Aryn and Vuk left the next morning, needing to return to urgent matters within their pack. I was silent throughout the whole parting words, but caught the Beta watching me occasionally with a curious expression. He didn't act on that curiosity, but he did come up and personally apologized for what happened three years ago as well as saying goodbye. I only nodded and smiled, finding my voice had disappeared somewhere between the bedroom and outside. Aryn came up afterwards and kissed the back of my hand before he also said his goodbye and congrats for being Luna. They shifted and ran south as I watched with Lykaon by my side, an arm around my waist.
After seeing Melanie and taking out my anger on her, I had felt sick and somewhat hollow. Last night, those feelings lessened when I realized Lykaon was caring for me without so much as second glance at any of my intimate body parts. I knew men liked my shape with all my feminine curves and whatnot, but he didn't seem to mind at the time. Loup had taken glances every now and again, and even tried a few things back when he thought I didn't notice, but Lykaon seemed different.
Sure, he's kissed me, but he's never really done much after that. Last night was the most intimate we have ever been since meeting each other. It was satisfying, yet my wolf and body yearned for more. Having him hold me close, having skin-to-skin contact, and having his heat wrapped around me was the best feeling I've ever had. Having his lips on my mark…kissing it like he did created a feeling I hadn't known could be so strong. My belly clenched tight and my breathing got shallow and fast. It felt so good, I whined when he pulled away. Even in the aftermath of the dream I had, it was better than anything I've felt.
I wasn't sure if Lykaon felt the same way about last night as I did, mostly because he had to care for me and listen to my screams and cries all night, but he did keep glancing at me. He seemed to keep an eye on me while also keeping his distance too, like he was afraid I might have been mad about it. I wanted to talk to him, but didn't know how that conversation would even start. "Hey, I know I kept you up most of the night, but did you have an intense feeling of needing something when you kissed my mark, because I did and was hoping you'd feel the same way?" No, I don't think that would have worked at all.
After everyone left, including my family, I told my mate I'd be in the kitchen. He nodded with a kiss to my head before I left. I felt his eyes watching me closely, fixed to my back like mine were fixed to the door five feet away. Nadine met me inside and pulled me after her towards the living room, making me sit and trying to tell me something about Bertolf. I blinked and tried to focus, but my mind was in a blur.
"Opaline!" she hissed.
I looked up, seeing tears in her eyes. "What happened?"
"He's still not up!" she cried. "It's been almost two days and he won't get up. Something is wrong with him!"
"What do you mean he won't get up? Is he not wanting to get up?"
She shook her head. "He's still paralyzed. All his muscles are. Truent is feeding him by tube and giving oxygen by a machine, but he's not changing at all."
Melanie must have used something similar to that when she raped the men a few years ago. I say, "May I see him?"
She nodded and we left the house. Lykaon was nowhere to be seen outside so I didn't bother telling anyone where I was going. Nadine rushed me to the hospital and into Bertolf's bedroom. When I saw his pale form in the bed, my gut wrenched. "He's been like this ever since they've found him," Nadine explained.
I walked over and looked down at the large man. His eyes were looking up at the ceiling, yet didn't seem to be focused. His arms and legs were straight and his body as stiff as a board. He had an IV in his arm and a tube down his throat, other than that, he seemed like a corpse. I rested a hand on his chest where I faintly felt his heart beating rhythmically and his skin was warm. I sat beside him and carefully laid my head on his chest, closing my eyes and letting the sobs break me once again.
After a few minutes, I sat up again to see I was alone with him and wiped my tears. I stand and go to the door, only to turn back and look at him again. Something I hadn't noticed before caught my eye and I ran back to him and raised my hand, but paused. Blushing a little, I took a step back and bit my lip. "Klyn?"
"What's up, Opaline?"
"Can you and Lykaon come to the hospital and into Bertolf's room, please?" I could tell my voice was shaky, but I couldn't help it. "Don't let Nadine in yet either."
"What's wrong, Luna?" he asked in concern.
"Please hurry."
"We're on our way, but tell me what's wrong."
"I can't," I say and shake my head even though he can't see me. I felt myself lower to my knees and my stomach roiling. I reached out for something to hold onto, but something crashed to the ground and I felt pain in my wrist. I look to see blood, but I don't seem to comprehend it and look at the floor beside me where metal objects were scattered.
The door slammed open and someone turned me around. "Opaline!"
I blink to clear my eyes and see gray ones before me. "Help him, please!" I whisper.
"Why? What's happened?"
I use my mate as an anchor and pull myself up. He holds onto me carefully as I lean on him, my head spinning. I'm starting to think there was kind of chemical on those objects… I squint towards the bed and find the spot I saw earlier, then point in the general direction—I hoped. "There. I can't take them off, but look."
There was some movement before I see Klyn and Truent moving. "Opaline, why did you come in here?" my mate whispers in my ear.
