Chapter 12: Awakening in a Stranger's Bed
Mia's eyes fluttered open, and she was met with an unfamiliar ceiling. She tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness washed over her, forcing her back onto the pillow. As she struggled to remember where she was, a gentle hand grasped her shoulder, holding her in place.
"Easy, Mia. You're safe now," a soothing voice whispered.
Mia turned to face the speaker, and her eyes widened as she took in Kaiden's concerned expression. He was sitting beside her, his eyes fixed on hers, filled with a deep concern.
"Where...where am I?" Mia stammered, trying to clear the fog from her mind.
"You're at my place," Kaiden replied, his hand still resting on her shoulder.
Mia's memories began to return, fragmented images of her running from the wolves, of a blue-eyed wolf leaping over her. She shook her head, trying to clear the confusion.
"I need my phone," Mia said, her voice shaking slightly.
Kaiden handed her the phone, and Mia's eyes widened as she saw the numerous missed calls from Sarah. She quickly dialed her friend's number, and Sarah answered on the first ring.
"Mia! Oh my god, where have you been? I've been trying to reach you all night!" Sarah exclaimed.
Mia took a deep breath, trying to process her thoughts. "I'm...I'm at Kaiden's place," she stammered.
There was a pause on the other end of the line, and then Sarah asked, "How did you end up there?"
Mia's mind began to reel as she tried to remember the events leading up to her arrival at Kaiden's. The wolves, the blue-eyed wolf, Kaiden's concerned expression...it all seemed too much to handle.
"I...I don't know," Mia admitted, feeling a wave of panic wash over her. "I was running from the wolves, and then...and...
Sarah's voice was laced with concern. "Mia, what's going on? You're starting to scare me."
Mia's hand instinctively went to the back of her head, and she winced in pain as her fingers brushed against a bandage.
"Ow!" Mia exclaimed, her eyes widening in surprise.
Kaiden quickly took the phone from her hand, his expression stern. "Mia needs to rest, Sarah. She's still in pain. You can talk to her later."
Mia watched as Kaiden spoke to Sarah, his tone firm but gentle. She couldn't help but feel a flutter in her chest as she gazed at him, her mind whirling with questions.
As the day passed, Kaiden proved to be an attentive and caring host. He brought her soup, helped her to the bathroom, and even sat beside her, reading a book while she slept. Mia couldn't help but feel grateful for his kindness, but a part of her still wondered if she was reading too much into his actions.
As the sun began to set, Kaiden sat beside her, his eyes fixed on hers. "You need to rest, Mia. You're still recovering."
Mia nodded, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over her. As she drifted off to sleep, she couldn't shake the feeling and the countless questions in her mind. How did kaiden find her, what did that other wolf that leaped over her, came to do, was it the wolf that rescued her, just then Mia remembered her encounter with a wolf about 3 months now in the bush. Wait a minute, the wolf I saw last night, wasn't it the same that saved her.