Marked By The Moon

Chapter 7 - Awakening.

Olive - POV

I heard the door open before I heard the voices.

A dull thud echoed from somewhere beyond my room, followed by the muffled cadence of words I couldn’t quite make out. My body froze, all over again. Breath caught in my throat. My fingers curled into the scratchy blanket, and I wished I could melt into the mattress.

They’d found me.

I just knew it.

Maybe Luna Kenzy had come for me. Maybe she’d sent guards, to do what she couldn’t finish herself. I could already picture the gleam of a blade, the click of boots across floorboards.

A hand landed gently on my shoulder, and I gasped.

“Olive,” Nurse Jennifer whispered. “It’s okay. It’s just a visitor.”

“A… visitor?” My voice cracked like old wood.

She nodded, then brushed a cool hand against my forehead. “You’re safe here. Remember that… you are safe…this is your new home.”

That didn’t calm me. Not really.

Jennifer helped me sit up, her arm steady around my back. I caught the scent of broth before I saw the tray—toast, slightly burned at the edges, and a steaming bowl of something pale and thin. Food. My stomach turned at the idea of it, but I accepted the tray anyway.

Dr. Melendez entered next, gave me a long once-over, then motioned for Nurse Jennifer to follow him out.

I stared at the tray in my lap, trying not to tremble. Trying not to imagine armed guards in the other room. Trying not to imagine him.

A soft knock came at the doorframe.

I looked up.

It wasn’t a guard. Not even close.

It was… the Beta. Tobi.

He was dressed down—plain jeans, a grey pullover that looked too comfortable for someone of his rank. But it was him. The man I remembered standing next to Alpha Jace at every ceremony. Tall. Sharp-eyed. Terrifying in posture and presence.

My fingers clenched the edge of the tray.

“Hey,” he said quietly. “I’m sorry to just show up. I… I just wanted to… to… . I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

I couldn’t speak.

He cleared his throat, shifting awkwardly in the doorway. “Not officially. I’m not here on any pack business. Just… checking in. As a person.”

As a person. I didn’t know what that meant.

He stepped back, almost like he expected me to throw something at him. “I’ll go if you want. I understand.”

I shook my head before I could stop myself. I didn’t know why. Maybe I just didn’t want to be alone with my thoughts anymore. Maybe I wanted to see what the monster’s right hand looked like up close.

Dr. Melendez must’ve taken my silence for a yes, because he ushered Tobi in, pulled out a chair near the bed, and nodded for him to sit. Then both he and Nurse Jennifer quietly disappeared.

For a few minutes, neither of us spoke. I just sipped my broth and chewed the dry toast with mechanical effort. Tobi didn’t look at me much. Mostly, he looked at the floor, or out the window.

“I brought you this,” he finally said, holding out a small paper bag. “It’s just a notebook. And some pencils. In case you get bored. Or feel like writing stuff down.”

I stared at the bag. I didn’t move to take it.

“It’s clean,” he added, offering a tight, half-hearted smile. “Promise.”

Eventually, I reached out. My fingers brushed his. He flinched like I’d burned him.

The next hour passed slowly. Tobi made some awkward attempts at conversation, about how remote the cabin was, how the snow might keep them stuck here for days, how Nurse Jennifer’s soup was probably a mild form of punishment. I didn’t laugh, but I did stop recoiling every time he spoke.

By the time the sun dipped behind the trees, Dr. Melendez had invited him to stay for dinner.

He accepted.

We sat at the cabin table, a strange collection of people who didn’t quite fit: me, wrapped in a too-big sweater; Nurse Jennifer, humming under her breath; Dr. Melendez, looking too tired to be as kind as he was; and Beta Tobi… somehow blending in, without towering over.

In front of us was a delicious spread of food, Nurse Jennifer had cooked. She started us of with a herbal broth with root vegetables, she insisted that it would make me feel stronger and healthier. Then she served us Roasted chicken with herbs, slow-roasted, skin crisped, stuffed with lemon and garlic, mashed sweet potatoes that were smooth and comforting, with a bit of cinnamon and cream. She also had a side of steamed greens, lightly buttered and seasoned.

I ate as quickly as possible until my belly started hurting. “Easily Olive…there is more than enough food for you… whenever you want…okay” Dr Melendez touched my hand softly. Tobi smiled gently at me.

He asked about my favorite book. My favorite meal. He didn’t mention the pack. He didn’t mention Luna Kenzy.

I still didn’t trust him.

But when I looked up from my bowl, I saw that he wasn’t watching me like a threat. Or a broken thing.

He was just… watching. Like he wanted to understand.

Nurse Jennifer insisted that we have some Warm apple slices with cinnamon for dessert. Served with a cup of chamomile tea for me and warm cider for everyone else.

And for the first time in a long time, I wondered if maybe… just maybe… I was imagining it all. Maybe Beta Tobi wasn’t who I thought he was.

Maybe he was something else entirely.

Then I remembered thinking that Jace was kind, and how that had ended…

“Young lady…it’s time for bed.” Nurse Jennifer said softly. We all stood up. “Goodnight, Beta Tobi… I…” “Please… call me Tobi…. Just Tobi…” “Okay…Tobi… goodnight, Tobi.” My body moved before I could think and before I know if I was hugging him. He stood awkwardly at first with his arms stiff next to his body. But then he hugged back.

After a hot shower, Nurse Jennifer gave me an oversized sweatshirt to wear. She put some ointment on my wounds and gave me some pain medication before tucking me in. “We’ll have to shopping soon for some clothes and toiletries Olive” Her words sound far as I slipped into a peaceful sleep.