death, she had to tell herself. Bailey leaned her body towards Aiden until her cheek was pressed against his shoulder. "I believe you," She whispered. "I trust you,'

@ BearGirl

Aiden pressed a kiss to her forehead as she began to calm down, gently brushing her tears away as they continued to fall. "It's alright, Bails, I've got you." He soothed, relieved that she was finally calming down. Once she leaned into him he wrapped his arms around her tightly, cradling her against his chest.

"You're alright, Bailey. I've got you. Nothing is ever going to hurt you again, I swear it." He promised, nuzzling his nose gently against her head. "Are you feeling up to dinner? I'll order takeout from wherever you want, whatever you want, and we can snuggle on the couch, or in bed, and watch movies." He offered, pressing a little kiss to the tip of her nose.

@ katahdin

Bailey's eyes closed for a moment as Aiden kissed the tip of her nose. Once he pulled away, she looked up at him gently. The tears that had been falling from her eyes finally stopped and Bailey felt like she could breathe better once again. The fear that had been consuming her whole frame had grew smaller in her chest. Especially now that she could see that Aiden was right about some times. Sandra couldn't come back and it was unlikely someone would avenge her. Not impossible but...well at least it was a much better situation than what she had been worried about.

"I am not really hungry anymore but you should eat." Bailey told him as she lightly rubbed against his sides. She had heard his stomach growling earlier. There was no doubt that Aiden was in need of something. "You should order something...and then I just want to be close to you on the couch while you eat. A movie sounds like a good idea."