Diego's POV
It has been a day and I had a brand new mattress and bedding bought and delivered. Today is the day that I go downstairs and bring up Ophelia to my room. It has been extremely peaceful around here without the whöres here. They tried telling other packs that Dante's mate brainwashed me into having them exiled from here. When the Alpha called me and told me this, I gladly explained what truly happened. He then proceeded to ban them from his territory. It's only a matter of time that they end up getting themselves killed for trying to betray the pack. This morning Cyndi and Selene took Ophelia breakfast. Selene helped her take a shower to hopefully refresh her. Selene said she was awake for a bit but she is unsure how long she will be awake today for. If I knew this was going to be the outcome of me rejecting her, I would of never done it. I would of probably never mentioned she was my mate. But what's done is done. I change my clothes and hopefully she won't lash out on me when I go downstairs, she has every single right too lash out.
As I walk down to the kitchen, Selene and Cyndi are cleaning up the kitchen. They know today she comes upstairs and hopefully reverse the rejection process.
~Diego~ Thank you ladies. Here's my credit card, go pamper yourselves. Nails toes the works.... on me.
~Selene~ You don't have to do this...
~Diego~ Yes I do. You both have gone above and beyond making sure she is taken care of downstairs. I appreciate it more than you will ever know. Take the guys with you. I'm bringing her upstairs today and want it as quiet as possible when she's up here.
~Cyndi~ Want us back by dinner time?
~Diego~ That's perfectly fine. I'll message y'all what to grab for dinner. Please be on your toes in case the rejects try to start shït with y'all.
They nod and go to get their mates. As I walk downstairs, I see Ophelia standing up looking out the window. She turns and looks at me.
~Diego~ Hi...
~Ophelia~ Hi Asshat...
~Diego~ I deserve that. I came down here to apologize to you for my behavior. You didn't deserve it. I'm also sorry for the pain I caused you when I wasn't faithful to you even though I did reject you and now you are shutting down.
~Ophelia~ I would say it's okay, but it's not. I'm dying now basically and there is nothing that can change it either.
~Diego~ What if I told you there was a way? I spoke to Selene the nurse who checked you over and helped you get cleaned up, and she said this can all be reversed...
~Ophelia~ How?
~Diego~ By bringing you upstairs to my room....
~Ophelia~ Lovely offer but I'm not dealing with the whöres if I come upstairs. They'll give me hell and try to kill me.
~Diego~ Two days ago I exiled the whores from the pack and they aren't here anymore. I had a new bedding and mattress sent over so everything in my room is brand new....
~Ophelia~ Sure that's fine. I'm sure we do have a lot of talk about. But I'm tired, could we rest first before we talk about anything?
~Diego~ Absolutely. Need any help carrying anything upstairs?
~Ophelia~ All my clothes are in these two baskets. I can get new shampoo and other items later.
~Diego~ I'll have Selene and Cyndi grab whatever you could need while they are out. The house is empty. It's just going to be the two of us for a bit until dinner time... What are you in the mood for?
~Ophelia~ Could we grill steaks and potatoes tonight?
~Diego~ Absolutely. Let's get you upstairs to rest. Sound good?
~Ophelia~ Let's!
She walks out of her room with a bag and she stumbles.. She is weak. She falls into me and I catch her.
~Diego~ Are you okay? Do you need me to help you with anything?
~Ophelia~ I think so. Legs are weak is all.. Can you help me up the steps? I'm not sure I can climb them without falling down...
I lean down and pick her up. She falls into me S if she feels safe with me. I get this warm fuzzy feeling with her now. Something that I haven't felt in the longest of times. She wraps her arms around my neck and leans against me. I take her up to our room and give her one of my tshirts to wear.
~Diego~ I am going to bring up all your things up here. Here is a shirt to change into, climb in bed and rest. I'll be right back. I promise.
~Ophelia~ Okay thank you Diego.
I nod and walk back out the room but not before shutting the door. I grab the three baskets and the bag and head back to our room. She is laying down and rolls to look at me as I put the things down.
~Ophelia~ Diego??
~Diego~ Yes....
~Ophelia~ Would you come lay down with me for a bit, but if you have things to do, it's ....
~Diego~ Absolutely, don't be afraid to ask for cuddles.
******
Ophelia's POV
Who in the world is this man that is before me? He isn't the same man as he was when we first met. Now he is this sweet man. He has come to see me when I was in the basement but I ignored him because I was hurt for the way I was treated. I'm sure he has his reasoning behind it but I didn't deserve it one bit. He lays down next to me and pulls me closer to him. I notice his tattoos. I start tracing them.
~Diego~ Are you okay?
~Ophelia~I'm never better. Sorry I just happened to notice all of your tattoos, all the colors and I like them a lot.
~Diego~ It's okay. Nothing you need to be sorry for. But I wanted to explain to you why I was the way I was when I did what I did, if that's okay?
~Ophelia~ Whenever you are ready. I'm here to listen... Then I can tell you my story as well. But I'm sure Cyndi already informed you...
