THE WHITE WOLF'S GIRL

THE HEALING

*HOSPITAL. DAY 1.*

White room.

White sheets.

White light.

Arina lay on the bed.

Bandage on her shoulder.

Dry lips.

IV in her arm.

Caliban sat on the chair.

For 2 days.

No sleep.

No shower.

Just holding Arina's hand.

Kian came in.

"Alpha, eat something."

"I'm fine," Caliban said.

"You've been here 48 hours."

"So?"

Kian left.

Caliban put his hand on Arina's forehead.

No fever.

Thank god.

"Wake up, Arina," he whispered.

"You promised.

That you wouldn't let me get hurt again.

Now you're the one hurt and lying here."

No answer.

Caliban closed his eyes.

"This is the first time I was scared... for a human."

*DAY 2.*

In the evening Arina opened her eyes.

Her head was heavy.

Shoulder hurt.

And in front of her... Caliban.

Dark circles under his eyes.

Face like rain.

"Water," Arina whispered.

Caliban sat up instantly.

He filled a glass.

Gave her water with a straw.

"Slowly," he said.

"Don't drink too much."

Arina took 2 sips.

Then looked at Caliban.

"You're... still here?"

"Where else would I go?" Caliban said.

"I'm fine."

"No, you're not."

Arina tried to smile.

"It hurts."

"I know."

Caliban rang the bell.

The nurse came.

Gave medicine.

As soon as the nurse left, Arina asked:

"What happened to the war?"

"We won," Caliban said.

"Red Moon is finished.

Drayven is dead."

"And your people?"

"7 martyred."

Arina's eyes filled.

"Did all this happen because of me?"

"No," Caliban said firmly.

"This happened for justice.

You're not the reason.

You're the cause."

Arina didn't understand.

"What's the difference?"

"A reason is who gets blamed.

A cause is who makes something good happen."

Arina went quiet.

*DAY 3.*

Arina could sit up now.

Caliban brought her soup.

Homemade.

Made by his beta.

"Eat," Caliban said.

"I'm not hungry."

"Eat. Or I'll force you to drink it."

Arina laughed.

First time in 3 days.

"Force? The Alpha will force?"

"Yes. When it comes to your health."

Arina drank the soup.

It was warm.

Good.

"Did Zain come?" Arina asked suddenly.

Caliban's hand stopped.

"Yes. Twice."

"What did he say?"

"Asked how you were."

"What did you say?"

"The truth. That you're okay."

Arina lowered her head.

"I want to meet him."

"No," Caliban said instantly.

"Why?"

"Because you're still weak.

And I don't want anyone to hurt you."

Arina got angry.

"You can't make decisions for me!"

"I am," Caliban said.

"Because no one else will."

They fought.

Their first fight.

In the end Arina got tired and fell asleep.

Crying.

Caliban sat beside her all night.

Wiping her tears.

*DAY 4. DISCHARGE.*

The doctor said:

"You can go home.

But 2 weeks of rest."

Caliban carried Arina home.

In his arms.

The house was clean.

Smelled nice.

Fresh flowers on the table.

"Who did this?" Arina asked.

"I did," Caliban said.

"You like flowers, right?"

Arina was stunned.

"How did you know?"

"You talked about flowers in the jungle.

That flowers make people happy."

Arina's heart softened.

*THE FRIENDSHIP.*

The next week went like this.

Morning: Caliban made breakfast.

Afternoon: He gave Arina medicine.

Evening: He took her to the roof.

For fresh air.

One day Arina said:

"Can you be my friend?"

Caliban stopped.

"Friend?"

"Yes. Just friend.

Not protector.

Not Alpha.

Just Caliban."

Caliban took a deep breath.

"Okay," he said.

"Friend."

From that day they started talking.

Arina told him how she was as a kid.

That she loved stray cats.

That she wanted to be a doctor.

Caliban told her he'd been Alpha for 200 years.

That his first pack died in a war.

That after that he never trusted anyone.

"Only you," he said.

"Why?" Arina asked.

"Because you helped without asking questions."

*ZAIN'S VISIT.*

On day 10, Zain came.

With flowers.

With chocolate.

"Arina! Thank god you're okay," Zain said.

Arina got happy.

"Zain! Come in."

Caliban stood at the door.

Face like stone.

Zain came in.

They talked.

Laughed.

Arina laughed too.

For the first time in so long.

Caliban was in the kitchen.

Making tea.

But his hands were shaking.

When Zain left, Arina said:

"Thank you, Caliban.

For letting me meet him."

Caliban just nodded.

"I'm leaving."

"Where?"

"The jungle.

To get some air."

He didn't come back all night.

*THE TRUTH.*

Next day Caliban came back.

Tired.

But smiling.

"I was thinking," he said.

"About what?"

"What friends do."

Arina asked:

"What do they do?"

"They're happy for each other's happiness."

Arina's eyes filled.

"Are you... jealous of Zain?"

"No," Caliban lied.

"I'm just protecting you."

Arina held his hand.

"Thank you, Caliban.

You're my best friend."

Caliban didn't pull his hand away.

Just lowered his head.

"Friend," he repeated in his heart.

"Just friend."

*THE NIGHTMARE.*

Day 15.

Arina got a fever again.

The silver poison wasn't fully gone.

At 2 AM she woke up screaming.

"Caliban!!!"

Caliban was by her side in 1 second.

"What happened?"

"I'm scared... I was scared.

I thought I was back in the jungle.

Alone."

Caliban hugged her.

Like a brother.

Like a friend.

"Shhh. I'm here.

I'm not going anywhere.

You're not alone."

Arina soaked his shirt with tears.

"Am I weak?"

"No," Caliban said.

"Weak people give up.

You didn't give up.

You took an arrow for me."

Arina fell asleep.

Head on Caliban's chest.

Caliban stayed awake all night.

Stroking her hair.

*MORNING.*

When Arina woke up, Caliban was still there.

"Good morning," Arina said.

"Good morning, friend," Caliban smiled.

Arina looked at his hand.

The mark on her wrist was fading now.

Faint.

"Is it disappearing?"

"Yes," Caliban said.

"When you're completely healed,

it will disappear.

Because you won't need my protection anymore."

Arina's heart sank.

"Are you... going to leave?"

"No," Caliban said quickly.

"Friends stay together, right?"

They both laughed.

*END OF WEEK 2.*

Arina was fully healed.

Finally the doctor said:

"You can go to college now."

Arina was happy.

So was Caliban.

In the car Arina said:

"Caliban, thank you.

You saved my life.

Twice."

Caliban stopped the car.

"You saved mine too.

In the jungle."

They looked at each other.

And laughed.

At the college gate, Zain was standing.

Arina waved.

"Zain!"

Caliban parked.

"I'll wait here."

"No," Arina said.

"You come too.

You're my friend."

Caliban smiled for the first time.

A real smile.

"Okay."

All three walked in.

Arina in the middle.

Zain on one side.

Caliban on the other.

No love.

No fight.

Just friendship.

And protection.

And maybe...

something new was about to begin.