Run with me

Awake

Lena POV

My head feels as if I was hit by a hammer. Slowly opening my eyes the blackness turns into a hazy white. Hazy white turning slowly into solid white, a solid white ceiling. Lifting my head an inch, immediately giving up as another wave of pain hits me. 

"Hey there cupcake" a blond haired man appears above my head.

From directly the opposite side a small girls face appears. "Hello" she says in a sweet pleasant voice. With olive green greyish eyes and the same blond hair as Conan's, she must be his kid? Her olive colored eyes easily make me remember her name. "Olivia?" my voice sounds hoarse and it feels so dry.

Cheerfully she looks up to her dad. "Dad, Lena knows my name!"

"Yes sweetie, I talk often about you. But can you go get a glass of water for our guest?"

"Thats why I sneeze so often!" she disappears from my eyesight but I can hear her soft foot steps tip tapping down stairs. 

"My girl can be a bit superstitious from time to time. Lets try to make you sit upright." I can feel Conan placing a hand behind my shoulder. Pushing me slightly up. But then I also feel this quick breeze, the bed sinking in on my left, followed by a warm strong arm behind me helping me up. Heat radiating through me, my muscles relax, making it easier for me to sit up. 

Conan stuffs some pillows behind me, but the sturdy arm does not disappear. My left shoulder rests against something broad and warm. Slowly looking to my left hoping not to be hit by another wave of pain, I see a chin with stubbles. I have to look up to be met by amber color eyes. Those eyes. Him. 

The guy from the bar. With this almond body fragrance. Apart from the bar I feel like I have smelled this fragrance before. My lips form a whisper "The woods..". Austin keeps his eyes on me, not moving or showing signs of speaking. 

"Cupcake. We are all curious what happened though? Austin was giving me a ride, when we suddenly saw smoke coming from off the road. Only to find you in your car off the road! You really gave us a scare."

"S.. orr.y" I cough. 

Small light foot steps can be heard skipping up the stairs. Olivia walks in with her blond braided hair from the small hallway with a glass of water. "Sorry I spilled a little." Bowing over the bed next to her father she hands the glass with one hand, supporting herself with the other hand, leaning on the bed. Giving her a thankful small smile I take the glass and take a little sip. Feeling the cold water drip through my throat downwards. My throat feels hydrated and smoothened. With a small plof Olivia jumps on the bed putting her feet under her. With big round eyes she looks intrigued at me. 

"I wasn't paying attention. Before I knew it, I drove of the road." I don't want to mention such a big animal in front of a child. She might get nightmares or feel terrified. However I should warn them though and she looks like she must be in her teenage years. What if she runs around playing outside and then that wolf jumps on her...

"Actually I think I saw a wolf..." Looking at my glass, I did not want to see the shock on her face. Or any disapproving look from Conan that I am talking about such a thing in front of his child. Concentrating on my glass, the arm behind me tenses a bit. 

"How did it look? What color ? Arent they gorgeous? So fluffy. Maybe it was Sam?" Confused I look up to Olivia who is almost bouncing out of excitement. 

"Haha, she is a special one" Conan puts his thumb up pointing at Olivia. "Raised by wolves haha" The arm around me tenses up more, becoming as hard as stone. A stone but warm wall I am now leaning against. 

Conan clears his throat and stops laughing. "There are a lot of wild animals in these woods. Olivia has become friendly with some since she was little. Even naming them." She literally has been running around with wolves? What kind of parenting strategy is this, letting your child play with wild animals? Honestly, it does sound exciting though. 

" So so so , what color?" the bed actually shakes from her bounces.

"Black" 

"Gilroy!" she screams happily. 

"You know from just the color?"

"Yes. There is only one black wolf in this forest." She states proudly. 

"He does visit frequently. Most other wolves are grey, brown, or a mix with white. And oh there is one golden brown. I really like her color. Her golden brown fur really shines in the sun. I will introduce you to them. If you want of course."

"Sounds exciting. I am in." I give her a big smile. As if we aren't talking anymore about big dangerous animals. But the way that Olivia describes them so excited, as if its all in her imagination. We might actually be running with air one day, together through the woods. Or some wolf toys, playing. She seems too old to do that though. 

"Here take this and we will let you get some rest" Conan hands me a round shaped pill. Obediently I take it. Conan signing Olivia to leave the room with him waits at the door frame for her. "Sleep well Lena. And and... My room is right across the hallway! You can always come sleep with me if you have nightmares!" She then runs passed her dad toward the door on the other side of the hallway. Turning the switch of the main lights in the room off, with a soft click the door closes behind Conan. 

A heavy voice breaks the silence. "So how are you feeling?" I totally forgot about Austin. The warmth suits me that I forgot I am so close to a stranger. A guy. Alone in an unfamiliar room. Wanting to create space between us I lean to my right. Automatically falling over as pain hits me again the moment our touch disconnects. Almost falling off the bed, his arm catches me, wrapped around my stomach he pulls me back against him. "Uhmm.. I am oke. You are just a bit awfully close to me."

Looking back up at him I can see him blush. "Sorry, I have a lot of body heat and it seems to relieve some of your pain so I didn't want to pull away. If you are to uncomfortable with it....... I can leave." That's the worst pick up line if it was one. My body can't hide it though. It feels really nice to be close to him and the medicine Conan gave me is making me drowsy. His body is giving me a natural dose of painkillers. 

"Stay" I whisper. 

He shifts a bit so we both lay more horizontal. Still leaning against him I rest my head on his chest. I must look so easy. I care no longer. 

"Please be careful though. Olivia only met kind wolves, I have always kept an eye out on her. There are wild ones out there, so be careful." he almost commanded me. Its good to know she is looked well after when Conan was not around. How can he command me to be careful though, as if people choose to be into dangerous situations. 

"Its not like I wanted to meet or see that wolf on the street. Just bad coincidence."

"you might come to like them" he almost sounds apologetic. 

"I might as well, after hearing how Olivia describes them." smiling softly I look up at him. Immediately feeling my stomach, heat rushing over me as his eyes darken. My chest feels hot and heavy. Moving his head up, he diverts his eyes towards the ceiling. Resting his head against the bedframe he closes his eyes. 

"I will get some rest. So should you" AGAIN that commanding voice! 

"Worrying made me tired" Austin worried? About me perhaps? In my mind I slap myself in the face. Who do I think I am to this handsome stranger to assume that he would be worried about me. But I would also be worried finding someone besides the road. Especially as a towns chief. If I died, would that have brought a bad reputation or trouble to his town? 

He must have a lot of other stuff to worry about though. Now I have to worry.... because I am being held by a strange man while I have a guy waiting for me back at home. Which I promised I will go back to.... I don't want to become this person that will run away, let him wait and then get all tangled up with some other guy. And now I am even getting delusional just because someone puts an arm around me. 

Strings of thoughts keep me awake for a long time.However realising he won't leave my side until at least the morning I give up on tossing around and eventually fall asleep. Only to wake up to him wrapped around me. With one arm still under me, holding me against him, and his other arm around my waist. Not knowing how to respond or how to act casually about this when he wakes, I try to crawl like a caterpillar out of his embrace. Finding support with my feet on the end of the bedframe, I slip out of his embrace. Flipping my legs to the side of the bed, I stand up and tip toe towards the door. Leaving him alone in bed behind, closing the door softly.