005
1095 Words
•~Leonardo~•
“She’s awake, Alpha,” Kendrick says, rushing into the packhouse.
In a swift motion, I bolt out of the room and straight to her chambers. She’s been asleep for two days, and I was starting to believe she won’t wake up. Two days of pacing and even my wolf howling in anguish and sleepless nights filled with dread.
A crowd of pack members has already gathered outside her chambers, whispering among themselves. They part as I approach, and silence falls when I step into the doorway. She’s sitting up in bed with her body trembling. Her hair is messy and tousled, dangling down her back.
Her body suddenly stiften when her eyes crash into mine.
Was she scared?
My gaze drops to the wound on her side—the one that should have healed by now.
‘Why hasn't she healed yet?’
‘The Vartex Bane must have done extreme harm.’ I link back to Nema.
My wolf growls low in my chest, his anger rippling through me.
‘They’ll pay.’
“Out,” I snap at the pack members lingering in the doorway.
They scatter without a protest, leaving only Kendrick and me in the room. The silence thickens, broken only by her uneven breaths.
I take a step closer, and she tenses, pulling the blanket tighter around herself. Reaching my hand out to hers, she pulls away defensively.
My jaw clenches as I see her pale hands shaking from under the blanket. I look back at her lost hazel eyes.
“You’re safe here, there's no need to be scared,”
Her eyes dart around the room as if searching through the walls.
“A-are there any more bane? Please, I promise I won't do anything.” Her voice broke and a single tear rolled down her cheek.
“No, they aren't. No one will hurt you.”
She shakes her head. She didn't believe me. Not a single bit and it made me question just how long she'd be tortured. I wanted to know what they did to her and why she was so tense and defensive.
Her entire body was covered with open wounds on each area, they all looked fresh with no sign of healing.
“No one is going to harm you okay?” I repeat, hoping to reassure her but she remains silent, her lips pressed together in a trembling line. The sight of her like this—broken, terrified—makes my chest tighten.
“Leave me.” Her voice comes out as a fragile whisper. She glances at me for a brief second then quickly looks away. “Please. I’ll hurt you. Just… just go.”
Her words hit me like a blow. I take another step closer, and she recoils, pressing herself against the headboard.
“You won’t hurt anyone,” I say firmly. “And no one will hurt you.”
She shakes her head, her tears spilling over.
“You don’t understand, I-I don't know what I am but it's dangerous. Please, just kill me. It’s safer that way.”
‘Kill them, whoever told her this needs to be killed, We can't let them take away what belongs to us. Not ever again.’ Nema’s possession was strong.
“That's nonsense. I won't kill you.”
“Please.” She begs, her voice is low and in all my years, I'd never seen anyone beg to be killed.
‘They’d hurt her.’ My wolf's voice was low and sympathetic.
I clench my fists, forcing myself to stay calm.
“No one is taking your life Fiona! I don't care what bullshit your pack said. You stay here and I wouldn't let even a hair on your head go out of place. “
“You don’t know what I am,” she whispers, her head shaking violently. “
“I don't care!” I snap.
I crouch down slowly, sitting close beside her by the bedside so I’m at eye level with her. She flinches, but I don’t move back.
“Listen to me, I won't let anyone harm you. You're safe here and as long as I'm around, no one's going to harm you. “
Her lips tremble, and she looks away again. Fresh set of tears trailing down her cheeks.
“You should have let me die,” she whispers again.
I was already sick of hearing that word from her.
My rage was growing, not at her but the people that made her believe that she needed to die.
I can feel my wolf anger along with mine radiating off my body and threatening to burst out.
‘Be calm, if we react on emotions we'd only end up scaring her even more.’ I link to Nema.
Whatever, but I can't stand to hear her plea for death. These people need to be killed.’
Nema was never so protective but even I couldn't blame him. They needed to be killed for what they'd done to her.
I reach out, hesitating for a moment before gently placing my hand over hers. She tenses but doesn’t pull away.
“You’re not alone anymore. You don't need to be afraid. You're safe now. ‘
I squeezed her arm lightly not wanting to cause her any more pain. She was already too fragile and could break at any time.
Her gaze finally meets mine, filled with so much pain and fear.
Her eyes water again, another tear threatening to leak out from her eyes but I catch her jaw in my arm nodding my head.
Our eyes lock again and this time I can see a flicker of both fear and hope in her eyes.
I shake my head.
“You're safe.”
My wolf quiets, his anger replaced by a fierce determination to protect her at all costs. Whatever had hurt her, whatever haunted her, would have to go through me first.
“I promise.”
She shifts her head slightly but still keeps her focus off of me as if afraid to look me directly in the eye.
I stand from the bed, my gaze focusing back on Kendrick who had been quiet all through.
‘Get Ghana to tend to her open wounds and make sure she's bathed and dressed in proper clothing. Afterwards you take her to the royal house. ‘ I mind link to him and he nods firmly before exiting the room to get the pack healer.
I turn to her once more giving a reassuring smile.
“Welcome to your new home Fiona.”
- Writer
