Forget Me Not (Book 3 of Acceptance Series)

The sound of beeping filled my ears while I slowly started to wake up and become aware of everything around me. My whole body ached and was filled with pain, and I couldn't help but groan just a tad in pain.

There was a bit of shuffling above me while I started to wake up before there was a sound of sniffling. "TJ?" the person above me asked, their voice barely above a whisper and shaking with tears. "Are you waking up?"

I groaned in annoyance and tried to nod but couldn't. I furrowed my brows and tried to open my eyes, but I also could not do that as well because it felt as if they were glued shut by something that I didn't understand.

The person moved a hand through my hair, and I couldn't help but tell that it was my mother because of her scent and gentle touch while they continued to move a hand through my hair. "Oh, my baby boy," she said, her voice barely above a whisper and still cracking. "I was so scared and thought I had lost you."

I held back an eye roll and groaned again, silently asking my mother to go ahead and help so that I could see what was going on and find out what had happened.

My mother moved her hand from my head and sighed, slowly nodding as if she knew what I wanted her to do. "Come on, let's go ahead and get your eyes wiped clean so that you can open them, ok?" She walked over to something and the sound of water filled my ears.

Oh thank Goddess, I silently thought, breathing a small sigh of relief, earning a small chuckle from her.

She walked back over to me and wiped my eyes so that I could see. "There you go, TJ," she said. "Do you think you can open your eyes for me?"

I tried to nod but couldn't before I bit back a small groan of pain and annoyance, not knowing why it felt like I couldn't move my head at all. However, I did what she asked me to do and opened my eyes so that I could look at the woman that I called my mother even if she was just a blurry figure in my mind.

My mother had a small smile on her face but tears pricked the corners of her eyes. Worry and grief filled them while she looked at me, and it broke my heart because I hated how broken and defeated she looked.

Mom... I thought and frowned, concerned. I wanted to speak, wanted to ask her what was wrong but couldn't for it felt like there was something in my mouth as well as my throat being dry.

My mother chuckled and shook her head, moving a hand through my hair, and I closed my eyes a little and enjoyed her warmth and comfort. "I am ok," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "The doctor and Aenes will be here shortly as well as your father."

I blinked as if to nod, too weak to even make a mindlink between us so that I could talk to her that way.

My mother sighed and wiped her eyes, clearing her throat. She didn't say a word while she sat down in the seat beside the bed, and I could see a blanket in it, even though I could only see it from the corner of my eye before I looked at her again.

My mother chuckled a little before she slowly nodded when I raised an eyebrow in question. "Yes, I had been there for a while," she said and pulled the blanket over her again, biting back a small sigh. "You have been out for three days."

Three days... My eyes grew wide, and I struggled to sit up because I was filled with worry and fear, for my mind had turned to my mate, and I couldn't help but feel very worried about her.

"Hey, hey, hey," my mother said and stood. She pushed me down and kept me there while I tried to struggle against her. "Stop struggling, Thomas Junior," she warned and waited until I stopped struggling but stared at her with wide eyes. "Your mate is fine. She knows what is happening and is aware that you are hurt but alive. I promise."