Page 14 of Broken Mate

“Anais,” he said in a consolatory tone.

“What you ask is impossible. I will never forgive her,” she whispered, choking back tears. “She ruined me.”

He slipped his arms around her, hugging her tightly. “She didn’t ruin you. You are stronger than that.”

The dam broke. For over a year she refused to feel sorry for herself. Refused to cry. Nothing was accomplished by giving in to pain and sorrow. But now that she cried, it wouldn’t stop. Great heaving sobs wracked her body as she buried her face in Ledger’s chest. He simply held her, running a hand over her hair, and giving her the strength to face her broken heart.

“It’s okay. I’ve got you,” he assured. “Let it out. Let out all the poison that’s still in your mind.”

Long moments later, her crying slowed until it ceased altogether and she lay against him, completely spent.

“I think that’s enough meditation for today,” he said. “Let’s go to the gym so I can massage your legs.”

She lifted her head and wiped at her cheeks. “Massage my legs? Is that necessary?”

“Don’t you want my hands on you?”

“Did you massage Alpha Jericho?”

“Jealous?”

She gave a noncommittal shrug.

“Yes,” he replied. “I did because Jericho couldn’t walk at all.”

Anais gasped. “Oh. I didn’t know.”

He gave a grim nod. “He was bitter, of course. Even suicidal.”

“I had no idea. I’ve never … even at my lowest point, I would never resort to that.”

“That’s good to know,” he said. “After that moment, I vowed to save Jericho by any means possible. He’s not just my alpha, he’s my best friend.”

“I’m glad he had you.”

He smoothed some hair off her cheek, to place it behind her ear. “You have me too.”

Her heart galloped in her chest. “Then I am lucky.”

He smiled. “It took a lot of trial and error for Jericho, but one of the things he thought helped him a lot was the massages.”

“All right, then.” He stood and scooped her up in his arms. She slipped her arms around his neck. “I can use my crutches to walk.”

“Nope, this is the only time you’ll allow me to hold you. Just think of me as your walking, talking escort.”

Anais tilted her head. “You’re providing an escort service?”

He gave a harrumph. “Think you’re clever, don’t you?”

“You’re the one that used the word ‘escort’.”

Ledger placed a kiss on her cheek. “Smiling transforms you, Anais. You should do it every day.”

He took her down into the basement where a full gym waited. He carefully placed her on a massage bed, and with his fingertips slowly traced her features. Her heart thumped excitedly under his touch. When he reached her calves, he slowly started to massage the damaged limbs. At first, the deep tissue massage hurt, but slowly the knots unwound.

“We’ll do this every day,” he announced. “Eventually, we’ll work up to exercising. We’ll need to build up your strength to show your wolf you are healed.”

“All right,” she said, a bit breathless. Truth be told, she quite enjoyed having his hands on her body. “Massage me all you want.”

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