Refuge
1105 Words
Aria’s POV
I stepped towards the wooden door— eager to know who was coming, but before I could get to the door, it flicked open.
I stood and stared as two girls stepped into the room without saying a word to me. Though they smiled at me—I still felt invisible.
They were dressed in nude colors and had facial resemblance.
“Please come with me, you need more rest,” one said to me, holding my hands and taking me back to bed. Her voice was calming and it made me obey.
She smiled at me, resting me back on the bed and covering me up. The bed was soft— it was the most comfortable I ever laid on.
I looked at the second, she had no expression on her face. She bent and dusted the wooden table.
I looked in the direction of the door as it flicked open again. A red-haired woman stepped in. She looked my age, but I could tell she came from a wealthy family. She let down her hair. They were curly and long. Her face was smooth, and her eyes were brown. She looked beautiful. She smiled at me, sitting at the edge of my bed.
Her breasts were full, and her dress looked expensive. I felt intimidated and embarrassed. Her freckles were scanty and visible. She smelled like roses.
“My name is Lira and you are under my care,” she said with a faint smile. I knew she saw how amazed I was seeing her, but I still didn’t want to make it obvious.
She pressed hard on my abdomen. “Healed,” she spoke softly — more like a whisper.
“How?” I asked, barely heard myself talk.
“Magic, but that will be a story for another day,” she saw the strange look in my eyes and switched immediately. “It’s time for your bath,” come with me. Her voice was calm, almost teasing.
“You can leave now,” she commanded the girls in the room. They bowed, left all they were doing and left instantly without questioning.
Lira helped me down from the bed, and we walked out of the room. We didn’t communicate— we were silent. It was a short walk. As she tried opening the next door, I slipped my hand away from hers.
“No!, tell me why I’m here,” my voice slipped out before I could stop them. She held my hands and looked and looked deep into my eyes. I felt like she saw through me — who I truly was. I hadn’t told her my name or why I was in the forest. But at that moment, it felt like she already knew who I was.
“Trust me, you are safe with me,” she finally replied. “No one would hurt you here. "Don’t be afraid,” she added.
Her words gave me chills, but I didn’t trust myself to ask further questions, so I nodded.
“I know you have questions, and I will answer them all while I help you bathe ,” she said with a faint smile. Her smile gave me assurance and I followed her in.
I have never seen a bathhouse so amazing. It felt like I was in a cold cave. The rocks were black and shiny— the pool reflected on them. The floor looked slippery but it wasn’t. The pool stood at the center— it had a bright blue color with steam coming out of it . A lion statue stood by the side and water rushed down from its mouth. I had never seen something so wonderful before. It felt magical. I looked up and saw an opening on the roof. Rays of light shined down on the surface of the water— it made it spackle.
“You can step in,” her voice echoed. She came behind me and untied my rope. My clothes were stripped down, revealing my nakedness. I stepped out of my dress and walked down into the pool.
The water felt warm and calming. I had never felt so relaxed in a bath before. It felt different. I swam around. It elevated my mood. I watched as Lira smiled at me and I returned it. It was an amazing moment— a moment I never dreamt about.
Lira sat on a stone— not so close to the pool. “Shadowclaw pack, that's where you are.” She answered my unspoken questions.
“You read minds?” I asked, without hesitation.
“No, I don't— I knew you would ask,” she replied with a smile.
I swallowed hard, wondering if she was lying to me.
“But where am I?” I asked.
“My home,” she answered shortly, without creating room for further questions.
I turned and looked at her. “ How did I get here? "I thought I was dead in the forest,” I asked, eager for an answer.
She stated, “We were on the hunt when we saw you lying unconscious with a deep wound in the forest. You were strong to have stayed up that long a life. At first, we thought you were dead. But on second thought, one of the men noticed your faint breath.”
“Alpha Ronan took you in after he saw your condition. He said you were different to have endured such pain. "We brought you back to the village with us, and you were unconscious for 5 days, but your body responded to treatment”. She explained.
“We found no identity on you, not even a symbol of your pack, and that was why Ronan had pity on you and accepted you to be one of us.” she answered simply.
I got out of the bath and immediately felt cold. We headed back to the room. She offered me new clothes and sandals. Helped me comb my hair. And I was fed after all.
“Ronan, how do I meet him and thank him,” I asked Lira.
She gave a soft smile before speaking. “When the time is right.”
I drank the herbal tea offered to me, and laid on the bed for rest.
The bed was welcoming, and I felt like my problems were solved.
I thanked Lira for her help, which she accepted.
She stood up and left me alone in the room. My thoughts were empty— I had no questions. My goal was to survive.
And right then, I was surviving.
- Writer
