Anonymous

Chapter Three: Safe? Is it possible?

POV: Catalina

I woke up to the smell of disinfection spray and a beeping sound. “Where am I?” I thought to myself. I felt like I slept for ten years, but my body was still heavy. I looked at my body and saw all my bruises had faded, and I was in a hospital gown and hooked up to an IV machine and there was a tube in my nose. I started to panic a little bit thinking I was being tested on again. I ripped the tube out of my nose and the IV line; it stung but wasn’t anything compared to what I had gone through before, so it didn’t phase me a bit. The door opened, and a woman walked in. She was beautiful, with blonde hair that reached the middle of her back braided, She stood easily at about 5 foot 7 and had an athletic build while still having curves.

“Oh, you’re finally awake,” She excitedly said. “Please calm down you’re safe here. I found you in a cave, and you have been in a coma for three months now. We had to give you an IV to ensure you were hydrated and a feeding tube to ensure you were getting nourishment because you were severely underfed when I found you…. Oh my goodness, where are my manners? My name is Amelia, and I am the pack’s head healer.” She reached out her hand to me. I instantly felt calm and shook her hand. “I’m Catalina but you can call me Cata or Cat,” I said. She smiled a big smile, “Cata, welcome to the blue moon pack you are safe here. I am going to mind-link the Alpha and let him know you’re awake.”

“Is he going to make me leave now that I’m awake?” I asked panicky. “Oh goodness no, he was also worried about you and would check in on you every day, so I know that he would want to know you’re finally awake.” Her eyes clouded over which I know means she mind-linked the alpha and even though she told me not to worry I couldn’t help but to worry I was feeling better but nowhere strong enough to run for the rest of my life yet. Amelia stayed in the room and talked to me and, man can she talk? She gave me a quick history of the pack and told me not to worry about the Alpha because he’s her big brother even though it’s only by five minutes because they’re twins. She even called him a teddy bear. She told me how their parents handed him the alpha title at 20 and retired to travel. “Basically, they wanted to do the deed on other lands without their kids.” She laughed. I spitted out the water I was drinking when she said that. Then she started talking about how she missed them and video chats them every day and I couldn’t help but be jealous because I never had that. I was an only child, I didn’t know my mom and my father was a sadistic monster.

About twenty minutes passed by and somehow Amelia got her way into doing my hair. She was braiding it and added some daisies that were in a vase next to my bed when we heard the door open. In the doorway stood a handsome man who was over 6 feet tall and very muscular with blonde hair. “Well, it’s nice to see our guest is finally awake. How are you feeling?” I opened my mouth to speak only to be cut off by Amelia, “Her name is Catalina, but you can call her Cata or Cat. She’s doing great talking and drinking water.” “Is she actually getting any talking in with you baby sister?” He laughed. “Oh, hahaha verrryyyy funny,” She said. I laughed at their exchange, and they both smiled their perfect smiles at me. “I’m feeling fine, I don’t mind that she talks more, she has more to talk about,” I said. Amelia smiled smugly and said, “See, SOMEONE enjoys me talking so much. Thank you, kitty cat. I knew, we were going to be friends.”

“Excuse my sister what she lacks in maturity she makes up for being an amazing healer. She’s the youngest head healer in the world. So, I allow her nonsense. I am Eddie, and I am the alpha of blue moon pack,” Eddie said as he reached his hand out for me to shake. I shook his hand and said, “Catalina or Cata, please not kitty cat.” As I shot Amelia a sharp look in which she just laughed off. “Do I have to leave now that I’m awake?” I asked. Eddie looked at me as if I was a crazy person and exclaimed, “Of course not, you’re welcome to stay as long as you like. I won’t ask you about your past right now. I will let you tell me when you are ready, but know you are welcomed here, and you are safe here.” Amelia just nodded her head and smiled at me.

I praised the moon goddess silently for letting me stay here until I am at least stronger, but I knew I would eventually leave. Eddie and Amelia are so nice, and I just know one day my father will come looking for me, and they don’t know me enough to refuse him to avoid a war with him. “Thank you, Alpha Eddie and Amelia,” I said smiling. “I must return to my alpha duties but once you are well enough to leave the hospital, we will show you where you will be staying. Please continue resting,” Eddie said as he walked out. Amelia looked at me and smiled and said, “Well, we will continue to monitor you for a few days, but you can leave then. My brother and I have set up a cottage for you to stay in.” This all feels so surreal, so I, of course, had to put my foot in my mouth and ask, “Why are you guys being so nice to a stranger? You don’t even know me. What if I am a mass murderer and go on a spree?” Amelia laughed, and I mean laughed at me so hard that tears were coming out of her eyes. “Kitty cat you were in a coma, and it looked like you could barely walk before, whatever that happened to you happened. I doubt you were murdering anyone. But in all seriousness, I don’t know how to explain it, but it feels like I need to protect you. I’m drawn to you like a bond.” I raised an eyebrow and said, “ ..like a bond? I hate to tell you this, but I don’t like girls…..” She laughed again and said, “No, I'm not saying like a mate bond, just that I must protect you at all costs. I don’t have a mate yet, but I don’t want to jump your bones or anything.” She then winked at me.

A few days passed and Amelia told me I could be released today. If she wasn’t in the room with me, Eddie was, they were amazing, and I already felt so close to them. “Well, today I will take you to your new home, aren’t you excited?” Amelia asked me while handing me some clothes that she bought me. “I hope you don’t mind, but we threw out your old clothes they were……. Unfit.” “You mean they were rags and gross. No, I don’t mind at all! Matter of fact, thank you so much Amelia. I don’t know where I would be without you or Eddie,” I said as I walked into the bathroom to shower and change.

I got out of the shower and looked at the clothes that Amelia brought for me. I was expecting some of her old clothes, but these had new tags on them. It was a simple sweater and sweats, but I still loved them. They were a little big but so cozy. I stepped out of the bathroom and Amelia said, “Dang it, I thought you would fit into a small. It looks like we have got to get your weight up some more." "I’m so cozy though it’s like being wrapped in cozy blankets. So, thank you very much,” I said. We walked out of the pack hospital and to her Jeep. “It’s not a far walk, but I don’t want you doing too much yet and exhausting yourself. Small walks are all you need to do until you build up your strength.” I just nodded and got into the passenger side.

We drove maybe five minutes and got to a cozy-looking cottage. “We’re hereeeee.” Amelia squealed. I was nervous about being out here by myself, but I tried not to let it show on my face. “Sooo promise you won’t be mad buuttt I did not want you to be alone, so you’ll be staying with me.” I was so relieved when that left her mouth. I just smiled and said, “Thank you.” Walking into the house I instantly felt at home. It was a three-bedroom cottage with each of the rooms having their own bathroom. A flat screen hangs over a fireplace with a sectional sofa in front of it. There is a dining table and an island you can eat at. Amelia showed me my room, and it was amazing. The red and gold bedding set, my own fireplace, a walk-in closet. The bathroom was huge with a huge tub and a shower with a bench. I noticed everything was stocked with clothes, soaps, towels and everything else I would need. “I prefer to live closer to the pack hospital in case of emergencies and I like being closer to the woods because I love studying plants and their different abilities. So, I live here rather than in the pack house. It’s not much, but it's home.” “It’s perfect,” I said, smiling at Amelia. I never had any of this stuff, so a tent in the yard would have amazed me.