Chapter9
1171 Words
Chapter 9
Leah’s POV
I opened my eyes slowly, blinking as the unfamiliar surroundings greeted me. The room was dimly lit, adorned with elegant furnishings that felt strange to me. A wave of confusion washed over me—where was I?
I tried so hard racking my brains to find out what happened to me but none I can remember. I feel a little strength inside of me compared to how I have been lately but what magic took place?
“Cindy! What happened?” I called out, reaching into my mind for the comforting presence of my wolf.
“We passed out while talking to Elijah,” Cindy replied, her voice laced with concern.
Suddenly, fragments of the previous encounter flooded back. My heart sank as I realised Elijah had brought me to his home. No way was I staying here. Determination surged through me; I needed to leave immediately. But then, I felt something small envelop my hands.
“You're awake!” A tiny voice chimed, soft and innocent, like the tinkling of a small bell.
I blinked, trying to adjust to the dim light spilling into the room. "And who are you?" I asked, attempting to maintain a straight face.
"My name is Hannah,” she replied, her eyes sparkling with an earnestness that took me by surprise. “I’ve been praying for you to wake up, and I’m so glad you did.” Her enthusiasm was palpable, almost overwhelming in its sincerity.
"What do you mean you’ve been praying for me to wake up? I just passed out,” I said, rolling my eyes, trying to dismiss the intensity of her words. This kid was really overdramatic to worry about me to that extent—especially since she didn’t even know who I was.
“You’ve been asleep for two whole days without any response,” she said, her voice dropping slightly, tinged with worry. “We were all so worried sick!”
“Huh? Two days?” My mind felt foggy as I tried to wrap my head around the reality of her statement. “You mean I’ve been sleeping for two straight days?” The very idea was absurd, and panic crept in, clawing at the edges of my consciousness. Why on earth would I be out for that long? Was my situation really that dire?
“Save your strength and get enough rest, okay? I know you must be hungry as well,” Hannah urged, her tone shifting to one of concern.
I could only stare back at her, bewildered. A tidal wave of questions began to surge through my mind. What had happened to me? Why had I been asleep for so long?
“So you think a little kid would lie to you? I warned you last time not to shift, but you ignored me. The plague is affecting you slowly—you need to be careful from now on, no more acting reckless,” Cindy, my wolf, cautioning me with a tone resonant with care and frustration.
Panic washed over me as I wrestled with the implications of her words. Am I going to die soon?
“I’ll get my mother,” Hannah said suddenly, breaking into my inner turmoil. She gazed up at me with wide, curious eyes, full of hope and concern that contrasted starkly with the darkness looming in my mind. It was as if her innocent gaze could pierce through my fears and doubts.
She exited the room but there was something oddly familiar about her—those same striking eyes belonged to Elijah. Wait a minute. Could it be? Elijah had a daughter? It was almost too much to process. Had he intentionally brought me here to meet her? I felt a surge of anger; this was wicked, manipulative. There was no way I was staying here.
With a quick glance around the room, I left the confines of what felt like a trap. The moment I stepped outside, I was hit with a breathtaking view. The house was nestled in beautiful surroundings, blooms of vibrant colours painting the landscape. I felt a pang of jealousy; clearly, Elijah had put a lot of effort into making this place stunning, perhaps for his new lover and their child. But as beautiful as it was, I reminded myself—it wasn’t my home.
I started navigating the place, searching for an exit, when I caught a whiff of a lingering scent that sent shivers down my spine. Elijah.
“Why did you bring me here?” I demanded, anger bubbling beneath the surface. “You should have left me there; someone else would have helped me. Anyway, the deed is done, so tell me the price I’ll have to pay to ensure you don’t throw around the words, ‘I’m in your debt’…”
Silence hung heavy in the air as he remained mute, not meeting my gaze.
“I’m talking to you, Elijah! Don’t just ignore me!” I yelled, frustration spilling out.
In a sudden movement, he closed the distance between us, grabbing my wrists and pulling me into a hug. I was taken by surprise, my heart racing in my chest. Why did my body react this way? I felt warmth radiate between us, and despite every logical thought screaming at me, I found myself longing to stay in that embrace. This was wrong—he was toying with my emotions, playing with the remnants of my heart.
Just as abruptly, I pushed him away with all my strength, my voice rising to a frantic pitch. “Stay away from me!”
“Leah, I only hugged you because—” he started, but then faltered, his words trailing off as he seemed to reconsider his next move.
After a heavy pause, he finally spoke. “Never mind. You already know you’re in my debt. I saved you, and you should be thanking me for it.”
The anger bubbled up again. “I never asked you to save me,” I snapped, my voice tight with fury. “It infuriates me that you’re the one I have to thank. Just tell me what I need to do to clear this debt, because I never want to be beholden to you.”
He took a step forward, and instinctively I took one back, maintaining a safe distance between us. It was infuriating how my body was betraying me, reacting to him despite the raging storm of emotions within. “You will stay here for a week until you get better,” Elijah said, his voice steady, as if he had made a declaration.
“What?” I exclaimed, disbelief coursing through me. “Are you insane? Are you trying to kidnap me against my will? Absolutely not! I refuse to stay in this horrible place that reeks of your presence. I’m leaving, and that’s final!”
He smirked, an expression that sent a chill down my spine. “We’ll see about that, ex-mate.”
TBC….
- Writer
