Chapter 7
Ayla
Apparently, I can’t rest without feeling confined. It’s impossible to shut my mind off and I feel out in the open, exposed in this bed. I’m exhausted and I know my brain is fighting to stay awake out of fear, but I can’t do this anymore. I have to do something to feel safer, to protect myself. I rip out my IV and slowly lower myself out of the bed, to the floor. I am stiff and sore, but I manage to slip myself under my bed and drag the covers back down over the bed. Lying on my back, I wonder to myself how being afraid of the dark and hating my cage turned into needing to seek shelter under a bed shrouded in darkness, but here I am. Maybe, they will think I bolted and I can sneak out when they go looking for me. However, I don’t know where I would go. I have no family left. I don’t even know where La Plata is. I could rummage around looking for clothes and money here to get me by, but there would be a high likelihood of getting caught. I could chance it; I have nothing to live for anyway. My eyes finally start to get heavy. I find myself drifting to sleep thinking about Thane’s dimpled smile.
Footsteps shuffling in have me awakening and freezing out of fear. “Ayla, Ayla?” I register the voice to the healer, Eric. He shuffles around the room and then quickly leaves. I let out a breath I didn’t even realize I was holding. Closing my eyes I try to slow my heart rate down and slowly return to sleep. I’m not sure how long I was resting for when I get the feeling of someone staring at me. I startle awake and take in those dark green eyes. My heart rate spikes, but surprisingly I don’t cower away, I just hold his gaze and take a deep inhale of his pine and earth scent as he kneels beside the bed. “I found you little wolf. You gave me quite the scare. I thought you decided to leave me.” He states with a slight chuckle, but with a worried expression on his face. Leave him?” Why did that thought send a pang through my chest? “Are you afraid? Did we scare you?” I register the questions and have to think to myself. Was I scared? Yes. Am I scared in this moment? No. Unsure of what to do, I nod my head “yes.” Thane frowns a little, but reaches his hand out towards me and completely lower himself to the floor so were laying side by side. I don’t take his hand, but the gesture is comforting. “I’m sorry if we did anything to frighten you more than you already are Ayla. You have been through a lot and woke up with strangers, in a new place, which is a lot to process. Me leaving earlier had nothing to do with you, my wolf Ronan was just really angry on your behalf and I didn’t want to scare you so I went and took a breath.” Ronan. That is a strong name for an alpha wolf. I like it. Aramana I’m sure would have loved it. Maybe I can get her back like Eric said, but I would have to stick around here to find out. “I would really like it if you could come out from under here so Eric can check on you and do some more blood work. He wants to make sure the wolfsbane levels are decreasing and I think getting some food into you would be a great idea.” At the words, my stomach chooses then to erupt in a growl which causes him to chuckle. “Can you come out for me little wolf?” I quickly nod “yes” and start to slide out from under the bed.
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