I wake and was able to open my eyes without exhaustion pulling them closed again. My head felt less fuzzy, my body more relaxed than earlier. I was in a hospital room with many machines around and a bedtable at the foot of my bed. On the wall in front of me was a large tv, a door that I assumed led to the bathroom, and cabinets. On my left was the door to the hallway and on my right were windows that gave me a beautiful view of—a city? My brows furrowed until I looked down and saw Lykaon sleeping in a recliner, his head on a fist propped up on the armrest.
A smile grew on my face even though I felt pain when I tried to move. He stayed. My mate stayed with me even though his pack probably needs him more. I felt somewhat guilty, but so happy at the same time. I reached my arm out, but didn't even get close to him, which disappointed me a little. I didn't try to do anything else, and so laid back and watched him sleep peacefully beside me.
A knock made me come alert and I looked to see a nurse walking in with a clipboard. When she saw me awake, she smiled. "How are you feeling, Opal?"
"Better, but still sore."
"Sore is better than unbearable pain, so I'm glad to hear it." She washed her hands and came over to my left side. "Would you like to try and eat something?" I nod emphatically. Again, her smile was warm and gentle as she took my vitals. "I'm going to lift your gown to see your ribs, is that okay?"
I glanced at Lykaon, really wanting him awake right now. "Um, do you have to?"
"I need to see if the stitches are healing like they should. It should only take a few seconds."
"Okay," I whisper and let her do it. She touched some spots and took some bandages off others to look, but it didn't take long.
"You seem to be healing a lot quicker than usual, but everything is looking like it should. Let me go get you some breakfast then we can get you in the shower." I nod and she leaves, taking her clipboard with her.
A moment later, Klyn walks in. I smile wide at him. "You're here!"
"Hey! You're awake!" he chuckles and walks to me, giving me a hug. "How do you feel?"
"Alive," I say breathlessly. "But still sore."
"Well, Lykaon will be happy you're doing good." He glances at the Alpha who was still sound asleep. "It's good he's sleeping now. He hasn't slept in a while."
Behind him, the nurse appeared with a tray of food. "Here you go, Opaline." Pulling the table over, she sat me up and opened the lid, presenting pancakes and bacon. "If there is anything else you need, press the call button and someone will come down here."
I nod and begin eating. She leaves and Klyn sits by my feet, his arms crossed. "How does it feel to be able to hear again?"
This question makes me pause. "I don't know. I remember realizing I could hear the last time I woke up and being terrified that I was hallucinating, now it's second nature I guess. Though, loud sounds are going to be more annoying than usual. I got used to being deaf."
"Does that mean you're disappointed?"
"No. I'm glad I don't have to read lips and have to constantly look at someone's lips while trying to understand what they want to say. I just think this is going to be an adjustment. Not a big one, but still an adjustment." He nods. Klyn thinks for a while and I finish my food and drink some water. When I'm done, I look at Lykaon. "What all happened when I was here?"
"Nothing much," Klyn responds. "Lykaon was pretty much by your side the whole time except to deal with a few minor problems and an old friend visiting. I was either here or outside making sure you two were safe."
"What about the pack?"
"The pack can get a hold of me or Lykaon through the link. They don't need us unless it is an emergency which there hasn't been. So, it's pretty much been worrying about you this whole time."
I shift, looking down at my bandaged hand. "I'm sorry for trying to kill you."
"I didn't think you'd remember," he whispers.
"Why wouldn't I remember what happened?" I hiss. "I'm not like that, I'm not a killer like that."
"Opaline, I forgive you. Everything is fine." I nod but am not convinced. "I don't hold grudges, you know?" Smiling, I nod at him. Klyn smiles back and stands up. "I just came by to check on you. I'll be back later to talk to Lykaon if he's awake. Get some more rest and don't try anything stupid."
I smile and watch him leave, then push the table away and lie back down, turning on my side to look at Lykaon before I fall asleep.
"She's doing well, Lykaon. The nurse said she was awake an hour ago, looking good and eating breakfast. She took a look at her stitches and they seem to be doing better than expected," a male said that I didn't recognize.
"She was awake?"
"Yes. Klyn even came by and they talked. When I passed him in the halls, he said she was happy."
"So, she'll be okay?"
I opened my eyes and saw Lykaon on the chair, sitting forward talking to who I now recognize as Truent. "I believe so. I will release her tomorrow morning if she continues to feel good."
Lykaon smiles, then brushes his hair back with his fingers. "You don't know how good it is to hear, Truent. Seriously, I thought the worst for a while now."
"I know you have, and I'm telling you now that Opaline will be just fine with some rest and care. No strenuous tasks until further notice." Lykaon was about to say something until Truent added, "That includes shifting. Until her hand is back to the way it was and her other bones have healed completely, there shall be no shifting into her wolf."
My mate frowns, but nods. "I understand."
"Good, now excuse me. I have a few other patients to see to."
Lykaon walked him out of the room, shutting the door. I close my eyes again, feeling tired.
I wake to darkness and something squeezing my arm tightly. I look around and find a nurse with a small lamp, writing something down on a clipboard, then checks something on a monitor. "What is going on?" I ask drowsily.
"Just checking on you, dear."
The squeezing loosens and she writes more notes, then unwraps my arm from the blood-pressure cuff. "Do you have anything to drink?"
The nurse smiles. "Your mate went to get something. He should be back soon."
I look over to the chair to find it empty. My heart skips a beat in a panic, but then the door opens and he walks in, holding two drinks. When his eyes land on me, he almost drops the cups in relief. I smile big for him, holding my arms out. Lykaon sets the drinks on the table and sits down beside me, pulling me up and against his chest. "Oh, Opaline!" he whispers into my hair. "It's so good to see you smile again!"
I hear the door shut, alerting me to the nurse's departure, but don't pull away from my mate. He felt so warm and inviting, strong and safe, and all mine. "Lykaon, I want to go home," I whisper.
"We will in the morning. We'll go home in the morning, baby." He kisses me and pulls back to look at me. "You look so much better! I'm so happy you're awake!"
"I meant to talk to you earlier, but fell asleep after Truent left."
"That's fine," he whispers, kissing my head. "You're awake now and that's all I can ask for. I just wanted you to be better, Opaline."
Tears roll down my cheeks as I look at him in the dim light. His gray eyes are brighter than ever, and his hair is messy, as well as his clothes. His stubble has grown some, but he still looks good. "Will you sleep with me?"
Lykaon glances to the door before answering. "I'm not allowed, Opal. I could hurt you."
"I'll feel better if you do, though. I'll feel safer."
Pushing back my hair, he smiles a little. "I don't think I'll be able to fit like this, baby."
"As a wolf, then?"
"Sure," he whispers and goes into the bathroom to shift, then comes out and jumps up onto my bed by my feet.
"Can you come up here?" I ask softly. His ears prick up and his amber eyes look up and down my body before crawling up to lay beside me, licking my face once before resting his paws under his head. I brush my fingers in his fur down his neck and back, before laying my hand across his back like I would a large teddy bear. "Sleep, my Alpha."