"Nadine…" my voice trails off as blackness fogs the edges of my vision. "Lykaon, my head…!"
I'm spun around too fast and my head feels like it might come off. "Shit!" I hear.
"What is it?"
Someone grabs my wrist and licks it. I try to pull away, but they won't let me. "Damn it! Get me something to synch her arm, now!"
I'm lifted into a pair of arms and carried somewhere with an empty bed. Once I'm lying down, I feel my skin pinch as someone ties something to my arm. I flinch. "That hurts!" I hiss.
Lips kiss my forehead. "Shh, baby. You're going to be fine."
I shake my head violently. "But, Bertolf—"
"He's going to be fine as well. Right now, you're my top priority."
There's a moment of silence before a needle enters my arm and I feel a pull. After a few minutes, I start to feel dizzy. "Lykaon…"
"She will need blood, preferably the same as hers."
"What about me? We have the same type."
"You should do, but the only problem is that it will take your strength away."
"I'll do it."
"No! I am not risking you as well!"
"But we don't know anyone else—"
"Klyn, I said no!"
"Your mate is going to die if we don't do this quickly, Lykaon. Let me help!"
"I need you!"
Something slammed and I rolled my head to the side, unable to draw strength anymore. "I will be fine soon enough. Just let me help my Luna and your mate. I am willing."
A hand rests on my cheek before I hear, "Fine." There's a flurry of movement then, and murmuring voices, but I can't make out any of it. After a long time, I can't take it anymore and black out.
Groaning, I open my eyes and look around. I'm alone in a hospital room which does not do anything good to my stress level. Outside, it is dark and the halls are quiet. The only light in my room comes from the lamp beside me. My head is pounding and I put my hand up to it, groaning some more. Something in my gut was telling me something was wrong, and it wasn't me. I knew I was perfectly fine, but something else was wrong, I just didn't know what. It made me almost sick, so I got up and grabbed a plastic cup and poured water in it, pulling the IV pole with me. Afterwards, I went to the bathroom.
I was still on the toilet a minute or two later when I heard a knock. "Yes?" I reply.
No answer. My brows furrowed and I flushed then washed my hands. When I opened the door, my heart almost stopped in fear. "Opaline, we need to talk."
Vuk was sitting on my bed, arms crossed and eyes fixed intently on me. I swallowed the lump in my throat. "How did you get in here?"
He shrugged and gestured to the window behind him. "The window was unlocked since they had it open to let air in. I slipped through."
I took a step back, looking around for something, anything I might be able to use. "Get out of here."
His eyes narrow. "I'm not here to hurt you. I'm here to talk and when that is finished, I will go away."
I shake my head. "No. I don't want to talk."
He glanced down at my wrist. "What happened to your wrist?"
"None of your business."
"Then let me talk to you," he smirked.
Biting my tongue, I nodded. "Fine."
"This is between the two of us, Luna. Absolutely no one else may know about what we discuss tonight, understand?"
"Why not?"
He raises his brows. "Because, it would go against your mate's rules and I'd potentially be killed for a misunderstanding." I didn't move, just stared at him. Seeming to take that as his cue, he began. "What happened three years ago was unexpected. I didn't think about asking why you were helping her, just that you were fighting against me and I had to do something. After I…" his voice trailed off and he swallowed. "…I hurt you, I noticed Melanie was gone. I don't know how she found you again, but I've been looking for her ever since."
"I know that!" I snap.
His eyes hardened. "I carried your body to the hospital and told them what happened, no one else did." This makes me widen my eyes and part my lips in shock. Vuk stood and walked up to me, looking down into my eyes. "I had them call your parents. I had them make sure they knew the truth, but did not announce who I was. When I was sure your parents were on their way, I left, thinking you were dead."
"Why did you do that?" I asked softly.
"Would you believe me if I told you I regretted my actions?" he asked. I took a step back and he smirked. "Thought so. But it's the truth. I had no idea why you helped her, but I figured it might not have been your fault, it might have been more instinct rather than loyalty to her."
I look down, unable to look at him right now. "I guess I can't blame you either, can I?" He didn't answer and I glanced at him. He was still watching me carefully, his arms at his sides and his head bent slightly forward. I whisper, "Why didn't you go after her instead of trying to kill me?"
"Because I wasn't sure if you'd have been just like her. I stayed to see what would happen, then to stop you from following me following Melanie."
"How do you know it was a Himalayan wolf that killed Maybelle?"
"The scent of a Himalayan is stronger than that of any other wolf. I knew the scent and was angry for my Alpha that one of Maybelle's kind would attack her."
I nod. "So, I guess this means you have been the good guy this whole time?"
He shrugs. "Depends on how you see my actions, Luna. Do you see them as a way to help or harm?"
I look up at Vuk who was staring at me with unreadable eyes. I still didn't trust him fully, but he had explained his reasonings and had not laid a single finger on me. For that, I relaxed slightly. "I'll let you know, Beta Vuk."