~Diego~ She did but I would like to hear it from you first hand. But it started about 10 ish years ago. My father who was the Alpha of the pack and King of the mafia. He passed away then I was set to take over. He ran everything the way I was when we met, I figured that is how I was supposed too. Then about 5 years ago a rival pack waged war against my pack and ended up killing Cyndi's mate. Found out the woman who was my first mate, was sleeping with the rival pack and was giving him details of mine. She made me feel as if I failed my pack but me being both alpha and the mafia king, I had more power and my pack destroyed his. He survived and I exiled her from here. She destroyed what I thought was happiness. I closed off my heart on happiness.
~Ophelia~ Wow what a whore she was. Mine isn't as horrible as yours but it sucked.
~Diego~ Take your time. I'm not going anywhere.
~Ophelia~ I was dating this man who I swore was my mate, he came to live with my father and I. My mother had died years prior to this. My father developed a habit of what I swore was gambling but then I noticed the signs of drug abuse. I kept my mouth shut. Then I saw my now ex, feeding my father drugs. I kicked him out after finding out he was never my mate to begin with. I thought my dad was getting better problem wasn't there anymore. Then 3.5 months ago I get police at my door, telling me my father was gone, killed in a drug deal gone wrong. I had to go identify the man because the man said he knew me. It was my ex. He killed him. Had I known he was burrowing money from you guys, I would of figured out how to pay it all back. But I never knew he was til y'all came and got me. He never left anything money wise when he died. I don't blame you for rejecting me.
~Diego~ I am truly sorry. I'm sorry your body is shutting down because of me being scared of getting hurt again.
~Ophelia~ Everyone makes mistakes. I forgive you. What matters is your here now... If I recover from this, what are you wanting out of this?
~Diego~ I would like to get to know you. The real you. Not one where I'm worried about you dying because of my actions. I want to try this thing with you as my mate. I'm willing to give you my all.
~Ophelia~ I would like to try that as well. I won't make it easy on you....
I yawn.. I'm tired.
~Diego~ Let's rest for a few. Dinner will be in a couple of hours.
~Ophelia~ Hopefully I'll wake up for it....
~Diego~ I hope so as well...
He pulls the blanket to cover the both of us. I feel completely safe and comfortable with him. I fall into a peaceful slumber...
I want to be angry with him but with him being my mate, I can't. I can tell he is truly sorry for his behavior and actions. I want to recover from this. I heard of this happening before in my studies, only a couple of cases survived. They have recovered after a quick rest with their mates. Maybe this will happen for me.
**********
After sleeping what feels like several hours, I feel like I'm completely rested. I don't feel weak anymore. It's weird almost. I look over and Diego is gone. He isn't in the room. I hear talking down in the kitchen. I put on some shorts and head downstairs. I see Diego, with Cyndi and who I know as Selene, with two guys.
~Cyndi~ How is she doing?
~Diego~ She and I talked about everything. She told me about her ex and that he introduced her father to his habit. I also told her about my past as well. They were oddly similar to each other but different. She seemed calm and well rested before she fell asleep...
I decided to call his name out...
~Ophelia~ Diego?
Everyone turns and looks at me. He smiles. He has a gorgeous smile. He walks over to me and holds his hand out for me.
~Diego~ How are you feeling? You look alot better than you did when you first came upstairs...
~Ophelia~ I do feel tons better to be honest. I don't feel weak anymore. Not sure if it's true or not but I think my body is healing now.
~Diego~ I think so too. Do you feel comfortable enough to sit with everyone down here?
~Ophelia~ I do. I would like to sit with them and you if you feel ready to do so?
He gently tugs my hand to him and I bump into his chest. This is when I know he and I will be okay together. We walk over to the kitchen island and he helps me sit down in the chair.
~Diego~ You know Cyndi, but this is Carlo my beta, he's Cyndi's mate. This is Selene, our nurse and Dante's mate. Dante is my omega and brother.
~Ophelia~ Hi everyone.
~Selene~ I'm glad to see you up and moving around. You look alot better than you did the other day. I believe your body is healing.
~Dante~ You do look better. You had us all worried about you. Especially the one behind you.
~Ophelia~ I know he was worried about me but yeah I know.
~Carlo~ Yeah he was... How are you doing?
~Ophelia~ I'm good I promise. I have to make a list of items I need...
~Cyndi~ Don't worry girl, we got them already. Diego messaged them to me to pick up earlier.
~Ophelia~ Thank you everyone.
We all hang out and enjoy dinner together. First time in a while that I have stayed awake after eating. My body is healing and I feel loads better already. After hanging out with everyone, I head upstairs to shower and get ready for bed. Diego tells me he is going to join me upstairs in a bit, he has to go over pack things with Carlo and Dante. I tell him I will be upstairs. He smiles at me I head upstairs.. After showering, I change into another shirt of mine and lay in bed, snuggling with Diego's pillow. I fall into another peaceful sleep. I feel the bed dip down about an hour later, Diego has joined me.
Here's to us figuring whatever this is between us out for us and only us.